Dhoni stars in a fabulous win

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

It was all about Mahendra Singh Dhoni at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on October 28. He played the innings of his lifetime that enabled India to erect their highest-ever ODI total against Australia. Then he led from the front in the field until he himself whipped the bails off to run out the last man to signal the end of the match.

The skipper was the star of India’s most comprehensive win over Australia for quite some time. The Indians needed something as awesome as this one to stamp their authority over the Aussies whom they have been giving tough time for a number of years now.

The Indian cricket fans would remember the day for a long time as they watched the Aussies being floored decisively by a determined outfit who outplayed their fancied rivals in the two key departments of the game, batting and bowling.

It doesn’t really how many qualified coaches do they hire and how many youngsters do they blood, the standard of Indian fielding remained as dismal as it has mostly been over the years. Their batting and bowling has improved in leaps and bounds but fielding is an area that remains a cause of concern for them all along.

The Indians are fortunate to have been blessed by so many outstanding batsmen and bowlers at the moment. No other team possibly can be expected to win a game if they field as poorly as they do.

What a pity that they could still not raise their spirits in the field when in the driving seat. The Australians were always going to struggle while chasing a target of 355 against a potent bowling attack.

The Indians would have won the match by a much bigger margin if their fielding was upto the mark. The manner in which Praveen Kumar misfielded more than once was shameful of an international cricketer. He made a mess of a catch in the deep that should have been nothing more than a regulation catch near the fence. Instead he gifted a six to Shaun Marsh much to the dismay of left-arm spinner Ravindu Jadeja who was bowling exceptionally well.

The catching technique of Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh in the outfield also left a lot to be desired. Even the schoolboys in Australia and South Africa are expected to take the catches that they dropped.

The Indians should be indebted to their captain for not having lost his cool even with those dreaded lapses in the field by the celebrated members of his team. He made near perfect bowling changes to ensure that the match was never opened.

Earlier in the day Dhoni entertained the crowd with one of the greatest ODI innings. Coming in to bat at number five he initially consolidated the innings with Gautam Gambhir and then cut loose in the company of Suresh Raina. He scored 124 off 107 balls to power India to their highest-ever total against Australia.

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Temperamental Younis desires taking Pakistan to top

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

The skipper of the Pakistan cricket team, Younis Khan, is a man of many moods. When he’s feeling down he can go to any limit in offending others. He presents a different look altogether when he’s in a positive frame of mind.

So you can never be sure what to expect next from him. His behaviour is more dependent on his mood or state of mind than on anything else. He has been found guilty of losing his cool far too quickly and his temperament has never made him popular in the media who prefer covering persons who are more stable and consistent temperamentally.

Younis, however, looked very happy and relaxed during the luncheon party hosted by the Customs Cricket Academy on behalf of the Islamic Relief at the Karachi Gymkhana on October 26.

Flanked by vice captain Shahid Afridi and former captain Rashid Latif, Younis appeared cool, calm and composed sitting at the stage. He delivered a convincing speech on the occasion in which touched about the subject of serving the humanity. He recalled his own experiences when he traveled to the disaster-hit areas of the country.

The hosts had urged the media to restrict themselves to community service and other activities of Islamic Relief and not to discuss cricket during the question-answer session that followed speeches by the Pakistan captains.

Once the proceedings of the Islamic Relief’s launch of Malakand Rehabilitation Programme were over the waiting media turned their attention and cameras towards the cricket stars and obviously there was no restriction of the subject to be discussed then.

Younis was surrounded by the media corps and the beaming Pakistan skipper was in no hurry to leave them. He took his time and answered every query rather convincingly. His selection of words reflected his peace of mind.

Younis was so cheerful that he even obliged the workers of the Karachi Gymkhana who had lined up to be photographed with him. It was one of the rare days when he went down himself to shake hands with people whom he recognized.

Not surprisingly his media briefing was being covered live by quite a few television channels and the viewers must have felt gladdened by his positive remarks looking into the future.

Younis did not waste the opportunity of acknowledging the overwhelming public support he had received when subjected to harsh criticism by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports. It was his first public appearance after having taken back the resignation and resumed duties as national skipper.

He stated that he felt more confident now after having taken back his resignation and he was prepared to take on more responsibility to fulfill his ultimate ambition of making Pakistan the top ranked in Tests as well as One-day Internationals.

“I am looking forward to the upcoming engagements with renewed confidence. It’s my wish that we could overcome every opponent and win ever series and tournament that we play in. My ultimate desire is to take Pakistan to the top of the rankings in all forms of the game during my own tenure as captain,” Younis wished.

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Pakistan cricket captains carry Islamic Relief forward

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

As many as four Pakistan cricket captains are proactively involved in supporting the cause of humanity by helping the Islamic Relief (IR) raise substantial funds for the under-privileged and displaced persons in the country.

The quartet of Rashid Latif, Moin Khan, Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi has been instrumental in generating funds for the IR to let them carry out their mission with renewed enthusiasm.

Three of them were in attendance in the IR’s launch of Malakand Rehabilitation Programme held at the Karachi Gymkhana on October 26. Moin Khan was unable to make it because he had to air-dash to Lahore to attend the funeral of Wasim Akram’s wife, Huma, who passed away on October 25.

Fateha was offered for the departed soul before the start of the proceedings and every speaker expressed condolences to Wasim Akram on the untimely death of his wife.

Haris Ahmed Khan, the former Pakistan Customs off-spinner turned qualified coach, has played the pivotal role in roping in the celebrated cricketers to join hands with the IR and take their noble mission forward.

Haris, in his brief speech, recalled that it didn’t take long for him to convince Rashid Latif and Moin Khan who readily agreed to be a part of the fund-raiser in the United Sates (US).

“Then we took Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi to the northern areas of the country devastated by the earthquake in October 2005. They realized the gravity of the situation after reaching there and immediately volunteered their services for the IR,” Haris stated.

Rashid Latif, a former Pakistan captain, shared his experiences at the IR, saying he’s touched after watching the destruction of the various towns by the earthquake.

“It was really very painful to walk on those rocky surfaces where hundreds of people had been buried alive just a few days ago. We took the responsibility of playing our part in helping the people in need,” Rashid remarked.

Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain, Shahid Afridi, announced that he believed in looking at life beyond cricket and it was the reason of him coming on board at the IR.

“When I visited the floods-affected areas of Balochistan I was dismayed at the sufferings of the people who were struggling for basic amenities. Even more depressing was the inaction of the government. Thankfully the IR was there and I made up my mind to contribute my bit in letting them accomplish their cherished goals,” the flamboyant all-rounder asserted.

Pakistan’s captain for Tests and One-day Internationals, Younis Khan, believed that they had to undertake the responsibility of serving the humanity, particularly those who are less fortunate, having been hit by disasters.

“As a human being it’s our duty to care for others. The IR has been doing a great job and I consider a privilege to be a part of their team. It has been hectic at times but we take pride in playing our part by participating in the fund-raisers,” Younis added.

Jalaluddin, a former Test fast bowler, has also been a motivating force in facilitating the Islamic Relief who had commenced operations in Pakistan in 1992 after having secured registration with the Security & Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) as a company limited by guarantee (Local NGO). It is also registered with the Economic Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan.

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Younis forces PCB Chairman to dump Yawar

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

It’s an open secret that skipper Younis Khan and manager Yawar Saeed were not having eye to eye contact for a long time and the gulf between the two had widened to the stage that one of them had to quit.

The soft spoken Yawar, as everybody knew, had been brought in as manager due to non-cricketing reasons. His strong political connections and personal friendship with the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Ijaz Butt, had earned him the slot that in the opinion of many he didn’t deserve in the first place.

Yawar has had the reputation of being a cool-headed gentleman who seldom talks nonsense. He had held managerial positions with the national cricket team in the past as well but that indeed was very long time ago.

The appointment of Ijaz Butt as the Chairman of the PCB last autumn opened the floodgates for Yawar and he was back in the thick of the things. Apparently he didn’t have problems working with Shoaib Malik who was the captain of the team at the time of his induction as manager.

The equation and the situation changed when Younis Khan was installed as the skipper during the home series against Sri Lanka. There was so scandal or drama initially but the observers had noted that Younis and Yawar were not on same wavelength.

The friends of Younis then reckoned that Yawar was associated with the team with the mission of toppling the skipper. The buzz was that Yawar was actually there to ‘spy’ for the PCB Chairman and report the movements of all the players directly to him confidentially.

The differences between Younis and Yawar started to become more obvious during the tour of Sri Lanka and it appeared a matter of time for one of them to bite the dust upon the return of the team.

Yawar was reportedly backing Shahid Afridi to take over the reigns that indeed infuriated Younis and it was about time for the showdown.

The fate of Younis was hanging in balance after the unexpected loss to New Zealand in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy and his injury was not helping matters either. Yawar was all set to accompany the national team as manager for the upcoming contests against New Zealand.

Ijaz Butt’s last one-to-one meeting with Younis changed the scenario and the PCB Chairman succumbed to the pressures of the skipper whom he delegated the powers he had been asking for.

Only time will tell if the PCB Chairman’s decision to empower Younis was a correct one or it would turn out to be yet another blunder. Yawar, meanwhile, has become a casualty, and he has been replaced by Abdul Raqeeb.

Younis has won the first round. In fact he has managed to kill two birds with a single shot. By having Yawar removed, he paved the way for one of his benefactors to be obliged.

Abdul Raqeeb, a former left-arm spinner, has been heading the sports department of Habib Bank for quite sometime. He must be feeling at the top of the world now as both the captain and the vice-captain of the national team are his associates at the bank and hold him in very high esteem.

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Misbah disappointed at his omission from all formats

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

By the look of things Misbah-ul-Haq has been jolted with his omission from the Pakistan squads for the upcoming series of One-day Internationals, Twenty20 Internationals and Test matches against New Zealand.

The Pakistan squads were announced on October 22 and it appears as if Misbah was simply unaware of the line of thinking of the members of the national selection committee. His ‘informers’ were probably caught napping. Otherwise he might not have reacted so sharply when he came to know about his exclusion.

If Misbah had any idea of the selectors ruling him out from every squad he might have been tempted to use political channels to stay in the team.

There’s also a possibility that the decision to drop him was somehow kept a secret or the selection committee received the go-ahead signal from the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at the eleventh hour.

Whatever the reasons of his sacking, whether right or right, the selectors have certainly been embarrassed because on the same day Misbah scored an unbeaten 153 for Sui Northern Gas Company Limited (SNGCL) against Lahore Shalimar at the LCCA Ground in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy to dispel thoughts of loss of form.

I don’t think it’s going to be the end of the road for Misbah in international cricket as some of the commentators have passed the pressure. In fact I won’t be surprised if he regains his spot in the team even during the upcoming series against New Zealand.

The ball is in the court of Misbah and if plays his cards sensibly, besides scoring heavily and consistently in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the selectors might be prompted to recall him for the Test series later this year. If he could not be sent as replacement to New Zealand, he will be a strong contender for the series against Australia that follows soon afterwards.

There is plenty of cricket ahead for Pakistan in the next 12 months and Misbah can’t be written off so soon. He has the potential to stage a comeback. With Pakistan now playing even their ‘home’ matches abroad there’s greater chance of a vacancy being created in the batting department.

Misbah did have a poor run in all the three formats last year, after being so successful the year before, but he still has a lot to offer and there’s every chance for him returning to the national team sooner than later.

Misbah is a mentally tough character. He has shown his worth against strong teams after making a dramatic comeback in the international arena during the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007. He very nearly earned the crown for Pakistan almost single-handedly.

He then consolidated his position in the Test team by playing some fabulous knocks on Pakistan’s last tour to India in 2007-08. He became a permanent member of the team but with the return of Mohammad Yousuf and the advent of newcomers like Umar Akmal and his own form declining, the selectors now have given him a break.

Misbah would be hoping that this indeed is just a break and he could return with a bang in not too distant future.

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Confident Australia not to underestimate India

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

For a change there’s no war of words on the eve of an important series. It was becoming a tradition to say something that provoked the opposition and then a debate ensued on irrelevant matters.

Thankfully Ricky Ponting didn’t fire any shots in the air and his carefully worded media briefing in Mumbai on October 21 reflected the maturity expected of a captain who must be feeling at the top of the world after sterling performances with a youthful squad at his disposal.

The Australians, having thrashed England 6-1 in the ODI series before retaining the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa earlier this month, take on India on their turf in a series of seven One-day Internationals starting on October 25.

Australia, with their recent triumphs, have regained their number one status in the ODI rankings with India not very far behind at second position. So the series is actually a battle between the top two teams of the world at the moment.

Ponting, unlike the past, talked very positively upon his arrival in India and the message was loud and clear that his team was there to play cricket and avoid unnecessary controversies. It was a pleasant surprise to watch the Australian captain acknowledging the strength of their opponents instead of highlighting their weaknesses.

Ponting is obviously very keen for his Australian one-day side to continue their spectacular form into the Indian series.

"We have been playing very good one-day cricket for the last few months, beginning from the England tour, and we want to continue with that. We could not have done better than what we did in the last few one-day games. But we have a fresh set of challenges here," the Australian skipper remarked.

"India has a very good and strong one-day team and we are not underestimating them. We are the number one and number two teams in the world which points to an entertaining and good contest over the next few weeks. We just need to keep improving and be at our best right through the series," Ponting added.

He did not mince words in stating that he will have to shoulder additional responsibility in the absence of his deputy Michael Clarke due to a back injury. Also missing the ODI series are wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, batsman Callum Ferguson and left-arm quickie Nathan Bracken.

"The challenge will be how our middle-order batsmen cope with playing spin bowling over the next few weeks. Mike Hussey has played a lot of cricket here. Shane Watson and Tim Paine play spin well. I am confident the team will do a very good job," Ponting, in terrific form of late, hoped.

"I have played some of my best one-day cricket over the last few months. A lot of responsibility is on my shoulders as the number three batsman in the team," he conceded.

"We have always enjoyed playing in India and our rivalry over the last few years has been growing which is good for the world game," Ponting pointed out.

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Indian outfits made scapegoats

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

It’s really unfortunately on part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to have been a party to the exercise of minting money at the cost of their own players.

One could understand the eagerness of the BCCI in getting a major event staged on their soil after the shifting of the second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to South Africa at the eleventh hour due to security concerns following the blasts in Mumbai late last year.

By the look of things the BCCI appeared determined to host the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 contest by hook or crook. They are believed to have pioneered the idea of holding a tournament among the national champions in the shortest version of the game in different parts of the world.

There was nothing wrong with the idea. But did the cricket world need to invent yet another tournament at a time when the international calendar is already packed with far too many events? Wasn’t excessive amount of cricket already going on in nearly every part of the world?

The leaders of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the movers and shakers in the BCCI must have thought otherwise when floating another international event in the middle of a crowded schedule.

Probably they don’t realize that the game of cricket is getting flooded with events and the players are the worst sufferers. The quality of the game would indeed decline if the cricketers are kept engaged in the field day in and day out. The administrators of the game need to draw a line somewhere.

The role of the BCCI has often been criticized for compromising on the interests of the game for the sake of commercialism. I think they have done greater damage to the cause of their own cricketers by holding the Champions League that could easily have been avoided.

The lackluster performance of the three Indian participating outfits, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils suggested a certain amount of doubt in the minds of the cricket followers of the globe.

People having an insight of the game had a feeling the Indian teams were ‘pushed’ by certain quarters not to go beyond a defined line. In other words they were advised if not ordered to just play the tournament without making a serious attempt to win it.

It could not be mere coincidence that neither of the Indian teams could make it to the semifinals. All the three sides were pretty strong, packed with match-winners. Their below-par performance must have disappointed the crowds.

There’s also a feeling that the BCCI might have gone overboard in their pursuit for being generous hosts. They might have even given an assurance to the foreign Boards that their teams will not only be looked after well in India but they would also be obliged with inconceivable results.

It would look quite odd to have non-presence of a home team in the semifinal line-up. It may not be a cause of concern for the officials of the BCCI but the cricket crazy nation of one billion inhabitants would of course miss their stars in the knockout games.

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Younis Khan stays as captain

By Syed Khalid Mahmood

Uncertainty and unpredictability go hand in hand with Pakistan cricket. Nothing could be taken for granted in this part of the world. A captain can still be removed from office even after having performed beyond expectations and people can still get away with it after having taken the laws in their hands.

There were indications that the head of Younis Khan was to be put on the chopping block after Pakistan returned from South Africa, having made it to the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy against all odds.

The conspirators became proactive and the impression was being given that Younis had become a spent force and he needed to be replaced by someone as enterprising as Shahid Khan Afridi.

Even a few of the members of the Governing Body of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) were openly lobbying for Shahid and they were not afraid to publicly criticize Younis for his performance or the lack of it in the just concluded Champions Trophy.

With the PCB members seeking his blood, Younis must have been under enormous pressure when he confronted the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Sports in Islamabad.

In fact he had arrived there ready in all respects. He had done his homework in the interim period. He appeared mentally prepared to face the criticism from the Standing Committee after the provocative statements prior to the hearing.

He might have been pleasantly surprised to be cleared of any wrongdoing after all that drama that surrounded the hearing but he still decided to submit his resignation to the PCB Chairman, Ijaz Butt, who was also present on the occasion.

It could have been a pre-planned move because this allowed Younis to hog the limelight once more and silence the guns that were being targeted at him. All of a sudden he became so innocent and the PCB Chairman acted according to the plot.

Soon afterwards Younis had a one-to-one meeting with the PCB Chairman in which he is reported to have demanded more authority and a long-term tenure in lieu of taking back his resignation.

The PCB bosses don’t have an option right now. They can’t be expected to pass on the Test captaincy to Shahid Afridi who might struggle to make the playing eleven all the time. Some quarters have pleaded for the reinstatement of Shoaib Malik but that would have been too early at this stage.

With so much of cricket to be played by Pakistan during the next 12 months there hardly is any need for the change of guard in any case. Sacking Younis only because Pakistan lost to New Zealand in the semifinals of the ICC Championships would have been ridiculous.

All seems well now with Younis having taken back his resignation. He is ready to lead the national team once more with the PCB lending him the much needed support. He has been confirmed as the Pakistan captain till the 2011 World Cup, subject to fitness.

"I am very happy right now. The faith that the chairman and the board has placed in me again, it's good to know. The support that I have received from the board and the country through this time has been fantastic," the Pakistan skipper acknowledged.

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