KARACHI: Our cricket team gave the nation great joy by winning the One-Day International (ODI) series against India on their home soil. It outclassed the world champions in every department of the game except in the last ODI in New Delhi. However, despite this heartwarming show, the national team need to learn a few lessons in order to continue its winning ways.
In the first ODI, Kamran Akmal got out after losing his temper following fast-bowler Ishant Sharma indulging in incendiary behaviour. The Pakistani wicket-keeper paid the penalty of losing his calm and hurt the team by gifting his wicket away. The lesson to be learnt is to remain composed in all situations in the interest of the team.
Another lesson can be learnt from the way Umar Akmal got out in the last ODI, coming down the pitch against the spin and then just trying to push at the ball, missing it completely and ending up getting stumped. This was a highly careless way of playing at the top level. Barring the match-winning heroics of Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez, the general tendency of the batting line-up is to either defend every ball or go for boundaries without realising the importance of ones and twos. It is because of this that we could not even score 168 in 50 overs in the last match at Delhi.
Another thing to note is that a new and promising player who delivers on the field is much better than the stars who continue to be liabilities for the team. In fact, players who fail consistently need to bow out with grace, dignity and honour in the larger interest of the team.
The positive from the series was undoubtedly the Pakistan world-class bowling attack. We saw some great exhibition of pace bowling from Mohammad Irfan, Junaid Khan and Umar Gul while Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik were on top of their game in the spin department. They made Indian batting celebrities look ordinary and helpless. Bowlers were ably supported by fielders who looked alert and agile for a change. However, the lesson to be learnt is that there is no room for complacency as the name of the game remains consistency and excellence in all departments.
Parvez Jamil
Published in The Express Tribune, January 8th, 2013.
