While it has been constant pain to watch Indian team do badly in test matches away from home, our neighbors who no longer enjoy "home" advantage at least for time being, are constantly doing well. The striking characteristic of Pakistan's resurgence is rather unpakistani way of playing. There are no Big stars, and hence no ego clashes or indiscipline.
In Misbah ul Haq, they have a captain who knows the limitation of his side and commands respect from his team mates. Pakistani batting is solid if not spectacular, and may be only Younis Khan can walk into any eleven at the moment. Still they have clicked well as a unit. Their batsmen too have learnt the art of grafting and are ready to play for longer time without getting bogged down by scoreboard pressure. This particular aspect is most unpakistani, and Indian batsmen would do well to learn it from neighbors.
I was about to announce to my friends that Saeed Ajmal is the best spinner in the game, when certain Michael Hussey carted him around the park. After that Ajmal's confidence went for a toss, and Graeme Swann emerged as best spinner in the world and Abdur Rehman best in Pakistan.
Abdur Rehman is another honest character, who does not possess any doosara or teesara but has patience to bowl long spells. This does not make him a match winner on his own, but with strike bowlers like Gul & Ajmal around, he gives Pakistan a complete bowling attack.
Ajmal on the other hand has overcome the Hussey Episode, and now I can safely claim that He is indeed the best spinner in the world. His dosara's and teesara (if he has any) has bamboozled Englishmen on day 1 of a test match where I did not see any help to spinners in the track. The day won’t be far when he would be considered best spinner by all.
Aizaz Cheema and Juaid Khan have emerged as new hope from unending fast bowling repository which Pakistan possesses. Umar Gul is guiding them well, and thus makes Pakistani bowling an efficient if not fearsome unit.
It would be inappropriate not to mention Prof Mohd Hafeez while we talk about Pakistan's resurgence. He was one of the players whom almost everybody had written off. Hafeez has done well both with the bat and ball, and thus provides option of having extra pacer or spinner.
Undoubtedly current Pakistan team is the most improved team in the world over last 1 year and has potential to become number 1 in test rankings. It would be great if they can finally get to play at “home”.
By : Keshav Bapat
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