“ ... GOD Almighty, there is some soul of goodness in things evil ...” — Shakespeare, King Henry V.So also the loss at Adelaide has a great good for Pakistan.

Younis Khan and Mohammed Irfan, both the mortification of the Aussies, were cruelly denied appearance due to bad management. Younis having scored four successive hundreds and Irfan would have been easily the pick of the tournament. His delivery to Quinton de Kock was the second best ever seen in the World Cup after Wasim Akram’s, which accounted for Ian Botham. Such rare talent needed to be handled with care.

Having won the batting option on a perfect wicket, Pakistan marched in suicidal procession led by highly talented Haris and Misbah, and the hopes of the nation sank to the knees.

Pakistan took the field on a wing and a prayer; the watching world relaxing to enjoy the mauling of the impoverished by the lions. Then before disbelieving eyes rose from the fallen a colossus — Wahab Riaz.

Wahab’s frightening, furious, deadly accurate fast spell shook Watson and Maxwell like rag dolls; both lucky to survive. Australia won the match but Wahab won the day.

But the gesture which lifted Wahab to ethereal heights was a moment never to be forgotten — a moment having few parallels in the history of the game; a moment which turned defeat into victory; a moment that transformed the image of a whole nation into grace and beauty; a moment when the whole world stood still in suspense to see the World Cup slip from the fingers of fine leg; a moment in throes of agony with hands on knees, eyes grieving to the nation they had let down; a moment when head as high as heaven he applauded his fallen partner.

That gesture of magnanimity epitomised the ethics of the gentlemanly game of cricket. That moment caught in golden image till the end of time. Well played, Wahab Riaz.

Fakir S. Aizazuddin

(Manager, Pakistan cricket team tour of New Zealand, 2000-2001)

Karachi

Published in Dawn March 26th , 2015

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