Shoaib's last chance? -- Posted by Osman on Friday, May 30 2003
Derailing the Rawalpindi Express?
In an entity as diverse, divergent and fractious as the Pakistani cricket team, it has always been difficult to identify the one player who embodied the true essence of the team. More often than not, around the world, the captain has played this role. Australia, in the image of their test leader Steve Waugh, are simultaneously gritty, ruthless, full of steel and an indomitable spirit. Nasser Hussain’s England have recently begun to display the steel, resolve and cold-bloodedness their captain is equally loved and despised for in the UK press. India and the Kiwis, similarly, are beginning to exhibit the traits and temperament that has filtered through from the very top. At one time Pakistan too played very much in the mould of Imran Khan but in recent times, if anybody, truly epitomises Pakistan cricket, the living embodiment of an inconsistent, controversy-stricken, vain and divisive team, then it is Shoaib Akhtar.
Akhtar is what is good about Pakistan cricket – raw, natural talent, a nerveless temperament and the ability to upstage the very best. Unfortunately, he is also the worst of Pakistan cricket – vain, arrogant, inconsistent, injury-prone and undisciplined. As Pakistan has been at the sharp end of Sod’s Law – where everything that can go wrong, will go wrong – for the last decade and more, so has Shoaib’s career. His latest flirtation with controversy is merely the latest in a long line of such incidents that have overshadowed what at one stage promised to be a glorious career. In the recently concluded Bank Al-Falah triangular in Sri Lanka, Shoaib Akhtar became only the second man in the history of the game to be suspended after being found guilty of ball-tampering. The first, incidentally, was Waqar Younis.
The circumstances and background to this latest controversy are worth noting. After a typically hyped build-up to the World Cup, the self-proclaimed ‘fastest bowler on the planet’ came down to Earth with an almighty bang. And Sachin taught him all about how useful pace is in that glorious opening over at Centurion Park on March 1st. In the post-World Cup cull, Akhtar’s name was top of the list for many in the country. To appease public opinion, eight senior players, including the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ (which, incidentally, in a delightfully ironic twist, ceased running ages ago and was anything but express) were dropped and a young team was taken to the Sharjah Cup.
Whilst interviewing Rashid Latif, however, it became clear that Shoaib would come back into the team at some stage, which he duly did, when the squad was announced for the Pearl Island triangular. This time, however, Latif and Tauqir Zia both went on record to say that this tournament was to be Akhtar’s last chance saloon. If he didn’t sort his attitude and disciplinary problems out, he would go the way of Akram, Anwar and Waqar. So after this latest suspension, what was the PCB’s response?
Undisclosed sources said initially that action might be taken against the pacer, but eventually the PCB released a statement saying they accepted whatever punishment would be handed out and that no further action would be taken against Akhtar. So why despite the very public warnings was no action taken? Well, one obvious reason was that he was bowling well, and had taken seven wickets in the tournament so far. But what if he hadn’t bowled well, what in fact, if he had been thrashed around the park? The PCB remains tight-lipped, unwilling to further comment on the situation.
The truth is, and has been for e very long time now, that Akhtar is the blue-eyed boy of the PCB chairman. Right from when he first came into power, Zia has spared no expense in his treatment of Shoaib. He has assigned personal trainers for him on tour, has always overlooked his disciplinary misdemeanors, he has overlooked the fact that he has failed to perform more often than not. In short, he has provided further boosts to an ego that clearly did not need any. And now, when the whole of the country was clamouring for change, he has apparently dropped Akhtar like a hot potato. Except, as the inaction in light of the ball-tampering charge shows, he hasn’t.
Zia, of course, isn’t alien to public displays of false emotion. Back in October, after the humiliation against the Aussies in Sharjah, Zia offered his resignation as chairman, but only on the condition that the man who hired him approves. Considering that the man who appointed him was personal friend, President of the Pakistan and Chief of Army, as well as a man not exactly well-known for his acceptance of his own mistakes, Pervaiz Musharraf, that was never likely.
Reporters and officials at the time were of the view that the resignation was offered simply to gain a reaffirmation from the President, and held as much substance as Mariah Carey. So this public warning must very much be taken in the same vein. Of course, Zia won’t drop his favourite paceman. He will warn him in public to keep the nation happy, but in private he will not even entertain the thought of dropping the man he considers to be “the only match-winner Pakistan has.”
The only good thing to come out of this whole sordid affair is that Akhtar, for the time being, has taken the warning seriously. Reports coming out from the tournament, from PCB CEO Ramiz Raja and captain Latif, indicate that his behaviour within the team was blameless and without incident.
Rashid Latif, as well, is a man known not to tolerate indiscipline and is generally the first to call a spade a spade. He made very clear in an interview with this writer before the Sri Lankan jaunt that if Akhtar stepped out of line at any point he would be dropped immediately. Shoaib’s performances too have been markedly better since the World Cup, although on the seamer-friendly surfaces of Dambulla, not too much should be made of his form. So despite his latest foray into scandal-mongering, it seems the Rawalpindi Express’s position for the moment is safe. Certainly, Zia is not keen for the man to be dropped for an indefinite period and if at any point, a similar situation to the ball-tampering case arises again, then the fate of Akhtar may depend on who is willing to stand their ground – Tauqir Zia or Rahsid Latif. In Pakistan, the military have a funny way of winning out over anyone and thing.
Nepal: Making Long Strides -- Posted by Ujjwol on Thursday, May 22 2003
By Ujjwol Acharya
When Nepal was given an associate status by ICC in 1996, a few good catches in First Asian Cricket Council Trophy 1996 in Malaysia did attract some attention. But at the time, nobody, probably not also Nepalis, has believed that Nepal will be amongst the best non-test playing nation in a few shorts years.
The unpredicted had happened, Nepal has already made cricket pundits believe that in coming days the tiny Himalayan kingdom will be one of the finest cricket playing nation. Two successful entrance into Youth World Cup, in both of which they did well, and the selection of it for the Asia Cup that will feature India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, can prove them.
In first Youth World Cup, 1999 in Sri Lanka, Nepal did well to defeat Kenya to enter the super six stage while three years later in New Zealand, the young guns of Nepal defeated much experienced teams like Pakistan and Bangladesh, not to mention Canada, Scotland and Namibia, to reach the plate final.
Nepal didn't reach the super six during that Youth World Cup, just because of the run rate, otherwise Nepal was tied with Pakistan and England during the first round.
In recently held U-15 Asia Cup, Nepal emerged victorious against all non-test playing nations and Bangladesh. They also played well against India and Pakistan, both times losing by 27 runs.
By reaching the final of Fourth ACC Trophy held in UAE, Nepal had secured a place in the Asia Cup along with the winner UAE. Although the tournament looks unlikely in near future due to India-Pakistan conflict, Asian Cricket Council has assured that anytime it happens, Nepal will play.
Nepal, mostly criticised inside nation, for its inadequate work over grassroot level, has initiated National League along with U-19 league, dividing the country into five cricket regions. Two editions of national league have already proved successful. Besides, Nepal is also working on constructing infrastructure in various region centres.
Notable here is that there are a lot of cricket fans. The grounds are not seen empty during international tournaments despite ticket system while regional tournaments in Terai region, the southern part of Nepal where most of the cricket is played, there is a festive moment.
The arrival of Sri Lankan Roy Dias as an inspirational coach has even made the performance better. Nepali cricket is undoubtedly owed to Dias.
The best thing for Nepal is that the laws clearly states that only Nepali citizen should represent the country. Unlike Hong Kong and UAE, every player of Nepal who have played in international teams are Nepalis.
Yet, there are few areas where Nepal still has to progress. Infrastructure development, professionalism and enough training opportunities are few to name where Nepal had to progess. But for the time-being, lets hope Nepal will continue the successful run.
(This is my first article to CricketWeb.net, I welcome comments and criticises at ujjwol@clicknepal.com)
WI Analysis v Aus -- Posted by Liam on Tuesday, May 20 2003
In the recently concluded Test series between Australia and the West Indies, in the Caribbean, the visitors won by a convincing 3-1 margin. However, the keen cricketing observer would undoubtedly have noticed the shining positives to come out of the series for the West Indians.
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The Player-by-Player Analysis:
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Brian Lara (captain)
Reinstated as West Indies captain, Lara came into this Australia series once again with a great load to shoulder. He had received mixed reviews concerning his capabilities to lead this young team.
Due to a convincing series loss, Lara's captaincy will be criticized, but in truth and fact, it was not all that bad. Lara set innovative fields and attacked the batsman to the greatest extent that the substandard pitches and bowling would allow. In addition, Lara tried his best to inspire his players to their best. He scored an impressive 533 runs against the best bowling attack in the world and looked totally at ease doing it. He notched 2 centuries and 3 fifties (including 91) and averaged at 66.63.
Whilst batting with Ganga, he put on a couple of century stands and supported Ganga to his first two Test hundreds.
Lara seems to have found a measure of consistency, which has been missing from his game in recent years.
Series ratings: Bat (9/10); Ball (N/A); Field (7/10); Leadership (7/10)
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Ramnaresh Sarwan (vice-captain)
Sarwan emerged in this series to confirm his clear and shining talent to his critics. Before the Australian contest, Sarwan had compiled 14 fifties and only 1 hundred in 29 matches and 51 innings. To say the least, his conversion was not startling. Indeed, his lone hundred was scored against the lowly Bangladeshi team.
After missing the first Test through injury, Sarwan returned to the team in Trinidad for the second of the series. He seemed rather uncertain in his stroke play initially and got out to a couple of questionable shots, but ultimately, he was just saving his best for last. With the West Indies in dire trouble at 74/3 chasing 418 for victory, in the third and final Test, the 22-year-old batsman strode to the crease. What followed was a masterful innings of 105 - off 139 balls.
Sarwan struck 17 fours in his effort and helped his team to an historic victory. He proved that he is capable of scoring hundreds and important ones at that. Sarwan is a much more mature batsman for this series, but as shown in his ultimate dismissal, he is still very vulnerable to his compulsion to play the hook shot.
Series ratings: Bat (7.5/10); Ball (N/A); Field (7/10)
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Ridley Jacobs (wicket keeper)
Jacobs only participated in the first and fourth Tests, but his presence was felt in each. After tearing a groin muscle in the middle of his first innings vigil, in Guyana, he batted on bravely to end unbeaten on 54 and help his team to a respectable total of 237. His keeping was solid and his batting helpful to West Indian cause. All in all, it was a solid performance from the 35-year old left-hander.
Jacobs' series did however end on a sour note, as he was controversially adjudged caught behind off his first delivery at a crucial stage in the Windies' record run chase.
Series ratings: Bat (7/10); Ball (N/A); Field (9.5/10)
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Vasbert Drakes
After an eight-year period of non-selection between Drakes' first internationals and his recent efforts, Drakes has proved a precious asset. He has shown his experience with the ball by bowling intelligently and consistently. Aside from his first Test five-wicket haul, his series stats do not truly reflect his effort.
Another aspect of his value was clearly seen in his unbroken 47-run stand, which helped win the third Test match for the West Indies. Drakes has shown good resolve and capability with the bat to lend some consistency to a very fragile lower order.
Series ratings: Bat (6/10); Ball (7/10); Field (8/10)
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Daren Ganga
Inconsistent is the way that one would describe Daren Ganga's career. He possesses such a correct and admirable technique and yet, before this series, he seemed to perish all too often to aggressive shots after a long, patient stint at the crease.
Until the first Test match, Ganga was centuryless through his first 17 Tests. It seemed unlikely that he would gain selection, but an injury to regular no. 3 Sarwan, saw him playing in against the best team in the world. Ganga managed to score two uncharacteristically aggressive tons and seemingly solidify his place in the top order. Rather disappointingly however, Ganga seemed to retreat into his defensive mode after his second hundred in Trinidad. As a result, the remainder of the series was rather poor.
Series ratings: Bat (6.5/10); Ball (N/A); Field (8/10)
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Omari Banks
At the time when Banks was called up to the Test team, there was a great deal of doubt concerning his deservedness. Indeed, many believed that he was neither good enough as a bowler or a batsman to warrant his place at the highest level. Even as one looks at his bowling average of 70.16 following his first two Tests, these concerns may be validated.
Omari Banks' bowling, whilst unsuccessful to a point, has been quite encouraging at times. Indeed, he has bowled well to his field and has forced the batsman to play more times than not. He has certainly not benefited from the several catches, which have been dropped off his bowling.
In addition, Banks has helped to strengthen the lower order, much in the same way as Drakes with very capable and useful batting. This was epitomized in his crucial innings of 47 unbeaten to carry his team to an unlikely victory in the final Test. Banks shows great potential to possibly become a no. 5 or 6 batsman in the future.
Series ratings: Bat (8/10); Ball (7/10); Field (9/10)
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Chris Gayle
The selectors dropped him for the first two Tests amidst controversy, but he returned well in the third to score two half-centuries. He played with confidence and class, as if to make a statement to the selectors. Unfortunately, Gayle's series ended with an anti-climatic double failure. Two loose shots accounted for Chris' 0 and 19 in Antigua. Despite this, Gayle had a decent series in his limited opportunity and made good contributions with both the bat and the ball.
Series ratings: Bat (6.5/10); Ball (6.5/10); Field (7.5/10)
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Mervyn Dillon
Dillon proved largely inconsistent and ineffective in this series. He bowled with reduced pace and control. As a result, he fell victim to the aggression of the Aussies.
The positive for Dillon is that he returned well in the last Test to help restrict the Australians to 417 after an opening stand of 242. Dillon picked up 4/112, with match figures of 6/165.
Series ratings: Bat (1/10); Ball (5/10); Field (8/10)
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Devon Smith
Following a solid performance in the Carib Cup this year, Smith managed to gain his Test match debut in Guyana and went on the play in all four matches. A good solid technique and an ability to curb his natural aggression helped Smith to a reasonable debut series.
Except for his double duck in Trinidad, he showed good consistency and scored 2 fifties in his effort. Smith will be disappointed, however, that he failed to convert some of his starts, but at 21 years of age, he seems to have a long career ahead of him to do so.
Series ratings: Bat (7.5/10); Ball (N/A); Field (8/10)
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Shivnarine Chanderpaul
He has been a rock for the West Indies over the years and has reached a new level of consistent scoring over the past year. Chanderpaul scored a couple of wonderful centuries, both of which rescued his team from trouble.
In Guyana, Chanders went against his typical defensive style and blasted the fourth fastest hundred in Test history. After missing the second Test through injury, he returned in Barbados to 0 and 22- out to loose shots on both occasions. Even in the first innings in Antigua, he played loosely for his dismissal, but with Sarwan at his side and nothing to lose, he played perhaps the best innings of his career.
Chanderpaul's 104 runs were scored with an injured finger, fixed in a splint. The innings earned Chanderpaul the 'Man of the Match' award and his team a lone victory in the series.
Series ratings: Bat (8.5/10); Ball (N/A); Field (7/10)
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Pedro Collins
Collins had very little impact on the series with just one wicket in two Tests. He bowled disappointingly short and wide for the most part and as a result was clobbered by the visiting batsmen. To say the least, his fielding definitely did not make up for his bowling failure.
Series ratings: Bat (0/10); Ball (2/10); Field (3/10)
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Dave Bernard jr., Tino Best
Each player only played one Test with very little success.
Bernard made next to no impact in his debut Test as he was out for a combined 11 runs in his two innings to poor strokes. His bowling was expensive and ineffective as well. Bernard seems to be more of an ODI player and will likely get another opportunity at some point during the 7-match ODI series.
Series ratings: Bat (2/10); Ball (2/10); Field (9/10)
Best bowled with heart, but overall, not very well. His 20 overs were taken for 99 runs, as he was wicketless on debut. What he did do was show his capability to hold the bat when he scored 20 not out to help the West Indies almost avoid the follow on in that Test.
Series ratings: Bat (6/10); Ball (4/10); Field (6/10)
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Wavell Hinds
Hinds seems a forgotten player at this point in the series. He played with very little impact on the first two Tests. On three occasions, he got off to reasonable starts, but did not carry on to pass fifty. He was called upon in Guyana to wear the gloves, bowl a few overs and open the batting, showing his usefulness as a utility player.
Series ratings: Bat (5.5/10); Ball (3/10); Field (8/10)
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Marlon Samuels
One of the biggest disappointments of the series was the non-performance of Marlon Samuels. After a very impressive tour of Asia last year, Samuels seemed to have 'arrived'. However, after his non-selection for the most part of the World Cup, he seemed to have lost form and confidence and was dismissed cheaply to careless shots in 3 of his 4 innings.
Series ratings: Bat (4/10); Ball (5.5/10); Field (8.5/10)
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Carlton Baugh jr. (wicket keeper)
His century against the Aussies for the Vice Chancellor's XI helped into the squad for all four Tests, two of which he played in. Baugh showed a refreshing youthful exuberance and good potential with the bat. He scored 62 runs at 15.40 per innings. The questionable part of Baugh's game was really his keeping, as he looked nervous and barely competent on admittedly poor tracks.
Carlton Baugh will improve both as a batsman and as a keeper and looks a good long-term replacement for Jacobs.
Series ratings: Bat (6.5/10); Ball (N/A); Field (6/10)
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Jermaine Lawson
Up until the fourth day of the final Test, Lawson looked like the most encouraging prospect to emerge from the series for the West Indies. It was at this time that he was officially reported to the ICC for his 'suspect' bowling action.
This followed one of the best fast-bowling displays in recent times against one of the best batting line-ups in the world. Lawson grabbed 7/78 with brutally aggressive short-pitched bowling that would make Lillee and Thompson proud. Indeed, it was a big blow when he was unable to bowl more than 7 overs in the second innings due to a back strain.
Lawson's only success was not only in this Test however. He picked up the fourth West Indian hat-trick in Test history when he rattled through the Aussie tail with quick full-pitched deliveries and then snared Justin Langer with his first ball of the second innings.
Lawson managed to consistently bowl in the 90-95 mph range for the majority of the series, making him one of the fastest bowlers from the West Indies in the last decade. He has the potential to become a high quality pacer pending his the correction of his action (if indeed it is in breach of ICC laws).
Series ratings: Bat (1/10); Ball (8/10); Field (5/10)
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Overall Team Series ratings: Bat (7.5/10); Ball (6/10); Field (6/10)
Top 3 Positives to come out of the series
3. Jermaine Lawson's bowling in a generally weak bowling attack.
2. Lara's consistency and resolve for hundreds against the best opposition in the world.
1. 418 runs scored to win when Lara only scored 60.