Page 26 - Pakistan Link - January 29, 2020

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P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – JANUARY 29, 2021 COMMENTARY
Everlasting Charm of Pakistan-India Cricket Rivalry
n By Vijay Lokapally support came from Gavaskar, who backed the
team to win the 1992 World Cup.
ndia and Pakistan matches have always I take pride in narrating an anecdote

been closely and fiercely contested but here from India’s 1996 tour to England. India
Ithere is mutual respect for each other’s had lost the first Test at Birmingham and was

cricket. — File photo training hard at Lord’s when it had a surprise
April 1978, the news was prominently visitor in form of Miandad. He was not happy
displayed on the sports page, ‘Pakistan stars at India losing to England and he made an ap-

for Abbas Ali Baig Benefit Match’. Pakistan pearance at the ground to share his experience
cricketers in the 1970s were stars, all of them. of tackling seam and swing bowling. I remem-
I lost little time in reaching out to my ber him asking the Indians, “Bhai, kaise haar
childhood friend, Ghaus Mohammad, a fa- gaye aap is England team se (how could you
mous football commentator now. Ghaus and lose to this England team)”. He gave a pep talk

I would spend hours on the field, sometimes to the Indians. Among the attentive lot were
just the two of us. I would bowl and he would Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, who both
keep the wickets. Eventually, he went on to went on to make fantastic debut appearances
represent Delhi as a goalkeeper in the Santosh in the Test.
Trophy National Football Championship. India and Pakistan cricket matches have

The star list was awesome: Asif Iqbal, Ma- always been closely and fiercely contested.

jid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan, Mush- True, there have been some acrimonious inci-
taq Mohammad, Sarfraz Nawaz, along with and Hunte. It was a memorable game for me when I interacted with the same stars as a dents, but friendships have always been forged

Ian Chappell, Conrad Hunte, David Hookes. and Ghaus and for years we shared the stories journalist, realized how incorrect I had been. off the field. There is mutual respect for each

For me, the only attraction was Majid Khan; with our friends. There was respect for Indian cricket in Paki- other’s cricket. How can anyone forget the
the majestic, graceful, debonair, who could Strange, a few months after I watched stan and I personally looked forward to meet- standing ovation that Wasim Akram’s team

smash the bowlers without moving his feet. the Pakistan greats in action I was praying for ing cricketers from Pakistan at tournaments in was accorded at Chennai in 1999 when it won

There was no way I was going to miss the their failure. India was touring Pakistan and I Sharjah, England, Sri Lanka, Nairobi, Toronto. the test match in a breathtaking finish. It was
match. Bunking school was not the challenge. was now on the other side. I prayed for India an unforgettable show of spirit and has stayed
Getting entry to the Ferozeshah Kotla was. to succeed and I also prayed for Majid and Za- I came to realize how silly this all was. with every member of that Pakistan team.

There was no pocket money we could fall back heer, Imran and Sarfraz, Iqbal and Mushtaq to Cricket was only a game and in later It was my good fortune that no Pakistan
on. It had been spent on buying the cricket kit. fail miserably. years when I interacted with the same cricketer ever refused an interview for The

And then Ghaus found a solution. The score- The first Test at Faisalabad was drawn. stars as a journalist, realized how Hindu and Sportstar where I worked. Cricket

board at the Kotla was manned by a family Zaheer and Javed Miandad smashed the In- incorrect I had been. There was respect between India and Pakistan is easily the most

which stayed in a two-room house just below dian bowlers ruthlessly. India responded for Indian cricket in Pakistan and I followed competition in the world. It generates
the iron structure. through GR Viswanath’s century and some personally looked forward to meeting excitement of the highest quality and as Asif
Ghaus reached out to a friend who knew solid batting from Sunil Gavaskar alongside Iqbal told me recently, “It is far superior to any
the family well. We were ushered into the Dilip Vengsarkar. India lost the next match at cricketers from Pakistan at tournaments competition between any two nations in the
house early morning and then surreptitiously Lahore as Imran and Sarfraz played havoc and in Sharjah, England, Sri Lanka, Nairobi, world. Far more intense than the Ashes”.
into the stand next to the house. It was an easy Zaheer toyed with the Indian bowling. India Toronto. With time, I rediscovered my It is indeed a pity that India and Paki-

entry, and we were so delighted to watch the lost at Karachi too but Gavaskar hit a century heroes from Pakistan when I heard them stan do not play each other as often because
stars in action. My eyes were hooked on the in each innings. Miandad again tormented the praise their Indian counterparts highly. their matches need to be competed on neu-
Pakistan cricketers and what a galaxy it was. Indian bowlers. Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Miandad, tral venues, essentially at ICC events. In turn,
To have watched them in action was a Pakistan came to India in 1979-80 and it takes away the charm of watching a Virat

grand achievement. The searing heat of Delhi, lost the series 0-2. I began liking the Pakistan Imran, Rameez Raja never missed an Kohli against Pakistan in a Test and a Babar
being April and extremely hot, was forgotten stars again. But two years later it was again opportunity to praise Indian cricketers. Azam taking on Indian bowlers in similar cir-
as we soaked in the glory of seeing some of Pakistan dominating India. This time more For Pakistan cricket, the greatest support cumstances. It also means their records would

the greatest names from across the border. As comprehensively though. India succumbed to came from Gavaskar, who backed the be deprived of performances against each
expected, Majid Khan made his runs without the reverse swing of Imran and Sarfraz and the team to win the 1992 World Cup other. What a shame that Sachin Tendulkar
moving his feet. Zaheer Abbas produced some punishing bats of Zaheer, Miandad and Mu- and Wasim Akram did not face each other
silken drives the likes of which we had never dassar Nazar. Of course, Mohinder Amarnath, With time, I rediscovered my heroes in a Test from 1989 to 1999, a whole decade.

seen. Imran and Sarfraz bowled with fire. Asif Gavaskar, Kapil and Vengsarkar did well but from Pakistan when I heard them praise their There is hope in the times to come when In-
Iqbal made his presence felt too. it was Pakistan all the way. How I hated the Indian counterparts highly. Wasim Akram, dia and Pakistan may get to play at least one

There was a young Indian too who made Pakistan stars for destroying my heroes. Waqar Younis, Miandad, Imran, Rameez Raja series a year on their own soil. This generation

his mark in that match. Kapil Dev arrived with I came to realize how silly this all was. never missed an opportunity to praise Indian of cricket fans deserves such a treat indeed.
a bang as took the wickets of Majid, Zaheer, Cricket was only a game and in later years cricketers. For Pakistan cricket, the greatest Dawn/ ScoreLine
Century in First Test at Hometown a Dream Come True: Fawad
n By Khalid H. Khan setting up the stage and then [Mohammad]
Karachi Rizwan and Faheem [Ashraf] all contributed
when they were needed most,” Fawad added.
esilience has been the hallmark of Meanwhile, Maharaj conceded bowling
how Fawad Alam plays cricket, all to someone with the unconventional batting
Rhis life. Last Wednesday saw him style Fawad has was frustrating for South Af-
once again give ample sights of these vir- rica.
tues. A third ton in a Test career, abruptly “Yeah, it was tough for the bowlers out
shortened by shenanigans of the men re- there because of the way Fawad led the fight-

sponsible for selecting the Pakistan nation- back but I thought we did well to control the
al team. scoring rate [of Pakistan]. We have never seen
“Obviously there is nothing more sat- a batter who adapts such an awkward stance
isfying than scoring a Test hundred in your while being at the crease. But the way he
hometown, and that too at first attempt,” Pak- [Fawad] batted was something to be praised,”

istan’s batting hero told reporters during the the frontline slow left-armer remarked.

virtual presser after his making a courageous “It was difficult to find the right spots

109 that eventually placed the hosts into a po- to put Fawad in bother because his [batting]
sition of strength. style is something we’ve never experienced
“I’ll never forget this moment in my before. Credit to him for playing a splendid
life even though it had been long overdue. knock under immense pressure.”
The century in New Zealand [102 at Mount “I think the wicket looks pretty good

Maunganui last month] was special too be- at the moment but yeah, one can’t say how
cause many had written me off. But this one it would play [over the remaining days]. But

gave me more joy because the team needed it one area that we must improve is to get de-
most. I had left it to Almighty Allah to grant cent runs in the second innings. No one can

me success while coming into this Test. I had say whether there’ll be deterioration setting

dreamt of achieving something special that I in batting deep into the match. There are
could cherish for the rest of my life. Scoring a “Both Ajju [Azhar Ali] and myself decid- ourselves and were rewarded for our collec- footmarks created by the bowlers that could
ton in a hometown is a feat everyone dreams ed together last night that pressing the panic tive hard work. come into play. And Yasir Shah being a wrist

of. Couldn’t have asked for more after what button won’t do any good and the best way “Honestly speaking, we felt that we could spinner, can troubles our batters,” he ob-

I had performed today. At the moment I’m out of what happened on the first day [when put them [South Africa] on the defensive by served.
feeling over the moon.” Pakistan were in the mire at 33-4 at stumps] rotating the strike regularly and we did exact- “It is imperative that we should restrict
Fawad said despite the poor start by was to get the negative thoughts out of the ly that. As a team we are proud of the way we Pakistan’s lead to a minimum and try to bat

Pakistan, he was confident that the remaining mind,” Fawad went on. “Our sole goal was came back into the Test. Everyone chipped as long as possible to set a decent target [to
batsmen were capable of doing good. to bat today as long as we could. We applied in well. Azhar was simply outstanding for chase],” Maharaj remarked.
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