ICC World Cup 2011 - All hail Shahid Afridi and his men!

So the Pakistani team have digested another defeat against India in a World Cup match. In such a high voltage match, the team which are able to maintain their mental stability, more often, goes on to win the battle. Though in an Indo-Pak battle, the Pakistanis are always known for winning the battle of nerves, but in the World Cups it has been India who always have the upper hand over their archrivals.

As usual the Pakistan cricket critics are slamming Afridi and his men in a very harsh manner. But do Afridi and his men deserve this? I would like to praise Afridi and his men for their display in the World Cup. They have exceeded the expectations of their fans. A team which had been kicked in the ribs; punched in the face and slapped around for the last 10 months have shown tremendous character to perform well to reach the semifinal of World Cup.

So, it will be wiser enough to greet Shahid Afridi and his men warmly. Such cricketers play for their nation and they always give everything for the sake of their nation and ardent fans. The Pakistan team had fought well but failed in the last minute just because of pressure and it happens even with the very best of teams.

So, stop criticizing your heroes and start cheering for them.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar  

ICC World Cup 2011 - Aman ki Asha from Mohali as India takes on Pakistan in semi-final

As the subcontinent dances to the music of cricket, the battle drums can be heard from Mohali when India and Pakistan lock horns in the mother of all cricket battles – the showpiece event of the 2011 World Cup.

The thrill, excitement and drama in an India-Pakistan game are unsurpassed, given the troubled past of the two nations. Recent events like the 26/11 attacks have been a blow to the relationship between the two countries on many fronts, including the game of cricket. And in the result blame game, the game of cricket became a casualty. The world of cricket was deprived of seeing heart-stopping battle of skill and will between Sachin Tendulkar and Shoaib Akhtar, Virender Sehwag and Umar Gul, Yuvraj Singh and Shahid Afridi. And also deprived was the opportunity to foster peace and restore normalcy between the two nations through the medium of cricket.

Are the players motivated by the hate and hype which fans from India and Pakistan are harboring? The truth is players from both the sides are closer to each other off the field than with players from other international cricket teams. They may slug it out to the hilt on the field of play, but off it, they jell as friends – many of whom speak the same lingo as well. Much like it is for millions of Indians and Pakistani who live abroad. They have much more in common with each other than with the English or Americans or South Africans – the countries in which they co-exist. Some of the fondest memories Pakistani cricketers have are of the times that they have toured India and of the love and affection of the Indian teams. The same goes with the Indian team.

If the Kolkata crowd was stupid in 1999, the standing ovation to the Pakistan cricket team by Chennai cricket fans – after Pakistan had beaten India in an epic battle – left the cricketing world speechless. India’s outstanding success in 2004 earned enough praises and they were showered with love wherever they went. There were mini battles of words on the field, but they ebbed away with the winds of love and affection.

The longer the fans bang the drums of war, the longer they will demonize each other. The sooner they dance together, the more the trust and goodwill. We must allow the players to play without subjecting them to needless pressures and sit back and enjoy the epics painted on the cricket canvas.

If Pakistan wins on the green canvas of Mohali, let them be applauded in the true spirit of cricket. And if India loses, let their fans not get wild on the Men in Blue. The same should hold true if the results were otherwise.

An India-Pakistan match is not war. It’s a game which just scripts epics and thrillers. It’s a way to bring together the brilliant talent of the two nations in the world cricket, a way to unite two nations torn by a history of wars. Brothers may fight, but still they are brothers after the fight.

Let Pakistan convey the message of love in India, and let India hug their brothers across the border with love and affection. Let peace prevail in India and Pakistan through cricket. Let fans not be intoxicated by doubts and rumours. Let Mohali send a message of peace, goodwill and harmony. May the best team win.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 27/03/2011 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/aman-ki-asha-from-mohali-as-india-takes-on-pakistan-in-semi-final-1504

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Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 2011 - Bangladesh cricket will come back strongly

South Africa shut the door on Bangladesh’s chances of playing in the quarter-final of the 2011 World Cup. But the manner in which the Tigers were hunted down was simply awful. Bangladesh surrendered meekly. That was truly tragic.

But the world moves on. And Bangladesh cricket will have to move forward as well. Defeats are a part of sports and the best way to move forward is by accepting it and learning from it to prepare for the future.

So where does Bangladesh cricket go from here? One thing the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) might do in haste is to effect a change in the captaincy. To me, it’s not a smart thing to do. Shakib Al Hasan’s captaincy has been brilliant and has the abilities required to lead a side in international cricket.

In this World Cup, Shakib was a smart operator, but sadly the Bangladesh batting let him down in crunch games. Perhaps the pressure of a mega tournament affected his own form, but even the best are squeezed by such pressures and it must not be forgotten that Shakib is just 23. Surely the experience will make him a more matured captain in future.

The BCB would do well to engage a batting consultant. The Bangladesh batting simply lacks the skill and temperament to survive against the top attacks of the world. And the one way to get better is for Bangladesh to play the stronger teams like South Africa, Australia and England. Else, the team’s progress will be slow and minimal.

The BCB might not extend Jamie Siddons’s contract for another season. That means Bangladesh cricket will be searching for a new coach. The BCB should seek professional coaches from Australia and England. Bowling coach Ian Pont and the fielding coach must continue. Ian Pont had been brilliant for our bowlers.

Bangladesh has improved immensely over the years. They are not world cricket’s whipping boys any more. Apart from their disappointing displays against the West Indies and South Africa in this World Cup, they have been praiseworthy otherwise. What they lack is consistency.

The dream of playing in the quarter-final has been smashed. Perhaps the fragile temperament had been a major factor in Bangladesh’s downfall. A sport psychologist might be of immense help.

Bangladesh cricket fans need to show faith in their national team. They need to be positive and encouraging – especially when the team is down. This is not the end of the story of Bangladesh cricket. This is not a Shakespeare tragedy, with unfulfilled ambition, revenge and eventually the fall of would-be heroes. Bangladesh cricket will come back strongly. Make not mistake about that!

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 21/03/2011 Bangladesh cricket will come back strongly

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Faisal Caesar

The aeroplane will disappear into the hangar - forever

Modern cricket will lose one of its controversial and compelling cricket heroes sometime during the 2011 World Cup. Shoaib Akhtar made his decision known on Thursday that he intends to bid adieu to international cricket at the of Pakistan’s campaign in the ongoing World Cup.

The news is not stunning, but most certainly sad as Shoaib brought some much color and flamboyance with his ability to generate heat on the field and off it.  Yes, Shoaib is past his very best – a spent force. But the “Rawalpindi Express” will be missed.

Shoaib caught my attention in 1998 in the second Test against South Africa at Durban where his pace completely destroyed the Proteas batting line-up that eventually paved the way for a memorable win.

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He got lost thereafter but bounced back with a bang at Kolkata where his express pace left the Indian God clueless and broke “The Wall” to pieces. The then 23-year-old’s furious pace saw the launch of the fearsome Shoaib Akhtar on the international arena.

His trademark celebration like an aeroplane on the runway was a sight at the pomp of his career. Shoaib was a showboat and he made no apologies about it. The sight of Shoaib at the start of a very long run-up and ending in a blur was one of the unforgettable sights of the modern cricket era. There was an air of excitement and expectation when Shoaib was at the top of his bowling mark. The thrill lingered long after the flat-footed, dark-eyed, silky-haired dasher finished his follow-through.

The world will never forget his devastation against England on a flat Lahore track in 2005 in the third Test where he whipped the cream of English batting with a fiery spell.

In an era when the world lacked fast men who could send shivers down the batsmen’s spine, Shoaib was a Ferrari among the quicks. Shoaib refused to go defensive when he came across the flat tracks of the subcontinent. He believed he could pack enough punch and venom in his deliveries to rattle the furniture.

Shoaib had it in him to be ranked among the greatest fast bowlers of all time. But he was a rebel without a pause who could neither rein his temperament nor his anger. His recklessness and his fragile fitness often let him and his fans down. The game of cricket and Pakistan cricket suffered as a result.

Shoaib will be missed – even by those who hated him. The aeroplane will soon land one last time, before it disappears into the hangar – forever.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 18/03/2011 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/shoaib-akhtar-the-aeroplane-will-disappear-into-the-hangar-forever-1286

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Faisal Caesar 

ICC World Cup 2011 - Bangladesh's worth successor to Mortaza

If a young fast bowler is being flogged from the word go by a batsman as ruthless as the disdainful Virender Sehwag, it’s only natural that the confidence of the youngster would suffer a serious blow. It’s not easy to recover quickly from such a nightmarish experience.

But 21-year old Shafiul Islam came back strongly after being mauled badly by Sehwag in the World Cup opener. He bowled accurately and incisively against Ireland and the Netherlands. He contributed with the bat as well with a swashbuckling 24 in that epic win over England.

The absence of Mashrafe Mortaza had put tremendous responsibility on Shafiul. But he rose to the challenge than buckle under the weight of expectations. He has thrived under pressure, thanks to his admirable self-belief. Shafiul is not as pacy as Mortaza; his strength lies in his discipline. The ability to swing the bowl is his natural ability since the time he started bowling. But the control that he exercises now wasn’t there in the early days, as a result of which he came in for punishment from the batsmen.

But he is a fast learner. The appointment of Ian Pont as the bowling coach of Bangladesh cricket team has done him world of good. Pont worked on his control during the training sessions and the youngster blossomed under the coach.

Shafiul is now a lethal weapon for Bangladesh. In the ongoing World Cup, he has made the ball talk. Against Ireland he scripted the Irish death with late swing, which has been a new weapon in his bowling armory – not easy art. But he has been a skillful practioner of the art. Against Ireland, he relied on a fuller length and exercised control. The late swing left the Irish clueless.

Against the Dutch, he was at his parsimonious best. He darted the ball in, straightened it outside the off, slipped in yorkers, tried the faster and slower ones… and for all the mix, there weren’t any bad deliveries. But for all his effort, he went wicketless! But he paved the way for Razzak, Shakib and Shuvo to topple the Dutch batsmen. He has ensured that Bangladesh does not feel the absence of Mortaza.

Shafiul has also performed admirably with the bat. At 169 for eight and still 57 runs needed, it was Mission Impossible for him against England. But he systematically tore apart Graeme Swann, hammering him for a four and a six in the 42nd over. His 24 off 24 balls will be etched in gold as Bangladesh went to script what is one of the greatest victories in the history of World Cup. There is no doubt that in Shafiul Bangladesh has found an able successor to Mashrafe Mortaza.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 17/03/2014 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/shafiul-islam-bangladeshs-worth-successor-to-mortaza-1265

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Faisal Caesar

Imrul Kayes - Bangladesh cricket team's Mr Dependable!

Batsmen like Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tamim Iqbal are born with the license to kill bowlers. When they are in the middle, their overpowering batting reduces the importance of their partners at the other end. But the roles of these quiet, unsung heroes at the non-striking end can never be underestimated. They provide a sense of calmness and assurance amid the mayhem that is brought about by the dashers at the opposite end.

When the big bat of Tamim Iqbal starts blazing, the crowd goes wild. They just can’t have enough of the flow of boundaries and clamour for more. And when he gets out, there is complete silence around the stadium.

Tamim’s departure puts the batting order under pressure as his partners over the years have failed miserably. And if Shakib Al Hasan fails, then it’s the beginning of the end for Bangladesh. Though exciting to watch, Tamim is not the man Bangladesh who can be expected to carry his bat through the innings. Bangladesh lacked an opener who had the ability to bat through the innings in a 50 overs game. But they have now found that much-needed batsman who can keep the scoreboard moving with confidence and calmness. He is focused in building his innings – brick by brick.

Tamim lacked a solid partner at the other end for many years. The exile of Shahriar Nafees from the national team had created a big hole in 2008. But since the year 2010, a shy young man’s enough cool and composure is providing the perfect combination for the Tigers. He is Imrul Kayes.

Kayes made his first-class debut in 2006, playing 15 first-class matches and 16 One-Day matches before being called up for the third One-Day International between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Chittagong. Batting at No 3, he made just 12 runs as Bangladesh lost by 79 runs. He made his Test match debut in November 2008 against South Africa. He opened the batting, but made just 10 and 4 in his two innings, being dismissed twice on the second afternoon of the match.

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Till the year 2010, Kayes’ batting was irritating and annoying. He used to gift his wicket away and he lacked the confidence and temperament to build his innings. But things changed on the tour to New Zealand last year.

The year 2010 had been watershed in his career in which he struck form scoring 867 runs, becoming the 5th highest runs scorer of the year in ODI at an average of 32.11. He scored his maiden ODI century against New Zealand.

Kayes is not flashy or a crowd-pleaser. He is an innings builder who chugs along with singles and twos. But when the opportunity is there, he hits the ball with authority to caress it to the boundary.

In the Bangladesh team Shahriar Nafees is undoubtedly the best timer of the ball, but Kayes is not far behind. Kayes also has the ability to pick the gaps through the most difficult of field settings – a quality reminiscent of Aminul Islam in the past – that helps him maneuver the strike.

If Tamim is there to go after the bowlers then, Kayes is there to drop down the anchor and ensure all is safe at the other end. His appetite for runs has increased immensely over the years and the back-to-back man of the match awards proves. He puts a price tag on his wicket.

Kayes’s presence has given adequate assurance at the top of the order for Bangladesh. Though overshadowed at most times by “Boom-Boom” Tamim, Kayes’s value for Bangladesh can never be underestimated. He is clearly emerging from Tamim’s shadow and carving a name as Bangladesh’s Mr Dependable.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 15/03/2011 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/imrul-kayes-bangladesh-cricket-teams-mr-dependable-1222

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Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 2011: Two unsung men who turned fantasy into reality

The Bangladesh batting line-up has an irritating tendency to collapse.  When the chips are down, the side does not have cool brains to steer the ship through troubled waters to safety. The team lacks a much-needed finisher.

Another chapter in Bangladesh’s saga of collapses was seen in the game against England. From a comfortable 155 for three, Bangladesh slumped to 169 for eight. The writing was on the wall, so it seemed. The packed stadium had emptied out when they realized that 58 runs were needed and just two wickets were left.

The English bowling was pumped up. Bangladesh needed epic efforts to script one of the greatest fightbacks in ODI cricket. At the crease was the youthful Mahmudullah Riad and Shafiul Islam, a tailender with no batting pretensions.

The 42nd over saw Shafiul pummeling Graeme Swann with rare disdain. A big wind up and even bigger swing through the line, sent the ball for four over cover. This was to the fourth ball. The last ball sailed over for a six as Shafiul leant back and sung Swann a mile over long-on.

This was something new for all of us. Was that Mashrafe Mortaza there? No, he was not! It was the young, thin Shafiul who meant business. His eyes were sparkling, his body language reflecting confidence and his mind absolutely calm in what was a tense situation for most people.

Shafiul’s guts was being supported by a cool and composed youngster, Riad who ensured that no matter how well the English would bowl, they would not be able to remove him from the wicket. Riad was an immoveable object.

He blocked, blocked and blocked and took the singles and twos by picking the gaps amidst of a packed English field which was in no mood to allow any ball pass them by. And the boundaries he hit were executed according to the demand of the situation. There was simply no rashness in Riad’s shots. His temperament is something that the team needs all the time and why he was absent after the match against India is a mystery to many passionate Bangladeshi fans. Riad is pure middle-order stuff; better then the shaky Rokibul and the erratic Ashraful.

On many occasions he has saved his domestic team in tricky situations. He has the kind of temperament any team would love to have – especially for a team like Bangladesh, whose middle-order lacks stability.

Riad has the qualities of Michael Bevan and Mike Hussey. His reassuring stay is a great influence to his batting partners and he is brilliant at rotating the strike.

Had not Riad been there against England, had he not protected Shafiul, and then surely Bangladesh cricket would have been a target of Navjot Singh Sidhu’s nonsensical comments. And perhaps they would have been an ugly target of the immature Bangladesh fans as well who just can’t accept defeats.

In him, Bangladesh has found a finisher. In the history of Bangladesh cricket there had not been a finisher who could manage critical finishes by staying till the end. Riad is the finisher for the Tigers now while Shafiul Islam is the sting in the tail.

Thankfully Riad was playing against England. Thankfully Shafiul showed immense guts and courage to face the tough challenge – two heroes on that night at Chittagong who scripted a World Cup history a chapter in heroism and never-say-die spirit.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 14/03/2011 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/icc-world-cup-2011-two-unsung-men-who-turned-fantasy-into-reality-1196

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Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 2011 - Navjot Singh Sidhu under fire!

Navjot Singh Sidhu’s commentary is as aggressive as his batting. Since he started his role as a commentator, it has become a subject of irritation for many. At times his commentary crosses the limit of decency and insulting remarks simply hurt the feelings of cricket fans. 

As usual Sidhu is giving his expert opinion in Star Sports and ESPN’s cricket show regarding this year’s ICC World Cup. The show is hosted by Harsha Bhogle and along with Sidhu there are other renowned names like are Ian Chappell, Tony Greig, Sourav Ganguly, Tom Moody, Patrick Symcox and many other ex-cricketers.

 

Now, in that show, Sidhu made a derogatory comment about the Bangladesh cricket team.. Sidhu’s such remarks annoyed the local cricket fans and for which a Bangladeshi cricket fan named Dipon sent an email to the ICC stating Sidhu as “racist.

Dipon in his email said that according to ICC’s code of conduct, any person insulting a nation or religion during an international cricket match deserves to be punished and Lorgat in reply said that the ICC have taken the matter with great importance and after investigating they have really found the evidence of violation of the ICC’s code of conduct.

The ICC’s CEO Mr. Haroon Lorgat gave Dipon’s email enough importance and went through those video footages in which Sidhu gave his derogatory comment about the Tigers.  Mr. Lorgat assured Dipon that the ICC has strongly told Star Sports and ESPN to be careful in future. Mr. Lorgat also sent this email to the BCB chief Mostafa Kamal and ICC’s Managing Director David Richardson.

So what did Mr. Sidhu do?

During investigation it was found that, before the match against West Indies Ian Botham said that the Tigers were ahead of the West Indies in race for the quarterfinals. But Sidhu replied in the most insulting manner saying that both the birds and cockroaches can fly but the cockroaches are not birds and thus, with this opinion he compared the Bangladesh cricket team with a cockroach.

I think that the ESPN and Star Sports team too should avoid a mean-minded person like Sidhu.

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Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 2011 - Kamran Akmal's wicketkeeping abilities have become a headache for Paksitan

So, Pakistan have digested their first defeat in this World Cup and it came against New Zealand. It was just another rusty performance by the men in green and with due respect to the Kiwis’ performance, they could not have achieved the points had not Pakistan bowling been undisciplined and of course, the fielding been horrifying.

Especially, Pakistan’s catching has been simply terrible and Kamran Akmal seems to be becoming a Prince while it comes to dropping catches.  With the passage of time Kamran Akmal’s wicketkeeping abilities have become a big issue for Pakistan. Time and again, in the critical juncture of a match, Akmal always drops a sitter and for which Pakistan have paid a heavy price.

Ross Taylor celebrated his birthday today in grand style by unleashing a riot against the Pakistani bowlers. But he was lucky as well. Taylor edged the second ball of Shoaib's second spell and Kamran Akmal moved towards his right to take a catch that was his for the taking, and then stopped and looked expectantly at first slip, where Younis Khan was in shock as the ball sped between them to the boundary. A ball later Taylor edged again, this time the simplest of chances straight to Akmal, and survived – Akmal dropped one.

Kamran’s lack of ability with the gloves has been exposed even before and I don’t understand why he is still wearing the wicketkeeping gloves! Mysterious world of Pakistan cricket indeed!

As a batsman Kamran Akmal is good and Pakistan should utilize his batting abilities. But at present, Pakistan don’t have any replacements of Kamran and I fear that in the upcoming matches he will gift Pakistan enough miseries. Pakistan can try Umar Akmal as the wicketkeeper.

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Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 2011 - South Africa needs to seek help of psychologist

South Africa yet again crumbled under pressure and continued live up to their unedifying image of chokers. It was a sorry sight to see one of the favourites collapse in such unspectacular fashion on Sunday on the world’s greatest stage.

The track aided the finger spinners and provided enough reverse swing for the faster men, but still a target of 171 in 50 overs was not a stiff ask for a side which is blessed with talent and experience. At 124 for three, South Africa were just 47 away from victory with seven wickets in hand. But by the time the score had reached 127, they had lost AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy and Robin Petersen – four wickets gone for three runs!

Suddenly, the South Africans were under pressure from absolutely comfortable position. It was a repeat of what happened recently at Johannesburg where Munaf Patel was wagging his tail. Seven wickets South African wickets fell for 29 runs and they choked by two runs with eight overs left! On Sunday, seven South African wickets fell again for just 41 runs! No wonder it’s said that cricket is a game of uncertainties! With South Africa, one can never be sure!

Much diagnosis has been made; many explanations have been given for South Africa’s latest choke in a long saga. The exclusion of Mark Boucher has been talked about, the position from No six to No 8 has been advised to change a bit etc, etc. But Boucher was there in many of the infamous chokes and they had all-rounders coming in as late as No 9 in dramatic slumps. The problem before South Africa is much deeper. They suffer from panic attacks when the opposition subjects them to pressure.

They are masters in countering the turning ball and the reverse swing. But the problem has more to do with the mind than with playing skills. Its mind over matter, really, that is the root of their choking habit. Though, South Africa vehemently keeps denying that they choke, the fact is that their malady lies deep in their subconscious.

South Africa will continue to choke and worsen their problem with every new choke. The sooner than accept the problem, the better it is for their cricket. The South African need the help of a psychologist to help overcome their historical problem.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 8/03/2011  http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/south-africa-needs-to-seek-help-of-psychologist-1034

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Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 2011: If the players brought shame, what followed was a national disgrace

I pricked my skin with a pin to check if I was having a nightmare. It was not a nightmare; it was reality, harsh reality. A total of 58 all out in 18.5 overs by a side which has played 10 years of Test cricket and which, in the last four months, had brilliantly to earn copious praise from the pundits. How on Heavens could such a team fold up so swiftly and so inexplicably!

After out-muscling the Irish just a week before, it was expected that Bangladesh would exhibit similar steel against the West Indies at Mirpur, in front of vociferous home supporters. But, in the end, they were stunned into silence. The nation was awash with gloomy faces.

The Bangladesh batting display was akin to schools cricket. It seemed that boys were playing against men. Tamim Iqbal flashed loosely at a Kemar Roach outswinger, Imrul Kayes feathered a short ball through to the ‘keeper, Mushfiqur Rahim – one of the cooler heads in the Bangladesh ranks – flicked loosely the fourth ball he faced to short midwicket. Darren Sammy had two for seven at this stage. Shakib Al Hasan showed no resistance, Raqibul Hasan fell while trying to slam a wide ball from Sammy and the rest of the batsmen showed no character to put up a fight against a pumped up West Indies side.

The manner in which Bangladesh batting surrendered against the Windies attack was a shame. Our batting has problems, but such brain implosion was completely unexpected. Our boys have hurt the expectations of 15 crore Bangladeshis who watch their team’s every match to get peace of mind amidst so many worries and pangs. Sadly, our boys have let them down.

But this is not the end of the world for Bangladesh. Even the best of teams in the world face such slumps. It has happened to the West Indies, England, Australia, India and Pakistan. But their cricket keeps moving on. And our cricket will have to do likewise. Losses are the best teachers as it exposes our mistakes from which we can learn. Perhaps this humiliation was needed.

We cricket fans of Bangladesh must show our ardent support towards our team when they are having a bad time. Our boys need our support during this tough period. We must show patience and maturity towards our cricket and the cricketers.

But sadly, we didn’t show enough maturity. The Mirpur crowd showed their anger by throwing stones at the West Indies cricketer’s bus. We have brought shame upon our nation by showing disrespect and going against our tradition of being a hospitable nation.

The T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place on Bangladesh soil in 2014. Incidents such as these will put a question mark about ability provide security to the players. We have a responsibility, too.

Note: This article has been published in Cricket Country on 5/03/2011 http://www.cricketcountry.com/articles/icc-world-cup-2011-if-the-players-brought-shame-what-followed-was-a-national-disgrace-944

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Faisal Caesar 

ICC World Cup 2011 - Shahid Afridi the bowler

During the four-nation tournament in Kenya in 1996 Pakistan summoned a 16-year old youngster to replace the injured legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed. In the all important match against the then world champions Sri Lanka, the 16-year old prodigy was sent into bat at number three to accelerate Pakistan’s run rate.

The 16-year old’s response was jaw-dropping. Within a few hours, he struck an astonishing 100 off 37 balls by mesmerizing the Sri Lankan attack in a vintage fashion. The world was left stunned and Pakistan cricket discovered another crazy talent named Shahid Afridi.

This swashbuckling knock against Sri Lanka transformed legspinner Afridi into a power-hitting sensational batsman, for whom bowling became a part-time job.

But as the time progressed Afridi’s batting form slumped but his bowling started to get better and better. In recent times, since being made the Pakistan captain, Afridi’s bowling has been highly effective and the batsman Afridi now a bowler Afridi.

Afridi mixes his deliveries quite smartly. Other than the traditional legspinners, he has that slider, flipper and fatser one which darts like a medium-pacer’s deliveries and such weapons have been reaping a rich harvest for the Pakistani team. Moreover, in recent times, Afridi’s googlies have improved as well.

Afridi just don’t roll over his arms to complete the fifth or sixth bowler’s quota but he bowls to fetch wickets. This is very important. Surely, the Pakistani cricket fans would not love Afridi to lose his new-found bowling prowess to fade away like his batting. Let the bowler Afridi dazzle more and gift his fans enough joy.

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Faisal Caesar

ICC World Cup 2011 - The name of the storm was Kevin O'Brein!

I belonged to that group of people who were against the Associate member’s participation in the World Cup. I was dubious about their abilities and it didn’t originate without any logic. So far, throughout this World Cup teams like Canada, Kenya and Zimbabwe’s performance have been frustrating and even though the English were tested by the Dutch but since that brilliant performance, the Dutch have been very much off-mood.

But cricket can surprise us any time and I guess, the English were not just surprised last night but they were left shell-shocked by an Irish twister.  

Chasing down 327 runs in 50 overs is surely an uphill task for the Irish and at 111 for 5 it seemed that another shoddy Associate-member-performance was on the cards. A Herculean innings was the order of the night and surely the Irish didn’t have a Sachin Tendulkar or Shahid Afridi to do such.

Half of the overs had gone. The match was well poised in favour of England and what did you do? Either you left the stadium to reach home early or switched off the TV to concentrate on your other works.

You certainly made a big mistake mate. Suddenly a batsman named Kevin O’Brein transformed into a He-Man whose bat transformed into a mighty sword and sliced the English attack mercilessly.   

He showed his intent early when he slaughtered Swann through the covers second-ball and then whacked into the offspinner's ninth over with two sixes over midwicket which give life to Ireland's innings. O'Brien was on 35 off 22 balls when Ireland took the batting Powerplay and it was during those five overs that the chance of the impossible became possible as 62 runs were leaked. And almost 162 runs were scored in 17.2 overs!

O’Brein entered into the scene when ED Joyce had departed and then witnessed the departure of Gary Wilson. O’Brein decided to take drastic measures and thus exhibited the power of Afridi and executed his tremendous air show with the technique of Sachin Tendulkar. The English bowlers’ much vigour and sizzle during the Ashes just fizzled out by the onslaught of the Irish fairy tale hero.

Michael Yardy went for 16 as did James Anderson whom O'Brien pulled for a huge six to take him to a 30-ball fifty. Anderson's next over went for 17 including another leg-side pull and in between whiles, even the normally reliable Tim Bresnan was dispatched, including the finest shot of O'Brien's innings when he drove a six clean over cover

The fielding restrictions meant nothing to O'Brien and he continued on his merry way with another huge blow over midwicket to take him into the 90s. It was an incredible air show! Then the whole of Ireland held their breath as O'Brien's next attempt to clear the rope sent the ball high into the night sky where Andrew Strauss made a lot of ground but then couldn't hold on.

O'Brien needed support to play his incredible innings and Cusack's role can't be underestimated. He was almost lost in O'Brien's onslaught as he sensibly rotated the strike until, off his 49th ball, he joined the boundary hitting by launching Collingwood over midwicket then thumped Yardy straight down the ground.

Mean while, O’Brein brought up his hundred off just 50 balls with a tuck for two into the leg side to beat Matthew Hayden's World Cup record of 66 deliveries. It was simply an exhibition of sophisticated butchery in the history of modern day cricket. And that too came not from the bat of any superstar of present day cricket but an almost unknown Kevin O’Brein, whose sturdy medium-pace produced a wicket-maiden when Zimbabwe needed just nine to win from 12 balls four years ago. They would only tie.

Swann removed O’Brein in over number 48.1 but, till then he had laid the foundation of an Irish fairy tale. Mooney clipped Anderson through midwicket in the 50th over’s second ball to set off epic celebrations.

Ireland just hit the biggest bomb shell of this World Cup. They sparkled during that situation of the match when even the greatest Irish optimist would not dare to dream the impossible happenings. But the impossible became possible.

Kevin O’Brein’s last night epic has earned some prestige of the Associate teams. Such performances must come in a regular manner and should not be just a flash out of the pan.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar