Sportsman spirit demands acceptance of defeat, of course in a well-contested match, with open hearts and grace, but if the match turns one-sided and the defeat is nothing but a total surrender, it gives rise to suspicion. The recently-concluded Pakistan-India One-day International (ODIs) Series provided occasions to the people to applaud the exemplary performances of certain players from both the teams and condemn those who failed to rise to the occasion, but, at the same time, it was not free from suspicion and doubts.
Apparently, the series was fair, but there are people, who could not swallow the humiliation at the hands of the arch-rivals and smell some foulplay They feel that there was something wrong, which brought disgrace to the "friendship cricket series."
The series was nothing but a game of hide-and-seek. The Irony of the fate was that while in one match, the batsmen clicked, the bowlers ditched them and in the other matches when the bowlers demolished the Indian batting, the batsmen and fielders failed to click.
The Indians have landed in Pakistan to play five one-day and three-Test series after over 14 years, so the enthusiasm in this part of the world was natural. People here wanted to see how Pakistan's new-look team performs against super-fit and inform Indians.
LITMUS TEST: Moreover, the series was also a litmus test for "world's fastest bowler" Shoaib Akhtar and a battery of "strong bowling" of Pakistan. But the hype, created by some cricket pundits in the print and electronic media claim of "strong" bowling attack was shattered in the series opener at Karachi on March 13 when the visitors treated the hosts' "deterrence" with contempt.
In the process, they forgot their line and length and gifted 38 extra runs and six more overs to the visitors to set a target of 349 runs in 50 plus six extra overs.
In reply, Pakistan chased the big total, but were bundled out for 344 runs in the stipulated 50, thus losing the match by just five runs. In this match, India too gave 19 extra runs.
Pakistan could have won the first one-dayer at Karachi, but lack of a game plan and strategy helped the match to slip to India. Although Pakistan batsmen, especially openers Shahid Afridi and Yasir Hameed, provided a solid base to the middle and lower order batting, it was expected that they would succeed in chasing the big total set by India. But in the dying hours, wicket-keeper batsman Moin Khan, who was considered a big improviser of the game, failed to bring victory to Pakistan.
Despite erratic and inaccurate bowling, fielding lapses, dropping of catches and irresponsible batting, especially by the middle and lower order batsmen, the match was well-contested and full of warmth.
SECOND ODI: Pakistan have won the second one-day (day-night) at Rawalpindi by Just 12 runs. Pakistan, batting first, scored 329 runs in the stipulated overs, while India failed to chase the target and were dismissed at 317 runs. In this match, Pakistan conceded 37 sundries, while India gave 21 extras. However, Pakistan won the match by 12 runs.
The third one-day match at Peshawar was a low-scoring match as compared to Karachi and Rawalpindi. India, batting first, scored 244 runs. Pakistan won the match, scoring 248 runs, by four wickets. In this match, Pakistan gave 33 extra runs as against India's 18 runs.
After victories in the Rawalpindi and Peshawar one-dayers, it was expected that the hosts would consolidate their win 3-2 by winning the fourth one-dayers at Lahore.
Pakistan once again won the toss and batted first and gave a 293-run target, which India achieved after losing five wickets. In this match, Pakistan once again excelled the visitors by giving 37 runs as against India's 30.
Though Pakistan were close to a victory, the way the Indian batsmen chased the total, turning the table, was a treat to watch.
Thanks to Pakistan's so-called pace attack and a lethargic ground fielding, which allowed the Indian batsmen to play shots at will. They simply reduced speedsters Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, medium pacer Abul Razzaq to club level bowlers, who conceded no less than 30 extras, adding miseries to captain Inzamam-ul-Haq.
The result was that India levelled the series 2-2 by defeating the hosts by five wickets.
LAST ONE-DAYER: The win in the fourth match gave Indians a psychological edge over their hosts and they took Pakistan in the last and final match with renewed vigour.
Pakistan after winning the toss invited India to bat first. The decision was criticised not only by former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, but also the radio and television commentators. However, captain Inzaman-ul-Haq had paid the price of his childish decision.
In this match, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Abdul Razzaq maintained their line and length, giving a little over 10 runs, and restricted India to 295 runs.
EASY TARGET: It was an easy target, the way Pakistan's top order batting flopped was beyond imagination. Four top order batsmen were seen resting in the dressing room for just 29 runs. However, the irresponsible batting by top order ditched all hopes of winning the match and the team was bundled out for 253 runs in 41 overs. Thanks to Abdul Razzaq and Moin Khan, who had been a batting flop throughout the series, clicked for the first time and saved Pakistan from a humiliating defeat by scoring 72 brilliant runs. Had there been one or two established batsman, Moin would have helped Pakistan to win the series. Mohammad Sami also contributed positively, but his dismissal had put the last nail in the coffin of Pakistan team.
Anyhow, a well-knit Indian team outplayed a disjointed Pakistan squad in all departments of the game.
Besides, the series was a classic example of lack of a proper game plan, effective strategy and players commitment, dedication and application. It is upto the captain to inculcate in the players the sense of responsibility and guide them to the goal he wants to achieve, but captain Inzamam-ul-Haq lacked in this field. He could not control his bowlers from being erratic and inaccurate, and ask them to contain run rate and maintain line and length and bowl according to field placings.
Despite his own performances with the willow, Inzamam's shortcomings and follys in the field indicated his shaky and indecisive approach to the game.
Comparing with Indian captain Saurav Ganguly and his deputy Rahul Dravid, who were much more matured, confident and mentally tough, Inzamam and Yousuf Youhana were far behind in these qualities.
In one-day cricket, the bowlers always try to contain the run rate and compel the batsmen to commit mistakes, but in case of Pakistan, it is the bowlers, who commit mistakes and allow the batsmen to play shots at will. Since Pakistani bowlers specialise in giving too many extras, which help the rivals to accumulate big totals, creating troubles for Pakistan.
WAQAR'S VIEWS: One may not disagree with Pakistan's former captain Waqar Younus' suggestion to the Pakistani bowlers to learn a trick or two from their Indian counterparts, who have been remarkably consistent in the series.
Waqar was of the view that Pakistani bowlers were pretty experienced, much more than the Indians, but they were trying a bit too hard and were not disciplined.
One of the fast bowling greats, Waqar also does not consider the Indian bowling as a "weak link" any more. "I don't know why people call the Indian bowling weak link. They may be a bit inexperienced, but they are good. They are improving day by day," he said.
He was particularly impressed with the way rookie seamer Irfan Pathan bowled in the series. "Pathan is very aggressive. He has a beautiful inswinger," he said.
About Zaheer Khan, who struggled early in the one-day series, he said, the left-arm seamer was coming back to his wicket-taking ways. He has got everything and has a lot of potential. "As he bowls more, he will get better," Waqar said.
Waqar also lauded the Indian batting, saying: "They deserve a lot of praise for the way they performed in the one-day series. The newcomers have matured and the batsmen rose to the occasion."
He also endorsed former captain Imran Khan's suggestion that Pakistan needed a bowling coach to tide over their erratic performance.
"Coach Javed Miandad is hard working. But there should be somebody who can work on the bowling. He should teach them to bowl straight," he said.
FAULTY SALECTION: However, the series has exposed the selectors, headed by former Test wicket-keeper Wasim Bari, who failed to pick the players for the crunch matches. Inclusion of Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik, who played all the five matches, proved a total failure. Moreover, dropping of spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who had, on various occasions, proved to be good batsman in the dying hours.
It is strange that Bari and his colleagues in the selection committee could not read the body language of the players whom he has selected for the all-important one-day and Test series.
Whatever are the reasons for Pakistan's dismal performance in the series, the fact is that Pakistan suffered because of weak leadership, lack of vision, game plan, effective strategy, application, irresponsible non-serious approach to the game, commitment and above all faulty selection of the team.
All said and done, the fact is that a well-knit team has defeated 11 individuals, who may be anything but not professional cricketers.