Contd from Part I..
Lethal & Cavalier
If you are an Indian, Ricky Ponting’s 140 in 2003 world cup final and Saeed Anwar highest individual score of 194 still send shivers. As an opening batsman, Anwar was capable of dismantling the best bowling attacks around the world. An engineer by graduation, Anwar would relentlessly attack bowlers all over the field and score quickly. His success came from good timing and wrist flicks rather than physical power, and Anwar became famous for his trademark flick. He was able to lift a ball that had pitched outside off stump for six over midwicket.
Sultan of Multan
If you need to witness lethargy in cricket, just watch Inzy also known as the Sultan of Multan laboriously walking towards the crease, or his running between the wickets which could even embarrass a snail. If that fails to tickle your funny bone just see Inzy stand in the slip, and if you are lucky, you might even get to see him reluctantly trotting behind a ball, slowly pursuing it till some young ball boy eagerly stops it behind the fence with gleam and pride.
But make no mistakes, Inzy just fell 3 runs short from breaking Javed’s record and becoming Pakistan’s leading test scorer. Inzammam set a record for scoring the most fifties in One Day Internationals, 83 which has been surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar. He also became the second batsman to score 10,000 runs in One-day Internationals after Tendulkar. Inzamam has been known to be a very destructive batsman in all formats of the game. Like Tendulkar, Inzy has an amazing ability to pick the length of a delivery very early and play very late. His footwork is generally considered to be fast, enabling him to position himself early for shots. Who can forget his brilliant knock in 92 world cup semifinals against New Zealand at Auckland.
Both Inzamman and Younis are fearless and can single handedly change the course of match. They made a good pair of Captain and Vice Captain. But there is a little difference between Inzamman and Younis Khan’s captaincy. Unlike Inzamman, Younis is more stylish, prefers to shave and has a tremendous sense of humour. Unfortunately Inzamman had to adjust his batting and even his leadership to the violent political situation. Not to mention, the intrusion from various managers, coaches including Javed Miandad, the late Bob Woolmer, different board officials. There was a time when this soft spoken lad from Multan took strict disciplinary steps and cleverly handled the whims of Rawalpindi Express- Shoaib Akhtar including facing the criticism of his mentor the legendary Imran Khan.
Barring one incident of forfeiting the test match in England, Inzamman led the team with his bat with grace, dignity and respect. Along with senior talented players like Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar and Afridi, he managed to inspire and encourage young Mohd Yusuf (erstwhile Youhana), Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik. Today these same players have become astute match winners. Having said that Captaincy had a positive effect on Inzamam's batting, often leading by example in pressure situations, averaging greater as a captain (52).
Gentle Pathan
Under Inzamam’s captaincy the team prayed more and played less. Inzy’s men looked more like Tablighi Jamaat than Men in Green, leaving late Woolmer exasperated. Thankfully Younis Khan is blessed with a younger team who look more hungry and desperate to showcase their talent, skills and bring glory to their country. Like any other Pathan, Younis Khan is fearless, and will forever be remembered as the second Khan to bring home a world title for Pakistan.
As a batsman, Younis is compact and elegant. His determination and temperament makes it possible to play any format of the game and even score runs with flourish. His sweep shots are close to perfection. The amazing cuts and spectacular off-drives between point and extra cover are worth watching. Sitting on one knee and hitting the classical cover drives would remind you of the Great Gavaskar. Younis is not as tall as Majid Khan but like him rarely hits a straight drive and is not afraid to pull or hook fast bowlers. His on-drives and flicks in midwicket and square leg region are equally good. It is a pleasure to see Younis craft and pace his innings. His stroke plays and running between the wickets sometimes remind you of Asif Iqbal who also played with a certain aura of flamboyance, arrogance, determination and grit.
Elegant All-rounder
Shoaib Malik breathes elegance. His footwork and back-foot drives remind you of the talented Sanjay Manjrekar. Malik is not blessed with a strong physique but compensates with his sense of timing. He has good wrist work and his cuts and drives in off and leg region are indeed a delight to watch. Malik has proved himself as one of the most cerebral batsmen of his era. He does not have Afridi’s brute force or Yousuf’s defense but Pakistan owes many a win to the youngster whose maturity goes far beyond his age. Malik has an amazing pair of hands and rarely spills any catches. The classical off spinners do surprise the batsmen but his bowling action has often come under the scanner and somehow remains a suspect.
Diligent Soldier
The moment he scores a century, this talented batsmen observes Sajdah where he prostrates in gratitude to Allah in the direction of Mecca. Prior to his conversion to Islam in 2005, he walked to the crease and blessed himself by making a cross and repeated the act every time he reached a milestone. Yousuf is humble and has no inhibitions in publicly displaying his faith. His Test average of 56.00 currently ranks him as quality batsmen. Mohd. Yousuf is known for his ability to score runs at exceptional rate through his great technique and composed strokeplay. His batting lacks style but his concentration, determination and hard hitting has always helped Pakistan bounce back from any brink of defeat.
Boom Boom
If you are an Indian, Ricky Ponting’s 140 in 2003 world cup final and Saeed Anwar highest individual score of 194 still send shivers. As an opening batsman, Anwar was capable of dismantling the best bowling attacks around the world. An engineer by graduation, Anwar would relentlessly attack bowlers all over the field and score quickly. His success came from good timing and wrist flicks rather than physical power, and Anwar became famous for his trademark flick. He was able to lift a ball that had pitched outside off stump for six over midwicket.
Sultan of Multan
If you need to witness lethargy in cricket, just watch Inzy also known as the Sultan of Multan laboriously walking towards the crease, or his running between the wickets which could even embarrass a snail. If that fails to tickle your funny bone just see Inzy stand in the slip, and if you are lucky, you might even get to see him reluctantly trotting behind a ball, slowly pursuing it till some young ball boy eagerly stops it behind the fence with gleam and pride.
But make no mistakes, Inzy just fell 3 runs short from breaking Javed’s record and becoming Pakistan’s leading test scorer. Inzammam set a record for scoring the most fifties in One Day Internationals, 83 which has been surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar. He also became the second batsman to score 10,000 runs in One-day Internationals after Tendulkar. Inzamam has been known to be a very destructive batsman in all formats of the game. Like Tendulkar, Inzy has an amazing ability to pick the length of a delivery very early and play very late. His footwork is generally considered to be fast, enabling him to position himself early for shots. Who can forget his brilliant knock in 92 world cup semifinals against New Zealand at Auckland.
Both Inzamman and Younis are fearless and can single handedly change the course of match. They made a good pair of Captain and Vice Captain. But there is a little difference between Inzamman and Younis Khan’s captaincy. Unlike Inzamman, Younis is more stylish, prefers to shave and has a tremendous sense of humour. Unfortunately Inzamman had to adjust his batting and even his leadership to the violent political situation. Not to mention, the intrusion from various managers, coaches including Javed Miandad, the late Bob Woolmer, different board officials. There was a time when this soft spoken lad from Multan took strict disciplinary steps and cleverly handled the whims of Rawalpindi Express- Shoaib Akhtar including facing the criticism of his mentor the legendary Imran Khan.
Barring one incident of forfeiting the test match in England, Inzamman led the team with his bat with grace, dignity and respect. Along with senior talented players like Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhtar and Afridi, he managed to inspire and encourage young Mohd Yusuf (erstwhile Youhana), Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik. Today these same players have become astute match winners. Having said that Captaincy had a positive effect on Inzamam's batting, often leading by example in pressure situations, averaging greater as a captain (52).
Gentle Pathan
Under Inzamam’s captaincy the team prayed more and played less. Inzy’s men looked more like Tablighi Jamaat than Men in Green, leaving late Woolmer exasperated. Thankfully Younis Khan is blessed with a younger team who look more hungry and desperate to showcase their talent, skills and bring glory to their country. Like any other Pathan, Younis Khan is fearless, and will forever be remembered as the second Khan to bring home a world title for Pakistan.
As a batsman, Younis is compact and elegant. His determination and temperament makes it possible to play any format of the game and even score runs with flourish. His sweep shots are close to perfection. The amazing cuts and spectacular off-drives between point and extra cover are worth watching. Sitting on one knee and hitting the classical cover drives would remind you of the Great Gavaskar. Younis is not as tall as Majid Khan but like him rarely hits a straight drive and is not afraid to pull or hook fast bowlers. His on-drives and flicks in midwicket and square leg region are equally good. It is a pleasure to see Younis craft and pace his innings. His stroke plays and running between the wickets sometimes remind you of Asif Iqbal who also played with a certain aura of flamboyance, arrogance, determination and grit.
Elegant All-rounder
Shoaib Malik breathes elegance. His footwork and back-foot drives remind you of the talented Sanjay Manjrekar. Malik is not blessed with a strong physique but compensates with his sense of timing. He has good wrist work and his cuts and drives in off and leg region are indeed a delight to watch. Malik has proved himself as one of the most cerebral batsmen of his era. He does not have Afridi’s brute force or Yousuf’s defense but Pakistan owes many a win to the youngster whose maturity goes far beyond his age. Malik has an amazing pair of hands and rarely spills any catches. The classical off spinners do surprise the batsmen but his bowling action has often come under the scanner and somehow remains a suspect.
Diligent Soldier
The moment he scores a century, this talented batsmen observes Sajdah where he prostrates in gratitude to Allah in the direction of Mecca. Prior to his conversion to Islam in 2005, he walked to the crease and blessed himself by making a cross and repeated the act every time he reached a milestone. Yousuf is humble and has no inhibitions in publicly displaying his faith. His Test average of 56.00 currently ranks him as quality batsmen. Mohd. Yousuf is known for his ability to score runs at exceptional rate through his great technique and composed strokeplay. His batting lacks style but his concentration, determination and hard hitting has always helped Pakistan bounce back from any brink of defeat.
Boom Boom
Boom Boom Afridi is a man in hurry, whether it’s his batting, fielding or even bowling. On his day, he can slay any bowler with brute force and can make the ball fly the distance or even break the windshields in car park. Afridi has everything in his repertoire. His faster one which people find suspicious comes straight at you like a flying missile and rarely miss the timber. He fields with amazing alacrity and his running between the wickers could even bring sprinters to shame.
Future
The country is reeling under fundamentalism, terrorist attack and seems to slowly become an anarchic state. But hopefully accomplishments in cricket and sports would someday curb all these. The recent Twenty20 world cup win seems to have changed the way Pakistani’s now approach their cricket. There is certain bonhomie amongst the players and the younger players appear more vibrant and determined. As expected there is a new captain. It remains to be seen how long does the Pakistan board trust and empower Mohd.Younus with captaincy.
Until then someone should publish a book about the other legendary artist Hanif Mohammed and Nissar Khan, the talented Wasim Raza, Rameez Raja, Wasim Bari, spinners Iqbal Qasim, Abdul Qadir, Mushtaq and Saqlain and those brave hearts mentioned above.
Future
The country is reeling under fundamentalism, terrorist attack and seems to slowly become an anarchic state. But hopefully accomplishments in cricket and sports would someday curb all these. The recent Twenty20 world cup win seems to have changed the way Pakistani’s now approach their cricket. There is certain bonhomie amongst the players and the younger players appear more vibrant and determined. As expected there is a new captain. It remains to be seen how long does the Pakistan board trust and empower Mohd.Younus with captaincy.
Until then someone should publish a book about the other legendary artist Hanif Mohammed and Nissar Khan, the talented Wasim Raza, Rameez Raja, Wasim Bari, spinners Iqbal Qasim, Abdul Qadir, Mushtaq and Saqlain and those brave hearts mentioned above.
well...Shahid Afridi & Inzamam Ul Haq had been my favourities fr a long time.....wonderful blog and nicely expressed thoughts....bravo!
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