Cricket in its newest form begs a few questions. And the most important is whether the concept of favourite will ever work for a T20 game or tournament. And I have my doubts it ever will. I say this not based on just the results of this year’s T20 World Cup but also because in three years since the first international was played there has been no one strategy that has always won games for the side that has employed it. Yes, basics they all need to do right but batting, bowling and fielding well is not a strategy, right? I also agree that most teams are probably honing their skills and trying a variety of things to see which ones will click in cricket’s latest and most untested avatar, but with all that is available in form of Audio-Visual aid; advanced knowledge of pitch and weather conditions; analysis of the strengths and weakness of each opposition player, devising a strategy should not be so difficult. Should we go for the kill in the powerplay or guard wickets and save the onslaught for the latter overs? Should I employ my quickest bowler in middle overs or at the start when he could go for runs? Especially after Pakistan’s match yesterday, these questions assume added significance.
After winning the toss and putting New Zealand in, Pakistan began lethargically. Conceding 14 in the opening over. Razzaq returning to international after a career threatening stint at now largely defunct ICL, broke through with his fourth ball. His celebration was unusually boisterous for a man the way we know him. But the wicket was not what he was celebrating probably but his return to top flight cricket. And from tenth delivery of the match when Mccullum exited, New Zealand innings never took off.
Dhoni employs Ishant Sharma in middle overs and so does Younis use Umar Gul. And both have had mixed results, Younis though has been more fortunate. While the focus has been on Shoaib and Asif, Gul has graduated slowly to become the leader of the pack. And he has done so in the quietest manner possible by doing right the unglamorous things like practicing hard and playing good. When he came to bowl yesterday, New Zealand was already tottering at 72 for 4 from 12 overs. In little over six overs after that, of which Umar had bowled three, New Zealand lost their remaining six wickets five of which falling to Gul’s pace, swing and length.
Pakistan Board seems to feel that domestic cricket is an unusual waste of time and talent for Pakistan’s emerging cricketers and so it more often than not chooses players right from the streets. Chasing only 100, Pakistan’s newest opening combination which consisted of rookie by the name of Shahzaib Hasan, wouldn’t have felt any need to show urgency. But Sahzaib, who till yesterday’s game had played a total 10 first class game and at nineteen, wouldn’t like a measured approach. Kamran had shielded him for two overs in order to ease him into international cricket, but in showing no respect for Kamran’s hand holding methods, Sahzaib soon raced ahead. The problem with such young and raw talent is not that they cannot play top level cricket. It is the success that comes with it that they cannot handle. In Pakistan’s case that has been especially true.
In the other game, South Africa was efficient yet again and is certain now of a place in the final four. Scoring runs without breaking into a sweat and then picking wickets at alarming regularity, South Africa look very strong. Their enemy though will be the very nature of game they seem to be very good at. Going by its fickle nature, in T20 any team can go all the way, but South Africa has the best opportunity to so now.
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