THE West Indians are fighting back in the third Test and are trying to take a first innings lead for the first time in the series in a bid to avoid a complete whitewash. Having restricted Pakistan to 281 in their first knock, they have so far presented a brave resistance with their opener Kraigg Brathwaite holding the fort with a controlled innings.

What makes this game of glorious uncertainties a lot more enchanting and interesting is the way in which it is presented to the world through the scribes who report the game, the television channels who beam it to the world, radio and those who analyse and assess the proceedings ball by ball as commentators and analysts.

Amongst those we continue to listen to include former greats of the game and those who have the ability to describe, dissect a batsman’s innings, a bowler’s craft, whether he is a paceman or a spinner. At times you may agree or disagree to what they say, in finality you do get the jist of the whole situation.

We in Pakistan are indeed lucky to have our men in the business who on regular basis keep us informed through their own experience as players to understand the game in a much more positive manner.

Late John Arlott of England was a master of his craft and a wordsmith in fact as was Christopher Martin-Jenkins of England and the wizard of the West Indies, Tony Cozier.

Ian Chappel and Bill Lawry command respect for their comments, and late Tony Greig was as highly rated and skilled.

I would however restrict to our own. And in recent times Ramiz Raja has been a revelation the way he handles a situation and has knowledge of the game. Both Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis are no less skilled too and have gradually polished themselves to be a part of commentary teams round the globe.

On Monday, during one of the breaks, I managed to get hold of one of the greatest fast bowler of our time Waqar Younis who played the game with such authority alongside Imran Khan and Wasim Akram that only few can dispute his role as an expert.

He has seen the game in all phases as a player, coach and now as one who sits in the commentary box to discuss and describe the game in depth. Having seen Pakistan as a player, as a captain and coach, he no doubt has the qualification to make judgments on the finer points of the game, a team or a match.

He told me that he is so proud and delighted that this Pakistan team has been doing so well at the Test level. “It has never been easy when crisis comes and people raise finger at what a team does. Victory is always sweet but defeat is never easy to comprehend,” Waqar told me.

“This Pakistan team has done credit to itself and the country because of the way they have conducted themselves after 2010 controversy on England tour where we were disgraced. Just before that, the 2009 incident in Lahore when Sri Lanka was touring, deprived us of all home series because of security factors and left us isolated,” he recalled.

Waqar gave credit to not only PCB but the whole team and the cricketing set-up in Pakistan to survive many crises to reach this stage.

“In our adopted home here at UAE, Pakistan has been doing well, establishing themselves as a cricketing force at Test Level. Hats off to Misbah who over the years have gelled this team into a respectable and strong unit. His own performance with the bat and that of his charges have no doubt worked wonders,” Waqar stressed.

Waqar minced no words when mentioning Younis Khan, and the present lot in the frontline batting like Asad Shafiq, Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed and the bowlers who did themselves credit with match winning performances.

“Saeed Ajmal, Zulfiqar Babar and now Yasir are the prime examples in what Pakistan has achieved. I am impressed with the others too, the fast bowlers, the trainers, the coaches and the rest and what have done for this team to become this good.

“I suppose it may not be easy to beat New Zealand but Australia will no doubt test us to the full. They always do though will be in with a chance to stage upsets,” Waqar confidently said.

His opinion matters as a former great and now an analyst.

Brathwaite’s unbeaten 95 at the end of the day has indeed tested Pakistan to the full and keeps the hope alive for the tourists who in quest of lead may have to show as much resilience as they did on Monday.

Waqar is still hopeful though that Pakistan, having gelled together so successfully in recent months, may not let the opportunity slip of a whitewash.

We can wait.

Published in Dawn November 1st, 2016