One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Pakistan is taking on mighty South Africans in a two-test series in Dubai just in a few hours. Fourth captain in the year and innumerable controversies aside my concern is the mindset of the cricket administrators. You learn from setbacks and aim to improve with a renewed vigor each time. But brave and visionary people do that not the cowards and clowns who have low aims and vested interests. Like every institution in my beloved country PCB is being run by those who are inept and corrupt to the core. Those who should be the custodians are behaving like robbers and when we turn towards those who are there to patronize and take note of any misconduct, well we are left regretting ourselves how dare we. They are the walls to strike our heads against.

While we all wait for a miracle to happen and a savior to come, we cannot but resist backing our team yet again in the toughest of situations. Misbah-ul-Haq is not a man for the future but fate has given him an opportunity not only to redeem himself but accomplish something for the sake of Pakistan cricket. Some say there was no choice for Pakistan cricket board except to appoint him skipper as Younis was out of favor and both Shahid Afridi and Salman Butt were unavailable due to various reasons.  The sensible and insightful cricket brain would differ because Younis Khan is the natural choice and the man to go to. He has the character to gel together a team. He has the knowledge to make a good captain. And foremost his integrity is beyond any shadow of doubt. He is brittle-minded but not cold-hearted. He can be unpredictable as a person but he is trustworthy. In a team where Imran Farhat is selected but khurram Manzoor is not, where Hafeez makes his place but Asad Shafiq has to wait for former’s failure to sneak in, where Azhar Ali is a doubtful starter despite his recent performances but Taufeeq Umar is a surety on the back of his remote brilliance against Proteas, Misbah has a real job in his hand especially when his own place in the team is under a serious scanner.

Batting on paper is the best for a while but the bowling is the weakest in decades. There is no single match-winner in the bowling line-up. Two finger spinners will play along side two fast bowlers in the hope to take twenty South African wickets on docile tracks of UAE. If they accomplish this we may see some close games otherwise our batting will have to perform to make this even a contest. Once again cricket lovers are banking on miracles and prayers. Long live Pakistan cricket!