WASEEM SAJID RAJA's Blog

Its Time To Move On towards Future

Shahid Afridi leads from Front.......

Pakistan has played very well in this world cup and surely it was beyond the expectations. Most of the cricket pundits and supporters were not expecting that Team Pakistan will go through semis. But according to me it was a great achievement for the Team Pakistan to reach in the Semi finals. Pakistan played like a unit and they bring a Nation closer which was divided in so many paths as such Sindhi, Pathan, Punjabi and Bloch. At least for some days every Pakistani was simply talking about Pakistan not about his own personal identity or individuality.

Now the World Cup 2011 has become past of this team. Every player of this bunch is very precious but its time to move on, its time to prepare for future and to give chance to youngsters. Although Misbah ul Haq, Younus Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi have done so much for this team. But none other than Shahid Afridi might be available for next World campaign in Australia and New Zealand.

Commenting individually! Misbah has played very well so far since his come back in Pakistan Team but the problem is that he always tried to play in old same style and try to impose his own game regardless of the match situation. He is very good batsman but he should step down as One Day Batsman and continue to play as a Test Batsman and skipper until Pakistan grooms some of new young batsmen around him.

Younus Khan and Yousaf are also two senior most batsmen in Pakistani team although Yousaf hasn’t participated in this World Cup but he must continue playing in test arena and let the young guns groom around him. On the other hand Younus is also a very good middle order batsman for Pakistan but his game in One Days is going downwards he has not been able to maintain the strike rate which was needed to match situation. He has done some coaching courses as well so he can be a good batting coach in future with some modern techniques.

Abdul Razzaq was a vital all-rounder for Pakistan Cricket team since long and he is still very good player but he is not enable to play such good innings every now and than. He is also not very capable bowler like he was once. Still he has done so much for Pakistan Cricket but now its time to search his replacement and groom that new talent along him which will be very good for future of Pakistan Cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar was once a problem child for Pakistan Cricket he is the fastest bowler in Pakistan Cricket and most probably he was the last natural fast bowler Pakistan has produced, ”Although we found Aamir but…yeah no body knows….”. He has announced his retirement to leave his spot for youngsters which is a very wise decision.

Wicket Keeping and fielding is Pakistan’s main concern specially wicket keeping. Wicket Keeper is supposed as captain on fielding and if your wicket keeper did not perform well your whole team has gone down as fielding unit. It is necessary for Pakistan team to find a new and good wicket keeper. Kamran Akmal is very good player who had won so

Kamran has dropped more than he Caught

many matches for Pakistan as a batsman but he has actually dropped more behind the wickets what he had achieved in batting. Now its responsibility of think tank to define his role accurately if they are considering him as a good batsman let him concentrate more on his batting give and keeping gloves to some one else who is better than him behind the wickets.

One and most important thing is Captaincy. Salman Butt was very good option for a long run but he let himself down by his own mistakes, but time didn’t stop for any one so we have to move ahead. Now we have to groom a new skipper along with Misbah and Afridi. Some guys are capable of it i.e Hafeez, Umar, Azhar and Wahab can be the future leaders for Pakistan so chose one of them as Vice Captain of both ODIs and Tests and give him full support and confidence to grow up as future leader of this team. That’s how we wouldn’t need to think just before WC2015 that who is going to lead.

Furthermore, Future is not dark its bright for Pakistan Cricket and players like Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Azhar Ali and Wahab Riaz have proved this. So what if we lost some matches in start let them settle in line up and let them grow up as players whom can bear the stress of tens games. This is how Pakistan Cricket can go ahead.

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April 1, 2011

Good Bye Shoaib Akhtar “The Rawalpindi Express”

Shaoib has flown away from Cricket Ground with Pride.

A Legend has gone. He had flown away in style from Cricket Ground like when he fly in ground when he get a wicket. He was the most dangerous bowler in Cricketing History and all the batsmen had fear of facing him. Its is sad that his last over in International Cricket is a 26 runs over against New Zealand when he was hit all over the park by Ross Taylor and once again some news of having a mouth fight with Kamran Akmal who drops two on two of Ross Taylor on Shoaib’s bowling. Today I wana say a good by to that Hero who left the cricket field with style. No one has dropped him at the end of his career and forced him to retire from Cricket instead of it he said he is leaving with out any regrets and want to give a place to some new face who will be the future of Pakistan Cricket. This is a tribute to him in which we remember some of golden memories about him and his career.

Shaoib will always known as a patriotic cricketer who didn’t fixed any match like names are very controversial in cricketing history in this regard. We know Wasim Akram, Azhar ud Din were legends but they were controversial because of some match fixing allegation. Shane Warne was Legend in entire history of cricket but he was also involved in some positive dope tests and stuff like that. But when we start thinking about controversies in cricket one name came in mind straight away. And he is Shoaib Akhtar “The Rawalpindi Express”. He didn’t fix any match in his entire career but he missed a lot of matches due to injuries. He didn’t hurt any fan’s heart neither beat any of his fan on ground while asking for an autograph but he was controversial because he was involved in some out field pub scandals or some times beating his own team mates with bat. Media is always behind him. And they neglect the performances and every thing what he had done for Pakistan and Pakistan Cricket. They forget that he is ruling on millions of hearts in Pakistan and in whole world. So this column is dedicated to Shoaib Akhtar.

At his last Pressconfress

In the loving memory of Shoaib Akhthar “The Rawalpindi Express”.

I don’t even remember from how long I am watching cricket and but I thought it was around 17-18 years. I was child then, the 1^st ever match in my memories was the final of World Cup 1992, and I can recall some memories of Imran, Waseem, and Waqar as my father (who him self is a great fan of cricket) use to discuss with me & told me that they were best bowlers in whole world at that time specially the two Ws Wasim and Waqar was just like a nightmare for batsmen around the world. But in 1998 a thin young man made his test debut for Pakistan which every youngster could dream only off as he was playing with his heros Waseem and Waqar, which was nothing less then a dream for every young fast bowler at that time. He said about that he didn’t change his white shirt having star on it three days then and sleep in same shirt. Soon he shocked whole world with his sheer pace, aggression, attitude and gesture. He starts flying in ground whenever he took wicket. Soon after his debut he made a permanent pace as fast bowler in Pakistan line up. He shocked everyone with his sheer pace, aggression, attitude and gestures (after taking wickets). Kingsmead, Durban was honored by his first five wicket haul. As soon as he got the chance to play at Eden garden “The Home of Indian Cricket” the whole Indian nation is witness of his aggression his passion his speed and his confidence where he delivered in front of thousands of people. Where his two magnificent Yorkers, resulting in end of Rahul Dravid and first ball duck for Sachin Tendulkar followed by pin drop silence at Eden Gardens. And I can also remember people saying about him that “aary ye tu Waqar sy bhi tyze hy” [Hey he is faster than Waqar] and indeed that was the indication of 100mph though there weren’t any speed guns in the stadium that was the arrival of world’s fastest bowler named Shoaib Akhtar who was soon famous as “The Rawalpindi Express”, the world’s fastest bowler, the world’s flashiest cricketer.

Two on Two and these were none else than Dravid and Sachin.

He was prolific for Pakistan, ICC World XI, Asia XI, Durham, Surrey, Kolkatta, PIA, Worcestershire. He played in the Sub-continent to Oceania, Europe to the Americas and Africa. He played in World Cups, ICC Champions Trophy and against every Test playing nation. Still his stats are wroth to keep him among top ten bowlers of ICC Rankings- did he miss anything in Cricket?

Ban me am the Bad Boy........

Amid controversies with Cricket boards followed by bans and fines, pub scandals, negative dope tests, brawls with team-mates, Shoaib remained an apple of eye for Pakistani fans. I have wondered all through my life that why we loved Shoaib despite all these negative things but then I have to remind myself that Some birds are not meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright. Shoaib was one off them, giving aeroplanic flight to his wings all the time. Didn’t you love him for this?

Whenever he clicked, Pakistan won or at least came on verge of winning. His few overs were enough to bring best teams and best batsmen drop to their knees, his one spell could transform the whole match into an opposite result. Some of his career highlights are as followed:

1. First 5 wicket-haul, at Durban against South Africa, resulted in Pakistan’s first Test victory on South African soil.

2. Two magnificent Yorkers, resulting in end of Rahul Dravid and first ball duck for Sachin Tendulkar followed by pin drop silence at Eden Gardens.

3. Man of the Match in semi-final of WC 99.

4. Taking 3 crucial wickets in one over against South Africa at Sharjah.

5. Five wickets against Australia in Colombo Test where Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh and Gilchrist had to face the taste of Shoaib’s speed.

Great Lara was his favorite batsman who only faced 3 deliveries of Shoaib and One f them is.....

6. Five wickets against Australia in Brisbane with courtesy of Bill Lawry’s commentary in the background.

7. Fastest delivery in the history of Cricket during WC 2003.

8. Ten wicket-haul against New Zealand in New Zealand.

9. Seventeen wickets in 3 Test Series against England in 2005.

10. Match winning performance in Port Elizabeth Test against South Africa in 2007.

11. Announcing his arrival in the IPL with four-wickets against Delhi’s firing power.

Who says he is proud and not team man....

12. And can any one forget his bouncers to Tendulkar, Lara and Kirsten?

13. He bowled Mahela Jaywardne with a great yorker in Group Match of WC2011 which turn a thiller into Pakistan’s way. Still capable of bowling 159Ks at the age of 36 when he bowled during this match.

Shoaib to Hayden in Perth Test, showing him way of dressing room. Ban me if you can, I am a bad boy of Cricket.

He said in his final interview that he is Thank ful to his dear PCB for what they gave him. He also said that he wants to make space for youngsters but can we see this kind of flamboyant Cricketer again? Probably every one would say “NO”!

He was the man, who flew too close to the sky, has probably burnt his wings. The same wings were seen to be spread out after getting wickets. Shoaib made the stumps of batsmen to fly in the air. These are breathtaking shows for Cricket lover, we can never forget them. We will love to see these moments again, but I thought we cant.

The Whole story of his career is match winner, dropped, banned, come back, droped, lawsuit, matchwinner.

Every one has a day to leave but He left Cricket like a Hero and will be remembered as a Hero.

Bye Bye....We Will Miss You

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May 13, 2010

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An over View on Pakistan’s Proceeding In World T20 2010

The 1^st two rounds of World T20 are over. Teams moved forward towards semis with high ambitions. All the minnows were swept away by the big giants of cricket in 1^st round of world cup. But the second round Super 8 was the most entertaining round of this World cup, you can’t under stand who is going ahead and who will pack the bags. Some teams proceeds to semis on their superb performance and on the other hand some teams are gone to semis on their luck. Most of matches in super 8 round were very exciting. Just like the Cricket World Cup 1992 Pakistan team clicked at right time against Smith’s army and thanks to England that they beats New Zealand.

If we look at Afridi & co’s performance in this whole world cup this was not up to expectation at all. They only won 2 out of 5 matches but proceeds to next round, thanks to the net run rate formula. Pakistan opened up their title defense war against Bangladesh at St. Lucia on 1^st of May although they beat Bangladesh by 21 runs. But in this match Pakistan very narrowly survived Mohammad Ashraful’s scare to begin the defense of their world title at St Lucia with a 21-run win over Bangladesh. Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt had laid the foundations with a 142-run stand that should’ve put the game beyond Bangladesh. But Ashraful, with Shakib Al Hasan for company, took a real pop at an imposing 173-run target,

Salman Butt is the hero for Pakistan from very 1st encounter

before Mohammad Sami swung a slow-burning game decisively Pakistan’s way. The middle order of Pakistan was failed to make any impact after a World Record opening partnership. Same as the bowler couldn’t contain the Bangladeshi batsmen to score runs, once Bangladesh were in very good position of winning that match.

In very next group stage match Pakistan has to face Australia, the Ausies are in very good form and have a very balanced T20 side. Australia began to right previous wrongs in this format with an emphatic dismantling of the defending champions at St Lucia, a 34-run win serving serious notice to one and all of their intentions in this tournament. They wear a fresh look about them in this tournament, under a new captain in Michael Clarke at a global event for the first time since 1999 and with some very handy specialists in the squad. They went about their opening game in merciless fashion, echoing their dominance over Pakistan months earlier. Brutal half-centuries from Shane Watson and David Hussey set them up, before equally brutal pace shoved aside Pakistan’s batsmen. That

Ausies Out Classed Pakistan in all form of games in 2nd Group Stage Match.

the loss was Pakistan’s tenth international in a row to Australia is neither here nor there; more relevant, Australia were very hot and Pakistan very cold. Pakistan has only one thing to celebrate in this match which was Aamir’s 5 wickets maiden 20^th over. That’s the world record in any form of international cricket. Than Asusies continued their form and beat Bangladesh by 27 runs to knock them out of this World T20.

In 1^st Super 8 Match Pakistan has to face inform English team. In this match Kevin Pietersen returned to form with a confident 52-ball 73 not out, as England’s powerful new batting line-up capitalised on a spirited display from their bowl

KP's master class had out classed Pakistani bowlers

ers – as we ll as some poor fielding from Pakistan – to ease along to a comfortable six-wicket victory with three balls to spare. After two rain-affected contests inGuyana, it was England’s first victory of their World Twenty20 campaign and a vital one too, coming as it did against the reigning champions. The fielding was very pathetic in this match by Pakistan while only Saeed Ajmal drops three catches in the first five overs of England’s innings, to leave Pakistan with a lot of momentum to claw back.

Pakistan has to face their favorite opposition New Zealand in next super 8 match. In a tournament of largely one-sided matches, New Zealand pulled off their second nail-biting victory and their first Twenty20 win over defending champions Pakistan, who are now on the brink of elimination. After rescuer-in-chief Danial Vetori revived his side following the failure of big names, New Zealand survived an Abdul Razzaq onslaught and Salman Butt’s level-headed batting to come through by one run and boost their chances of making the semi-finals. Pakistan’s army of spinners was outstanding in Barbados to keep New Zealand down to what seemed a below-par total,

Salman Butt tryed hard but cant win that match for Pakistan

but once captain Shahid Afridi was dismissed in the 10th over following a middle-order collapse, the score was 58 for 5 and New Zealand looked in charge. In 20th over, Butler pulls it off: After being hit for boundaries on two of the first four balls, Butler pings in a yorker that results in a bye, to make it two needed off the final ball. Rehman hits the length ball offered to a gleeful Guptill in the deep & Pakistan lost this match by one run.

The change again comes against South Africa. South Africa were knocked out of the World Twenty20 by living up to their reputation of coming up short in crunch matches with an inexplicably limp batting display after a Charl Langeveldt masterclass in end-innings bowling had kept Pakistan to a gettable total of 147. The bedrock of the defending champions’ first victory in the Super Eights were Saeed Ajmal’s doosras and a sparkling Umar Akmal cameo, but Pakistan will also thank the redoubtable South African top-order for idling early in the chase. At one stage Smith’s XI is well prepared to chase down a moderated total but in 16th over, Ajmal deceives de Villiers: A scoop goes wrong for de Villiers and he departs soon after his half-century. Only four runs come in the over, this over becomes the turing point for Pakistan. Now Pakistan has to pray for English team to beat New Zealand and knock them out. Because only than Pakistan can go forward to next round. Thanks to England and Breson that they did it as per Pakistan’s wish.

Smith's XI again choked in a major ICC event.

Now we all have to look forward towards Semi Final against Ausies. But one thing is sure now Afridi’s men have to perform well against un-beaten Ausies if they want to play the final of this tournament. Because the time of prayers and luck is over. Now they can only retain their hopes to defend the title by performance. Fielding has improved a lot in last couple of games but it should be up to the mark and you have to avail all the half chances against Ausies to beat them. Only than Pakistan can come up to the expectations of 1.8 million nation. Pakistan has to knock them out in all forms of game to win this match. Afridi wish you best of luck.

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