Asian Test Championship

The same team that was 26 for 6 is now running at
103 for 2. Saeed holding steady and could possibly
achieve a century.
The ideal ending almost never happens in Cricket.
Pakistan need to score in the 300`s for this
match to become really interesting.
Would love to see a Friday night finish with both
teams scoring in the high 200`s to get a win
at the very least.

Ras

re: RR
Bhraaji tusi chill maarin

It takes all kinds of fans to make the beautiful game what it is. You may like being a `cheer leader` I like being an `Expert Commentator`. I like reading match reports expert comments, predictions, superstitious predictions, outbursts, even emotionally charged outbursts. I like being involved in everything from the pitch reading, toss, team selection, batting order, bowling changes, field placing, etc. for EVERY team. And this includes sharing expert comments with OTHER expert commentators participating, no make that contributing here !!!! Criticism, appreciation, bashing (as you call it), amazement is all included. Hey this is our stage !
Thats the way a lot of people like watching cricket.
Come on, haven`t you enjoyed the commentators BSing when the game is aired. They always work in pairs. And lately they`ve started expert commentators from opposing teams and even one `neutral` commentator. Its great listening to these guys, getting different views on the same balls, strokes offered, field placement, etc. Of course, they have their team loyalties. And that makes it all the more interesting.
Also there are a lot of pessimistic superstitious fans. Hey if you keep your expectations low, then the result is always that much more sweeter (that was a DEEEEEP thought, so think about it ;-) Plus phir nazar bhi ni lagti team ko.

re: Faraz
Nahi Faraz nahi. Tendulkar is dying to prove a point here. He RARELY fails like this (yes one century is failure for him). It only makes him hungry for more runs. I place my bet on a big score for him in the 2nd innings. He is a player who thrives on competition. He loves it !!

Dear Mofeez,

I like your commentary, but you mentioned that somebody got Mongia, i think you meant to say he was run out taking chances needlessly, in the same state of panic that got Wasim Akram out in Pakistan`s first innings, the fear of running out of partners.

regards,

Omar

Re: Faraz

InnaN ghussa na karo chohrry saab...it makes you seem like one of those fellas they were showing in Nightline last couple of nights. Physical or not, you seem to have the similar tolerance for your cricketers for ``dishonoring`` you against India. What gives?

Re: RanaRansher

24hr cricket! Yaar vaddi sohNri deal hay Rana saab. I`ll definitely need to get it for the WC99. And yes folks, fill out the survey and vote for Orlando, it`s double maza for the same price: vacation in Florida and you get to watch the best of cricket.

---Rehan

re: RR

As a Pakistani citizen it is my God given right to bash any and all members of the cricket team if they screw up even once....especially if its against India! I`m sure this right to bash (in a nonphysical manner)is in the constitution..and if it is not, then that is an ammendent worth fighting for!

re: saatish and predictions

If I were you I wouldn`t think Chennai, Tendu gets caught behind on one of the first three balls he faces....from Shoaib Akhtar!

Oh and Saeed Anwar hits a century tomorrow...

Faraz

Re: All Pakistani fans

What`s wrong with you guys? Ghari main tola, ghari main masha...I`m really disappointed here people. I mean, so what if the batsmen are not performing well in one series. Considering what PCB is doing to them, it`s a miracle that they actually defeated India in India for cryin` out loud. Just imagine if the employees of a company were constantly threatened with pink slip, were constantly hounded by the managment for alleged scandals and yet there was no end to it in sight? What would happen to their productivity if the same employees were assigned to do the critical projects?

This is a simple management concept: remove the uncertainty by either dropping the charges and clearing their name or showing them the exit door for good. This current situation is not only hurting the morale of the team but is proving to be a real hinderance in Miandad`s work of motivating them to do their best. HIS name is getting a bad rap because of this. And then there`s that charya Majid whose personal vendettas seem to have no end.

How can you expect the players to perform when the host country`s papers are publishing stories about their alleged misconduct? Who leaked the details of the case proceedings and why? Isn`t that in itself a scandal? We can learn a thing or two from the Western countries about it. Australians covered up their players misconduct. In politics, Clinton`s impeachment was put on hold by his staunch opponents in congress to let him do the bombings. And he was finally acquitted not because he didn`t do it, but due to broader national interest.

And if the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties in Pakistan, who have been repeatedly dismissed for corruption and misconduct, have no shame in staying in power and if people can tolerate them by re-electing them again and again, why not treat the players with the same courtesy and let them do what they do best: play cricket? At least they are good at what they do most of the time.

Bad patches happen to every player and sometimes to even entire teams. Look at WI in SA. Bad performance alone should not the reason to start bashing them like you guys are doing. These players have showed what they can do over the years and they have the ability to continue to do so provided our people show them the support when they really need it. It`s time we show a little maturity and go beyond zindabad for playing good and murdabad for playing bad. They`re our team and when they are playing good. And they`re still our team when they are not. Teams win and teams lose. It`s not that you get knocked down, it`s whether you can get up. That`s the sportsman spirit and if anything cricket has taught us is to show civility, courtesy and sportsmanship at all times.

Enjoy the rest of the game guys!

---Rehan

P.S. Saad, Inzi is not playing. And RR stands for Rehan Rizvi :-)

OK, here it is, in black-and-white:

Pakistan have won this game. Reason: Pakistan are a terrible 4th innings team, but a pretty solid 3rd innings team. They can`t chase a target, but they can sure set it up. Akram`s decision to bat first was actually a good one, the 26 for 6 notwithstanding.

There will be some heroics tonight. Look for Saqlain as nightwatchman to go past 50, perhaps well past. I think Inzamam will also click. Pakistan will set India 213 to win. India will fall just short.

Saad

PS: RanaRansher, thanks for acknowledging - I`ll happily take half-credit :-)

PPS: Afrasiyab, my friend, ``Aangan Terha`` underestimates the dynamic. I am far more miskeen than Shakeel, magar Anita to Bushra Ansari ki bhi maaN hai :-)

Excellent, essayistic reporting by Mofeez. I think that a target of 200-225 will be a tough one for India to get, not because the pitch is playing truant, but due to presence of an incisive Pak. bowling attack and the relentless pressure it exerts on batsmen. One of the Indian batsman not only has to get a big score, but more importantly stick around at the wicket if they want to make a match of it. I cannot imagine the pressure on Sachin when he walks out to bat the second time. Now, why am I thinking of Chennai?

Dead even so far.
Even in terms of points. India needed to cross the 225 mark (missed by 3 runs) to get another batting point. THere are no points for the second innings, just 12 points for the outright win.
India squandered a great start. Dravid and SRT fell to two dream deliveries, but bulaaady hell Azhar and Ganguly dabaaoed too much mishti dahi at tea.

The pitch had nothing in it for the Pakistani bowlers. THe first hour that offered them anything was not capitalized on. THey were too wayward and erratic (a lot of extras!). However, in the afternoon they came back with `pace in the air` and incredible reverse late swing. The wry smile and gentle nod by SRT to Shoaib immediately after being bowled said it all.

BTW have you guys noticed the big crack developing on end of the pitch. Could there end up being something in that for the spinners. Lets see if Azhar puts Kumble up to bowl from that end.
Anwar already granted a life when Azhar dropped him at slip. Mishtake ho gaya. I just hope tomorrow I am not saying `bahut mahangaa par gayaa`.

India all out for 223. It appears that we still might have a game here.
Tendy bowled for a duck. Will miracles never cease?

Ras

The last day only showed how unpredictable the game of cricket can be. I must, however, give credit to Saad for his tukka guess about SRT bowled by Shoaib at anda. It was dubba by the way and not leg before. So only half a credit. It`s gonna a be a great game, that`s my prediction. And good reporting Mofeez, keep it up.

This is super. Mofeez writes, ``Tendulkar walked in to a big cheer. The stage was all set for a big innings from him. Shoaib has a beautiful run up to the wicket. Nice and easy as he runs in with long strides. His hair bouncing around first and then pulling back as he gathers speed. His throwing action is an amalgam of Lillee and Thompson. A little bit of grace with the right arm coming up alongwith a sling shot like release. The next ball started a little further outside off but the swing and length were similar. Tendulkar`s defense was penetrated first up. This has never happened before. The middle stump rocked and with it India`s hopes of a big total. ``

afsos, I could not see the match. I have not seen Shoaib Akhtar bowl, however, it seems that his two lethal yorkers changed the situation yesterday. India certainly got less lead than I thought. India thus lost the inititative it had.

It is really difficult to say anything now. Believe that Pakistan should make around three hundred runs and then it is going to be another photofinish.

I hope that both Waseem and Waqar groom Shoaib Akhtar, just like Imran helped out the two Ws. Sseems that Shoaib is going to be very good for Pakistan in future. Can`t wait to see him bowl.

Nadir

Some Amazing similarlities in the Indian and Pakistani innings at close of play on the 2nd day.

Both sides batted exactly 76.2 overs in their first innings. At the end of day 1, play was ended due to bad light with India at 26-1, and at the end of day 2, Pakistan also find themselves at 26-1, in their second innings, with play ending also because of bad light. Both Laxman & Wasti can consider themselves unfortunate victims of bad light.

India all out for 223! A mere 38 run first innings lead thanks to some superb Pakistani bowling. All right so some of my predictions were dead wrong with both Ganguly & Azharuddin out fairly cheaply. Watch as Pakistan`s batsmen squander the advantage.

With the ball 65 overs old, and the new ball due in another 10 odd overs or so, I wonder why Shoaib is not being rested by Wasim. Azhar also used Sirinath when the Pakistani batsmen finally looked like getting set even though it looked like they`d be around for the new ball -- they weren`t as we all know. I`d say Azhar & Ganguly are comfie at the crease by now, bring Saqlain back on Wasim, and keep Azhar Mahmood on till he drops dead of exhaustion (work horse stock bowler that he is).