The Slow, Castration of Pakistani Cricket

The fact that Geoff Lawson and others are calling the recent draw against India in the second Test "an honourable" occurrence speaks volumes for the sad state of affairs that exists in Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan Cricket has quite obviously lost it's balls. Our cricket has somehow been castrated to the extent that we applaud drawing a game as compared to winning one.

The media should be taken to task. While in other countries, straight talking journos would castigate and flagellate their country's athletes for sub par performances, all I have read in the local Pakistani papers is an assortment of kudos to Younis and company for salvaging the match. Why the hell did the match need to be salvaged in the first place?

Anil Kumble put it the best. When asked if this draw was a moral victory for the Pakistanis he remarked "When you struggle to pick up five wickets in both innings, that's no moral victory to me." Well said.

On Lawson's own admission, a win was within Pakistan's grasp when in the last 15 overs; 11 an over could have seen them home. However, they chose to play it safe (read gutless) and played out for a draw.

Bangalore is obviously a do or die for this Pakistan team, arguably the worst ever. They have to play to draw the series for a second time in a row against India in India. Last time they managed to do it under Inzimam however Shoaib Malik is no Inzi, Lawson is no Bobby Woolmer and this ain't the same team.

One can blame the high expectations of Pakistani fans who give the players so much stick about losing that they prefer to play it safe rather than go all out. Crap argument. Fans will always have high expectations and if the players can't stand the heat, they need to get their asses out of the kitchen.

And Lawson, whatever happened to the tough, winner take all Aussie spirit we heard so much about. All I've heard is excuse after excuse after excuse. He is in serious need of growing a sack and calling a spade a frickin' spade.

Over the course of the last two series, this mediocre Pakistan team has lost decades of our cricketing heritage.