Heart-warming win

One hopes that the senior team takes a cue from youngsters and gives creditable performances in the ongoing Asia Cup.

With all the controversies and mayhem that has engulfed the Pakistani cricket off the field in recent times, we often forget that our cricketers are still capable of producing stunning on-field performances, often glossing over the mis-governance that has become the hallmark of the national cricketing set-up. The Pakistan under-19 team provided yet another reminder of the immense talent that the country possesses by entering the final of the Under-19 World Cup in the UAE in grand style, beating England by three wickets in a thrilling semi-final. Tottering at 142 for seven, chasing 205 for victory, the game seemed to have truly slipped out of Pakistan’s hands, but the eighth wicket pair of Zafar Gohar and Amad Butt scripted a truly sensational chase, adding 63 runs and sealing a place in the final in the last over of the match.

The grit and the never-say-die approach of the young guns has been a truly heartening sight. Watching the team’s progress through the tournament, Pakistani fans will be reassured that the country’s bowling stocks will remain in good hands in the future, with the bowlers giving a good account of themselves so far. As far as the batting goes, while the openers have excelled with three century opening stands in the tournament, the brittleness of the middle order has been obvious, indicating that solid coaching is needed in this department. The fielding, on the other hand, has been high class, something which is not often associated with Pakistan. While we hope for another splendid performance in the final on March 1, whatever the result turns out to be, the under-19 team has already shown that Pakistan cannot be sidelined in the global cricketing set-up. The Big Three cricket boards may possess most of the power and money, but as purely a cricketing force, Pakistan has a lot to offer to world cricket. One hopes that the senior team takes a cue from the youngsters and gives creditable performances in the ongoing Asia Cup.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 26^th, 2014.

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