Page 7 - Pakistan Link - October 20, 2023

OPINION PAKISTAN LINK - OCTOBER 20, 2023 - P7
n By Malinda Seneviratne translated as ‘miserable joy.’ I like to
Sri Lanka A World Cup without Boundaries believe that such people are a minority.
Before the big day, 47 matches will
n Sunday, November 19, have been played. Half the games will
2023, two teams will face derdogs would be the appropriate tag. for. Tons of consolation scenarios South Asian cricketing nation. feature at least one Southasian team.
Oeach other at the Narendra So when I think of the much (in the unlikely event that Sri Lanka The players carry the weight of each The final may very well feature two
Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India. talked about glorious uncertainties doesn’t go all the way to win it all). country’s expectations, but the Paki- non-Southasian teams. In such a situ-
The winner will lift the 2023 Cricket of cricket, I console myself in the stan team doesn’t appear to be carry- ation, I would shelve all disappoint-
One Day International (ODI) World knowledge that any team can have Pakistan vs India ing extra baggage on account of such ments and find something that’s more
Cup (Men). By then, eight teams a bad day in the office, and that Sri Regardless. I am thrilled that concerns. That’s thanks to the Indian than ‘consolation’ in enjoying the
Pakistan will be playing in India. I’m
thrilled that this format allows an In-
dia-Pakistan encounter. Obviously, it’s
something any cricket fan would look
forward to. This is the World Cup and
not a bilateral series, so it’s extra special.
Pakistan and India have played each
other on 134 occasions, Pakistan win-
ning 73 to India’s 56 with five ending
with no-result or ties, I’m not sure. India
and Pakistan are ranked No 1 and No 2
in ODIs right now. Rankings do indicate
relative strengths and form but again we
have those glorious uncertainties.
Pakistan in particular has a rep-
utation for swinging between the
amazing and abysmal. A close game
would have been eliminated. Lanka could probably beat any of the or one-sided affair, we really cannot fans. The vast majority, at least those cricket. I’d be backing the team less fa-
Fans of all competing countries other nine competing teams at least tell. This doesn’t detract from the on the streets and not necessarily ham- vored to win, but will no doubt be no
would hope their heroes will still be twice in a 10-match series, and hope adrenaline rush that their encounters mering keyboards, seem deaf to the less delighted by the contest even if the
taking the field that day, regardless of that it’s one of those two days. usually produce. These are two very political noise. They’ve welcomed the other team won.
what the ranking and the form sheets Come the 19th of November, we will good teams, each packed with mul- Pakistan team with the kind of warmth I’m pretty sure Sri Lanka will win
say. They may or may not have a all know. Speaking strictly for myself, I tiple match-winners. that makes us wonder what borders the World Cup, but I’d be no less
backup team to cheer for, if their team would like a Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh That’s about cricket. India and and boundaries really are, what they pleased if the trophy returned to my
doesn’t make it that far. or Afghanistan final (I like underdogs). Pakistan, whether we like it or not, are are said to contain and what is clearly neighborhood.
Meanwhile, the organizers, con- Second preference: Sri Lanka vs India countries which, when bracketed to- uncontainable. (Malinda Seneviratne is former Ed-
cerned about profits, would no doubt or Pakistan. In the unlikely event that gether, make people go ‘uh oh!’ That’s There’s something beautiful about itor-in-Chief of The Nation in Sri Lan-
love to see an India-Pakistan final. Sri Lanka will not make it to the final politics. And the politically inclined borders being rendered irrelevant. ka, currently a freelance writer for var-
The rivalry, political tensions and the (yes, I’m a diehard fan), I would like or even fixated will, again whether we To me, it speaks of community and ious papers including the Daily Mirror
sheer number of fans from the two two of the following teams to play that like it or not, talk about the match up solidarity where people momentarily and Daily News in Colombo. He is also
countries would be the dream out- day: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India as though it’s part of a war. The invec- perhaps recognize the true worth of a an accomplished poet and translator,
come for the ICC. and Pakistan. If not me, then my neigh- tive and self-righteousness expressed cricketer. who has received Gratiaen Prize for
I am Sri Lankan. Obviously, I want bor, my brother, my cousin, someone in on social media platforms is indicative This is not to say there won’t be poetry and the H. A. I. Goonetilleka
Dasun Shank’s boys to tear the form the family or a friend. I’m like that. enough. For me, as a Sri Lankan, it’s those who, if their team falters, won’t Prize for the best literary translation,
book to shreds, but Sri Lanka is not Overall there are five Southasian mind-boggling. It’s probably the same find consolation in some ‘enemy team’ both awarded by the Gratiaen Trust
among the favorites. No one is even teams competing for the World Cup, for many cricket lovers from Afghani- being bested. In Sinhala, we call this founded by Michael Ondaatje. This is a
calling them the ‘dark horse.’ Rank un- out of 10. For me, that’s a lot to cheer stan, Bangladesh and Nepal, the sixth ‘Kaalakanni sathuta’ which could be Sapan News syndicated feature.)

n By Kamran Abbasi Pakistan Still Have Plenty It was hard to conclude that Paki- The limitations of those same all-

akistan crumbled in Ahmed- stan crumbled under oppressive pres- rounders were exposed when they
sure. There wasn’t too much obvious were asked to defend a small total.
abad in the face of a high quali- to Fight for after India Loss intensity in the early part of Pakistan’s Again, a quality gap was evident in
Pty all-round performance from innings. Saud looked unusually ner- Pakistan’s support bowlers, espe-
India, who confirmed their status as vous and some of the lower order lost cially the spinners. Where is the suc-
tournament favorites. Rohit Sharma their heads, but the gap wasn’t one of cessor to Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed
scored 86 runs in quick time to ren- mentality, it was one of quality, a lack Ajmal? Pakistan needs specialists,
der Pakistan’s total meaningless. of specialism. not jacks of all trades.
A remarkable collapse, eight The truth staring into the face of None of this means that Pakistan
wickets for 36 runs, when Pakistan Pakistan cricket, and it is one that has don’t have enough to venture deep
seemed well set, turned the game been peering in for over a decade or into this tournament but, at present, it
into a no contest. In a Pakistan- more, is that India produces high qual- seems a long shot that they can mount
India match, to fail to compete is ity batsmen, performing at the top end a serious challenge.
worse than losing. Worse still, it was of international cricket. It produces To do so, they will need to bat
a harsh reality check on Pakistan’s high quality spinners. smarter around their top players be-
prospects in this World Cup. Pakistan, by contrast, struggles to cause small totals won’t be defend-
India showcased the excellence of field six batsmen capable of dominat- able. They will require the individual
their bowling attack, but a stronger ing in international cricket. When it brilliance of their top batsmen to be-
batting line-up than Pakistan’s would comes to batting, Pakistan relies on come consistent brilliance. And they
have increased the pressure on India. Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, they will need more penetration from their
Instead, Pakistan let them off the hook occasionally muddle through with a bowlers, particularly Shaheen Shah
and exposed their own flaws. one off effort from another player, or Afridi who seems to have lost his zip.
For thirty overs Pakistan looked the bowlers get them out of a hole. This is a tall order although not
serene, playing with an unexpected It’s an approach you can get away impossible. A regulation defeat in
calm given the circumstances. The India’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s cap- with in T20 cricket, but in either of the Ahmedabad and Pakistan would
top four silenced the home crowd. A tain Babar Azam during their ICC Cricket World Cup match at Narendra longer forms it won’t deliver consistent have shrugged their shoulders and
ripple of reluctant applause greeted Modi Stadium, on Saturday in Ahmedabad — Reuters or long-term success. This is an area of moved on. Instead, Pakistan will re-
Babar Azam’s half century, but it might urgent focus after this World Cup. quire a psychological reboot, a per-
have been mistaken for the fluttering to navigate the fifty overs, but it col- have sufficed. formance to make them believe in
of a hundred thousand handheld fans lapsed horrifically. And here is how Pakistan assisted Depth of batting order themselves again.
in the Gujarat heat. The pitch was doing nothing except their opponents. Abdullah Shafique The other issue apart from the gen- The manner of the defeat and the
Pakistan needed a big innings occasional low bounce. Little moved played around a straight ball. Imam- eral quality of Pakistan’s batsmen is flaws it has brought into full view,
from one of their top order, who all off the straight. It wasn’t a pitch that ul-Haq opened his blade too much to the depth of the batting order. Yes, the when pitted against the quality of their
got a start, but it didn’t come. Partic- allowed carefree stroke play, it lost a straight ball. Babar and Saud Sha- lower middle order can contribute but fiercest rivals, will be hard to recover
ularly disappointing was Babar’s fail- pace and life as the ball grew old, but keel just missed straight ones. The all- the best teams have players capable of from, but these are early days and
ure to build on a fluent half century. it wasn’t demonic. Nonetheless, Paki- rounders were out of their depth and a major innings lurking down the or- Pakistan have plenty of opportunity to
Pakistan needed its middle order to stan seemed to misread it, pushing for didn’t apply themselves. The innings der. Pakistan don’t have such players make critics eat their words and they
build on a firm if meagre foundation, 300 when something above 250 might was done, a bits and pieces effort. with their crop of all-rounders. still have plenty to fight for. - Dawn
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