Since after winning the 1992 World Cup, Pakistan have been struggling to regain their past glories in competitive cricket. During the nineties, there were times when Pakistan cricket showed some glimpses of quality, but after debacle in the 2003 World Cup, the game suffered due to ad hoc policies of the non-cricketing brains of those at the helm of affairs.
Not aware of the fact that playing the best cricket against the best teams requires a shrewd cricketing brain, as also leading the team from the front.
If a captain lacks the quality of asserting his authority and is dependent on the advice of the coach, he is bound to face criticism.
Unlike Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar, who piled scores when other batsmen clicked with the willow, Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq rescued his team when the top order batting crumbled and snatched victory from the opponents.
No doubt, his batting performance is excellent. His contribution to the game and his role in the middle order is attracting. His game is characterised by style, aggression and often dazzling brilliance.
Inzamam has earned respect from his fans and fellow cricketers due to his down-to-earth gentle nature.
But his fitness record for the last couple of months gave an opportunity to a particular lobby against his leadership qualities. Although Inzamam has repeatedly said that he would retire after the 2007 World Cup, the elements opposed to him want him not only to be replaced by a young captain, but also drop him from the 2007 World Cup squad.
Determined to play the 2007 World Cup, Inzamam is struggling to be fit not only for the Test and one-day series against England, but also for the mega event in the West Indies.
VICTORY OVER SRI LANKA:
Anyhow, while the first one-dayer of three-match One-day International at Colombo was abandoned due to heavy rains, Pakistan have unconvincingly won the low-scoring second match of the series against the second string of Sri Lanka by four wickets.
Pakistan, struggling to come out of their series loss against India, openers Salman Butt and Shahid Afridi added to the miseries of the visitors when they were dismissed for four and two respectively.
After their exit, one down Shoaib Malik tried to accelerate the run rate but was dismissed for 17. Later, vice-captain Younus khan, followed by captain Inzamam-ul-Haq were back to the dressing room after contributing four and one run respectively to the total. However, it was all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, who steered Pakistan to a hard-fought four-wicket victory. He struck a defiant 41 not out to pass the home side's meagre 130.
Razzaq faced 101 deliveries. He did not hit a boundary off the first 98 deliveries before unleashing some big shots to seal a memorable win with over five overs to spare. He added 35 runs for the sixth wicket with Mohammad Yousuf (26) and an unfinished 52 for the next with Kamran Akmal (20).
Razzaq, who had earlier in the day bagged two wickets, hit seamer Nuwan Kulasekara for a four, a six and then a winning four through mid-wicket off consecutive balls.
Earlier, Sri Lanka, who were without their four key players, fought back very well, before crashing for just 130 as Pakistan's seamers justified Inzamam's decision to field first, ripping through the top and middle-order to reduce the home side to 56 for seven by the 21st over.
Pakistan's pace attack bowled exceptionally well with Muhammad Asif, Rana Naved-ul-Hassan, Rao Iftikhar and Abdul Razzaq keeping line and length with deadly accuracy. Rana Naved returned the best figures of three for 23, while Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar bagged a couple each while Mohammad Asif, leg-spinner Shahid Afridi one and two wickets respectively.
COMIC RELIEF:
Meanwhile, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has provided comic relief to the cricket fans in the country by praising "world class" experienced Pakistan batting line-up against a young and mediocre Sri Lankan bowling.
He was happy that Muttiah Muralitharan could not take a single wicket, but he was shy to admit that Pakistan, having such a strong batting line-up, could only reach the winning target of 131 runs after losing top six wickets, including those of captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younus Khan, Mohammad Yousuf and Shahid Afridi. He should, however, be thankful to Abdul Razzaq, who helped Pakistan win the match.
However, one must appreciate Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene for leading injury-depleted young side against Pakistan's strong and experienced side in the second one-dayer.
Leading a team without players of the calibre of Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu and Chaminda Vaas was an uphill task for Jayawardene.
He admitted: "We batted badly and ended up about 40 runs short of a decent total, but I was really impressed by the spirit the youngsters showed in the field - we really fought hard and we can take a lot of positives from that. But this is a great opportunity for young players to gain experience," he said.
OPENERS PROBLEM:
As usual, the team management, including coach Woolmer, has failed to solve the opening pair problem. Despite having a regular opener, Imran Farhat, why Inzamam and his "mentor" sent Shahid Afridi to open the innings with Salman Butt.
If the ad hoc administration of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) really wants see Pakistan make their presence felt in the 2007 World Cup, it should concentrate all its energies in finding and grooming a dependable opening pair, otherwise Pakistan will be in dire straits.
Moreover, it is surprising why experienced Younus Khan is not playing at his regular number three position, as he is not a down order batsman.
Pakistan's fielding had been poor and pathetic, especially in the circle, not allowing the opponents to take quick singles and twos at ease as was seen the second one-dayer against Sri Lanka. The PCB bosses should ask Woolmer to serious to this department and advice Inzamam to place the right fielders in the right positions and according to the need of bowler.
It is a pity that Inzamam and his coach Bob Woolmer are unaware of the art of finishing. When the hosts were 7-56, the visitors should not have allowed the hosts to score 130, but lack of vision allowed the hosts to recover, although they could have been dismissed at a far lesser total.
It is interesting to mention here that Inzamam, without naming is criticising former captain and coach Javed Miandad for his comments. Australian former cricket legend Ian Chappell was all praise for Miandad's cricketing brain.
He repeatedly recalled Miandad's tactical strategies and advice to Imran Khan.
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