Why should Afridi steer the ship?
On March 30, 2011, when the team lost to our arch rivals and eventual champions, India in the semi-finals of the coveted 2011 World Cup, this is what our team captain at the time, Shahid Afridi had to say: “I want to say sorry to my nation. We tried our level best but couldn’t make it. I am pleased with the way my team played throughout the competition.” He apologised for leading a fragmented, jaded, and weak team to the top four; something which he envisaged on February 9, 2011. The talismanic all-rounder was ...
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Pakistan vs India: Silencing the match-fixing rumours
The match-fixing rumours started spreading after India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup match that took place on March 18, 2012. The match was played in its real essence – a typical Pakistan-India match that contained everything: high scores, long partnerships, centuries, nervousness, misfielding, bad shots, huge sixes, all round performance by the top performers of both the sides, two heroes, two villains from both sides, tense captains and a nerve-wracking experience that a match between arch-rivals usually instigates. But still, they say, it was fixed and their reasons are: Cricketing authorities want a Pak-India final, to earn millions of dollars and ...
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Pak-India showdown: Let the quivering begin!
Show me a sporting rivalry greater than Pakistan-India and I will show you the cure for cancer! Those who want to rebuff me at this stage by pointing out that “The Ashes” is the number one rivalry in the game, can save their breaths. Pakistan and India have fought three wars against each other! How many have Australia and England fought? As rivalries go, they don’t come any bigger than this. The tension is palpable in the air when these two great cricketing nations go head to head. The last time these teams competed against each other, it was the World Cup semi-final almost ...
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The rise and fall of Dhoni and Clarke
It is often said that success is easy to obtain but very difficult to maintain. Winning the World Cup was the biggest thing that happened to Indian cricket in recent times. It was a rather young side that went on to scale new heights a few months ago. Maintaining momentum and hunger after such a spectacular achievement was a big challenge for India. Sadly, the team failed to live up to that challenge. Looking at India’s overseas record in Tests since the World Cup, it is evident that the fizz has gone out of their performances. Also, considering the current scenario, it ...
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Shoaib Akhtar: Farewell to a superstar
In a touching gesture, the cricketing regions of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have decided to arrange a series of farewell matches for their favourite son Shoaib Akhtar. Shoaib – who retired from the game during World Cup 2011 – is one of the most exciting players to have ever stepped onto a cricket field. He is a player who drew contrasting opinions, ranging from being an unfit, undisciplined player to an asset who could have contributed more to Pakistan cricket had the administrators handled him wisely. The fighter There is no doubt that Shoaib was a temperamental player who regularly got into trouble ...
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India’s ‘small hearts’ and Afridi’s big mouth
I’ve never been Afridi’s biggest fan. But his recent form with the ball, and his leadership in the World Cup changed my mind…well, sort of. I have always found him to be mercurial. From scoring a hundred in 30-40 balls to getting out after playing the most atrocious shot in the books, Afridi has even bitten into a cricket ball. A day after his return to Pakistan, he held a brief press conference on his front porch. Lala fired back to a question asked by one of the reporters regarding Pakistan’s defeat against India. He questioned why Pakistanis look towards India with ...
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As Dhoni lifted the cup, I thought of Afridi
After a strangely placid Sri Lankan fielding performance, we watch India lifting the Cricket World Cup. Mistakes will be forgotten and achievements exaggerated until the late entry of Sreesanth is seen as a phenomenal decision. Everything is so much more legendary in retrospect. As confusing as the sight of Munaf Patel and Sreesanth holding the World Cup may be, when Tendulkar holds it, a strong case is made for eternal justice. What a fitting destiny for a player who ruled the sport for longer than many of his fans have lived. And his team seemed to acknowledge that, with constant dedications ...
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You think cricket isn’t sexy?
My lack of exposure to “American” sports while growing up is never more apparent than when I’m at work. I’m surrounded by hardcore football, baseball, and basketball fans. Now, to be clear, I’m a sports fan. I no longer call it “American football”, and have had my heart broken by the Bears offensive line time and time again. I’ve cheered on the Bulls since I was a kid (D Rose for MVP!), but my sports of choice have always been soccer and cricket. So, while my colleagues are all about their brackets for March Madness, I’m streaming the cricket World Cup on my ...
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No more Butt and Butterfingers
As Ramiz Raja put it, though Shahid Afridi could not win the World Cup, for 30 days he united the nation. However, though we must unreservedly praise the performances of Team Pakistan, a few heads must roll to ensure that the strides we have made are capitalised to the fullest extent. Butt needs to go The system governing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), effectively a one Butt show, has to be revamped. The PCB needs a much more effective, efficient and vibrant administrator – someone who is in touch with modern day cricket – to govern the way the game is played ...
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Pak-India semi-final: Life, liberty and the pursuit of sadness
April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. T S Eliot The Wasteland, 1922 Desire and hope can be painful, especially when hope is thwarted. Yet in sports defeat for either one of the sides is inevitable; I believe it can even lead to good things in life later on, like land turned fertile after a volcanic eruption. But I’d still want my side to win. In the wake of the World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan, what I am finding particularly, annoyingly, unendingly painful is the reactions that the defeat ...
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