There will hardly be any dull moments in Pakistan cricket – off-the-field chaos is a day-to-day affair in Pakistan cricket. Some of the chaoses are such venomous that it not only jolts Pakistan cricket but world cricket as well. But despite all these controversies, the Pakistani team doesn’t lose the confidence to move on.
Last night at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, in the second ODI against South Africa, Abdul Razzaq’s bat blazed in such a manner that it hardly seemed that this Pakistan team have been shaken by the recent spot-fixing saga.
If any team can do it then that’s Pakistan and if any team can blow it then that team is also Pakistan! It was simply jaw-dropping stuff from Abdur Razzaq who rose to the occasion from nowhere and pulled off an astonishing match where Pakistan looked to have lost it.
The composed knock of Collin Ingram was forgotten, the sweet touches of Hashim Amla suddenly became a distant memory and the swashbuckling knock of JP Duminy lost its shine in front of Razzaq’s Herculian efforts under the bright floodlights of Sheikh Zayed Stadium. The crowd continued to chant ‘Razzaq’ and ‘Razzaq’ and even it seemed that the calmness of the desert and gentle night breeze also had joined the Abu Dhabi crowd to chant ‘Razzaq’, ‘Razzaq’ and ‘Razzaq’.
The day started for the Pakistanis with the sad news of the ICC’s verdict on the suspended trio, whose provisional appeal had been rejected by the ICC. Millions of hearts were broken and they needed their favourite team to deliver the goods. The fans needed a win from Pakistan to heal their wounded heart.
Pakistan were given a target of 287 by South Africa and not surprisingly, it was a shaky start by the Pakistanis. The top order departed cheaply and Pakistan found themselves reeling at 70 for 4. Shahid Afridi and Fawad Alam chipped in with a useful partnership and Afridi was looking dangerous but an innings that was flourishing magnificently perished and Pakistan were 136 for 5 in the 30th over. The Proteas were in total command of the game and a 2-0 lead was there for the taking.
Enters Abdul Razzaq into the scene!
Over the years, this charismatic allrounder has lost enough of his guile and at present is not that dangerous player which people used to know. His early presence at the crease was silent but suddenly switched into the fourth gear by getting to the pitch of an unremarkable delivery from Peterson and hitting him for a flat, straight six.
That was just wow! Are we in for some actions from Razzler?
Fawad Alam continued to play the sheet anchor role as Razzaq was picking up his tempo quite quickly. In the 38th over, Razzaq lofted Albie Morkel over deep point for a six with an open face of the bat. This was the shot of the night for me. It came from nowhere. Just before this six, Razzaq had left six or seven deliveries without scoring anything, but in the twinkle of an eye he dished out such a marvelous stroke. Razzaq was on song and the game was starting to tilt towards Pakistan’s way.
Pakistan took the batting Powerplay at the end of the 40th over. But, within the end of it, Fawad had departed gifting Langeveldt his 100th ODI wicket and Zulqarnain Haider was runout in the 45thover with the score at 233 for 7. But Razzaq decided to script a one-man show like Javed Miandad did almost 24 years ago at Sharjah against India in the Austral-Asia Cup final.
In the 47thover, Razzaq started with a six at long-off, a length-ball from Langeveldt was sent over long-on for a six, a slower-ball being hit over Langeveldt’s head for a flat six. You beauty! The night sky of Abu Dhabi was blazing! 53 runs from 24 balls became 33 off 18 balls.
Two run-outs left Pakistan with more 29 runs needed with 15 balls remaining. It was a pressure cooker situation but Abdul Razzaq was unfazed by this. And in the last over, 14 runs more were needed - Razzaq smashed Albie Morkel for a six at midwicket and thus reaching 99 and the next delivery was pummeled again at midwicket for another six to bring up an epic hundred.
Pakistan’s one of the most epic ODI victories came when Razzaq hit the fifth ball for four.
My word! What an astonishing one-day knock it was! Can you really say that this team is traveling through the perils of dark waters? Have all those ugly occurrences deterred this team from focusing on cricket?
Well, after watching Abdul Razzaq’s hurricane-like-century, I must say, it’s hard to dent Pakistan’s confidence. It’s hard to stop from delivering the most unthinkable things in cricket.
You need Pakistan in cricket.
Don't you?
Thank
You
Faisal
Caesar
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