Humbling South Africa

At the start of the first Test against South Africa on October 14, not many would have expected Pakistan, the world’s sixth-ranked Test side, to cause an upset and defeat the top-ranked Proteas. Four days later, that is exactly what happened, with the nation being treated to a surprise seven-wicket victory by the national team, which put behind its embarrassing loss to Zimbabwe last month in emphatic fashion and humbled the mighty South Africans. Besides restoring the morale of the team after an indifferent display through much of the year, this win also brought with it many positives. Pakistan finally seemed to have discovered a fine opening pair, with Khurram Manzoor and debutant Shan Masood giving impressing performances, the duo putting on Pakistan’s first century stand for the opening wicket in 22 innings.

Captain Misbahul Haq continued his brilliant form with a fourth Test hundred and also steadied the ship when Pakistan had lost three quick wickets in pursuit of a small target in the second innings. In addition, the Pakistani bowlers also gave a good account of themselves, with left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar making an impressive debut. With the Pakistani batting, which has given much grief to the fans in recent times, finally coming good, perhaps, the one thing the team management may still be missing is lack of a quality all-rounder.

Misbah and coach Dav Whatmore will be well aware that a team of the quality of South Africa will not take this defeat lying down and will do their best in the second Test — starting on October 23 — to hit back hard and level the series. Given this, there will absolutely be no room for complacency in the national team’s ranks. One would hope that this performance will not prove to be a flash in the pan and that Pakistan will continue their good show in the second Test and in the subsequent limited-overs matches against South Africa.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 19^th, 2013.

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