One would imagine picking a topic to discuss from the past few days of cricket should not be so hard. The game is in a dull spot these days with not a lot of playing going on. Even one significant event would be a blessing.
The past week has, however, managed to deliver more than one topic for conversation. On the field, off the field, redemption, victory, clashing egos, reflections in defeat, and court decisions, there was a lot going on this week.
Days apart, three significant events took place involving the game of cricket. The first may have an impact on the future of the game, the second most certainly will not and the third definitely will.
The first of the three is obvious. Sharjeel Khan has been barred from the game for the next five years. Understandable the entire process of appeals and decisions for other implicated players is yet to come, but it looks like the matter has finally come to head. For all its faults, the PCB handled this one maturely. There was no hiding and strict action, which cultivated a general feeling that fixing was nothing to be messed around with. As if in approval from the heavens, the Pakistan team was delivered Fakhar Zaman and perhaps in turn the Champions Trophy Crown.
The second is a matter involving much more personal stakes. Nearly two weeks ago, the PCB announced they would be hosting a farewell ceremony for living legends MIsbah ul Haq and Younis Khan in mid-September. Already later than it should have been, the deal was made even bitterer with the addition of an unwarranted interloper: Shahid Khan Afridi. Now, Afridi has declined to attend the event the PCB has scheduled for September 14. And if anyone, especially Afridi fans, think this is exactly what fantaic Misbah fan boys would have wanted, they are sorely mistaken. By trying to make it look like he is above such things, Afridi has somehow managed to demean whatever this official farewell was supposed to mean. And while his devotees may grind their teeth to powder over Afridi’s infuriating antics, they can take solace in the fact that Misbah and Younis will undoubtedly take it in the good grace they have taken everything in over the course of their prolific and rocky careers.
But perhaps the greatest thing to happen this week, and perhaps even this year in cricket (the champions trophy final being the exception of course), was the monumentous victory that the West Indies Cricket team achieved over a formidable England squad. While the subsiding of high octane emotions induced from the match and its result sobered many admirers of West Indies Cricket, there remained a tingling feeling in those that watched that maybe, just maybe, this was the advent of the return of the West Indies to a team to be feared. Not even close to the level of Clive Lloyd and his men, but at least somewhere near what they were for some time after that.
The game itself was a classic modern day test match with big scores and even bigger chases that would leave the great masters of the past shaking their heads in disbelief. The Windie’s chase of 300 plus was one of the most solid performances they have shown in modern times. Not once did they look to falter, especially after the mammoth third wicket partnership anchored by Hope and Braithawaite. But what was always nagging at the viewer was the imminent collapse. Even the commentators kept mentioning it could go wrong any moment. Breaths were held in tightly, it could happen at any time. The collapse of struggling teams is so familiar that a solid, handsome chase was making everyone uneasy. But it never came and the West Indies stomped through England’s total with five wickets to spare.
A magical moment to cherish, and to hope that perhaps the Windies could at least come close to what they once were. And if that’s hoping for too much, at least we got to see a glimpse of the old, glorious cricketing tradition of the Caribbean.
All in all, it has to be said, it has been a good week for the game so far. Let’s hope there is more to come from the weekend.
