Chowrangi

These days you hardly find anybody who isn’t interested in cricket. I am no exception to this. Watching cricket hypnotizes me in an inexplicable way. It’s soothing and its relaxing. Nothing beats watching cricket while having tea or coffee with something to bite at. But there is a fly (or rather 11+ flies) in the ointment.

Whatever anyone say, in strictly my personal opinion Pakistani team hasn’t got any spice in it now. I feel this at heart. There are reasons why I say this grim thing. There are various elements which make watching Pakistan play cricket less exciting and more painful. Current so-called fast bowlers (or are they medium pacers) haven’t been able to fillup the gap left by Wasim, Waqar and Aqib. Current Spinners cant match the class of Abdul Qadir, Mushi and Saqi. Current Openers are out-shined by the likes of Aamir Sohail and Saeed Anwar. Current middle-order is less reliable than Miandad and Saleem Malik, Current Number 3 batsman is even not worth mentioning. Current wicket keeper hasnt got the talent and skill as possessed by Moeen Khan and Rashid Latif. Current all-rounders are wishy-washy too.

No doubt, the lazy elegance of Mohammad Yousaf, the mastery of Inzamam in saving the matches and the occasional hard-hitting of Abdul-Razzaq have left its marks over the years, but it all seems too fragile, too brittle. Why is it that we can’t product bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, the batsman like Javed Miandad, the openers like Saeed Anwar, the spinners like Qadir, the wicket keeper like Moeen khan again.

The only thing which remains from the past is the level of poor fielding.

The only thing which has improved is the level of commentary in the form of Ramiz Raja.

Other posts by Commoner

• Habitual Condemnation - November 21st, 2008
• Sandwitched Population - November 21st, 2008
• Clear the Dust - November 20th, 2008
• Exactly What They Want - November 20th, 2008
• Punjab Heats Up - November 19th, 2008
• Eyeball to Eyeball - November 18th, 2008
• No Surprises There - November 18th, 2008
• Yousuf Ready to Leave "Power" - November 18th, 2008
• OGRA Website Hacked By Indian Hackers - November 17th, 2008
• Friends Of Pakistan Again Disappoints - November 17th, 2008