Nothing but down in cricket for once all-powerful Pakistan

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Pakistan has always been the most unpredictable cricket team on the international scene.

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Every nation takes on an air of apprehension when they take on Pakistan. Just ask England.

In 1992, the underdogs — led by one of the great all-rounders of the game Imran Khan — pulled off a stunner by pipping red-hot favourite England by 22 runs in the final of the World Cup in Melbourne.

The mystery over which Pakistan squad will show up in any contest has now been solved. This has been a forgettable year for Pakistan as it started off with a horrific showing in the World Twenty20 Cup in June.

It was favoured to advance to the next round of the competition along with India, instead it headed home.

There was that shock super-over loss to the underdog Americans and a failed run chase vs. neighbour India in a low-scoring encounter. After restricting India to 119, Pakistan’s bats went into a slumber as they managed a measly 113 for seven in its 20 overs.

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The bleeding hasn’t stopped. Bangladesh came along and recorded its first-ever Test victory against Pakistan by a whopping 10 wickets on the weekend in Rawalpindi. Bangladesh is now on the verge of delivering a humiliating series whitewash right on Pakistani soil.

In a high-scoring encounter, Pakistan totalled 448 for six and Bangladesh toyed with the home team’s bowling to pile on 565 and then 30 without loss after the home team crashed for a mere 146 in the second knock as Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan took seven wickets between them with Hasan grabbing four for 21 and Al Hasan three for 44.

In Pakistan’s first innings, Saud Shakeel (141) and wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan’s (171) were in fine form, but their highly regarded Test attack was no match for the visitors as they piled on 565 in reply with veteran Mushfiqur Rahim striking a 341-ball 191 with other superb knocks from Shadman Islam (93) and Hasan (77).

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Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto dedicated the win to people who were killed in political turmoil that resulted in the ouster of premier Sheikh Hasina this month after weeks of student-led protests.

Pakistani fans and former stars including Khan, the country’s former prime minister, and Ramiz Raja, a former Pakistan skipper, lashed out at management for the loss.

Raja said that the country’s reputation of producing world-class pace attack ended last year and the country can no longer field a first-class spinner.

“Firstly, there was a mistake in team selection. You were without a spinner. Secondly, the reputation based on which we rely on our fast bowlers is finished,” he said. “None of the pacers can bowl consistently in the 145 km/h range and the speeds they generate now is around 125 to 135 km/h.”

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Raja also questioned the logic behind picking four fast bowlers and not one specialist spinner as the Bangladesh tweakers played a crucial role in their victory.

Meanwhile Imran, who is currently being detained at the Adiala jail, told reporters: “Cricket is the only sport the entire nation watches with great interest on TV, but even that has been destroyed by powerful quarters who brought in an unqualified, favoured official to maintain their control,” he said.

He was referring to Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also a federal minister and has come under fire from all quarters since he assumed the post in February.

BIN ZAFAR STARS

After three straight losses, Canada bounced back to defeat previously unbeaten Netherlands in the T20 tri-series at Utrecht on Sunday.

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Canada made 132 and went on to win by eight runs in an exciting finish. Canada was reduced to 35 for six before wicket-keeper Shreyas Movva and Saad Bin Zafar stitched a 66-run stand for the seventh wicket, each scoring 33.

Bin Zafar then took one for 15 off his four overs and was named man of the match. But Canada couldn’t keep the momentum going as it crashed to a 20-run loss to the United States on Tuesday.

U.S. made 168 for six and then restricted Canada to 148 for seven. Dilpreet Bhawja led Canada with 56 and the ever-dependable Movva weighed in with 37.

Bin Zafar was the pick of the bowlers with three for 25.

WOMEN IN ACTION

Three teams will take part in the first World T10 Women’s series at the Danville Park in Mississauga on the weekend. Some of the leading players from across Canada and the Caribbean will feature on the three teams — Trinidad South Young Warriors, Mississauga Premiers and Montreal Thunders.

“We are thrilled to bring such a high-calibre event to Mississauga,” said Atul Ahuja, organizer of the competition.

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