The perfect timing!

The most of invincible cricket teams in the history of the game always gone on to believe that they shall get back to their best whenever they lose the aura of invincibility. Pakistan, has however never had such a luxury and every time they have won a major tournament be it Sharjah or in Australia, they have gone on to go for years without a major title.

As skipper Younis Khan lifted Pakistan’s maiden World T20 Cup at the Lord’s beating compatriots Sri Lanka in a one-sided encounter that ended when Shahid Afridi counter-attacked to send the Lankans packing, Younis announced his retirement from Twenty20 cricket stating, “This is my last game, I am retiring from T20 as I am 34 and old.”

It was as curt as the person himself, who believed that he was the captain, behaved like one and not surprisingly wanted full control. His batting was crisp and always sported a smile during press conferences and forever was busy nudging one and twos to the square-leg boundary or towards the covers. His attitude towards the game was exemplary and with age had slowed down and this was glaring if one saw his fielding drills as the Pakistani dropped catches that a younger Younis would not have.

His leadership qualities reached a step ahead with the World Cup victory and I am tempted to compare Younis’ retirement with the one Imran Khan had announced once he lifted the ‘Crystal ball’—1992 Benson&Hedges World Cup in March 23, 1992 defeating the much-favoured England with the help of a side that had the right mix of youngsters such as Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Moin Khan and had seniors such as Wasim Akram, Rameez Raja to take the game to the next level. But Pakistan never delivered much as they promised and immediately lost the England series in 1992.

Younis Khan too has announced his last game on a similar circumstances and one only wishes that this side is more prepared and matured to handle the pressure that the game of cricket comes up with. While Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Shoaib Malik are seniors in the team and have the ability to take the game to the next stage and with juniors such as Saeed Ajmal and others coming into the ranks, it remains to be seen whether Younis’ retirement that has uncanny resemblance to Imran Khan’s, will be helpful or not.

But, I feel that Younis might have missed a trick or two in his timing of this shot. Well, as long as the team benefits, its fine. Else…..we know what Pakistan can turn into..don’t we?

MNS’ overseas wing (Melbourne’s Navnirman Sena) at work?

 

Before you run your imaginations wild, let me tell you that this blog is being posted with a sense of humour and not to demean anyone. The recent (and ongoing!) attacks on Indians at various parts of Australia and for mere mortals like me, Australia can literally ‘beat’ India off the pitch too.

Take 1: Ever since I began watching cricket (I made my television viewing debut with the match between India and New Zealand at the Reliance World Cup 1987 when Sunil Gavaskar stroked his way to his maiden hundred and his only ton in ODIs), Australia has remained my favourite in terms of the team’s competitiveness on the field and their demeanour off it.
The images of Allan Border being lifted by pacer Craig McDermott and Steve ‘Tugga’ Waugh is quite clear in my mind as the Australian team lifted their captain once the Cup was theirs.

Take 2: Indians losing the Sydney Test in 1999-00 series and with it getting a royal drubbing in the hands of Steve Waugh’s men who looked unstoppable. The image of Sachin Tendulkar (the then captain of the Indian side) looking dejected at the prize distribution ceremony is still clear. However, the standout knock was the brilliant 167 blitzkrieg by VVS Laxman who was destined to torment the Aussies from their on with his once-in-a-lifetime knock against the all-conquering Aussies in Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

While Australia has produced some gems in sport such as Rod Laver, Ian Thorpe, Patrick Rafter but cricket was always the sport that I followed keenly (quite evident by now!).

Take 3: My bias with the Australians ended with the ugly second Test between India and Australia in Sydney, which the home team clinched. I might sound emotional at this point of time but every self-respecting individual would be with me when I say that it was a Test that Australia lost in true sportsmanship terms.

Take 4: While many of my friends would have ended up doing their Masters from prestigious universities in Australia, the rude shock of racism came into picture early this year and since then the picture has only become wider than a screen could accommodate.
The recent attacks on foreigners got me to look at it at a similar way in which MNS (Mumbai Navanirman Sena) had beaten up North Indians and literally drove them away from Mumbai.
While this breed of Maratha Maanoos were absent when ‘INDIANS’ fought valiantly against visiting Pakistani terrorists in South Mumbai, they had indeed left the Mumbai’s ‘free spirit’ drowned with their supremely stupid actions.

Now, Australia I assume would be in with a Melbourne Navnirman Sena that could probably be headed by Robert Thockray in command, asking his men to flee the Indians who lead a harmless existence in their nation.