When legends were made

In many ways the Pak-Sri Lanka tour has been a fitting sequel to highs of hosting cricket in Pakistan after six years

KARACHI: Think Pakistan and it brings up images of fast-bowlers running in at full throttle, dismantling entire teams in fearsome spells of swing and pace, performing remarkable feats of heroism in moments of sheer inspiration. But every now and then, the country’s batsmen — almost always under the shadow of those who ply their trade with the ball — pull off something just as remarkable.

These stories hold a special place in Pakistani hearts because they are so few and far between. Stories an entire generation has grown up with, stories that will never be forgotten. Stories that millions will tell their grandchildren.

Of the time Inzamamul Haq single-handedly staved off humiliation against Bangladesh in Multan, of when Abdul Razzaq smashed a shell-shocked South Africa for 109 off 72 balls in Dubai, of Shahid Afridi’s cameo against India in the 2014 Asia Cup, of Umar Gul’s out of the blue knock against South Africa in the 2012 World T20.

On August 1, Messrs Afridi, Anwar Ali and Imad Wasim somehow conspired to add another such tale to the list. As is the case with such Pakistan wins, everything was against them; the odds, the history, the sporting patterns, common sense, logic and, judging by the running between the wickets, the players themselves.

When Shoaib Malik danced down the track, only to waltz back to the dressing room, Pakistan were left 40-5. No regular team had won a match from that position in T20 history. The only other instance of a successful chase from a similar scoreline had been when Hong Kong made 73 against Nepal. Here the target was exactly a hundred runs more, and Sri Lanka are no Nepal. But then again, Pakistan are no Hong Kong either.

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The men in the middle did not inspire confidence though. Mohammad Rizwan had made six runs in three T20s before this one, Afridi was woefully short of confidence and form with the bat, having made 129 in 12 matches in the past two years. To follow were Imad Wasim, who had batted just once before and had made an unbeaten four, and Anwar Ali, who had made a grand total of 19 runs in 10 T20s.

It was as typically Pakistan as it gets. First came the suicidal acts, then the escape. But soon again hope was lost, only to be seized back when all seemed hopeless. When the win was within touching distance, the inexplicable moments of sabotage returned. And then, a day after the sightings of a blue moon, they finally pulled off a once in a blue moon victory, both literally and figuratively.

The only surprise, considering how many times we have been here before, is that it was still surprising. In hindsight, perhaps it was only when all results were possible again that only one result was possible. Only when Pakistan stopped being the favourites once again that they became the absolute favourites. Only when one miscalculation could have ended in heartache did Imad send the ball sailing over long on to break Sri Lankan hearts.

In many ways this tour has been a fitting sequel to the highs of hosting cricket in Pakistan after six years. The Tests were won in defiant fashion as Shan Masood and Younus Khan helped pull off a historic chase in the deciding third and final match. The ODI series was then wrapped up in four matches. That was followed by this remarkable T20 whitewash to give Pakistan wins on an away tour in all three formats against a top eight side for the first time ever.

Even more encouragingly, it was the first time in recent memory that the wins were delivered almost exclusively by the batsmen.

The echoes of these wins will reverberate through the rankings. Pakistan are now third in both Tests and T20Is, and qualification for the Champions Trophy looks more and more likely with every passing day that brings us closer to the September 30 deadline.

Sterner tests in the form of England and Australia await on the horizon, but for now Pakistan can kick back and relax, safe in the knowledge that this tour of Sri Lanka will go down in history as the stuff of legends.