For the Pakistani cricket fan, this was an encounter to savour – from the beginning to the end. This cricket fan had for the last 12 years or so – after that cataclysmic 1999 World Cup final when probably the best Pakistani eleven ever to have graced a World Cup field was so ruthlessly annihilated – been waiting for its much beloved men in green and gold to put its best foot forward. Only to be so cruelly disappointed in 2003 and 2007!
With Shahid Afridi captaining it like a dream, Pakistan finally is getting there. And with an intensity that was good enough to make Australia melt after a hot streak that had lasted 34 wins and three titles. Brett Lee sent a few shivers down the spine, but overall it was a performance so mature – especially by the young guns Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal – that despite two quick wickets of Younus Khan and Misbah ul Haq, followed by Shahid Afridi’s rather unexpected hara kiri (when is he going to grow up as a batsman), the victory was secured comfortably – to be precise, with nine overs to spare.
After the Aussies had been knocked out for a below-par total, application was the name of the game. That was provided by almost everyone who visited the batting crease, save Misbah and the skipper. This was a chase where the seniors did not lead, but the youngsters turned out to be good enough to step up and do the job. With such a sane and calculative head on his shoulders, Asad Shafiq led the way with a calculated knock yet again. And with Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson knocking three batsmen off, Umar Akmal’s pugnacity and Abdul Razzaq’s tenacity sealed the issue in Pakistan’s favour.
From the word go, Pakistan meant business. Despite the odd hiccup or two, the Pakistanis had it right at almost every critical moment. The captaincy overall was pretty decent. Afridi was spot on in terms of being decisive in bowling changes, the fielding was impressive and so refreshingly full of intent, and the chase had a method to it.
Once Ricky Ponting had opted to bat, it all depended on Pakistan’s bowling and fielding. The Pakistani bowling was incisive, and the way Afridi rung the changes was indeed superb. So far the bane, the fielding effort, was keen and clinical – to the extent that even the otherwise comical Kamran Akmal was, at least at the most telling points, giving nothing away behind the stumps.
Instead of relying on individual brilliance – normally the Pakistani way – our boys bowled well in tandem, with everyone playing his part. It all went according to plan, and the consequence was that no Aussie batsman could manage to master the bowling to the extent of getting to a half century. The collective effort was so poor that it turned out to be Australia’s lowest in a World Cup outing since the 1992 version.
With this splendid win, Pakistan ended up the leaders in the league. But more importantly, Afridi and his charges now seem a combination that has the audacity and the aura to take on all comers with aplomb. Who will it be next – England or the West Indies?
