“Of Shahid Afridi, it can safely be said that cricket never has and never will see another like him. To say he is an all-rounder is to say Albert Einstein was a scientist; it tells a criminally bare story.” – Cricinfo

“So will the real Afridi please stand up, And put one of those fingers on each hand up And be proud, to be out of your mind and out of control One more time, loud as you can, how does it go?”

Pakistan has finally managed to drag itself past the group stages and reach the quarter-finals of the ICC World Cup 2015... and what a ride it has been! The last time Pakistan was expelled from the tournament during our first rounds was  in 2007. The same happened in 2003. Therefore, fans have been susceptible to Pakistan’s progress in this tournament. And losing the first two matches of the group stages did little to improve the team’s image. However, they did recover soon from the initial blows and developed a better team combination – which led them to winning four consecutive matches and moving further in the tournament. Pakistan has traditionally been a slow-starter in any global tournament; however, this time, the slow start has cost them as Pakistan – by virtue of finishing third in their group – is now slated to play pre-tournament favourite Australia in the quarter finals. An aura is prevailing in Australia among fans and critics that Australia’s victory in the quarter-finals is a foregone conclusion. Pakistan lacks the firepower needed to compete with the mighty Aussies in Friday’s quarter-final match; in fact, many believe that the match will be more of a formality for Australia. Withdrawal of ace fast bowler Muhammad Irfan from the World Cup squad due to his injury has given further credence to this thought. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Umar Akmal (2nd L) shakes hands with Australia's captain Ricky Ponting (2nd R) after Pakistan defeated Australia in their World Cup Group A match in Colombo. Photo: Reuters[/caption] However, I, for one, would disagree with these thoughts. No matter how strong or weak a team is on paper, it is the team’s performance and fortune on the day of the match that lead to victory or defeat. The arena is what decides who wins and who loses. In my decades-long romance with cricket, I have seen many matches take unexpected turns. One such upset was the Pakistan versus Australia match, in the semi-finals of the 1987 World Cup – and it haunts me even today. The match took place in Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, and Australia defeated Pakistan on home-ground, even though no one expected it. Perhaps Pakistan’s match against Australia tomorrow can be a way of avenging ourselves. The year 1987 was the first time a World Cup tournament was held outside the United Kingdom. Also, this was the first 50-overs World Cup tournament, which was hosted jointly by India and Pakistan. During the tournament, both India and Pakistan played efficient cricket and were making their fans happy. The road to Kolkata – known as Calcutta in those days – (for the finals) looked smooth and straightforward. But both hosts were defeated by their respective opponents in the tournament’s semi-finals to once again deprive a host the opportunity to grab the world title. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] World champion Australian team in 1987. Photo: Cricket.com.au[/caption] Pakistan was placed in pool B along with West Indies, England and Sri Lanka. Before this tournament, Pakistan had never beaten England and West Indies in any World Cup match. However, as host, and in their own conditions, Pakistan finally broke the jinx against these opponents. Pakistan topped its group and qualified for the semi-final, which was to be played in their own home turf against Australia. Prior to the start of the match, everything seemed to be in Pakistan’s favour. The conditions are favourable and the opposition too was not very taxing. I think the team of 1987 was most inexperienced Australian team to represent country at a global stage. After the pool stage, there was a few days gap before the first semi-final of the tournament. The entire country was excited and confident to reach the finals. In family functions, markets as well as streets, everyone was talking about Pakistan’s possible opponent in the tournament’s final match – as no one thought Australia would defeat the national team. On the morning of the match, everyone was excited and wanted to follow the match from start to end, but those were very different days – no national holiday was declared for a cricket match, irrespective of its importance, and the country operated as per routine. I was in ninth grade at the time. Like many fanatic cricket fans, I too wanted to follow the match from the very first ball but I couldn’t avoid school and so had to miss some part of the match. In those days, internet and cellular phones did not exist and no student carried pocket radio with them due to fear of confiscation. During school hours, we all were very anxious to know about the match was proceedings. A few kind-hearted teachers kept updating us about the match by writing its score on the blackboard. When I came to know about Australia batting first in this crucial match, my heart skipped a beat as chasing a total was a chronic problem for Pakistan – even in those days. Australia, while batting first, scored a mammoth 267 runs in its innings. In those days, this was considered a great score. After that, Pakistan continued to its own downfall by conceding 34 extras. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Craig McDermott took the maiden 5-wicket haul of the tournament to kill a nation's dream. Photo: Cricbuzz[/caption] However, the extras were not the only reason why we were defeated. During Australia’s innings, a couple of unforeseen incidents took place. In the 19^th over, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper, Saleem Yousuf, got injured and Javed Miandad had to take up his position – which affected the match. Also, a few run out appeals went against Pakistan, which in the final reckoning proved to have a massive impact on the match’s result. Also, at the score of 236, in a mix up between Steve Waugh and Simon O’ Donnell, Waugh was run out but instead of him, O’ Donnell began walking back to the pavilion. Everyone was happy to see O’ Donnell out as he was considered an explosive player. Unfortunately, his decision to walk off proved fruitful for Australia as Waugh was able to muster 18 more runs in the final over bowled by Saleem Jaffer. Pakistan’s innings began on a disastrous note. Rameez Raja was run out early in the innings and he was quickly joined in the pavilion by Mansoor Akhter and Saleem Malik. Old stalwarts Miandad and Imran Khan started rebuilding Pakistan’s innings after initial jolts and put the fast-derailing World Cup dream back on track. Pakistan seemed to be moving smoothly towards the target once again, the crowd at Gaddafi Stadium once again started dancing and singing with a new vigour. But just when all seemed to be going according to the plan, Allan Border, the Australian skipper, dismissed Imran, courtesy a poor decision by Umpire Dickie Bird. Imran’s dismissal at a crucial junction proved a fatal blow for Pakistan. After this dismissal, wickets kept falling regularly and the entire team was dismissed in 49 over. We handed over an 18-runs victory to Australia. The moment Craig McDermott dismissed our last batsman, Tauseef Ahmed, the entire nation went in a state of mourning. There was hush in the ground. The dream of holding the World Cup trophy was once again shattered. Change in venue and opposition did not make any difference, as Pakistan lost a World Cup semi-final for the third time. The nation was saddened and hurt by this defeat and it took days for a large number of cricket followers to digest this defeat – including myself. The semi-final in Lahore was played more than 27 years ago but memories of the encounter are still fresh for me. After a long gap, Australia and Pakistan are coming face to face in a knockout World Cup match in Adelaide. This time again, the host country is overwhelmingly favourite while the visitors are the underdogs. I hope the Pakistan team comes up with plan to explore and exploit the chink in Australia’s armour to avenge our defeat of 1987. Victory in Friday’s quarter-final match will not only put Pakistan in the semi-finals of the World Cup but also considerably reduce the pain Aussies inflicted on us long ago. I wish all the best of luck to our team!

Not satisfied with having had a poor World Cup campaign and an average limited overs cricket record during their reigns, it seems that both coach Waqar Younis and retired ODI captain Misbahul Haq have decided to leave us with a parting gift. This parting gift exemplifies their horribly defensive mindset which has been a major factor in the Pakistan ODI team’s mediocrity. Various reports state that it was the duo that influenced the PCB into naming Azhar Ali as the new ODI captain. It almost seems like a joke where Pakistan cricket is the punch line. https://twitter.com/BajiPlease/status/581796025788018688 Misbah has been a fantastic hand for Pakistan cricket and a knight in shining armour for a struggling team, but he has not been without his flaws. For one, he lacks the ability to rotate the strike when building an innings. This flaw has been less obvious because the skipper has invariably come in during a crisis. However, he has often hurt the momentum after the team has been off to a good start, dragging the run rate down. What’s more, his defensive style has sometimes created needless pressure on the other batsmen, especially when chasing a score. While Misbah is proud of reaching the quarter-finals, let’s be honest, the nature of the tournament certainly played a part in getting us there in spite of Pakistan’s awful performances against India, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe. Perhaps our knockout opponents would have been easier adversaries than the eventual finalists Australia had management not adopted a safety first attitude. In the game against West Indies, seven batsmen (eight, if you count Shahid Afridi) were played. Fawad Alam a leading scorer was ignored, while Younus Khan who has a poor ODI record, and newcomer Haris Sohail, whose limitations were exposed in Australia, were inexplicably selected. Meanwhile, Yasir Shah, possibly the best spinner in the tournament was neglected – except for a game against the world’s best players of spin – while South Africa utilised Imran Tahir. The short term mentality was also exposed when the injury prone Muhammad Irfan, Pakistan’s primary weapon, was not given the rest he deserved against the UAE. Management was so afraid of defeat that the big fast bowler was cut open like the goose that laid golden eggs. To make matters worse, Nasir Jamshed, who was picked by management against the wishes of selectors, was given far too many chances. Certainly, our tournament would have been easier with Sarfraz Ahmed opening the batting early in the World Cup. You can’t say that these mistakes are only obvious after they happened. Like countless others, I had called for Sarfraz to open, Yasir and Fawad to play every game, Younus to be dropped, Irfan to be rested against the UAE match, before management made the mistakes. While these selection issues were clearly the fault of captain and coach, of course, the majority of the blame lies with the Pakistani batsmen, who showed both a lack of skill and temperament for international cricket. At the very least, Misbah, as the batsman, was fighting for the nation in every game, as he always has. But the skipper has taken Pakistan as far as he can within the limitations of his abilities and cautious mind-set. As captain, he rescued a side recovering from dark controversies, and has certainly boasted some fantastic victories in Test cricket. But while his style has kept the ODI cricket team from hitting rock bottom, it is now clear that he can never reach the top of the mountain either. In an age where teams are scoring 350 runs a match, his cautious approach towards batting and team composition are archaic at best. This is exactly why the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should have ignored Misbah’s suggestion of selecting Azhar as the new ODI captain. Often, though not always, a captain’s playing style is an extension of their mindset. For example, Imran Khan was both an aggressive all-rounder and an aggressive leader. Similarly, Wasim Akram was an attacking skipper. Javed Miandad was a shrewd batsman, and a wise vice-captain. It is for this reason that Azhar seems like the wrong man to take Pakistan’s ODI team forward. I can see why Misbah has recommended him – it is the same reason he persisted with a defensive player like Asad Shafiq in the ODI team, because he reminds Misbah of himself. Certainly, Azhar seems to have a giant heart and is batsman who does not get dismissed so easily, but he carries the exact same flaws as Misbah, except that they are far worse in Azhar, like a terminal disease. If Misbah has trouble rotating the strike, then Azhar seems completely incapable. In fact, Azhar only operates on first or fourth gear. Whereas Test cricket is a game of more deliberately paced batting, most modern batsmen bat with a strike rate of at least 50. Azhar, on the other hand, bats at 39.56. There are few things as exciting as watching Azhar play a Test innings. Watching paint dry is one of them. Observing the ceiling fan rotate slowly for a few hours is another. Yes, everything we don’t like about Misbah, we really won’t like about Azhar. He is like a bad Misbah impersonator; a Misbah clone with second-hand parts. A Mini-Me of Misbah, if you will. Now is the time to upgrade our operating system, not install a pirated copy of Misbah 2.0. Selecting Azhar is like slapping on a band-aid when the wound has healed. Our broken leg has mended. It’s not time for another crutch; it’s time to learn how to run again. https://twitter.com/Asif_Farooqi/status/581790041887797248 Here, I have come up with a list of candidates who would be better options than Azhar: 1. Wahab Riaz [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The tears flowing from his eyes showed how much World Cup glory had meant to him. Similar emotions were written on the South African cricketers’ faces after they lost to New Zealand. On the other hand, players such as Younus and Afridi were all grins after crashing out. We need a player who truly loves playing for Pakistan, and Wahab seems like the man. The fact that he’s an aggressive bowler would also be a welcome change in leadership. 2. Sarfraz Ahmed [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] He seems like a natural choice, having captained Pakistan to U19 glory. Sarfaraz is an attacking player who has the mental toughness for the job. In fact, this choice seems almost too natural for the PCB, and we know how easily they miss a target when it is staring straight at them. 3. Fawad Alam [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: AFP[/caption] He is perhaps the best limited overs batsman in Pakistan and has loads of experience captaining at domestic level. My only concern is the state of his mental wellbeing. Fawad is the Cinderella of Pakistan cricket; stuck in the attic while his ugly stepsisters enjoy the limelight. He’ll need to be groomed if he is made skipper. And by groomed, I mean a shave and a haircut. 4. ZaidAliT [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: ZaidAliT Facebook page[/caption] This young Pakistan comedian may steal some of his jokes, but at least he has the common sense to steal the good ones. On the other hand, Azhar looks to have borrowed only Misbah’s shortcomings. 5. Ayyan Ali [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"] Photo: Lahoripoint.com[/caption] Look, she may not be very bright, but she has made some dangerous friends and tried something quite daring, illegal as it was. Although it may seem physically impossible, she certainly seems to have greater testicular fortitude than some Pakistani cricketers.

There was a time when Pakistani fans could see their fast-bowling maestros – like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar – pierce through the wind and attack the opposition with all their mighty force, live, in front of them, in their own stadium. There was a time when people could witness Shahid Afridi’s magnificent sixes or Javed Miandad’s stunning innings on Pakistani grounds. Unfortunately, over the past six year, no international team has come to Pakistan to play a series with our national team. And as such, Pakistani cricket fans have been deprived of this chance to see their national team in action. However, this barren cricket-less spell is about to come to an end. Finally, an international cricket team has decided to tour Pakistan. It will be a scene of tremendous pride and happiness for the nation to see its beloved players take on Zimbabwe’s team on Pakistani ground. Zimbabwe is all set to become the first full-member nation to tour Pakistan ever since the Sri Lankan side was attacked on March 3, 2009. Events from that dark day are still as clear as crystal in my mind. The Sri Lankan team was travelling to Gaddafi Stadium (Lahore) to play the second Test match against Pakistan. However, before they could reach the stadium, the bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricketers was fired upon by 12 gunmen. Six Pakistani policemen and two civilians were killed in that attack, whereas the Sri Lankan team was saved by the bus driver, Mehar Mohammad Khalil, who drove valiantly to protect his passengers. It was a complete security lapse; the government and security agencies were heavily criticised for their inability to provide proper security as they had promised. And the aftermath of this attack saw Pakistan isolated from international cricket at home. Not just this, Pakistan was also stripped off of all rights to host the 2011 World Cup matches. But what’s done is done. It is time for us to look forward. Similarly, PCB Chairman Shahryar Khan must be admired for his efforts to persuade the Zimbabwean side to tour Pakistan. Zimbabwe Cricket CEO Alistair Campbell gave a green signal to the series after a one-day visit to Pakistan where he inspected all the security arrangements. But this event must not be taken lightly. The government and the security agencies must work hard to provide a safe tour, so that this series can become an example for other teams to visit Pakistan. We need to make sure that our stadiums are checked and cleared before players enter the building; we must make sure that before the team leaves their hotels for the stadium, their routes are checked and managed appropriately, and we must also make sure that proper exit measures are in place in case of an emergency. Likewise, apart from the security concerns, team Pakistan must improve its performance, as it stands at a mediocre ninth place in the ICC’s ODI rating, which is absolutely unacceptable. Our batting line needs to be developed according to modern attacking techniques and in doing so, our selection committee should give attacking batsmen like Hammad Azam, Sohaib Maqsood, Sami Aslam and Mohammad Rizwan more chances. Also, Mohammad Hafeez needs to up his game, as ever since he has been cleared, his performance has been mediocre at best. Yasir Shah needs to be inducted in the team, in order to harness his Saeed Ajmal-esque skills – as Ajmal’s game seems to be going south ever since his action got modified. Alongside this, young pacers like Imran Khan should be tried in ODI’s as well. Team Zimbabwe will land in Lahore on May 19 to play a series of three ODI and two T20 matches. The T20 matches are scheduled to be played on May 22 and 24, and the ODIs on May 26, 29 and 31. The team will fly back on June 1. I hope that it will be a joyful series for all Pakistani cricket fans. If a match is taking place in your city, make sure you go and watch it. This is, after all, a historic achievement for Pakistan, one that must be celebrated.

In the recently concluded Dhaka Test match, we managed to break another world record. During Pakistan’s second innings, Misbahul Haq scored a six on Taijul Islam’s ball, making Pakistan the first Asian team to hit 1,000 sixes in the Test format. Pakistan achieved this feat in its 389^th test match. Since this is an astounding achievement, I feel it would be great if we dwell upon a few facts regarding Test match sixes. 1. Except for Pakistan, several non-Asian counties have crossed the 1,000 sixes or more in Test matches record, which include Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa and England. 2. Alongside this feat, Pakistan also has the second best six-hitting ratio in Test matches amongst Asian teams, with 2.58 sixes per match. 3. Surprisingly, Bangladesh, which is supposedly one of the weaker Asian teams, has the best six-hitting ratio at 3.05 sixes per match. This is because they got their Test status at a time when the Test-match dynamics were changing and overall scoring rates in Test innings were higher. 4. India, so far, has scored 995 sixes in 487 Test matches and they have played at a ratio of 2.04 sixes per match. They have the lowest per Test six-hitting ratio amongst Asian teams. 5. The first six in Test match history was scored by J Darling of Australia against England at Adelaide during the 1897/98 Test series. This was the 55^th Test match, from its inception. 6. In nearly 140 years of Test-cricket history, we only have one incident when the first ball of the Test match was smacked for a six and the honour for achieving this feat goes to Chris Gayle, who hit the first ball of the match for a six during an innings against Bangladesh at Dhaka in 2013. 7. Pakistan’s journey of sixes in Test-matches began during the inaugural Test-series that they played in 1952 – this was when the national team toured India. It was in Lucknow, during the second Test match of the series, that debutant Zulfiqar Ahmed batting at number nine for Pakistan hit India’s left-arm medium fast-bowler, Nyalchand Shah, for a six. This was the first ever six by Pakistan in their Test-cricket history. For poor Nylachand, this was the only Test match he played for India. 8. Pakistan’s match against New Zealand, which was played at the national stadium in Karachi during the 1976 series, is fifth in the list of most sixes hit in a Test match. This Test match is remembered for Majid Khan’s feat who became the first Pakistani to score a Test century before lunch on the first day of the match. Pakistan’s match against West Indies played at Kingston during the 1976 Test series is 37^th in this list. Although this seems to be a low ranking but this shows the flare Pakistan batsmen possess as West Indies was the most feared team of that era and to hit their bowlers for sixes was a daunting task. 9. Pakistan, in its Test cricket history, has come across many aggressive batsmen, but surprisingly, the record for most number of sixes  in a Test innings is accredited to Wasim Akram who, in his innings of 257 against Zimbabwe at Sheikhpura during the 1996/97 series, scored 12 sixes. This is also the world record for most number of sixes scored in a Test innings. Wasim broke the 63-year-old record of Wally Hammod, who had scored 10 sixes in an inning in 1933. 10. Three Pakistani bowlers, namely Danish Kaneria, Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar, jointly hold the record for being hit on for most sixes in an inning. Each of them hit seven sixes in an inning. Kaneria's was by West Indies during the Multan Test in 2006, while Shah and Babar faced their predicament against New Zealand at Sharjah in 2014. 11. In the list of most sixes scored in a Test career, two Pakistani players sit at the 22^nd and 27^th positions respectively – Younus Khan with 58 sixes and Misbahul Haq with 53 sixes. Javed Miandad is 34^th in this list. Pakistan, in the time to come, will surely score more sixes and our history will have more interesting facts and figures but Pakistan needs to build on its success in Test matches to improve its performance in one-day cricket as well – because without being able to perform magnificently in all formats, Pakistan’s achievements in Test matches would not make much of a difference for the national team’s image.

Every year, hundreds of sports events are held around the world, yet a very few moments among them linger on in our memories and eventually turn into classic moments we keep replaying in our minds. Here are 10 of the most irreplaceable flashes every sports fanatic can never erase from their memories: 1. Maradona’s ‘Goal of the Century’ during the 1986 FIFA World Cup [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] Within five minutes of the second-half during the quarter-final match of the 1986 FIFA World Cup between England and Argentina, Diego Maradona gave the football world two of its most classic moments. First, he scored the  famous ‘Hand of God’ goal as the result of an unnoticed handball, and four minutes later, he dodged six English players in his 10-second dash towards the English goal, to make the score 2–1. The goal was later dubbed as the ‘Goal of the Century’. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3nnb8_maradona-the-best-goal-of-20th-cent_news[/embed] 2.  Michael Jordan’s iconic ‘Air Walk’ On February 6, 1988, Michael Jordan with his leaping ability, soared into basketball history with his jaw-dropping slam dunk from the free throw line during the slam dunk contest. Later his ‘air-ability’ earned him the nicknames like ‘Air Jordan’ and ‘His Airness’. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5yrm7_slam-dunk-contest-1988-dominique-wi_sport[/embed] 3.  Michael Phelps – The Gold Fish [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="625"] Photo: AFP[/caption] During the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Michael Phelps from USA won eight gold medals, the record for the most medals won at a single Olympics. He also set seven new world records in the swimming arena. To date, Phelps is the most decorated Olympian with a total of 22 medals. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qadcf_michael-phelps-8th-gold-2008-beijing-olympics-swimming-men-s-4-x-100m-medley-relay_sport[/embed] 4.  Javed Miandad’s sixer at Sharjah [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: ESPNcricinfo[/caption] On April 18, 1986 , the cricketing world’s most ferocious arch rivals, Pakistan and India, were set against each other in the final of the Sharjah Cup. Four runs were required off the last ball, and due to Javed Miandad’s iconic sixer, Pakistan sailed towards victory. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gsbry_pakistan-cricket-match-vs-india-javed-mian-dad-great-six-6-on-last-ball-and-pakistan-win_webcam[/embed] 5. The epic 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The 2008 Wimbledon Final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal featured one of the most competitive battles ever witnessed in the history of tennis. The match between the two lasted for four hours and 48 minutes , resulting in Nadal finally winning the cup. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x61l89_nadal-vs-federer-wimbledon-2008_sport[/embed] 6. The fight of the century - Muhammad Ali versus Sonny Liston [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] On February 25, 1964, Sonny Liston, the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion fought 22-year- old Cassius Clay, (later named Muhammad Ali) in Florida. Liston, the most intimidating fighter of his day, was defeated by Muhammad Ali in a seven-round stunning upset. A year later, a second fight took place between the two which ended in about two minutes since Liston was declared  technically knocked out. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2qjxrb_muhammad-ali-vs-sonny-liston-1964-by-skutnik-michel_sport[/embed] 7. One-inch punch by Bruce Lee [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="577"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] The one-inch punch is a punching exercise from Chinese martial arts (Kung fu) performed at a range of zero to six inches. It gained popularity when it was demonstrated by Bruce Lee at the Long Beach International Karate Championships in 1964. In the television show Mythbusters, the technique was tested quantitatively. The conventional punch measured 325 pounds of force while the one-inch punch measured 153 pounds. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x20935y_bruce-lee-s-one-inch-punch_people[/embed] 8. The ‘Lightning’ Usain Bolt - 100 metres in 9.58 seconds [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] On August 16, 2009, during the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships in Berlin, Germany,  Usain Bolt  of Jamaica broke his own 100 metres record from 9.69 seconds to 9.58 seconds. He  is the first man to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records and to win six Olympic gold medals in sprinting, and is also an eight-time World champion. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2s3wnc_leichtathletik-wm-berlin-2009-world-record-usain-bolt-9-58-100-meter_sport[/embed] 9. The ‘Leap of the Century’  by Bob Beamon [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="292"] Beamon's iconic long jump. Photo: AFP[/caption] On October 18, 1968, during the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Bob Beamon long-jumped 29 feet 2 inches to shatter the world record by more than two feet. The record stood for 23 years until Mike Powell broke it by only two inches in 1991. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xrrcl1_world-record-long-jump-of-all-time-bob-beamon-1968_sport[/embed] 10. Nadia Comaneci – Perfect 10 [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="437"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] On July 13, 1976, at the Montreal Olympics, 15-year-old Nadia Comaneci of Romania became the  first female gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10 in an Olympic gymnastics event. She won three Olympic gold medals at the 1976 Summer Olympics and two gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. In 2000, Comaneci was named as one of the 'Athletes of the Century' by the Laureus World Sports Academy. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2p3i23_nadia-comaneci-first-perfect-score-montreal-1976-olympics_sport[/embed]

The Pakistan cricket team has been absolutely phenomenal on the field in the series against Sri Lanka. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the coverage by PTV Sports. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2nixlp[/embed] I had become accustomed to Starbucks misspelling my name on the cup every time. I cannot reasonably expect an American to accurately spell ‘Shehzad’. One day, a barista asked me if she called out my name right, I told her it was close enough but she insisted on me teaching her how to say it right.

“It is about me respecting you as a person, I want to say it right when the next Shehzad comes in, it is my job.”

It is an odd feeling to watch a show on television discussing you for a couple of hours. For most parts, it was hilarious. Unfortunately, I missed yesterday’s pre-game episode of Game On Hai on PTV Sports. I was informed by friends that the Express Tribune blog I wrote was being discussed on the show, and rather than discussing cricket, Dr Nauman Niaz took most of the time on the show justifying his actions. I had to make sure I did not miss the post-game Game On Hai. Dr Nauman has a right to his opinion, as much as anyone else. However, if my ethics or character is being called into question, I do have every right to respond. Dr Nauman’s immediate reaction to the blog was to block me and delete any tweets he had made about the blog. Tweets in which he called my blog ‘motivated’, to be precise. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576"] Photo: Shehzad Ghias[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="576"] Photo: Shehzad Ghias[/caption] The blog was written independently of any media outlet, I chose to send it to Express Tribune of my own prerogative. The blog was not meant to question the credentials or cricketing knowledge of any individual, nor was it to suggest that other local television channels are any better at producing cricketing shows. Dr Nauman was not being judged of standards set by Pakistani anchors, but rather against an absolute standard of etiquette and decency based on my social experiences. I have no cricketing expertise compared to the legends of the show. I wrote in as a casual viewer of the show who hoped his constructive criticism would be used to better represent Pakistan in the international arena. PTV Sports is produced from our tax money and it represents all of us. We all have a stake in improving it; I simply chimed in with my opinion on how to do so. https://twitter.com/dr_kureshi/status/625246376083849216 https://twitter.com/Waqasfuu/status/625368219662991360 Watching last night’s episode on Game On Hai, I was convinced Dr Nauman had turned over a new leaf. The entire panel and his magnanimity and good humour towards the criticism were heart-warming. As a comedian, I could only stand up and applaud their response. All I could muster as a response was, “well played Sir, well played”. Saqlain Mushtaq, Javed Miandad and Sanath Jayasuriya, your magnanimity has humbled me and I will forever be a better person because of that, so thank you. The show started with Jayasuriya looking particularly dapper in a suit.

“People at the hotel asked me if I was going to a wedding,”proclaimed Jayasuriya buoyantly.

“I don't know the blogger, the only distinction he has that he follows Najam Sehti and Najam Sehti follows him back, that is the only distinction he has.” - Dr Nauman

“Log dunya mai banyaan mai bhi show kartay hay.” (People host shows in their vests also)

“Sanath, we were talking in English today so you can’t use your cellphone” - Dr Nauman

“You pronounced Kusal Perera really well.”

“I have been doing journalism for 20 years, I know these kinds of bloggers, I know who is motivating them, who are paying them, what their angles are. These youthful boys need to understand going to LUMS is nothing. LUMS janay say kuch hota hay toh humay bhi Western Australia janay say kuch agaya hoga. (If you’ve learnt a lot by attending LUMS, so have I by going to Western Australia)” - Dr Nauman

“Game off nahi hai, Game on hai.” (The game is still on)

The year 2015 has been a year of mixed emotions for the Pakistan cricket team. Having lost both 50-over fixtures against New Zealand prior to the World Cup, the men in green had a horrendous start to the year as they suffered crushing defeats at the hands of India and the West Indies in their two opening games of ODI cricket’s most coveted tournament. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="456"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Pakistan’s World Cup dream seemed all but over at 58-3 against Zimbabwe, when a resolute knock of 73 by Captain Misbahul Haq, along with a spirited half century by Wahab Riaz, guided the team to a sub-par total of 235. An instrumental bowling performance by Mohammad Irfan and Man of the Match Wahab kept Pakistan alive in the tournament, as both left-arm pacers grabbed a four wicket haul. Historically, it takes one stellar performance to ignite team Pakistan into a fearsome and ruthless unit. Tradition followed suit as Misbah’s men went on to win three must-win games on the trot, including a memorable victory against a red hot South African team, to clinch a quarterfinal meeting against the mighty Australians. With the stage perfectly set to cause the biggest upset of the tournament, Pakistan’s batting let them down once again, as it limped to a dismal total of 213. Hosts Australia went on to seal their semi-final spot by six wickets, in a game that will be remembered for Wahab’s blistering spell of fast bowling and Rahat Ali’s dropped catch of Shane Watson. Pakistan’s fluctuating World Cup campaign had come to an end, one which had moments of both despair and encouragement. This also marked the culmination of the ‘Misbah era’ in Pakistan’s limited-over cricket, as the skipper retired from the 50-over format along with veteran all-rounder Shahid Afridi. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Pakistan cricket was now at the helm of a new phase of uncertainty, as Azhar Ali (who had primarily been a specialist Test batsman up until that point) was appointed as ODI captain ahead of a tour to Bangladesh. This decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was subject to a lot of scrutiny from the media and former players, which only got worse when the men in green slumped to a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series. This was a hard pill to swallow for supporters, as prior to this tour, Pakistan had only lost to Bangladesh once in 16 years (at the 1999 World Cup). Bangladesh went on to win the solitary T20 as well, before Misbah came to Pakistan’s rescue yet again, by securing the Test series 1-0. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Fans and pundits alike had lost faith in the national team by this point and cricket seemed to be an art lost in the sands of time. That said, there could have not been a better time for international cricket to return to a nation which had been deprived of its beloved sport for over six years. Zimbabwe had agreed to become the first Test playing nation to tour Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, to play two T20 internationals and three ODIs. The men in green succeeded to put on a show for their cricket-thirsty supporters in this landmark series, by sailing to victory in all fixtures except the third ODI, which was called off due to a floodlight failure and subsequent dust storm. The return of international cricket to Pakistan coincided with the return of Shoaib Malik in Pakistani colours for the first time in two years, who has continued to make the most of his comeback to date by piling up 500 runs in 11 innings at an outstanding average of 100. A number of fresh faces were also introduced in this series, most notable of which were left-arm orthodox spinner Imad Wasim and hard-hitting lower order batsman Mohammad Rizwan. The next assignment for team Pakistan was a full tour of Sri Lanka consisting of three Tests, five ODIs and two T20s. Even though the world of cricket had grown accustomed to these two nations playing against each other over the past few years, it was a very important tour for Pakistan, given the fact that they had to win the ODI series in order to ensure qualification for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. Misbah’s Test team also had a point to prove, as the last time Pakistan triumphed on Sri Lankan soil in whites was back in 2006. To the Pakistani supporters’ delight, the Cornered Tigers romped to a colossus 10-wicket victory in the opening Test match at Galle, a venue which has rarely witnessed a Sri Lankan defeat. The heroes on this occasion were Asad Shafiq with a combative 131, Sarfraz Ahmed with a brisk 96 off 86 deliveries and leg spin sensation Yasir Shah, who accumulated a tally of nine wickets in the match including a career best of 7-76 in Sri Lanka’s second innings. Sri Lanka levelled the series by virtue of a seven-wicket win at Colombo in the second Test, triggered by an all too familiar Pakistani batting collapse in the first innings. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="456"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The third and final Test could be considered as Pakistan’s highlight of the year, as it resulted in a record chase of 377 by the visitors, courtesy of a solid 125 by opener Shan Masood and an unbeaten 171 by stalwart Younus Khan. While Younus’s feat deserves the highest level of credit, it was Yasir who was the main architect of Pakistan’s first Test series win in Sri Lanka for nine years. The promising leggie became the fastest Pakistani bowler to reach 50 Test wickets and was justly named Man of the Series for taking 24 scalps over the course of three Test matches. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="456"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The confidence gained from the Test match conquests was converted into results in the ODI series, as Pakistan stormed to a 3-2 victory, securing a spot for the 2017 International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions trophy. All three of Pakistan’s victories were commanding ones with strong performances with both bat and ball. Afridi’s T20 squad swept the two-match series as well, winning the second T20 in a classic nail-biting Pakistani fashion. Chasing a formidable target of 173, Pakistan were reduced to 107-7 before Anwar Ali and Imad scored match winning knocks of 46 and 24 (not out) respectively. The game went down to the final over, with Sri Lanka requiring a wicket to level the series while Pakistan needed six runs to win. Irfan’s single off the first delivery gave young all-rounder Imad a golden opportunity to become a national hero. Wasim did not wait long for glory as he despatched Binura Fernando for a six, winning the series for Pakistan with four balls to spare. A historic tour of Sri Lanka had come to a close in emphatic fashion, and as a result, team Pakistan had re-established itself as a threat on the international circuit. This new look Pakistan side that has emerged since the World Cup may lack in talent when compared to elevens of the past, but it most certainly possesses an age old hunger to win cricket matches, with a penchant to surprise opposition teams even when the chips are down. This ‘never say die’ attribute that has so often been associated to Pakistan cricket continues to live on and was showcased again in the recently concluded ODI series against Zimbabwe. After Yasir’s six-wicket haul enabled the visitors to take a 1-0 lead in the series, Zimbabwe responded strongly by posting a sturdy total of 276 in the second ODI, on a slow track in Harare. At six wickets down for 76 runs, Pakistan seemed to be down and out when Malik, in partnerships with newcomer Aamer Yamin and Yasir, nearly pulled off the biggest heist in recent cricketing memory. Unfortunately for Pakistan, Zimbabwe won the game by the Duckworth Lewis method, as bad light interrupted play when 21 runs were required off the last two overs to secure victory. Malik was left stranded on an unbeaten 96, while Yasir was also well set on 32 runs. Even though Pakistan was on the losing end of this incredible bout, the strong-willed comeback was sure to inject confidence and self-belief in a young ODI team which was still finding its feet. Pakistan also found itself an all-round option for the future in Yamin, who contributed with a vital 62 runs by playing positive cricket and keeping his nerve (for the most part) in a crunch situation. Speaking of match-winners in crunch situations, perhaps Pakistan’s most significant find of 2015 has been the young left arm all-rounder Wasim. Hailing from Islamabad, Wasim has fast transformed into a valuable asset in the limited overs arena by bowling tight lines with his slow left-arm spin and providing valuable runs late into the innings. However, Wasim’s most noteworthy quality is his ability to stay calm and level headed under pressure, by mentally applying himself to reap rewards for team Pakistan. Not considered as a big turner of the ball, Wasim is a smart operator who used the slow conditions in Harare to his advantage by using drift as his major weapon to both choke runs and get wickets. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] His all-round effort was the main catalyst for Pakistan’s 2-0 victory in the T20 series (which earned him the Man of the Series award), while his 61 and 3-36 in the first and third ODIs respectively were vital contributions towards a two-one series triumph. In addition to Wasim, Rizwan has been a vital cog in the lower order ever since his debut earlier this year against Bangladesh. An aggressive and improvising batsman, Rizwan has scored three half centuries in nine innings so far in his short career, at a staggering average of 50.50. More importantly, his runs have been scored at a momentous strike rate of 101.67, due to which he has the potential to occupy the all-important ‘finisher’ role in the limited overs squad; a role which the national team has been devoid of in cricket’s modern era. Three successful outings on a trot may sound rather impressive for a Pakistan team under transition, but the fact that these victories were against slightly weaker opposition must be taken into context. Zimbabwe is ranked 11^th in the ICC ODI rankings while Sri Lankan cricket is undergoing major withdrawal symptoms after losing arguably two of the best batsmen of the last decade, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. While Azhar’s young team has continued to impressed ever since that forgettable tour of Bangladesh, a stern test lies ahead as they face an evolving English team led by Eoin Morgan in four 50-over fixtures starting November 11^th. Given Pakistan’s current form, it will be an evenly matched competition; the results of which will demonstrate whether Pakistan’s newfound youngsters are truly up for the international challenge or not. The onus, however, will be on skipper Azhar, along with his deputy Sarfraz who has been moved to the middle order to provide stability to a frequently fragile batting line-up. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Both batsmen are high on confidence as Azhar has scored 665 runs in 13 innings at an average of 51.15 since becoming ODI captain, while Sarfraz has earned the reputation of a busy player who constantly looks for opportunities to rotate strike. The tenacious wicketkeeper is a master of the sweep shot and was responsible for instigating Pakistan’s World Cup turnaround by producing match winning performances against South Africa and Ireland. Senior batsmen Malik and Muhammad Hafeez will also have a key role to play, by nourishing a young squad with their experience and producing results with the bat, conforming to various circumstances. As much interest surrounds England’s limited overs duel with Pakistan, it is the Test series that is attracting the most attention from cricket enthusiasts the world over. Pakistan and England have a rich history when it comes to Test cricket, dating back to 1954 when Pakistan became the first side to win a Test in England on their maiden trip. The series was drawn 1-1 and Pakistan’s fast-bowling legacy had sown its seeds thanks to a match winning effort of 12 wickets by Fazal Mahmood at the Oval. However, Pakistan’s second victory against England came after a gap of 28 years at Lords, when a double ton from Mohsin Khan propelled team green to a first innings total of 428, after which Abdul Qadir and Mudassar Nazar combined to take 12 English wickets to seal a memorable away win. England went on to take the series 2-1, which was their last series victory over Pakistan for nearly two decades. The 80s and 90s are considered to be the golden era of Pakistan cricket, when superstars in the form of Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, and Waqar Younis conquered the global scene. Pakistan won five consecutive Test series against England during this period, a historic run that was broken by Nasser Hussain’s England team in December 2000 in Karachi. Pakistan drew the away series 1-1 in England in 2001, and ever since, both teams have enjoyed profound success on their home turfs while failing miserably as tourists. A Pakistan versus England Test series has the remarkable tendency to spark controversy as well; the Gatting-Shakoor Rana squabble, the forfeited Test in 2006 and the 2010 spot fixing scandal being the three incidents that stand out. However, controversy has long been abolished from the Pakistani dressing room, a reform carried out during Misbah’s successful tenure as captain. Not only has Misbah brought discipline to a side which had tarnished its image in the cricketing world, he has also remained unbeaten in all seven Test series played in the UAE since Pakistan’s exile as a host nation. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] In his five years as Test captain, Misbah has won 18 Tests for Pakistan out of 37 (a national record), which includes famous whitewash victories against England (3-0 in 2013) and Australia (two-zero in 2014). England’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace has acknowledged Pakistan’s supremacy in the UAE by dubbing the upcoming Test series in October ‘tougher than the Ashes’. Even though England are on a high after regaining the Ashes at home, Pakistan will start the series as favourites, given their extraordinary track record in the UAE. England’s tormentor from 2013, Saeed Ajmal, will not be present this time around due to an ineffective remodelled action, which he was forced to develop after being called out for chucking at the end of last year. However, leg spinner Yasir has risen to become Pakistan’s new go-to-bowler and will pose a major threat to an English batting line-up that has not faced quality leg spin bowling in years. After a successful Ashes series, Joe Root is expected to spearhead England’s batting, who also happens to have a fondness for playing spin and is not afraid to use his feet, unlike most English batsmen. Alastair Cook and Ian Bell provide invaluable experience to the English batting card, which will be hoping to avenge the horrors of 2013. It will be interesting to see how England’s new breed of cricketers, comprising of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, and Moeen Ali approach this battle in the desert after a fruitful Ashes campaign. Cook’s woes clearly lie in the inexperience of his spin department, which consists of part time off-spinner Moeen, left arm orthodox spinner Samit Patel and right hand leg spinner Adil Rashid, who is yet to play his debut Test. As for Pakistan, anything short of a Test series victory is unacceptable. Their batting boasts big names in Younus, Misbah, Azhar, and Sarfraz, each of whom have an individual batting average of over 44 in Test cricket and have combined to score 18 Test centuries since the beginning of 2014. The bowling unit will be led by Yasir, accompanied by slow left arm off-spinner Zulfiqar Babar, a partnership that Pakistan is banking on as their foremost weapon. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Also, with the addition of Fawad Alam and Malik to the Test squad, Misbah has a few more spin bowling options at his disposal. Even though pace bowlers are not expected to play a major role in this competition, both sides have ample resources in the shape of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Wahab, Steven Finn, Rahat Ali, and Junaid Khan. With the much awaited Test Series set to kick off tomorrow in Abu Dhabi, players from both nations will be blood-thirsty for victory as the result of this contest will define each team’s performance in 2015. One man in particular who will be itching to get on the field is Misbah, who stands at the twilight of his career at 41 years of age. Misbah has discussed the possibility of retiring from the game at the end of the third Test and Pakistan’s “Captain Cool” will be looking to sign off in grand style, with yet another Test series victory to his name, leaving an undefeated legacy that will be remembered for generations.

In simple words, Younus Khan is a modern great. He now holds the record of most runs by a Pakistani Test batsman, has the most number of centuries, he has held the most catches by a Pakistani fielder and on top of all this, he has the best average among Pakistani batsman in Test cricket. These records become more exclusive when mentioned in retrospect, because our team has boasted of the inclusion of players such as Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Saleem Malik, Inzamamul Haq, Saeed Anwar and Mohammad Yousuf. Younus may not have the same elegance as Inzamam, he may not get under the skin of the opponent like Miandad and he definitely does not play the same silky smooth cover drives as Yousuf did. But Younus did not need any of this, he has his own style. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] As soon as Younus comes on to the pitch to bat, he begins to hop and jump at the crease, then he begins to settle down by playing those famous back-foot cover drives. Eventually, he started taking charge of the spinners with those sixes over deep mid-wicket and then the occasional reverse sweeps. I feel it’s a pleasure to watch him play. He plays cricket just like cricket should be played. He always seems proud to wear a Pakistani shirt, with that slight arrogance about him but with a smile on his face. He is a true team player, putting up a strong fight against the opposition, never getting bogged down by the pressure, and most of all, he takes pride in his team mates success. Initially, it wasn't easy for Younus since he made his debut when he was 22-years-old. Having to replace the injured Ijaz Ahmed, he had some big shoes to fill, which he managed to do. A smashing debut century against Sri Lanka proved that he had the potential to succeed at the international level. But due to the presence of senior players, he had to wait for more chances to prove his worth. The passion and hunger for learning was always there though. He recalls how he used to carry kit bags of senior players on tour just to be around them and learn from them. His next big breakthrough came during the first Test on the tour of New Zealand in 2000-01 where he scored a match winning 91 and 149 not out, an inning he rates as one of his best. It made him believe that he belonged in the team. Chances kept coming his way and he took full advantage of them by scoring consistently. Under Waqar Younis’s captaincy he became an important part of the Pakistani team but lost his place in spot in the team after Inzamam took over as captain after the World Cup in mid-2003 after which he barely got to play Test cricket in the following year. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Younus finally made his mark on the international scene during Pakistan’s tour of India in 2005. He was under serious pressure to score after the first Test match, during which he scored nine runs and one run. Following that, he scored a remarkable 147 in the next Test and finally, during the final Test match, with the series levelled at 1-1, he scored a brilliant 267, an inning that lasted for 11 hours and 30 minutes. During the second innings of the final Test, he fired 84 runs, not out in the second innings to help Pakistan win a memorable series in India. In 2005, he scored a century against West Indies on their turf, a place where he always seemed to struggle. In 2006, during India’s tour of Pakistan, he scored 199 and 194 in the first two Test matches and captained the team during the final Test match at Karachi, leading them to a memorable series victory. Another brilliant inning of 173 against England at Leeds the same year cemented his credentials as one of the most important batsmen of Pakistan. Younus kept his form intact when he scored two consecutive centuries against South Africa in 2007 and also scored another century against India at Kolkata. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] He was named the captain of the Pakistani cricket team in 2009 during which he played his most memorable inning of 313, which is the third highest score by a Pakistani batsman in Test cricket. Although he fared well as a captain, especially in the shorter format, where he won the T20 World Cup for Pakistan, he could not stay at the post for long and after having several disagreements with the players and management, he stepped down from his captaincy and did not play for Pakistan for around one and a half year. In October 2010, when Misbahul Haq was named the captain of Pakistan, Younus was reinstated into the team and he made his presence felt by scoring a match-saving 131 not out after batting the whole day at the Dubai Cricket Stadium against a challenging South African attack. Free from captaincy worries, Younus started leading the team from the front as a senior batsman. Highlights of his career were when he helped Pakistan save the Sharjah Test match against Sri Lanka with his 122, a gritting match-winning century against England in Dubai, enabling Pakistan to whitewash the opposition, a match-winning double ton against Bangladesh in December 2011 and Zimbabwe in 2013, and scoring 111 against South Africa at Cape Town where Pakistan nearly won the match. Younus made his presence felt. Perhaps the world started noticing the greatness of Younus in 2014 when he, while trying to prove that he can still be part of Pakistan’s limited-over squad for the World Cup, scored quick fired centuries in both innings against Australia in the first match. His first century made him a top century scorer for Pakistan while his second century of 103 not out scored at a strike rate of 67.76 showed that he can prove a point or two with his batting. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] In the next Test he performed even better, a double century (213 runs of 349 balls) against Australia at a quick pace not only helped Pakistan clean sweep the Aussies but also helped him reach the milestone of 8000 Test runs for Pakistan, only the third Pakistani to achieve such a feat. During an interview he said,

“I am just an ordinary player. Records aside, I want to bat for my country and records are not my best identity. I want to be recognised as a batsman that always played for his country.”

“In the list of top test batsmen, I see the names of Indians and Sri Lankans. I want to put my name in the list of cricketers who have scored 10,000 Test runs just like the way I completed 30 Test tons. Someday I might be satisfied with my goals and achievements but I am pushing myself for more. I believe in next the two years if I remain in the same mode I see myself bigger than this and would like to score 10,000 runs.”

Mohammad Amir, the young cricketer who was banned for a spot fixing scandal, still managed to garner a lot of sympathy from Pakistanis, be it cricketing legends or experts and because of this, he has been allowed to play cricket once again. However, if the cricket fraternity thought Amir would be welcomed back with open arms, they were wrong. Yes, Amir is still young, has immense talent, bearing in mind his recent performances in the realm of domestic cricket, where he claimed more than 30 wickets in six matches during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, yet, people, in specific his team mates, will not be as forgiving. This was evident after the recent spat between Amir and Faisal Iqbal which turned a lot of heads. The row between these two highlights how most players will still not be as accepting towards Amir. Apparently, Iqbal called Amir a ‘thief’ due to which they got into a verbal spat. This resulted in Amir being fined 150 per cent of the match fee and Iqbal being given a warning. It may seem like a normal heated verbal spat between two players, but it reflects upon two blatant issues. Firstly, it shows that Amir’s attitude is still a cause of concern. Secondly, it also shows that no matter how hard the selectors may try to get the banned players into the mix; other players will still display signs of hesitation and condescension towards the banned players. This is mainly due to the fact that they believe the banned players do not deserve a place on the team because they tarnished the image of our nation for money. This argument doesn’t only apply to Amir of course, it applies to the other two as well, Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif. Big names in cricket, such Ramiz Raja and Javed Miandad held their ground stating that these three should not be allowed to play cricket at all, however, the counter argument provided by the players was that they need to earn their livelihood and they should be allowed a second chance to prove their worth and talent. Why shouldn’t they, especially since they have served punishment for the crime. I personally was completely against the trio returning to the field of cricket, but upon hearing both sides of the argument, I finally realised the solution lies somewhere in between these two views. To begin with, if the trio are being inducted in the squad again, the same code of conduct which is being applied to the rest of the players should not be applied to them. But as much as I believe in second chances, keeping in the mind the shame the trio brought upon us, I think it is fair to say their second chance should come at a price. The trio should be welcomed back to the domestic circuit and if they do get a chance to perform at international level as well, they should definitely be made to sign a new code of conduct. This code of conduct will separate them from the rest of the playing cricketing class in this country as well as set a precedent that once you put the worth of your country at stake, you will miss out on the privileges you once enjoyed. According to me, the new code of conduct should have the following terms in it. No Captaincy for the Trio  The first and foremost thing Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should make clear is that these three should never be allowed to captain Pakistan, be it a domestic or international match. By doing that, the juniors in the team will learn that no matter how big a player you are, if you malign the country’s name for the sake of money, you will not be able to land a senior position. Australia followed the same rule and never let Shane Warne, who many Australians believed had the best cricketing brain to play the game, become the Captain of the Australian team because of his involvement in various controversies and instead appointed Ricky Ponting as the captain after the departure of Steve Waugh. Their salaries should be slashed by 50 per cent for the rest of their career This might seem a bit harsh, but that’s how it should be. The trio should only receive 50 per cent of the match fee, the central contact and daily allowance, in all formats, be it domestic or international. By doing this, PCB is allowing them to start earning, but not giving them the full luxury to earn as much as everyone else will be earning. No individual advertisements or endorsement for as long as they play cricket. The trio should not be allowed to feature in any advertisement as an individual. By going along with this plan, PCB can curtail them from becoming the face of cricket in Pakistan, which they should never be allowed to become. Many may argue that these terms will be extremely unfair, however, I feel it would be a positive step, if it ever to be taken. I see it as a chance for them to redeem themselves, as a chance to pay back our nation, who even after what they did, are willing to accept them. It’s a chance for them to start earning again and do what they love to do, which is play the game. It’s a chance for them to show the world that they are better than before. This is their chance to regain their integrity and win over their fans. But they should know, these chances will come at a price, a price that the trio should be more than willing to pay.

During the Sri Lankan tour to Pakistan in 2009, the bus carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore was fired upon by militants, injuring six Sri Lankan players and killing six policemen and two civilians. It was a sad day for Pakistan cricket as no country was willing to send its team to Pakistan after this unfortunate incident.  In a scathing attack on the serious security lapse, the then Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram said,

“Such incidents could make Pakistan a failed state, and that one was not sure as to who was in control of the country.”

“This is what people-to-people contact is supposed to be. It wouldn’t have made sense to separate people when they speak the same language.”

Inexperience doesn’t pay – but getting better sure does. The immaturity and inexperience would bring disgrace to any young team, but one dynamic leader in the middle-order could bring the ship to right direction. Younus Khan, the one mature enough in his prime form and who solidly worked on and off the field to make an impressive score in cricketing circles for Pakistan was also followed by the grand milestones.

“I am playing for the nation of Pakistan and it makes me feel so proud whenever I walk on the ground. I owe it to my coaches, family, and friends and above all my nation. The fans overall had been there for me – to back me every time when I had struggled during the years. I love challenges and would love to do so,” Younus once said.

It has been a trend that whenever Pakistan tours India or vice versa, there are elements in both the countries that come up with preposterous statements to vitiate the atmosphere.  It was, therefore, not surprising when a few ex-cricketers of Pakistan took umbrage to the innocuous comments made by Shahid Afridi during a press conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rX2On7djL4 In an attempt to create a cordial atmosphere, before the start of the marquee match with India, and also to pre-empt any possible hostility from the Indian crowd during the match, Afridi had stated that,

“We have always enjoyed playing in India and have been loved by Indian crowds more than crowds back home in Pakistan. Cricket has always brought people together and I think politics should be kept away from cricket.”

“In my opinion, if I have to tell the truth, they (Indians) will never have hearts like Muslims and Pakistanis. I don’t think they have the large and clean hearts that Allah has given us.”

“I want to thank you back home Pakistan and where the Muslim lives all over the world (sic).”

“It is very difficult for us to live with our nemesis or to have long-term relationship with them. Nothing will come out of the talks. Take a look at how many times in the past 60 years we have had a friendship and then how many times things have gone bad.” “Look, the media has a certain role to play. Media highlights the different aspects of an issue. For me, the media (Indian) is like a pain in the body. You have to deal with media and find solutions in the relationship with it just like we consult doctors,” he said. “Our media (Pakistan Media), which is criticised by people, is hundred times better than theirs (India Media).”

Is it Pakistan versus India? Or, is it India versus Pakistan? While a trivial issue to the casual observer, this grammatical chess-match encapsulates the depth of the cricketing rivalry between the two neighbours. As both sides jostle to gain any advantage over one another, not even the English language is spared. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Is it Pakistan versus India? Or, is it India versus Pakistan?
Photo: AFP[/caption] Simply put, there is no match like a Pakistan-India (or, India-Pakistan) match; a match unrivalled in its ability to harness the imagination, fervour and passion of over a billion people. From Islamabad to New Delhi, Mumbai to Karachi, Beijing to London and New York to Toronto, Pakistanis and Indians unite to watch a match between bat and ball. No pressure, right? For Pakistanis and Indians alike, cricket is a rite of passage. Embedded in the hearts and minds of an entire subcontinent, cricket fuses the old with the young, the rich with the poor and the city-dwellers with those who live in rural areas. Cricket serves as a microcosm of the larger, more important state of affairs, representing the political and socio-economic climates of both countries. Naturally, when Pakistan and India meet on a cricket ground, it’s a sparring match for two countries searching for relevancy and respect on the global stage. In a quasi-economic-cricketing backdrop, India, a burgeoning economy with superpower ambitions, has the money, power and resources to best any Pakistan team. Pakistan, on the other hand, an emerging market with coveted natural resources and a battle-hardened population, has the determination, grit and self-belief to withstand any Indian batting assault. Does it get any better than this? Let’s also spare a thought for the poor souls who automatically become proxies in this captivating drama: the players. For a player, a Pakistan-India contest represents an opportunity unlike any other in international sport, to become a legend, forever immortalised in his or her nation’s psyche. For example, for all his records and international success, we will always remember Javed Miandad for his last-ball six against India in the 1986 AustralAsia Cup Final. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] we will always remember Javed Miandad for his last-ball six against India in the 1986 AustralAsia Cup Final.
Photo: Reuters[/caption] Likewise, how can we ever forget Sachin Tendulkar’s famous upper-cut against Shoaib Akhtar in the 2003 World Cup? However, this contest is not a charity. If a player errs in a Pakistan-India contest, forgiveness is as hard to find as a seat in an Indo-Pak train car. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="401"] How can we ever forget Sachin Tendulkar’s famous upper-cut against Shoaib Akthar in the 2003 World Cup?
Photo: Espncricinfo[/caption] Queue: Misbahul-Haq. Even though he became Pakistan’s leading Test captain, surpassing immortals such as Imran Khan and Inzamamul Haq and defeated the mighty Australian and English teams, Misbah, to this day, is relentlessly chastised for that fatal scoop against India in the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World T20 final. “Live by the sword, die by the sword” takes on a whole new meaning. Pakistan and India locked horns at the famed Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 19^th, a charged-up and determined Pakistan tried to seek its first-ever win over India in a World Cup. Pakistan not only looked to correct history, but also looked towards giving its devout fans a chance to finally one-up Indian fans on social media. India, on the other hand, remained methodical as ever and capitalised on the formulaic and regimented approach that has been the cornerstone of its global domination over the past five years. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan and India locked horns at the famed Eden Gardens in Kolkata on March 19th.
Photo: Espncricinfo[/caption] Unfortunately, Pakistan lost against India yet again and left millions of fans dejected. India remains undefeated by Pakistan, moreover the stats paint a grim picture; 0-11 against its arch-rivals in World Cup matches. Whether our loss was the result of a weak power play, Sharjeel Khan bouncing on the ball rather than stopping it — or of Virat Kohli sticking it out till the end, it would be unfair to say our team didn’t try. They did. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Whether our loss was owing to a weak power play, Sharjeel Khan bouncing on the ball rather than stopping it or Virat Kohli sticking it out till the end.
Photo: Espncricinfo[/caption] Shouldering the burden of a history filled with mistrust and violence while simultaneously embracing the unmatched, brotherly love for samosas and dramas, Saturday’s match was not just another match. It was the match. Nothing would be better than these two rivals battling it out again, this time in the World T20 final, just like they did in 2007, but this time around, I’m hoping Pakistan takes the cup.

Each time Pakistan faces an early exit in a major event like the recently concluded T20 World Cup, there are drastic steps bound to be taken by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a gesture of concern from them as well. Whether these changes are effective or not is a whole different story but as of now, Haroon Rasheed has been sacked and replaced by Inzamamul Haq as the chief selector. Even though some of the problems at hand might be beyond Inzamam’s reach, it is still a step in the right direction. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Inzamam at the PCB batting grounds
Photo: AFP[/caption] It is too early to establish if Inzamam’s inclusion will help put Pakistan’s cricket on the right track again, as he needs to be given time to judge his performance in this new role. As Inzamam mentioned himself,

“I don’t have a magic wand.”

The year 1987 is knows as the golden year in the history of Pakistan cricket because of the many memorable victories it bagged back then. A monumental series win in Headingley, England, against England itself, was a great comeback after a series loss back in 1982. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Imran Khan takes his 300th Test wicket, Jack Richards caught by Ijaz Ahmed for 2.
Photo: Getty Photos[/caption] For the first time, our cricket team was invited to play a full Test series (five matches) in England. After a defeat in the first two Tests, our team was on its way to Headingley, Leeds, for the third Test. But this time around, they were determined to achieve the impossible. England’s captain, Mike Gatting, was elected to bat first after winning the toss. This proved to be a fatal choice for the team. After a few overs, the scoreboard read 31-5, thanks to Pakistan’s strong bowling attack, led by our enigmatic skipper. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Mike Gatting among celebrities art Steeple Aston.
Photo: The Oxford Times[/caption] On a side note, I’d like to tell present-day cricket fans how lucky they are to be able to watch matches live from any part of the world. Back in the day, getting a live telecast of matches played outside Pakistan, especially those not in Asia, was next to impossible. Our television channels used to make arrangements for live screenings of Wimbledon or of a football match, but they held back when it came to cricket, even though it was a crowd favourite. Coming back to the Headingley Test, I remember following the match on my pocket sized radio set and dancing with joy whenever the commentator announced the fall of an English wicket. Radio commentary is a real art since commentators have to narrate the whole situation in a way that makes listeners feel as if they are actually present in the stadium, watching events unfold before their eyes. The sound of the crowd is also an indicator of what’s going on in the stadium and I distinctly recall one of the Radio Pakistan commentators mentioning the pin drop silence in the ground when England’s wickets were consecutively falling. England, after throwing away five wickets, began reconstructing their first innings with the help of Ian Botham and debutant David Campbell. The sixth wicket partnership of 55 runs was beginning to look like a threat, but thanks to Mudassar Nazar, also known as the Man with the Golden Arm, this partnership was soon broken. The remaining four batsmen added another 50 runs to the total and England was dismissed for a paltry 136 in the first innings. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Ian Botham in his whites.
newstatesman[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Mudassar Nazar
Photo: news18.com[/caption] Pakistan confidently began to prepare itself for its innings and, at the end of day, the scoreboard read 76-2, a relatively stronger position than that of England. We had to go to a wedding on the first day of the match, but I was so engrossed in the match that I followed Pakistan’s innings by listening to the commentary from the car radio. On the second day of the Test match, Pakistan lost Mansoor Akhtar and Javed Miandad for an additional 10 runs on the board. Miandad’s dismissal was a real setback and provided an opportunity for England to get back into the series. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Mansoor Akhtar
Photo: cricages.com[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] May 21, 1987 Javed Miandad made 113
Photo: ESPN[/caption] But that was England’s last cause for a celebration during the match, considering our batting line-up, spearheaded by Saleem Malik’s magnificent 99 runs enabled Pakistan to lead by 217 runs. In its quest for survival, England tried to regain composure at the start of the new innings, but Imran Khan dismissed Chris Broad on the second ball of the innings in a rather controversial manner. Broad allowed the ball to go through, outside his off-stump and removed his hand from the bat handle, but the ball rebounded off his glove and landed in Saleem Yousuf’s gloves. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Imran Khan shines the ball, England v Pakistan, 5th Test, The Oval, 4th day, August 10, 1987.
Photo: Google[/caption] The entire Pakistan team appealed in unison and, to Broad’s surprise, the umpire raised his finger to signal Broads’ dismissal. In those days, we didn’t have savvy TV technology to support on field umpires and, if it was declared ‘out’, batsmen had no choice but to walk back to the pavilion. Pakistan slowly, but surely continued its march towards victory as our bowlers, led by Imran Khan, reduced England to 186-7 by the end of the third day’s play. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan manager Ahsan Haseeb talks to captain Imran Khan, August 5, 1987
Photo: ESPN Cricinfo[/caption] During that era, a rest day after three days of play was necessary. I remember I passed that entire day fearing it may rain in Headingley, which would end up jeopardising Pakistan’s march towards a much deserved triumph. PTV did us a huge favour when it announced that it would be telecasting the first session of day four’s play. Excited, yet nervous, my uncle, brothers and I had our eyes glued to the screen, hoping that Pakistan would rapidly finish up the match so that we could witness the historic moment live on TV. Pakistan needed to take three wickets in 31 balls in order to win. Imran Khan bowled his heart out and picked seven wickets during England’s second innings. He was declared man of the match for his 10 wicket haul. In the process, he became the eighth bowler in cricket history to reach the 300 Test wickets mark. Since the rest of the matches were drawn, the victory at Headingley was enough to secure our first ever series win in England. Winning in alien conditions, such as those witnessed in England, is considered a great achievement for teams from the subcontinent. Pakistan was on a victory roll that particular year. After a Test series and ODI win against India in India, we managed to win a Test series against England as well. On the other hand, 1986-87 proved to be an unfortunate year for England since it succumbed to two Test series defeat within the span of a year; one against India and one against Pakistan. England had to then wait for another 19 years in order to beat Pakistan in a Test series in England. Less than 10 days away, Pakistan will be playing a Test series against England at Lord’s. Considering how well England has been playing over the last few years, being able to win a series in England again seems like a herculean task for Misbahul Haq and company. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Cricket - Pakistan v England - Third Test - Sharjah Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates
Photo: The Himalayan Times[/caption]

Lord’s Cricket Ground is the home of cricket and it’s every cricketer’s wish to be able to play and perform exceptionally at this historic venue. The incentive to perform well at Lord’s is having your name written on the honour board, which is erected inside the pavilion of the cricket ground. How can a cricketer have his name included in that list? Simple, a batsman has to score a century and a bowler has to take five wickets in an inning or 10 wickets in a match. There is a long list of players on this board, but unfortunately, the world’s greatest players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Javed Miandad, Imran Khan, Shane Warne, Curtly Ambrose and Wasim Akram have not had a chance to get their name up on this particular board. This board also has some surprising names written on it. Personally, for me, the most surprising names were Nasimul Ghani of Pakistan and Ajit Agarkar of India. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Nasimul Ghani
Photo: ESPN cricinfo[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Ajit Agarkar
Photo: Cricket 52[/caption] Pakistan has played 14 Test matches at the Lord’s ground, including yesterday’s match. In the previous 13 Tests, 11 players earned the honour of having their name engraved on the Lord’s honour board. Pakistan began a new Test series against England on the same cricket ground yesterday. This is a vital Test series for Pakistan, not only to set a certain momentum, but to restore the pride which was shattered six years ago at the very same venue. Three players were accused of spot-fixing and were subsequently banned and jailed for their crime. One of the accused players, Mohammad Amir, is back on the Pakistan team and has resumed his career from the same place where it had ended. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan's Mohammad Amir.
Photo: AFP[/caption] After the spot-fixing fiasco in 2010, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) handed over the reins of our cricket team to the skipper, Misbahul Haq. Within six years, he transformed the team into a forceful Test unit. Pakistan is currently at the third position in the ICC Test ranking and Misbah has played a pivotal role in our team attaining this great ranking. Misbah is the longest serving Test captain of Pakistan, and with 20 victories to his name, he is also the most successful captain in Pakistan Test history. A few weeks ago, Misbah, along with the team, left for their England tour. England, a place considered intimidating not only because of the tough playing conditions, but also because of the presence of hostile media. Misbah had seriously been contemplating retirement before this tour, but was persuaded by the chairman of PCB, Shehryar Khan, to continue playing. Misbah has had to face numerous critics about his playing style and age, but he has proved them wrong with his fitness and impeccable skills. That’s exactly what he did yesterday. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="380"] Misbah-ul-Haq celebrates his century on the first day of the first Test.
Photo: AFP[/caption] He walked to the crease when his team was struggling at 77-3. He decided to take the responsibility of swerving his team towards a decent innings. He built a partnership with Younis Khan and then Asad Shafiq, and helped his team’s total to rise up to 282. In the process, he also completed his 10^th Test century (the first in England) and celebrated by doing 10 push ups. The story behind this is that he had promised the army folks that he would do 10 push ups for every century he scored. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGw5K8wX5vU The century at Lord’s, that even on the first day of the Test match, made Misbah the 12^th player from Pakistan to have his name written on the Lord’s honour board. Pakistani players who have had their names written on the Lords honour board prior to Misbah are Khan Mohammad, Javed Burki, Nasimul Ghani, Hanif Mohammad, Mudassar Nazar, Mohsin Khan, Waqar Younis, Inzamamul Haq, Mushtaq Mohammad, Mohammad Yousuf and Mohammad Amir. At the age of 42, he became the oldest Test captain to score a century in Test cricket. Prior to Misbah, this record was held by Bob Simpson of Australia. He has the ability to do the unthinkable. Before the start of this Test series, a few Pakistani names were rumoured to go up on the Lord’s honour board, but Misbah’s name never came up. Captain cool wronged his critics once again by scoring a brilliant century. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Bob Simpson
Photo: PA[/caption] Misbah has had an unfortunate past in his Test career, where he faced a four year break during his peak years. But since his return from this break in 2007, he eventually became an integral part of the Pakistan Test squad. He, along with Younis Khan, carry the burden of Pakistan’s batting line-up on their shoulders. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Misbah is not dictatorial, yet commands authority.
Photo: AFP[/caption] Scoring a century at Lord’s at the pinnacle of his career is a great achievement for Misbah. This will further strengthen his status as a legend in Pakistani cricket. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Scoring a century at Lord’s at the pinnacle of his career is a great achievement for Misbah.
Photo: AFP[/caption] As all good things come to an end – so will Misbah’s career – ­but the legacy that Misbah will leave behind, will prove to be an arduous task for his successors to carry forward.

Domestic cricket is the budding ground that provides national teams with young talent in order to keep them abreast with the rest of the competitive cricketing nations. In this piece, I will discuss the basic components that make a successful and spectator-oriented domestic cricket structure. We begin with the teams system. Pakistan is probably the only country in the world where the main national cricket tournament involves teams representing state departments. Nobody wants to go the stadium to watch PIA face off against WAPDA. This is the most obvious (and yet persistent) problem of our domestic leagues. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Umar Akmal celebrates his record-equalling century after pummelling Rawalpindi bowlers for nine sixes and as many fours. Photo: Shahid Saeed/ Express[/caption] It is only when we will have cities or provinces playing each other that our tournaments can generate the sort of crowd interest in local matches as is witnessed in England and Australia. This is because region-based cricket inculcates within players and fans alike a feeling of affiliation and ownership in their teams, that is unmatched by departmental cricket. In our current Quaid-e-Azam Trophy configuration, we see absurd groupings, such as Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited against Islamabad and Khan Research Laboratories against Peshawar. How can that possibly be a successful model to follow? There are two strong but diverging voices in Pakistan on this important matter, both boasting credentials of equal calibre. Imran Khan, who disapproves the prevalent approach, and Javed Miandad, who believes departmental cricket is the best way to secure a good financial future for players. The answer lies somewhere in the middle: We should hold uniform region-based tournaments three times in the year for the three separate formats, where departments, instead of fielding their own teams, sponsor the regional outfits. With better crowds and higher television viewership, it would be a win-win situation for the teams and the departments. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Lahores vs FATA.
Photo: PCB[/caption] To be fair to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), they do hold national city-based T20 Cups every year, and with the successful holding of Pakistan Super League (PSL), we have finally managed to sway away from departmental cricket. But we lack consistency; the PCB must ensure the regional squads that feature in T20s, also play in domestic four day and one day tournaments, instead of any departments. The main reason why Australia has reigned over the cricket world for such a long time is their domestic Sheffield Shield cricket. Australian players compete at such high levels while representing their provinces that it prepares them mentally and physically to transition easily to the international arena. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="696"] The NSW Blues (pictured) will play a Sheffield Shield match. Photo: AAP[/caption] We, on the other hand, depend entirely on natural talent. This did get us through till the 90s, but now, with the fast changing landscape of this sport, raw talent no longer cuts it; polishing has become essential, and that can only be achieved by a competitive national structure. After we have taken the first step, the next would be the venue selection. Rather than holding tournaments at randomly selected cities, we should play at a ‘home and away’ basis, something we see in English County cricket. It makes no sense for Lahore and Karachi to play a match in Multan. Rather, if one weekend, the Lahore side plays Karachi at the Gaddafi stadium, and seven days later, they play at the National stadium, this would create great anticipation amongst people and some intense rivalries unheard of in our local cricket. With proper advertising, affordable ticketing and full securities measures in place, fans would definitely pack the stadiums to support their respective cities. And as we know, good contests produce higher standards of performances, with bragging rights on the cards. Granted, Pakistan has become the world’s best Test team, an astonishing feat for which words alone can do no justice. But, let us be clear, we achieved that distinction despite the system, not because of it. If our domestic structure was at par with the likes of Australia, England or South Africa, we would have become number one a long time ago, and that is what people at the helm need to understand. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pakistan celebrate their win over England in fourth Test at Kia Oval, August 14, 2016. Photo: Reuters[/caption]

A cricket World Cup that does not feature Pakistan would be like a Wimbledon without Rafael Nadal, or a football World Cup without Italy. Sure, they don’t win every tournament, but their mere presence excites fans and sponsors alike beyond measure. Here is why Pakistan’s participation is indispensable for the World Cup. 1. The exuberance of team green When it comes to cricket, no other nation matches Pakistan’s raw talent. We operate with an instinctive flare, an uninhibited philosophy towards the sport, which makes us exhilarating to watch. Over the years, Pakistan has boasted a number of unique One-Day records: the highest number of hat-tricks, the highest ODI individual score by Saeed Anwar (a record the remained intact for around a decade), the fastest century by Shahid Afridi (another record broken in recent years), the fastest bowler in cricket, Shoaib Akhtar, and many other remarkable records. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Akhtar says his inspiration to become a fast-bowler came from watching Wasim, Waqar and Imran. Photo: AFP[/caption] Our attacking style of play then brings out the best in other teams when they play against us, resulting in many cliff-hangers that have been considered as World Cup classics. Let’s look at some of the displays of individual skill during previous world cups that epitomise Pakistan cricket. Inzamamul Haq The unknown hero – 1992 World Cup Semi-Final A youngster from Multan, Inzamam was pushed to worldwide fame by Captain Imran Khan, who told him that no matter what, he was going to play in the semi-final, despite the stomach bug he was suffering from. He went in to bat, with Pakistan chasing a very stiff target by the standards of that time. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Inzamam-ul-Haq had shown interest in becoming the chief selector. Photo: Reuters[/caption] Chewing a gum, with a lazy elegance not witnessed before by spectators or commentators, Inzamam played one of the best winning innings under pressure by any player during a World Cup semi-final. He went on to play a vital role in Pakistan winning its first world cup during the final at the Melbourne cricket ground. [embed width="620"] http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gryra [/embed] Shoaib Akhtar bowls out Stephen Fleming – 1999 World Cup During a group match against New Zealand, there were two consecutive miss fields in the same over of Shoaib Akhtar, and saying Akhtar was frustrated would be a huge understatement. On the very next bowl, Akhtar bowled Fleming around his legs. His jubilant reaction, coupled with commentary by the legendary Tony Greig, captured that moment perfectly. It was, in essence, an embodiment of the brand of cricket Pakistan played during the 1999 World Cup, which was a treat to watch, for all cricket lovers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBLPrOnqb74 The Spell of the Tournament: Wahab Riaz to Shane Watson – 2015 World Cup Quarterfinal  Last year’s World Cup had some memorable moments, but the standout performance was undoubtedly Wahab Riaz’s lethal bowling spell against a bamboozled Shane Watson. One fails to recall the mighty Aussies so at sea while batting, that too in their own backyard. That Pakistan lost the match (or that Wahab afterwards became an automatic selection for all coming ODI series even though bowling many dreadful spells) is beside the point. His fast, tearing bouncers to Watson were exactly the edge-of-seat stuff World Cups are remembered for. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Last year’s World Cup had some memorable moments, but the standout performance was undoubtedly Wahab Riaz’s lethal bowling spell against a bamboozled Shane Watson.Photo: AFP[/caption] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGCEGnfBpqw 2. Our unparalleled unpredictability If there is one word that encapsulates our cricket, it has to be unpredictable. Which other team can win from Australia one day, and then, during the same World Cup, lose to minnows like Bangladesh – in 1999 they were minnows right? Then, during the infamous 2007 World Cup, Pakistan shocked the world by losing to unknown Ireland, which was playing its first major tournament. With that loss, Pakistan was eliminated in the preliminary round, another unprecedented first for us. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] eland beat Pakistan during the 2007 World Cup. Photo: AFP[/caption] For Pakistanis, these were moments of grave sorrow and absolute gloom. But, from the perspective of the World Cup, these events generated huge media interest, even from international news channels that usually never cover cricket in their sports segments. Whether you love or hate it, this is a fact that our unpredictability makes cricket buffs want to see Pakistan at every World Cup. Here is hoping we are able to correct this aspect of our cricket. [embed width="620"]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2gquys[/embed] 3. Clash of the titans – Pakistan versus India A World Cup without Pakistan would deprive millions from watching the Indo-Pak match, something that would break every cricket enthusiast (and every advertiser’s) heart. The Super-Bowl and Champions League finals fail in comparison to the excitement this match generates. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] A World Cup without Pakistan would deprive millions from watching the Indo-Pak match, something that would break every cricket enthusiast (and every advertiser’s) heart. Photo: AFP[/caption] And then, who can forget those tense moments during these matches, such as when Javed Miandad gave Kiran More a taste of his own medicine, or when Aamer Sohail indicated to Prasad where he smacked him, only to get out the very next delivery. All said and done, no matter how much the World Cup ‘needs’ Pakistan, the show must go on, and indeed, will go on, with or without us. The onus is entirely on our team to ensure we never have to write this hard chapter in our cricketing history.