Pakistan Cricket from 1954 to 2010
Soon after Pakistan acquired Test status, the team managed to win it's second Test against India thanks to the bowling heroics of Fazal Mehmood. He had match figures of 12 for 94, the best ever by any Pakistani bowler against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 till 1980. Soon after Pakistan headed for their first ever tour of England to play two Test matches against England. Pakistan was 1-0 down, and everyone predicted Pakistan would lose the final Test and concede the series to England.
The English pitches as they are even today, were a batting nightmare. Under overcast conditions it was not easy for batsmen to settle down on the crease with the bowl swinging immensely. Pakistan were “babes-in-the-wood” in the series against England, which was led by the great Len Hutton. The team were bowled out for 133 in the first innings, and Fazal Mehmood's sheer brilliance resulted in Pakistan successfully bowling the English out for 130 in the first innings.
Pakistan managed to score 166 in the second innings, which seemed like a very easy target to chase for the World class English side. England, were 109 for 2 in the second innings and it seemed as if Len Hutton’s side was destined to win the Test match. But http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Fazal-c56914 Mehmood, the master of swing, took 5 quick wickets to demolish the English batting line up and dismiss the English side for 143 all out. An English daily famously read the next day, “England Fazalled”.
Such were the times for Pakistan cricket, where only in their second ever series they managed to defeat the World class side of England. Pakistan has always had a knack for producing great fast bowlers, with the likes of Fazal Mehmood, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292, Waqar Younis and most recently Mohammad Amir, a boy who until recently was destined for greatness.
After a span of more than 50 odd years, keeping in mind the quality of the Pakistani side it came as no surprise when Mohammad Amir annihilated the middle order of the English batting line up. He dismissed three middle order players for ducks in the final test of the Test series against England at Lords. Seeing him ball with such maturity at the age of 18 was baffling for cricket enthusiasts, who knew that this young fast bowler was destined for greatness.
He took 6 quick wickets and at one point it seemed as if England was all set to lose. Pakistan had an embarrassing start to the series losing the first Test by a massive margin. Followed by a similar defeat in the second Test, where debutant keeper, Zulqarnain Haider played a spectacular innings in the most trying conditions. To give Pakistan a lead in excess of 100 runs and a glimmer of hope amidst prevalent gloom.
The Oval Test was won by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. However, the last Test at Lords, Pakistan faced a crushing defeat at the hands of the English side. But the Test was overshadowed by allegations of spot fixing, implicating the captain of the Pakistan team, along with the wicket keeper and the pace duo of Mohammad Asif and Amir.
In 1954 all cricket enthusiasts would have figured that Pakistan's team would achieve greatness. However, little did they know that 5 decades later, this cricket team would be led by the most incompetent administration. Setting rot not only to the game of cricket, but also with their actions, or inactions, implicitly encouraging the team to act in a depraved manner.
The least minimal level of moral integrity could have ensued in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128’s resignation as PCB chairman. But unfortunately, the entire team management and the board now comprises of officials, who have little care for the game of cricket. Their actions, or inactions have resulted in the imbroglio Pakistan cricket finds itself in today, and it would now take years to recover from such a blow that has reduced Pakistan cricket into a heap of meaningless ashes.
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