Pakistan’s performance must rank as the most disappointing in theirWorld Cup history
Javed Miandad04-Mar-2003Pakistan’s performance must rank as the most disappointing in theirWorld Cup history. They have been beaten by Australia, England, andnow India this time around. And all that remains is a game againstZimbabwe, which Pakistan will have to win by an almost impossibly highmargin to sneak into the Super Sixes. In the circumstances, Pakistanneed a miracle.While all the other teams have improved as the tournament hasprogressed, Pakistan is one team that has refused to do so. Time hasrun out on these players, and if they don’t put up an extraordinaryperformance against Zimbabwe, they might be in for a few shocks whenthey return home.I must say that it is every cricketer’s dream to play in the WorldCup, because it is the one big opportunity you get to prove yourselfagainst the very best in the world. It is an opportunity that a playerjust can’t allow to pass by. I was privileged enough to participate insix World Cups in my career, and I know the fire, passion and pridewith which we all competed in each one of them.Let us face it – we lost to a better team at Centurion. It didn’treally matter who the opponent was, all the media-hype about playingIndia in a crucial game should not have had any influence on both theteams. Remember, these guys are professionals.What baffled me most about the Pakistan side for the match and duringthe rest of the World Cup is the fact that too many players seem to bein the side purely on the basis of reputation. The batting, for itspart, looked mediocre for the best part against India. They huffed andpuffed till they reached 200 against an Indian attack that was nowherenear the best in the World.Saleem Elahi should not have been dropped from the side; he averageswell above 50 in his last 10 appearances for Pakistan. Having saidthat, I don’t have words to describe what Inzamam-ul-Haq has beengoing through. By the looks of it, in his current form, Inzi won’teven score against a local club side. His terrible run out was thelast thing Pakistan wanted.I do not intend to pick on individuals, but then, what was ShahidAfridi doing in the side? And that too at the cost of Saqlain Mushtaq!This meant that when Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag weresmashing the bowling to all parts of the park, Waqar just didn’t havea bowler who could slow it down.I must say that Tendulkar made full use of Pakistan’s obviousstrength. The faster Shoaib bowled at him, the more powerful his shotswere. Wouldn’t Pakistan have loved to have someone who could play withhalf the passion that Sachin played with at Centurion?If the players lack the passion for the game and the hunger to go fora win, there is very little anyone can do. It was again clear thatthere seemed to be no game plan, no thinking in the middle; onceTendulkar smashed 18 runs off the second over, I saw a few heads drop.No, this is not the Pakistan team I have known.At that stage, Pakistan sorely missed Rashid Latif, who was injuredwhile batting. In the afternoon, it was Latif’s late charge thathelped Pakistan go past the 250-run mark. When the bowlers weregetting clattered around, he would have been one man who would havebeen capable of lifting the morale of the side with his enthusiasticpresence.Before I end, let me say that even with a professional coach and thenumerous experienced stars in the side, if the team can’t get thebasic things right, then it is time for major changes in the setup.Bulawayo offers this Pakistan team their last chance to redeem lostpride. They will be up against the likes of the Flower brothers, AndyBlignaut and Heath Streak. Andy Flower, in particular, will be keyedup to play one last memorable knock in what might in all possibilitybe his last hurrah as an international cricketer. The rest of the hometeam players too will be right behind the legendary Zimbabweancricketer. It is certainly going to be a battle of passion and prideat Bulawayo, and I have a feeling that Zimbabwe will beat Pakistan,and enter the Super Sixes.