An Encore Most Unwanted!
If the script to Pakistan’s T20 World Cup triumph was written in the stars, then Lollywood’s finest must have penned the one to its encore, a first away-test-series loss to Sri Lanka. Who else could have concocted a recipe of action, thrills, and suspense, fit it into one neat package, and still end up with a train wrecked tragedy? This series was supposed to be the continuation of a journey that began last month with a monumental victory at the Lords Cricket Ground. Pakistanis all across the world heralded that victory as a new beginning for our beleaguered nation. Not even one month on and dark clouds of doubt have enveloped this dream of a new dawn. In truth, 30 wickets fell for circa 200 runs over three mind numbing innings to an average bowling attack. In reality however, quicksand set in, sucking the life out of its supporters.
The aftermath of this colossal setback has already started to unfold. A long list of excuses has surfaced, of which not enough cricket, bad mental preparation, and poor umpiring are the odds on favourites to stand the test of scrutiny. All three are well supported by unintelligent conjecture and a notable plea for time. However, conspicuous absentees are chaotic opening partnerships, and a fragile middle order which a 40-year-old Inzamam would put to shame. No mention is made either of a wicketkeeper batsman who after a brief reunion with form has reverted to his proverbial miserable self. Lack of pace and consistent bowling penetration continues to be met with a deafening silence. And “butter fingers” is still considered a confectionary brand, not an affliction suffered by our starting 11.
Today’s competitive world seldom rewards a lack of planning. Shortage of courage has even poorer returns, exemplified in the decision to debut Fawad Alam at the top of the order. Make no mistake, any attempt to classify this decision as ingenious needs to be met with a firm rebuttal of “spineless”! Nothing justifies debuting a 23 year old in a position that requires the best technique and carries the most pressure. One gets a sense of the absurdity of this decision when put into further perspective that Fawad has never played even a first class innings in that position. At a time when senior batsmen needed to step up and take charge to rectify a position almost entirely of their own making, they chose to seek refuge in the middle order. How ironic then that such an act of cowardice be rewarded by fate with 168 going to the debutant and a combined 18 going to positions 4-7. The end never justifies the means or bad rationale. Fawad’s innings is testament to his previously mostly overlooked cricketing potential. It is not however, evidence of a captain’s effort to wrest initiative from the opposition and certainly not worthy of folklore that this account is threatening to now become.
The notion that success in T20 cricket is easily transferred to Test cricket has been put to shame. The former may well afford or even reward a lack of method to the madness but the latter is clearly not as forgiving. Pakistan cricket continuously fails to realise that modern era champions, sporting or otherwise, are made as much from individual talent as from the systems they are developed within. Employing short-term measures to tackle longer-term institutional problems is business as usual at the PCB. Smart money suggests that the PCB Chairman, whoever he/she may be at that point, will be itching to yet again disregard lessons of the past and order bandages for this cancer.
Nonetheless, as recent events have certified, Pakistan cricket makes the impossible possible (although more often than not visa versa), with the same frequency as Javed Miandad tenders resignations. It is this very notion that spares the tiniest belief that a dispassionate appraisal of Pakistan cricket will indeed take place. This evaluation will need to be replete with the team spirit shown three weeks ago if one off successes are to become habitual. Team selection and talent management are issues that need to be addressed with urgency. We cannot afford to settle with mediocrity when talents such as Fawad Alam and Mohammed Aamer are at our disposal.
For cricket to flourish, the impasse between logic and ad-hoc has to be broken letting the PCB function as a credible regulatory body, nationally and internationally. The blame for losing hosting rights to the ICC Cricket World Cup has thus far been ably shouldered by the harrowing attack on the Sri Lankan cricketers in Lahore. However, had the PCB been given a little more time to employ its full repertoire of corrupt ineptitude, it was more than capable of accomplishing this task without the assistance of those lunatics. Such is the confidence appreciated to this dictatorially appointed body of wannabes and has-beens. No wonder then that the board’s penchant to wash dirty linen in public has become second nature. Little preference is placed between political intervention, divine intervention, or more unlikely personal introspection to trigger a transformation in fortunes. Partiality is reserved however, for change itself.
After the euphoric pandemonium of June, no one predicted a bipolar reality check of such magnitude. Match practice may lessen the blows of unpredictability but will not prevent the eventuality of a knockout. What is required is a strong chin to take the blows, a strong head to learn from past mistakes, and a strong will to bounce back harder and faster. There are no short cuts to good results and no substitute for hard work. The top three sides in the world understand this fundamental truth. If we are to compete with the likes then so must we.
