Well played, Pakistan

Following an ordinary ODI series, Misbahul’s men defeated Australia by massive 221-run win in the first tests

Ever since gaining Test status, Pakistan cricket has remained mercurial and unpredictable. After suffering a heavy defeat in their opening Test against India in 1952, Pakistan turned the tables on their arch-rivals in the very next game. This trend has remained an integral part of Pakistan cricket till the present times. Following an ordinary One-Day International series, where the national team was whitewashed 3-0 by Australia, Misbahul Haq’s men piled misery on Michael Clarke’s team by recording a crushing 221-run win in the first of two Tests in the UAE.

Pakistan were down and out, team spirit was not at its greatest and the bowling attack was barely recognisable to the international media covering the match. But after a brilliant resurgence by Younus Khan and Sarfraz Ahmed with the bat, the same set of rookie bowlers turned the heat on their vastly experienced rivals to ensure that the momentum built by posting a big first-innings score was sustained throughout the match.

The significance of this win cannot be emphasised enough. Australia have won no less than 13 consecutive Tests against Pakistan starting from 1999 to the first Test of the ‘home’ series in England in 2010. Some of the greats of the game — Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamamul Haq, Mohammad Yousuf — failed to lead their teams to victories over this torturous period. Some of the demons of the past have been buried in Dubai, but the last thing Pakistan would want to do is to take Australia lightly. Clarke minced no words at the post-match presentation by stating that his team will bounce back with all its power and ability in the second Test that starts on October 30. Last year, too, Pakistan recorded an overwhelming win in the first Test of the series against South Africa — only to come crashing down in the second Test that in Dubai. So, an over-confident attitude should be the last thing on the minds of Misbah’s troops — a Test series win over Australia after a monumental 20-year period beckons. This opportunity must not be lost.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2014.

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