May 20, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1424

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NEW DELHI, May 19: The man who terrorised cricket batsmen — be it in the one-dayers or Tests — will be missed by teammates, opponents and fans alike. No less by Indians who were at receiving end of his fury many a time.

“Wasim will be remembered for ever as one of the all time greats,” former India captain Krishnammachari Srikkanth said.

“Wasim is the best fast bowler I have ever played against in the world. His deceptive bouncers were very lethal and because of that Wasim found success so often,” said Srikkanth who led last Indian team to visit Pakistan in 1989.

Wasim’s retirement, announced midway through a county match in England, might have been low key without much hoopla but at least, he realised early enough that he no more had a chance of returning to Pakistan team and bid adieu.

More than 400 wickets in both forms of the game is a rare double that would withstand the test of time.

If his 1,032 first-class wickets at 21.65 including 70 five-fors and 16 ten-wicket hauls are staggering, the two hat tricks in both Tests and One-day Internationals complete the picture of an all-time great.

For all his exploits all over the world, Wasim enjoyed bowling against India, claiming 45 wickets from 12 Tests and 60 from 48 One-day Internationals.

But his last encounter against arch-rivals — a nightmarish match for Pakistan in the World Cup in South Africa — resulted in despair for the ‘Sultan of Swing’. He was thrashed by Sachin Tendulkar, probably the only batsman he was not able to tame completely during his illustrious career.

However, memories of playing against India is something that Wasim cherished, like most of his teammates.

“A series against India always rises our spirit. We in Pakistan say ‘whenever you want to get back into form, have a match against India’,” the bowler himself has said often, which may explain levels to which he raised his game when playing against the arch rivals.

The ten-wicket haul by Anil Kumble might be oft mentioned feat in the last Test series played between the two neighbouring countries but the cricket puritan would like to remember Wasim’s spell on fifth morning in Chennai Test which Pakistan won.

The delivery that got Rahul Dravid was just one fibre of a magical yarn that the seamer weaved around the Indian batting mainstay. Thoughts of facing Wasim would be the last thing the recently-married Dravid would want to have during his honeymoon.

Wasim’s battle with other leading Indian cricketers of his time was also stuff of folklore. Ever since his lethal bouncer left Srikkanth with a bleeding forehead in a One-day International in 1987-88, one may say the swashbuckling batsman failed to bat with same authority against the Pakistani.

In famous return series in 1989, Wasim opened some of the old scars — to borrow a phrase from Steve Waugh — to have Srikkanth dismissed in seven of eight innings. In eighth instance, Indian captain was caught by Wasim.

“I consider him a hardcore fighter who had given his best for the country,” Srikkanth said. “It was unfortunate that he faced problems from his Board but he proved himself right always.”

Wasim also tarnished Ravi Shastri’s reputation as an all-rounder by going after his left-arm slow bowling but the one Indian he might have failed to get the better of would be Tendulkar.

Not having mastered the Little Master on cricket field might be a bitter truth Wasim would have to live with for rest of his life.

By the same token, one may also say Wasim was to fast bowling what Tendulkar is to batting in modern cricket. That both found shorter version of game equally suited to their skills as Test cricket might have something to say about their talent.

Of course, what set Wasim apart from his contemporaries was that he did not need to resort to any kind of sledging to earn his wickets. There had hardly been a moment in his entire career when Wasim spat verbal volleys in the manner of the likes of Glenn McGrath after beating a batsman.

There was not even typical West Indian fast bowler’s cold stare on follow-through. Just a rueful grin on sweaty face which seemed to ask, “how could you have missed it”.

Former India all-rounder Robin Singh vouches for Wasim’s approach to the game. “He is a gentleman cricketer and he will be missed,” he said.

“He is most complete bowler in the world. My personal observation of Wasim is that he is best fast bowler in the world. He is a fast bowler with rare natural abilities and has proved quite often he can take wickets at will,” Singh stated.

“He was best paceman and none of top batsmen in the world ever felt comfortable while facing Wasim,” former player and selection committee chairman Chandu Borde said echoing thoughts of most of the Indians.

It is a pity then that he was not among Five Cricketers of the Century by Wisden. How much the eyes of critics was clouded by accusations of match-fixing against Wasim is in realm of speculation.

What can be safely concluded is that there can be no question of his genius as a fast bowler and he was a cricketers’ and critics’ delight at once.—PPI