By Dr. Naved Yazdani

When Pakistan was tottering at 10 for 3 in their second innings at Mohali, few, including myself had any doubt left about the fate of the game. At that stage Pakistan was still 194 runs in arrears and had to face almost five full playing sessions with only 7 wickets and a tarnished Test match reputation in hand. Then came a great fight back through Inzamam, Youhana and Asim Kamal to carry Pakistan to a thin lead of 54 runs with only 4 wickets in tact. They were surely facing an impossible task of saving the game at stumps on day four. Most of the national press screamed with headlines like “Pakistan facing certain defeat” and we read those with a sense of hopelessness and despair. But Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq had other ideas when they started to bat on the last day.

Not only did they consume time but most importantly scored quickly enough and by lunch Pakistan’s lead had extended to 165! That’s where the pressure started to mount on Indians to prove a few points. And knowing from India’s last tour to Pakistan one can clearly see that when the onus shifts on the home side, they usually crumble under that pressure. Between lunch and tea every passing over kept on mounting the pressure on Indians and the batsmen showed so much dedication, commitment and tenacity that Inzamam had the luxury of declaring the innings! Who could have imagined that?

All in all this Test match should serve Pakistan as a turning point in their Test performances and should give them the confidence to start thinking in terms of beating India in the Test series. But they should also ponder over the top order batting issue and in my opinion Shahid Afridi and Yasser Hameed should be definitely in for the Kolkata game at the expense of Younas Khan and Salman Butt. Even the worst case scenario of Afridi getting out quickly should not be a reason for too much worry. Now I say that because Afridi is a sort of player who can score a quick 30 or 40 and can open the flow of runs from the top order. And we all know what a good leg spinner and motivator he is. So his presence will add a lot more to the spice in our batting, bowling and fielding displays. Yasser Hameed has the temperament and technique to provide the much required solidity and sanity up the order.

Pakistan’s performance at Mohali is surely a sterling one as it was against all odds. They were playing in front of a friendly but Indian crowd, they were pushed with their backs on the wall for the first four days of the game, they played with only three and a half bowlers, they were under extreme pressure from all corners of the country to perform, and last but not the least they had to endure some extremely doubtful umpiring decisions going against them. Inzamam’s dismissal in both the innings, Asim Kamal’s dismissal in the second innings and generous gift of a second chance to Sachin by Rudi Kerstin when the batsman had clearly edged the ball straight to the fielder and the whole Pakistan side seemed delirious with joy at getting him out for 5, are yet another example of umpires seeming to favor the perceived stronger side. Any way, these factors have only proved one thing that Pakistan has at least learnt the art of self belief and can turn the game on its head from the tough tour of Australia.

This piece of writing will not be complete without saluting the performance of yet another Pakistani in the cricket fields. Aleem Dar is doing a tremendous job in New Zealand and his total disregard to the names and images of Glen McGraw, Shane Warne and Brett Lee is extremely heartening to watch and should serve as inspiration for David Shepherd at the other end who seems to be deciding on the basis of who is appealing against whom rather than where the ball is pitching and where it is likely to go after pitching.

Well done Inzamam and co and keep the spirit up for the coming games. All the best to the guys with green caps!

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2005 Naved Yazdani)