Don't forget to thank Pakistan

Sri Lanka ended Pakistan's decade-long dominance at home in Test cricket on 1995 and today, they ended the same. Next time, whenever Pakistan face Sri Lanka after dominating at home for ten years, they should be very careful. These Lankan Lions seem to be habituated to end Pakistan’s decade-long dominations. But, I am for Sri Lanka’s victory. They were almost at risk of getting lost from Test arena and were the genuine underdogs before the start of this series. Thankfully, they pulled off an astonishing series victory and conquered their transition period.

I was one of those guys who always kept faith in this Sri Lankan side and kept on saying, they will turn around. Finally, they paid back my faith and this victory should boost the confidence of Lankan unit to a great extent. It’s time to move on with a new vigour and vim. It’s time to build a better future.

Sri Lanka deserve all the accolades while Pakistan are left to think what went wrong for them. Their batting let them down heavily at Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The mood won’t be good in the dressing room as to see the home domination coming to an end doesn’t give anyone any sort of satisfaction. Especially, for Sarfraz Ahmed, it would be hard to digest. As the captain, he gave more than one hundred percent on the field, but at times, life gifts you defeat only to expose your mistakes and learn from them.

Anyhow, Pakistan should be satisfied thinking, without them the two-match Test series might never become so dramatic. At Abu Dhabi, in the first Test, for the first four days, it was all about attritional cricket. Experts and fans kept on searching for wickets. On the final day, they witnessed the wickets to tumble in a crazy manner. At Yasir Shah triggered a collapse in Sri Lankan batting lineup and then, Pakistan, the hosts, surrendered meekly while chasing just 136 runs.

The final day at Abu Dhabi burst into life because of Pakistan’s unpredictable nature than Rangana Herath’s bowling. Each over triggered huge amount of tensions and nail-biting moments and in the end, Pakistan fell short to the joy of Sri Lankan players, officials and fans. Abu Dhabi witnessed a thrilling finish and it was all due to some crazy-but-thrilling cricketing display from Pakistan.

In the second Test at Abu Dhabi, on the third day, Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah and surprising bowling-package Haris Sohail stranglehold the Lankan batters to bundle them out for just 96 runs. It was a comeback which only teams like Pakistan can script: They conceded a 220 runs deficit in first and desperately needed their attack to fire. Mind you, they would be bowling without Mohammad Amir in third innings and except Yasir, one could not keep enough faith in Wahab.

But, Wahab transformed into a demon. It was a bone-chilling exhibition of pace bowling under the lights. From the other end, Yasr kept on testing the Lankan batting lineup and on fourth day, Haris Sohail halted Sri Lanka’s progression.

A foregone conclusion became a 50-50 contest. Courtesy, Pakistan’s brilliant turn around.

Chasing 317 to win, Pakistan were reeling at 52 for 5 and chances of yet another foregone conclusion cropped up. But Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed scripted an inspiring partnership to instill hope. The contest took a dramatic twist yet again. Courtesy, Pakistan’s fightback.

But in the end, it was Sri Lanka who celebrated but Test cricket is left thanking Pakistan for their unpredictable nature. Their habit of making easy things tough and tough things easy gifted us all a thrilling Test series in an era when a group of crooks are up to end the journey of Test cricket for the sake of cash.   

Thank You

Faisal Caesar