:) i though we had a real 'test' on our hands after the first day. hopefully sydney throws us a good close contest :)

---

To: world_cricket@yahoogroups.com
From: riff@...
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 03:08:50 +0000
Subject: RE: [world_cricket] Top of the season and all.

yep, happy crimble all.

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: world_cricket@yahoogroups.com [mailto:world_cricket@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Oldfathertime
Sent: 29 December 2007 20:23
To: world_cricket@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [world_cricket] Top of the season and all.

Hi Ho All,

I started to suspect that somehow the group had evaporated, so I went to the
yahoo page, and saw that we now suddenly have over 500 members!

So, assuming not all of them are spammers (though my spam mail intake is
quite remarkable these days) I figured I'd say gidday.

Nice game finsihing yesterday ... Matt Hayden man-o-match so therefore it
stands to reason it was a good game :-)

I must confess all of day 2, most of day three and all of what little there
was yesterday went by unnoticed. By the time I stopped travelling and being
social on day 2 India were back in the sheds at which point I gave up all
hope of a contest.

Not to worry, I'm a Qld supporter and they've given new meaning to 'no
contest' this season :-( It would seem they will be lucky to win a chook
raffle.

Anyhoo, bring on the next test I say and lets all go round again.

Cheers and the best of the seaon to folks.
Christopher


 

---

Check our comprehensive Salary Centre Overpaid or Underpaid?

Hi Ho All,

I hope you're right. The talk at work hasn't been about centuries, great
bowling, Murali's possible record or any such thing. Simply, "I hope India
put up a better show."

Certainly their current form against Pakistan bodes well.

And it was good to see Kumbli get the captaincy. Not that I have a problem
with past captains, but I've always thought him a good cricketer and great
bowler. So hopefully that transfers to captaincy as well.

Cheers
Christopher

>I think we will certainly stand up a lot better than the Sri Lankans have
>in
> the first test...If we can keep our best squad fit and more importantly
> they
> retain their form in tests, it would be a very good test series to watch.
>
> On 15/11/2007, Oldfathertime < oldfathertime@...> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Ho All (including those in the nether world),
>>
>> If there is a cricketing god or gods, could he, she or they please put
>> their
>> collective abilities together and give us, the Australian public, a
>> touring
>> team that will prevent the predictable.
>>
>> It's not so much the winning or losing (I don't care either way who
>> wins),
>>
>> but a team that at least puts up a fight and gives us (the public) a good
>> game.
>>
>> When all the good games are played else where, it becomes hard to enjoy
>> due
>> to time zones etc.
>>
>> If Sri Lanka fail again, then I will be expecting, demanding even, an
>> awful
>> lot from the Indians who visit later in the summer.
>>
>> Cheers, though not cheery as it were regarding the cricket.
>>
>> Christopher
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Saurabh Malhotra
>
> I`m on Facebook : saurabhmalhotra@...
> I`m on MSN Messenger : malhotra_saurabh@...
> I`m on Yahoo! Messenger : saurabhmalhotra@...
>

----------------------------------------------------------

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.30/1127 - Release Date: 12/11/2007
9:19 PM

Hi Ho All (including those in the nether world),

If there is a cricketing god or gods, could he, she or they please put their
collective abilities together and give us, the Australian public, a touring
team that will prevent the predictable.

It's not so much the winning or losing (I don't care either way who wins),
but a team that at least puts up a fight and gives us (the public) a good
game.

When all the good games are played else where, it becomes hard to enjoy due
to time zones etc.

If Sri Lanka fail again, then I will be expecting, demanding even, an awful
lot from the Indians who visit later in the summer.

Cheers, though not cheery as it were regarding the cricket.

Christopher

I hope the BCCI don`t make a mess out of it as they are well truelly capable of...

 

But yes, when Sachin goes..for starters i don`t know how will i watch it on that day.....Sachin remains the last of the big 4 of world cricket at one time (Tendulkar,Lara,Waugh,Inzamam)...i also rated Aravinda very very highly.

 

On 12/10/2007, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

Yep .. 90s i think was the decade of some of the best cricket we all witnessed and some of the greats were truly part of that era ... next 2-3 years it will be a completely new lot taking over ..

 

It was very emotional seeing Inzi go ... I was wondering how it will feel when Sachin goes ... though am not an Indian but it will be a truly very emotional farewell ...

 

On 10/12/07, Saurabh Malhotra < saurabh.malhotra7@... > wrote:

Yes, it was ironic the man who will always be remembered for not being in any hurry on the cricket pitch ended his career in a shot that was probably a result of over eagerness to get the record done in his name...nevertheless stats are important but they don`t mean everything..most cricket fans will always remember Inzamam as one of the best batsmen in his generation and will miss his running too :-)

 

A emotional but a deserving farewell to the great man...one more of the greats of the 90s gone...very few are left now and we will always remember some of these greats who played at the same time for their countries.

 

Good luck Inzi...well played!

 

On 12/10/2007, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

So it did not end up being a fairy tale ending for Inzamam scoring 14 and 3 in the two innings and falling short by 3 runs from breaking Javed Miandad's record. The dance down the wicket to end it all quickly did not work. It was amazing to see emotions leading Inzi to such a shot .. a man who was known to be the most reliable man under pressure.

 

But in the end it is an end to an illustrous career and the big man will always be remembered as no doubtedly the best batsman Pakistan has produced. The service of Inzamam ul Haq will never be forgotten.

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/313445.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/315057.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/gallery/314960.html

 

On 10/7/07, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

"Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of a special age for Pakistan, the last link to a World Cup win and the 90s, which were both the best of times and the worst"

 

For the last time tomorrow the giant of Pakistan cricket steps into the test arena. Inzamam burst on to the scene with the infamous innings of the 92 world cup that eventually resulted in Pakistan winning their only Cricket World Cup. It is fitting that Inzamam ul Haq has been afforded the chance to bow out with pride from the world stage, it is something uncommon in this part of the world. A lot though will be at stake in tomorrow's "Inzamam Test". Apart from a must win situation for Pakistan to level the series Inzamam needs just 20 runs to break Javed Miandad's record for being the leading runs scorer in Pakistan cricket. Something that is deserving to the great man. Also a century against South Africa in his final test will make him one of the select fews to have scored a century against all test playing nations.

 

For the last time in this test Pakistan will field the middle order trio of Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq and Younis Khan. A solid middle order that Pakistan already missed in the first test. Inzamam has been the central pillar on whose shoulder Pakistan batting has been relying since 1995. Over the 16 year career he has been instrumental in scripting various famous wins for Pakistan and also saving from some humiliating defeats. One of the famous such matches was against Bangladesh in Multan where the big man single handedly scored a century to take Pakistan to a 1 wicket win. Inzamam was never known as a captaincy material but after taking over following the World Cup 2003 debacle in South Africa he turned Pakistan into a fighting unit. The wheels though started to come off in the Pakistan's tour to England in 2006. The Oval fiasco started a troubled period in Pakistan cricket history which culminated in a dissapointing World Cup 2007 campaign. That world cup will always be remembered as the loss of not only one of the best coaches Pakistan has had but also the fall of the greatest batsman Pakistan had.

 

The world cup and Oval fiasco are now behind Pakistan. The younger team under the new captain Shoaib Malik and the new coach Geoff Allot has had a dream run in 20-20, now its time to get things in order for the Test version. Pakistan need to understand that ODI and T20 require young blood but Test cricket requires nerves of steel which are no better displayed than by Inzi. This test will give the younger batsmen a chance to share the same dressing room for the final time with Inzamam and hopefully they will be able to learn a lot in that short while. Inzamam would also like to mark the end of his career with a display of all batting traits that had put him in the same category as Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh.

 

Tomorrow when the test begins and Inzi steps on to the field, I would be witnessing the final match of the last player from the 1990s whom i grew up watching. It is the final link to the era when players like Inzamam made kids like me get hooked to this great game. The future for Pakistan cricket is very unsure, a lot of it due to bad management. However, tomorrow's test is not about South Africa looking for a series win in sub-continent, Pakistan's fight back to save the series, Muhammad Yousuf's comeback to the Pakistan colors or Inzamam's record breaking 20 runs. It will be a final time for the great batsman of Pakistan stepping foot on the cricket field and scripting the final scene of a glorious era of Pakistan cricket.

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Saurabh Malhotra

I`m on Facebook : saurabhmalhotra@...
I`m on MSN Messenger : malhotra_saurabh@...
I`m on Yahoo! Messenger : saurabhmalhotra@...

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Saurabh Malhotra

I`m on Facebook : saurabhmalhotra@...
I`m on MSN Messenger : malhotra_saurabh@...
I`m on Yahoo! Messenger : saurabhmalhotra@...

Yep .. 90s i think was the decade of some of the best cricket we all witnessed and some of the greats were truly part of that era ... next 2-3 years it will be a completely new lot taking over ..

 

It was very emotional seeing Inzi go ... I was wondering how it will feel when Sachin goes ... though am not an Indian but it will be a truly very emotional farewell ...

 

On 10/12/07, Saurabh Malhotra < saurabh.malhotra7@...> wrote:

Yes, it was ironic the man who will always be remembered for not being in any hurry on the cricket pitch ended his career in a shot that was probably a result of over eagerness to get the record done in his name...nevertheless stats are important but they don`t mean everything..most cricket fans will always remember Inzamam as one of the best batsmen in his generation and will miss his running too :-)

 

A emotional but a deserving farewell to the great man...one more of the greats of the 90s gone...very few are left now and we will always remember some of these greats who played at the same time for their countries.

 

Good luck Inzi...well played!

 

On 12/10/2007, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

So it did not end up being a fairy tale ending for Inzamam scoring 14 and 3 in the two innings and falling short by 3 runs from breaking Javed Miandad's record. The dance down the wicket to end it all quickly did not work. It was amazing to see emotions leading Inzi to such a shot .. a man who was known to be the most reliable man under pressure.

 

But in the end it is an end to an illustrous career and the big man will always be remembered as no doubtedly the best batsman Pakistan has produced. The service of Inzamam ul Haq will never be forgotten.

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/313445.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/315057.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/gallery/314960.html

 

On 10/7/07, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

"Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of a special age for Pakistan, the last link to a World Cup win and the 90s, which were both the best of times and the worst"

 

For the last time tomorrow the giant of Pakistan cricket steps into the test arena. Inzamam burst on to the scene with the infamous innings of the 92 world cup that eventually resulted in Pakistan winning their only Cricket World Cup. It is fitting that Inzamam ul Haq has been afforded the chance to bow out with pride from the world stage, it is something uncommon in this part of the world. A lot though will be at stake in tomorrow's "Inzamam Test". Apart from a must win situation for Pakistan to level the series Inzamam needs just 20 runs to break Javed Miandad's record for being the leading runs scorer in Pakistan cricket. Something that is deserving to the great man. Also a century against South Africa in his final test will make him one of the select fews to have scored a century against all test playing nations.

 

For the last time in this test Pakistan will field the middle order trio of Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq and Younis Khan. A solid middle order that Pakistan already missed in the first test. Inzamam has been the central pillar on whose shoulder Pakistan batting has been relying since 1995. Over the 16 year career he has been instrumental in scripting various famous wins for Pakistan and also saving from some humiliating defeats. One of the famous such matches was against Bangladesh in Multan where the big man single handedly scored a century to take Pakistan to a 1 wicket win. Inzamam was never known as a captaincy material but after taking over following the World Cup 2003 debacle in South Africa he turned Pakistan into a fighting unit. The wheels though started to come off in the Pakistan's tour to England in 2006. The Oval fiasco started a troubled period in Pakistan cricket history which culminated in a dissapointing World Cup 2007 campaign. That world cup will always be remembered as the loss of not only one of the best coaches Pakistan has had but also the fall of the greatest batsman Pakistan had.

 

The world cup and Oval fiasco are now behind Pakistan. The younger team under the new captain Shoaib Malik and the new coach Geoff Allot has had a dream run in 20-20, now its time to get things in order for the Test version. Pakistan need to understand that ODI and T20 require young blood but Test cricket requires nerves of steel which are no better displayed than by Inzi. This test will give the younger batsmen a chance to share the same dressing room for the final time with Inzamam and hopefully they will be able to learn a lot in that short while. Inzamam would also like to mark the end of his career with a display of all batting traits that had put him in the same category as Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh.

 

Tomorrow when the test begins and Inzi steps on to the field, I would be witnessing the final match of the last player from the 1990s whom i grew up watching. It is the final link to the era when players like Inzamam made kids like me get hooked to this great game. The future for Pakistan cricket is very unsure, a lot of it due to bad management. However, tomorrow's test is not about South Africa looking for a series win in sub-continent, Pakistan's fight back to save the series, Muhammad Yousuf's comeback to the Pakistan colors or Inzamam's record breaking 20 runs. It will be a final time for the great batsman of Pakistan stepping foot on the cricket field and scripting the final scene of a glorious era of Pakistan cricket.

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Saurabh Malhotra

I`m on Facebook : saurabhmalhotra@...
I`m on MSN Messenger : malhotra_saurabh@...
I`m on Yahoo! Messenger : saurabhmalhotra@...

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

Yes, it was ironic the man who will always be remembered for not being in any hurry on the cricket pitch ended his career in a shot that was probably a result of over eagerness to get the record done in his name...nevertheless stats are important but they don`t mean everything..most cricket fans will always remember Inzamam as one of the best batsmen in his generation and will miss his running too :-)

 

A emotional but a deserving farewell to the great man...one more of the greats of the 90s gone...very few are left now and we will always remember some of these greats who played at the same time for their countries.

 

Good luck Inzi...well played!

 

On 12/10/2007, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

So it did not end up being a fairy tale ending for Inzamam scoring 14 and 3 in the two innings and falling short by 3 runs from breaking Javed Miandad's record. The dance down the wicket to end it all quickly did not work. It was amazing to see emotions leading Inzi to such a shot .. a man who was known to be the most reliable man under pressure.

 

But in the end it is an end to an illustrous career and the big man will always be remembered as no doubtedly the best batsman Pakistan has produced. The service of Inzamam ul Haq will never be forgotten.

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/313445.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/315057.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/gallery/314960.html

 

On 10/7/07, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

"Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of a special age for Pakistan, the last link to a World Cup win and the 90s, which were both the best of times and the worst"

 

For the last time tomorrow the giant of Pakistan cricket steps into the test arena. Inzamam burst on to the scene with the infamous innings of the 92 world cup that eventually resulted in Pakistan winning their only Cricket World Cup. It is fitting that Inzamam ul Haq has been afforded the chance to bow out with pride from the world stage, it is something uncommon in this part of the world. A lot though will be at stake in tomorrow's "Inzamam Test". Apart from a must win situation for Pakistan to level the series Inzamam needs just 20 runs to break Javed Miandad's record for being the leading runs scorer in Pakistan cricket. Something that is deserving to the great man. Also a century against South Africa in his final test will make him one of the select fews to have scored a century against all test playing nations.

 

For the last time in this test Pakistan will field the middle order trio of Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq and Younis Khan. A solid middle order that Pakistan already missed in the first test. Inzamam has been the central pillar on whose shoulder Pakistan batting has been relying since 1995. Over the 16 year career he has been instrumental in scripting various famous wins for Pakistan and also saving from some humiliating defeats. One of the famous such matches was against Bangladesh in Multan where the big man single handedly scored a century to take Pakistan to a 1 wicket win. Inzamam was never known as a captaincy material but after taking over following the World Cup 2003 debacle in South Africa he turned Pakistan into a fighting unit. The wheels though started to come off in the Pakistan's tour to England in 2006. The Oval fiasco started a troubled period in Pakistan cricket history which culminated in a dissapointing World Cup 2007 campaign. That world cup will always be remembered as the loss of not only one of the best coaches Pakistan has had but also the fall of the greatest batsman Pakistan had.

 

The world cup and Oval fiasco are now behind Pakistan. The younger team under the new captain Shoaib Malik and the new coach Geoff Allot has had a dream run in 20-20, now its time to get things in order for the Test version. Pakistan need to understand that ODI and T20 require young blood but Test cricket requires nerves of steel which are no better displayed than by Inzi. This test will give the younger batsmen a chance to share the same dressing room for the final time with Inzamam and hopefully they will be able to learn a lot in that short while. Inzamam would also like to mark the end of his career with a display of all batting traits that had put him in the same category as Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh.

 

Tomorrow when the test begins and Inzi steps on to the field, I would be witnessing the final match of the last player from the 1990s whom i grew up watching. It is the final link to the era when players like Inzamam made kids like me get hooked to this great game. The future for Pakistan cricket is very unsure, a lot of it due to bad management. However, tomorrow's test is not about South Africa looking for a series win in sub-continent, Pakistan's fight back to save the series, Muhammad Yousuf's comeback to the Pakistan colors or Inzamam's record breaking 20 runs. It will be a final time for the great batsman of Pakistan stepping foot on the cricket field and scripting the final scene of a glorious era of Pakistan cricket.

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Saurabh Malhotra

I`m on Facebook : saurabhmalhotra@...
I`m on MSN Messenger : malhotra_saurabh@...
I`m on Yahoo! Messenger : saurabhmalhotra@...

So it did not end up being a fairy tale ending for Inzamam scoring 14 and 3 in the two innings and falling short by 3 runs from breaking Javed Miandad's record. The dance down the wicket to end it all quickly did not work. It was amazing to see emotions leading Inzi to such a shot .. a man who was known to be the most reliable man under pressure.

 

But in the end it is an end to an illustrous career and the big man will always be remembered as no doubtedly the best batsman Pakistan has produced. The service of Inzamam ul Haq will never be forgotten.

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/313445.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/315057.html

 

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/gallery/314960.html

 

On 10/7/07, Bilal Ahmed <bilal.ahmed.siddiqui@... > wrote:

"Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of a special age for Pakistan, the last link to a World Cup win and the 90s, which were both the best of times and the worst"

 

For the last time tomorrow the giant of Pakistan cricket steps into the test arena. Inzamam burst on to the scene with the infamous innings of the 92 world cup that eventually resulted in Pakistan winning their only Cricket World Cup. It is fitting that Inzamam ul Haq has been afforded the chance to bow out with pride from the world stage, it is something uncommon in this part of the world. A lot though will be at stake in tomorrow's "Inzamam Test". Apart from a must win situation for Pakistan to level the series Inzamam needs just 20 runs to break Javed Miandad's record for being the leading runs scorer in Pakistan cricket. Something that is deserving to the great man. Also a century against South Africa in his final test will make him one of the select fews to have scored a century against all test playing nations.

 

For the last time in this test Pakistan will field the middle order trio of Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq and Younis Khan. A solid middle order that Pakistan already missed in the first test. Inzamam has been the central pillar on whose shoulder Pakistan batting has been relying since 1995. Over the 16 year career he has been instrumental in scripting various famous wins for Pakistan and also saving from some humiliating defeats. One of the famous such matches was against Bangladesh in Multan where the big man single handedly scored a century to take Pakistan to a 1 wicket win. Inzamam was never known as a captaincy material but after taking over following the World Cup 2003 debacle in South Africa he turned Pakistan into a fighting unit. The wheels though started to come off in the Pakistan's tour to England in 2006. The Oval fiasco started a troubled period in Pakistan cricket history which culminated in a dissapointing World Cup 2007 campaign. That world cup will always be remembered as the loss of not only one of the best coaches Pakistan has had but also the fall of the greatest batsman Pakistan had.

 

The world cup and Oval fiasco are now behind Pakistan. The younger team under the new captain Shoaib Malik and the new coach Geoff Allot has had a dream run in 20-20, now its time to get things in order for the Test version. Pakistan need to understand that ODI and T20 require young blood but Test cricket requires nerves of steel which are no better displayed than by Inzi. This test will give the younger batsmen a chance to share the same dressing room for the final time with Inzamam and hopefully they will be able to learn a lot in that short while. Inzamam would also like to mark the end of his career with a display of all batting traits that had put him in the same category as Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh.

 

Tomorrow when the test begins and Inzi steps on to the field, I would be witnessing the final match of the last player from the 1990s whom i grew up watching. It is the final link to the era when players like Inzamam made kids like me get hooked to this great game. The future for Pakistan cricket is very unsure, a lot of it due to bad management. However, tomorrow's test is not about South Africa looking for a series win in sub-continent, Pakistan's fight back to save the series, Muhammad Yousuf's comeback to the Pakistan colors or Inzamam's record breaking 20 runs. It will be a final time for the great batsman of Pakistan stepping foot on the cricket field and scripting the final scene of a glorious era of Pakistan cricket.

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

So it did not end up being a fairy tale ending for Inzamam scoring 14 and 3 in the two innings and falling short by 3 runs from breaking Javed Miandad's record. The dance down the wicket to end it all quickly did not work. It was amazing to see emotions leading Inzi to such a shot .. a man who was known to be the most reliable man under pressure.

But in the end it is an end to an illustrous career and the big man will always be remembered as no doubtedly the best batsman Pakistan has produced. The service of Inzamam ul Haq will never be forgotten.

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/313445.html

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/315057.html

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/current/gallery/314960.html

"Tomorrow is the beginning of the end of a special age for Pakistan, the last link to a World Cup win and the 90s, which were both the best of times and the worst"

 

For the last time tomorrow the giant of Pakistan cricket steps into the test arena. Inzamam burst on to the scene with the infamous innings of the 92 world cup that eventually resulted in Pakistan winning their only Cricket World Cup. It is fitting that Inzamam ul Haq has been afforded the chance to bow out with pride from the world stage, it is something uncommon in this part of the world. A lot though will be at stake in tomorrow's "Inzamam Test". Apart from a must win situation for Pakistan to level the series Inzamam needs just 20 runs to break Javed Miandad's record for being the leading runs scorer in Pakistan cricket. Something that is deserving to the great man. Also a century against South Africa in his final test will make him one of the select fews to have scored a century against all test playing nations.

 

For the last time in this test Pakistan will field the middle order trio of Muhammad Yousuf, Inzamam ul Haq and Younis Khan. A solid middle order that Pakistan already missed in the first test. Inzamam has been the central pillar on whose shoulder Pakistan batting has been relying since 1995. Over the 16 year career he has been instrumental in scripting various famous wins for Pakistan and also saving from some humiliating defeats. One of the famous such matches was against Bangladesh in Multan where the big man single handedly scored a century to take Pakistan to a 1 wicket win. Inzamam was never known as a captaincy material but after taking over following the World Cup 2003 debacle in South Africa he turned Pakistan into a fighting unit. The wheels though started to come off in the Pakistan's tour to England in 2006. The Oval fiasco started a troubled period in Pakistan cricket history which culminated in a dissapointing World Cup 2007 campaign. That world cup will always be remembered as the loss of not only one of the best coaches Pakistan has had but also the fall of the greatest batsman Pakistan had.

 

The world cup and Oval fiasco are now behind Pakistan. The younger team under the new captain Shoaib Malik and the new coach Geoff Allot has had a dream run in 20-20, now its time to get things in order for the Test version. Pakistan need to understand that ODI and T20 require young blood but Test cricket requires nerves of steel which are no better displayed than by Inzi. This test will give the younger batsmen a chance to share the same dressing room for the final time with Inzamam and hopefully they will be able to learn a lot in that short while. Inzamam would also like to mark the end of his career with a display of all batting traits that had put him in the same category as Brian Lara, Sachin Tendulkar and Steve Waugh.

 

Tomorrow when the test begins and Inzi steps on to the field, I would be witnessing the final match of the last player from the 1990s whom i grew up watching. It is the final link to the era when players like Inzamam made kids like me get hooked to this great game. The future for Pakistan cricket is very unsure, a lot of it due to bad management. However, tomorrow's test is not about South Africa looking for a series win in sub-continent, Pakistan's fight back to save the series, Muhammad Yousuf's comeback to the Pakistan colors or Inzamam's record breaking 20 runs. It will be a final time for the great batsman of Pakistan stepping foot on the cricket field and scripting the final scene of a glorious era of Pakistan cricket.

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

 

ROTFL ...

what is this .. some children allowed in to the group :p

 

On 9/28/07, manojitroy2006 <manojitroy2006@... > wrote:

--- In world_cricket@yahoogroups.com, "prasanna_gachinmani"
<prasanna_gachinmani@...> wrote:
>
> nOW PAKISTAN CANT EVER IMAGINE OF BAETING INDIA IN THEIR DREAMS TOO
> INDIA IS LEADING ALL PAKISTANIS
>
yes thats true.

--
Bilal Ahmed
Systems Officer
E.A.P.C.L.
Cell: 0333-3417022
Email: bilalahmed@...
Web: http://www.engroasahi.com

--- In world_cricket@yahoogroups.com, "prasanna_gachinmani"
<prasanna_gachinmani@...> wrote:
>
> nOW PAKISTAN CANT EVER IMAGINE OF BAETING INDIA IN THEIR DREAMS TOO
> INDIA IS LEADING ALL PAKISTANIS
>
yes thats true.