“Four wins out of five matches is more than satisfactory and if I was a school teacher I would give this team 70 out of 100. We beat India by a comprehensive margin of 59 runs and it was one bad performance against Sri Lanka and the silly bonus point rule that cost us a place in the final.” This is how Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer summed up Pakistan’s Asia Cup campaign. It may be arguable and many would not agree to this. Perhaps Woolmer’s hiring until 2007 World Cup is the last resort cricket bosses had to fall back upon to restore discipline in Pakistan cricket. The last time we had this rare commodity in our cricket was when Imran Khan was our captain.
Knowing Pakistan cricket, famous for being at sixes and sevens and thriving only on sheer talent, Woolmer took up the challenge, the nicest challenge of his life in his words. Despite his self confession, that at 56 not many attractive offers were expected to come his way one, must appreciate the fact that taking Pakistan’s hot seat of a coach needs a brave heart. Woolmer has put his reputation as a “super coach” on the line. And as the first lesson he impressed upon his students that they must feel it a privilege to don the green Pakistan cap. The first thing as far as the discipline is concerned is that you take pride in what you are doing. With the pride comes responsibility.
“The players must feel playing for Pakistan is a great privilege and must prove themselves capable of it,” said Woolmer. And after his first assignment in Asia Cup, Woolmer must have spotted the players and would make a pool of players who can serve the team until the World Cup in three years time.
The simple process to call the fittest from among the batch is the strict fitness process, unheard of in Pakistan cricket before the Asia Cup. A two-hour running on the Colombo beach followed by a daily mandatory-for-all swimming pool and then the nets coupled with fitness exercises.
Pakistan’s two matches in the first round proved cake walks as the opponents in Bangladesh and Hong Kong proved easy baits. While Bangladesh have not shown any signs of improvement, the Hong Kong team, spiced with seven Pakistani expats, was not ready for the big event like the Asia Cup. But the feeble exercise of the first round, proved a bane for the Pakistan team as they capitulated against the serious Sri Lankan opposition.
Pakistan’s disorganized batting display must have really jolted Woolmer. He did not conceal his frustration, especially after seeing Pakistan’s top order throw their wickets away — Inzamam kicked the ball onto his stumps, Youhana trying to steal a run from silly point which I have never seen before, Imran Nazir giving catch practice to slips, Shaoib Malik playing a half-shot and Younis Khan playing too early. Allrounder Abdul Razzaq was also told to show more responsibility as a bowler as he is required to bowl his ten overs after first spells from the frontline bowlers and also take handy wickets. And the strong words seem to have done the trick.
Pakistan looked a totally different side against India and after scoring 301. Spiced by a fine 143 by Shoaib Malik who outwitted a strong Indian team which just three months back achieved their maiden wins on Pakistan soil in the One-Day and Test series.
The only negative point to come from that comprehensive win was losing a chance to score a crucial bonus point. Once catching India on 150-5, Inzamam-ul Haq did not show any aggression to restrict India below 240 mark which would have earned his side a bonus point. Inzamam needs to change his body language as a captain. Arguably, Yousuf Youhana is Pakistan’s best batsman, behind Inzamam so he must bat the maximum overs to help the team put up challenging totals and his refusal to bat upfront is Inzamam’s weakness to influence his decisions.
Quite surprisingly, Woolmer too backed Youhana to come at number five as he thinks number four, five and six spots should be strong so that the final 15 overs can be fully utilized. Inzamam’s lack of aggression allowed India to win that crucial bonus point only because Pakistan did not score. In the final calculations it cost Pakistan dearly and left them ruing the lost bonus point. But rules are equal for all the teams, so all the players must be fully aware of them.
Maybe, the confusing nature of the bonus point misled Woolmer, manager Haroon Rasheed and Inzamam that left India to score only an outright win over Sri Lanka. It may come as sour grapes but Sri Lanka didn’t actually go all out in trying to beat India. They rested ace pacer Chaminda Vaas, bowled non-regular bowlers in Indian innings and then reckless batting by the most dependable batsmen like Kumar Sangakkara and Marvan Atapattu did disappoint Pakistani players and fans.
However, the final was a different story. Sri Lanka’s extraordinary show proved that in the final. They left no quarters in defending a seemingly gettable total of 228 and lifted the Asia Cup for the third time and with it a hefty prize money of $87,000.
Coming to the last golden rule of faith. We need to keep faith in the new arrangements. Pakistan has another tough tournament to play in The Netherlands where they have worthy opponents in Australia and India. It is followed by another tough assignment in ICC Champions Trophy where Pakistan must beat India and Kenya to come out of the first round. Then a home series against Sri Lanka and a tri-series involving a weak Zimbabwe but a mature Sri Lanka. The last two tours of the season will be to Australia — where Pakistan has not won a series in eight attempts — and the tour of India.
Needless to say, Woolmer will try to make full use of this hectic and tough season to bring all the pieces together to complete the puzzle. “My first experience with the team has been a good one in the Asia Cup. I see a lot of talent and have got good response from the boys. But honestly speaking, I have given myself until March next year, once we have finished the Australian tour and the home series against Sri Lanka to have a proper overview of the team situation.
I would say it would be fair to say that in order to improve we must have only those players in the side who are willing to press hard and want to accept changes. Those who I identify as lagging behind are going to find it difficult to find a place in the team.”
So, we must be patient and keep our fingers crossed. India and England have done this in the recent past and they are now better outfits. There’s no reason why Pakistan shouldn’t be?
