India and Pakistan at Sharjah

The Pakistan team is coming together. Every one on the field knows what his role is and sticks to it. There are no ego problems. There is a
strong sense of pride in the way they play. It seems, as if they have understood that cricket is fun when it is played as a team. There is no
dearth of individual greatness on this team but you would not know from the attitude of the players. The team is intimidating to the
opposition though. It is as they say in sports slang, "Gelling". This match more than any other indicates which direction this team is going
after getting Wasim at the helm and Miandad as the manager. Pakistan has in recent one-dayers dominated India but in this game India
lost way before the game ended. The law of averages will catch up to Pakistan and they will lose some before the world cup but hopefully
those games will be the ones that do not matter as much. South Africa in recent times has been unlucky that the statistics catch up to
them at all the wrong times. Pakistan is looking like South Africa in recent times in the way they methodically stick to their task and
demolish the opposition. However, to become as professionally consistent as the South Africans, Pakistan needs to sustain this tempo.

The toss in this tournament has mattered a lot and in most of the day and night games it does. Chasing a total on this surface is tough. A
Miandad-like head is needed for it. A 90 run demolition of England the day before prompted another turn at first strike after winning the
toss. Pakistan started tentatively with Shahid putting his head down and Saeed not looking his fluent self. Saeed soon ran himself out
attempting a run after playing a gentle push to mid off. Kumble got him with an under hand throw as the third umpire pressed the red
button. Ijaz walked in after the fall of the first wicket. He was in good nick after that blazing century against England the night before. He
came in with an attitude that reminded of his mental state during that blitzkrieg at Lahore against India. He got off the mark with a
"nervous twitch" ( Chappel comment to Rameez's nervous starter description of Ijaz) that landed some seats beyond the boundary at long
on off Prasad. A hoik fetched him a boundary towards square leg before he launched a Prasad delivery into orbit out of the stadium
towards mid wicket?deep deep mid wicket. Another heave between mid-wicket and square leg saw Jadeja jumping in vain as Ijaz hit his
third 6 and Pakistan were on their way. Kumble had to be introduced early and like always he got India the break through as Ijaz missed a
swipe towards mid wicket to be LBW. Inzimam walked in and looked solid right from the start. Shahid took over from Ijaz and started
throwing his bat around. A half pull, half swat towards mid wicket off Prasad and Kumble took a catch lunging to his left. Kumble had a
hand in every dismissal so far. He has been the shining light of India in Tendulkar's absence. Youhana, who needs to put some big scores
together to justify his place in the side, walked into a difficult situation. Both batsmen were new so the run rate was bound to go down
and it did. The key however was to keep the run rate moving and not lose wickets. DUH! Inzi was masterful. He was methodical. He was
solid. He was innovative. In short, he was Miandad-like. He handed Sunil Joshi marvelously. Or should I say manhandled. The initial
portion of his innings and the first 50 was slow but solid. Whenever presented the opportunity to hit, he would pick a gap perfectly.
Youhana on the other end was pushing singles and kept rotating the strike. They both carried Pakistan to 200 and gave them an
excellent base to hit out in the last 10 overs. Inzi just unleashed on Joshi. He hit him first for a 6 as he danced down the track and lifted
him straight. Then he backed away a little bit towards his leg stump and played an inside out shot that landed beyond the rope. That one
over got the run rate rolling. Youhana played a good knock and got his 50 before being undone with a yorker from Srinath. Inzi got a
well-deserved 100 before being caught brilliantly by Azhar at cover off Prasad. Wasim came in and hoiked the ball around for a quick fire
28 and Pakistan had got a formidable 279 at the end of 50 overs.

The run chase was supposed to be difficult and no one expected India to win but a fight was expected. None came and what one saw
was an absolute belly up by India. Wasim and Shoaib were nasty. To counter nastiness one has to be rude but Ganguly and Ramesh
froze. Their feet were as if in cement and the way Ganguly was jumping around at the crease to avoid Shoaib's short pitched deliveries at
his rib cage was not even funny. He seriously needs to revisit his technique. Shoaib was bowling really fast (150 + KPH). He was also
bowling very economically. A couple of maidens in a 6 over spell from a fast bowler who is going flat out is great. He finally got Ramesh
off a nothing shot that popped to short mid wicket where Wasim held it. Ganguly had looked silly at the start but he finally started to time
a few against Wasim and Saqlain was brought on. On one delivery, as Saqi delivered it Ganguly moved away. The umpire signaled dead
ball but he was visibly annoyed. Ganguly padded to the very next ball and although he might not have given him out if he was not angry
at Ganguly, he raised the finger. Ganguly was flabbergasted. His misery had been ended though. Azharuddin walked in to bat for the first
time after a lay off owing to injury. He started fishing outside off like he normally does at the start of a one-day innings. He edged one to
Moin off Azhar Mahmood that moved away. Moin held it brilliantly diving to his right as the ball died on him. Jadeja walked in and was
greeted by an indipper from Azhar. Plumb LBW. India were 4/47 in 16.3 overs and the game was basically over. From then on, any red
blooded Indian would have played positively to get some runs to atleast put up a fight but Singh and Dravid just hung their heads and
stopped scoring. The match was a bore from then on and no one understood why they played so slowly. I will not get into what the
individual scores were but India ended with 163/6 off 50. Pakistan won by a mammoth 116 and Inzi was man of the match.

Like everyone said, it was the way in which India lost that was disgraceful. This might come to them as a shot in the arm to play
positively. Pakistan is looking very good but that is exactly when complacency sets in. A Pakistan India final is on the cards though if
India plays like they did in this game it will not be as exciting as it normally is. I never thought I would be saying this but "Tendulkar,
please come back"!