The Cricket World Cup Needs a Performing Pakistan - and England Win Proves It
By Neil Squires
Capable of dining with the gods and scavenging in the gutter they came into Monday’s game on a run of 11 one-day internationals without a win but it was England’s misfortune to run into the top-floor version at Trent Bridge on Monday.
After producing an abysmal no-show against the West Indies in their first game of the World Cup which saw them crushed inside 14 overs, they were a side transformed.
Starting a tournament well is generally deemed to be useful in establishing a base camp for conquering a mountain but in the looking glass world of Pakistan cricket, the opposite is true. They lost their opening game in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England and ended up lifting the trophy; rewind 27 years to their greatest moment in one-day cricket and the train of established logic never even left the station.
In a nine-team tournament played under the same league format as this one, Pakistan won just one of the first five group games. They were, to all intents and purposes, finished. Yet from nowhere they hit back to squeeze into the semifinals and they take down England in the final.
WasimAkram, who turned 53 on Monday, bowled boomerangs that day.
On Monday, it was the spinners who gained the traction as Shadab struck early and late and in between Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik squeezed out middle order wickets.
A confidence vacuum would have been natural on the run they found themselves on but you would never have thought so from the way they came at England. With the bat, with the ball and in the field.
The cornered tigers finally bared their teeth. Imran Khan’s description of his Pakistan team after they lifted themselves off the canvas to win the 1992 World Cup could not have been more apt given the spot they found themselves in but their response was snarling.
They are a feisty mob and sometimes they can stray over the edge. Like England, they were warned for scuffing up the ball by bouncing it in deliberately.
But they are invariably compelling to watch – sometimes in a car crash rubbernecker sort of way; in genuine appreciation of their skills.
Babar Azam batted elegantly, Mohammad Hafeez with more clubbing urgency to post an imposing total but to defend it on such a fast-scoring ground required nerve from the bowling attack. Under fire from Joe Root and Jos Buttler, they were put to the test but held together with Shadab Khan’s leg spin crucial in the final ledger.
Re-energized, they even out-fielded England.
This World Cup needs a performing Pakistan. They bring so much to any tournament with their baffling mix of brilliance and buffoonery.
They were urged on by their raucous support who painted Trent Bridge green and created a vibrant backdrop to the contest.
The to-and-fro from the terraces prompted a ‘shh’ signal from Chris Woakes after the first of his four catches but as the boundaries flowed the racket intensified to the drum beat in the William Clarke Stand.
It all went quiet when Joe Root and Jos Buttler were in full flow but the noise when WahabRiaz picked up Chris Woakes for his second wicket in successive balls was deafening.
Their side was effectively home.
It may have been the last day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan but there was no lack of energy as they danced in the stands.
Clearly, Pakistan lulled England into a false sense of security with a 4-0 series defeat last month.
“Pakistan Zindabad,” – victory to Pakistan - was the cry.
Who knows what they will serve up next against Sri Lanka on Friday – it could be famine or equally it could be feast - but it will be a very happy Eid. – Express Co.
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