A New Start...

Well, I'm really disappointed about how the Twenty20 Final ended up...I thought we were going to win for sure...well, before Younus decided to throw the match. But I love my team and I'm proud of what they achieved, so I decided to start this blog about Pakistani cricket. Maybe there won't always be something to write about, but hey, this is a new start for me and the Pakistan cricket team, because they showed us what they can do...

I thought I'd do some player ratings, based on todays match, rated out of 10. It kinda hurts having to think back when we came so close, but I'll be strong. Don't mind me if I burst into tears all over again after I write this.

Mohammad Hafeez (3/10): Mohammad's been a decent player for Pakistan this tournament and we were hoping that if he couldn't shine in the bowling, he could at least get a few solid runs on the board before going out. Hafeez had other plans in mind and threw his wicket away quickly by the third ball, which wasn't especially surprising, but we thought he could have done better, as he did against New Zealand. We also blame him for pushing Rohit Sharma's ball over the boundary for a 6 which seemed an obvious, if not easy out. And relying on 'if'...if he had caught that ball, we would have won!

Imran Nazir (7/10): He's been pretty sucky the first few matches, going out within 10 runs along with his opening partner and it wasn't until Bangladesh and New Zealand that Imran started to show what he could do. He also had a brilliant start today (I seriously think he can play better injured) but unfortunately couldn't keep going because that idiot Younus decided to take a quick single when he knew his partner was injured. He was run out, possibly dawdling a bit and in hindsight, Pakistan's hopes went with him back to the dugout.

Kamran Akmal (5/10): Kamran's been a decent wicketkeeper for us the whole tournament, but his batting is atrocious and I question Malik's decision of bringing him in at number 3, basically giving the Indian's another wicket without us gaining anything from it. He went out for 0 after 3 balls...I really think we need a new wicketkeeper, one who can bat and not drop the ball. 19-year-old Sarfraz Ahmed coming to mind as a replacement.

Younus Khan (1/10): Sorry to be biased, but I blame this man for losing us the match. Not only did he call for the run that ended Imran Nazir, he also took a pointless attempted straight drive that became an ugly heave going straight to the fielder and became an omen for the collapse of Pakistan's middle order...well, basically the whole teams collapse. Also, batting like that from an experienced and senior player is disgusting and I hope Younus never plays for Pakistan again.

Shoaib Malik (7.5/10): Oh Captain, my captain! I'm a big fan of Malik for years and I think he did an excellent job with this tournament, leading from the front, usually with the bat but he's decent with the ball too. It's been him and Misbah keeping the middle order going until the end of the match (except today) and I guess it was a combination of nerves and pressure that made our brilliant captain hit straight to the fielder at midwicket. At first, no-one knew what happened and as the realization sunk in, the first hints of real and scary doubts were planted in our heads.

Misbah-ul-Haq (9/10): Misbah is seriously the man. It's sad that he was discovered so late in the side (he's 33) but no-one can diss him for not bringing us the cup. Her took us near victory against the Indians twice this tournament and my heart goes out to him left kneeling at the crease when he lost his wicket. I will concede that his final shot was dodgy and unnecessary, but after not scoring 1 in two balls against India before, I can't blame him for trying to get it over and done with. I hope he gets a place in the one day side because it's thoroughly deserved, way ahead of Younus 'idiot' Khan. A real find, if a bit old, for Pakistan.

Shahid Afridi (6/10): I think we have to re-evaluate Shahid's contribution to the side and I think some official declaration should be made to get 'Boom Boom' removed from his name. Shahid is now a bowler who can bat a little and matches should not depend on him. He's made little contributions with the bat this tournament, but he's really handy with the ball. He mixes things up nicely, resulting in a wicket or two but he completely loses his head when he gets the bat, especially in a pressure situation, resulting in his 'Let's see if I can kill a bird' aerial shot that ends with a run-less innings.

Yasir Arafat (5.5/10): A weird choice for the final, especially since he only bowled two overs without getting a wicket. Fawad Alam should have been played ahead of him, in my opinion. Was OK with the bat, scoring 15 from 16 balls before being bowled. I can't diss him, he did try, like the whole team did and he brought us somewhat closer to the total, along with Misbah and Tanwir.

Sohail Tanvir (7/10): With the second lowest economy rate and 1 wicket, Tanwir has been a real find for Pakistan, because alot of batmen haven't played him before and take a while to get used to him and his unorthodox action, if they don't go out before then. Tanwir can be hit around and he has the propensity to try bowling around the wicket which ends in no balls and free hits but he has the potential, that he's shown often that he can be a good addition to the Pakistan side as a medium-fast bowler...along with Anwar Ali and Jamshed Ahmed (a mini-Wasim Akram), also great potentials for Pakistan, even though they weren't involved in the tournament. A nice find for losing Shoaib Akhtar and I'm sure Shoaib can be at peace knowing that the Pakistani bowling attack didn't fail us. Sohail also took a few sixes that had us out of our seats, eyes alight (warily) with hope.

Umar Gul (9/10): I love this man. He's been a brilliant bowler for Pakistan this whole tournament, especially bowling brilliantly at the death, usually resulting in a few wickets when the batting team is hoping for a final surge. Unfortunately, he didn't quite make it to the death today, his services being needed earlier than expected but he took 3 important wickets, that kept the Indian total down to a manageable (so we thought) 157. He's the highest wicket taker of the tournament and I can totally forgive him for the funny streaked hairstyle.

Mohammad Asif (6.5/10): Good player, usually, bowling at the start, but gave India 13 runs from the first over, which was pretty disturbing. He only took one wicket and anyone expecting the same kind of haul he took against India in the first match had to be disappointed. Everyone was terrified at his arrival at the crease but he stunned as all by edging a ball for a four from his first and only ball of the tournament. A very good bowler but can be hit around when he gets excited.

And that's it. Players worth mentioning are Salman 'thook thook' Butt, who almost lost us the Bangladesh match with his annoying inability to play anything besides a block shot. He's a good player, but not suited for this format of the game. Fawad Alam also showed that he has a lot of potential and I wish it had been him in the final.

Things I liked about the team:
-Team Spirit: It was beautiful to see a happier and more put together team, that congratulated each other for the good and didn't blame for the bad. Though I did think it was funny when Hafeez dived pointlessly for a ball, resulting in a misfield and Afridi yelling "Fazool ki diving mat karo!" (don't do stupid diving!)
-Fielding: If they carry on like this, Pakistan may become one of the best fielding sides in the world. While today's match was rife with sloppy fielding, I think this was brought about by nerves but otherwise, they've run hard, thrown accurately and cleanly, hitting the stumps mostly rather than not and it's great to see them like this.
-Fitness: Besides injuries, this is not a Pakistan team that will fall over in the middle of the pitch (sad flashback to the time of Wasim Akram and Inzimam-ul-Haq). They can dive, jump, do cartwheels (well, that guy with the mustache could) and have all become fitness freaks, according to coach Geoff Lawson.

So that's it, my first post and a despicably long one and one I doubt that many people will read, but hey, it's just the start. I could go on about what I didn't like about the team but I think I've given the gist of it with the player ratings.

Even if Pakistan didn't win the tournament, they've shown what they are capable of and it's so great to see that Pakistan are doing well, after almost a decade of decline. A few more kinks to iron out and I can see the World Cup in our grasp. We're a team that can go from strength to strength and I'm proud of our boys of getting so far and trying so hard!

Pakistan Zindabad!