Tale of 2 Pakistani teams
Saturday, May 8, 2010
11:54 AM
Labels: 2010 , 2010 Pakistan , 2010 World Cup , editorial , 0 comments
Defending champions Pakistan have again pulled up a dismal performance in their Match against New Zealand and have virtually thrown in towel during 2010 World T20.
Any level of scrutiny of their performance so far will be waste of time, because the purspose of any scrutiny is to unearth a discernable trend and identify the future plan. However, the way Pakistan play gives an indication that there can be no action plan possible or roadmap can be prepared to improve the performance. However, they still come up with some outrageous results which indicate that there are always 2 Pakistani teams and you never know which one will take the field on any given day or during a tournament. Physicists might be interested as Pakistani performances might be the best proof yet of existence of parallel universes. The evidence exists and we can focus on their performances in T20 World Cups till date.
The first memory of the not so good Pakistani team dates to 14-Sep-2007 when they played against India in the first World T20. After restricting India to 4-36, Pakistan allowed India to reach a total of 141. A modest score by current standards, it was a good score then because World Cup was just taking wings and no one had the knowledge or experience of the format. After a not so bad bowling performance, Pakistan followed India to the end of the match loosing wickets looking disinterested in chase and failing to croos the target. It took a great effort from Misbah to reach the target and the match went into a bowl-out. It was clear that both Pakistani teams were on the ground and have outdone each other during various stages and India were mere participants. However, the not so good Pakistani team took control and failed to hit the stumps in 3 attempts while India scored all 3. It was their own undoing as the bowlers had to simply hit the stumps with no batsman taking guard.
After disastrous performance, the good Pakistani team took field and defeated Australia, Lanka, Bangladesh and NZ to reach final of first World T20.
The final match was a cliffhanger with fortunes swinging one way and the other throughout the match. Just when Pakistan looked out of the match came out Misbah again and smashed bowlers all over the ground. Finally, the good Pakistan team was on the ground and was taking the world cup home... but wait, the second team kicked in and when it was impossible for them to win, Misbah scooped a catch to very thankful Sreesanth who held it and thus accepted the World cup as a gift from Pakistan.
During second edition of World Cup, both Pakistani team took the pitch alternatively. One won the matches with ease against Netherlands, New Zealand and Ireland with ease; while other was shameful in loosing to England and Sri Lanka till they reached semi-finals.
No one knew which way the camel will sit but Pakistan defeated SA during semi-final and avenged their Super 8 defeat against Sri Lanka in final to lift the cup.
This year, not so good Pakistani team has dominated their better counterparts and have pulled one miserable performane after other against Australia, New Zealand and England.
It remains to be seen which team takes field against South Arfica in their last Super 8
The cracks will appear in the team and management. Blame game will begin till scape goats are identified and reprimanded. However, both the Pakistani teams are here to stay because both exist in mind and heart of each Pakistani cricketer.
Any level of scrutiny of their performance so far will be waste of time, because the purspose of any scrutiny is to unearth a discernable trend and identify the future plan. However, the way Pakistan play gives an indication that there can be no action plan possible or roadmap can be prepared to improve the performance. However, they still come up with some outrageous results which indicate that there are always 2 Pakistani teams and you never know which one will take the field on any given day or during a tournament. Physicists might be interested as Pakistani performances might be the best proof yet of existence of parallel universes. The evidence exists and we can focus on their performances in T20 World Cups till date.
The first memory of the not so good Pakistani team dates to 14-Sep-2007 when they played against India in the first World T20. After restricting India to 4-36, Pakistan allowed India to reach a total of 141. A modest score by current standards, it was a good score then because World Cup was just taking wings and no one had the knowledge or experience of the format. After a not so bad bowling performance, Pakistan followed India to the end of the match loosing wickets looking disinterested in chase and failing to croos the target. It took a great effort from Misbah to reach the target and the match went into a bowl-out. It was clear that both Pakistani teams were on the ground and have outdone each other during various stages and India were mere participants. However, the not so good Pakistani team took control and failed to hit the stumps in 3 attempts while India scored all 3. It was their own undoing as the bowlers had to simply hit the stumps with no batsman taking guard.
After disastrous performance, the good Pakistani team took field and defeated Australia, Lanka, Bangladesh and NZ to reach final of first World T20.
The final match was a cliffhanger with fortunes swinging one way and the other throughout the match. Just when Pakistan looked out of the match came out Misbah again and smashed bowlers all over the ground. Finally, the good Pakistan team was on the ground and was taking the world cup home... but wait, the second team kicked in and when it was impossible for them to win, Misbah scooped a catch to very thankful Sreesanth who held it and thus accepted the World cup as a gift from Pakistan.
During second edition of World Cup, both Pakistani team took the pitch alternatively. One won the matches with ease against Netherlands, New Zealand and Ireland with ease; while other was shameful in loosing to England and Sri Lanka till they reached semi-finals.
No one knew which way the camel will sit but Pakistan defeated SA during semi-final and avenged their Super 8 defeat against Sri Lanka in final to lift the cup.
This year, not so good Pakistani team has dominated their better counterparts and have pulled one miserable performane after other against Australia, New Zealand and England.
It remains to be seen which team takes field against South Arfica in their last Super 8
The cracks will appear in the team and management. Blame game will begin till scape goats are identified and reprimanded. However, both the Pakistani teams are here to stay because both exist in mind and heart of each Pakistani cricketer.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
0 Response to "Tale of 2 Pakistani teams"
Post a Comment