PAKISTAN, ZINDA BAAD
I am West Indian by birth and have lived in this region all my life. The WI cricket team will always have my support against ANY other team in the world—except Pakistan. What would make a man born in Trinidad and descended from Indian immigrants gravitate to the Pakistanis, you ask? For starters, I am named after one of their most elegant and accomplished batsmen, the stylish Zaheer Abbas. Then, there are the legends such as Miandad, Imran, Akram, and Waqar. The 1992 ICC World Cup triumph still brings a tear to my eye when I reminisce. I was a year old when the WI last won the ODI World Cup, so Pakistan’s triumph pulls my heartstrings. Above all else, there is my spiritual twin and physical look-alike, the one and only Inzamam ul Haq. As my uncle says, when it comes to Pakistan, we get emotionally invested.
A MAN WITH A PLAN
In case it was not clear from my introduction, my support for this series may not favour the WI. I will make every effort to be fair to both sides, however. As such, I think the WI played their best possible 11 given the absence of McCoy and Allen. This had the potential to be an exciting contest but for the Bajan rains. Even with just 9 overs possible, a line-up boosted by the return of Pollard is intimidating. The Pakistani bowlers did not get that memo though. In Waqar Younis, they have an iconic coach and mentor whose career speaks for itself. He clearly knew his opponents’ strengths and gave his bowling unit a set plan. They responded beautifully, using lengths, lines, variations, and guile expertly to limit the WI to 85-5. Only 2 batters got into double figures and Pollard’s unbeaten 22 top-scored. Advantage Pakistan.
RAIN RUINS IT – BUT FOR WHOM?
Persistent rainfall prevented the Pakistani reply from ever getting started. Based on their returns from the Australia series, Russell and Holder do not instil confidence as opening bowlers. The Pakistan batters were probably well prepared for the bouncers and extra pace in any case. A casual glance at Azam Khan or Sharjeel could tell you that they would not be easily shaken. Pakistan’s own explosive batters are well balanced by skipper Babar’s nerves of steel and the ageless wonder Mohammed Hafeez. With Walsh Jr and Hosein having at most 2 overs each, it could have been an exciting run chase. Alas, it was not to be, and I will go on record as saying the rain ruined it for Pakistan. If I was a gambling man, my money would have been on them to go 1-0 in the series.
BE WARY, WI
The hometown Men in Maroon are normally more familiar with Caribbean conditions than visiting teams. However, this Pakistani team boasts no fewer than 5 members who have all played in the CPL. They will play the next 3 matches at Guyana’s Providence Stadium, home of the Amazon Warriors franchise. Hafeez and Shadab know that ground well and have undoubtedly shared all its secrets with their teammates. WI will underestimate their opponents at their own peril. On pure ability and power, the WI batting unit surpasses Pakistan’s by some margin. In contrast, the Pakistani bowlers bring to the table a level of class and effectiveness that the hosts lack. A battle of bat versus ball in its truest sense. Let us hope, for pure entertainment’s sake, that the rains have run themselves dry.
Looking forward to the continued analysis of the WI vs Pakistan tour by Zaheer Abass.
Due to his confessed bias towards Pakistan I wait with bated breath to see his responses when WI send them packing with a sound “Licking”, I hope, at the end of the tour.
It’s interesting to hear Zaheer Abass said he was only one year old. I to as Sobers said, I am glad he has declared his hand as a Pakistan support. While I have great respect for the Pakistanis I expect the West Indies would get the better of them, so my friend Zaheer prepare to pull your heartstrings.