I was a very late comer to the game of cricket because of living out most of my childhood in the gulf. My cricketing knowledge was so poor that I remember when Pakistan won the World Cup I didn't even know who Imran Khan was. I had to ask my mother and she replied that he was a Pakistan shehzada. And that's how I remembered Imran but this is not about the great Khan, so...
When I did go back to Pakistan for schooling, I started watching cricket with the rest of my classmates. Imran Khan was long gone, Miandad had fallen to politics. Waqar, Wasim and Saeed used to rule the roost. As part of my cricket baptism, I was introduced to the key players of the Pakistani team. I will not forget Wasim's intro. Someone said, "Wasim is a bowler who can walk to the stumps off a couple of steps and bowl any batsman out - literally". Of course, I didn't realize what this tall claim meant. However, I can safely say that the statement has been fully qualified in my opinion.
After watching a couple of games, I started watching this Wasim fellow closely. Pretty big guy. Strange action, almost like a slingshot. Ambles in like a man who's rushing to catch the morning subway, all disheveled and unorganized. Reaches the crease and then just arches back and voila. You don't even see the ball being let go as a complete distinct event. It just sort of comes at you. The grip is also very obvious and easily visible to the batsman. Hmm strange... Appeals vigorously, swears profusely and celebrates passionately. Throws his bowling arm up in the air to celebrate a wicket and the joy is always tantamount to that of a rookie's on getting his very first. And millions remember the meaningful smile that Akram flashed every now and then for entertainment's sake.
I have been a fan of his ever since. No, fan is not the right word. A believer is more accurate. Yes, I believe in Wasim. That's what I do. It didn't take me much time to become a believer. Wasim can do that to you. Many a time I would see the ball going into Akram's hand and I would expect, nay demand magic from him. You would see him bowl and you knew there was some trick that he had up his sleeve that he was going to pull out right about ... now. I've lost count of the number of times that Wasim has obliged us with a wicket at the most welcome of times.
His finest performance as a player and captain was perhaps the Carlton and United Series held in Australia. Pakistan beat WI in the first two finals in the best of three finals series. I was fortunate enough to watch that series and I treasure the memories to this day. Never in my eight years of following this team have I seen a team as committed the one that played in that tournament.
I would like to start by recalling the second final. Pakistan were bowled for something around 150 runs with the dreaded trio of Walsh, Amby and Bishop sweeping away our undermanned batting department. I remember almost getting up and walking out in wait for the third final. For some reason I sat down. Wasim started the proceedings as he has done for the last fifteen plus years. And he bowled like a man possessed. He was thundering in and it seemed as if he would get a wicket with every delivery sent down. What he was throwing at the openers was too good for them. They coudn't even manage an edge off Akram. Such was his dominance over the Windies openers that Sherwin Campbell (ex-WI vice-captain) backed up every time Wasim charged in, eventually resulting in him walking over his own stumps. The floodgates were officially opened. The Windies cause was not helped by a certain Messrs Waqar Younis. A sight for the gods. Wasim charging in on one end, beating the bat every bowl with his complex mixture of outswingers, inswingers, yorkers and God only knows what else. Waqar thundering in and bowling his low trajectory missiles designed to decimate all in his way. No wonder the Windies folded for around a 100 runs. It was perhaps Pakistan's greatest win after the 92 Cup.
Two other incidents come to my mind both from the last Carlton and United that Pakistan, India and Australia took part in. Both incidents involve the demise of the world's most technically correct batsman, Rahul Dravid. In the first match, Dravid walks in to face the master. Akram keeps bowling tight outswingers and inswingers right on the stumps and gets Dravid's pads every time. I turn to my Indian friend and I tell him Akram is setting Dravid up. The over ends. Another over goes by. Akram back on. Does the same routine for two balls and then just fires one in straight. No movement, no swing. Dravid is caught right in front of the stumps, beaten by the pace. Wasim appeals in characteristic fashion and the umpire can do little else but oblige. Impressed? Maybe not, then read on..
[contd..]
When I did go back to Pakistan for schooling, I started watching cricket with the rest of my classmates. Imran Khan was long gone, Miandad had fallen to politics. Waqar, Wasim and Saeed used to rule the roost. As part of my cricket baptism, I was introduced to the key players of the Pakistani team. I will not forget Wasim's intro. Someone said, "Wasim is a bowler who can walk to the stumps off a couple of steps and bowl any batsman out - literally". Of course, I didn't realize what this tall claim meant. However, I can safely say that the statement has been fully qualified in my opinion.
After watching a couple of games, I started watching this Wasim fellow closely. Pretty big guy. Strange action, almost like a slingshot. Ambles in like a man who's rushing to catch the morning subway, all disheveled and unorganized. Reaches the crease and then just arches back and voila. You don't even see the ball being let go as a complete distinct event. It just sort of comes at you. The grip is also very obvious and easily visible to the batsman. Hmm strange... Appeals vigorously, swears profusely and celebrates passionately. Throws his bowling arm up in the air to celebrate a wicket and the joy is always tantamount to that of a rookie's on getting his very first. And millions remember the meaningful smile that Akram flashed every now and then for entertainment's sake.
I have been a fan of his ever since. No, fan is not the right word. A believer is more accurate. Yes, I believe in Wasim. That's what I do. It didn't take me much time to become a believer. Wasim can do that to you. Many a time I would see the ball going into Akram's hand and I would expect, nay demand magic from him. You would see him bowl and you knew there was some trick that he had up his sleeve that he was going to pull out right about ... now. I've lost count of the number of times that Wasim has obliged us with a wicket at the most welcome of times.
His finest performance as a player and captain was perhaps the Carlton and United Series held in Australia. Pakistan beat WI in the first two finals in the best of three finals series. I was fortunate enough to watch that series and I treasure the memories to this day. Never in my eight years of following this team have I seen a team as committed the one that played in that tournament.
I would like to start by recalling the second final. Pakistan were bowled for something around 150 runs with the dreaded trio of Walsh, Amby and Bishop sweeping away our undermanned batting department. I remember almost getting up and walking out in wait for the third final. For some reason I sat down. Wasim started the proceedings as he has done for the last fifteen plus years. And he bowled like a man possessed. He was thundering in and it seemed as if he would get a wicket with every delivery sent down. What he was throwing at the openers was too good for them. They coudn't even manage an edge off Akram. Such was his dominance over the Windies openers that Sherwin Campbell (ex-WI vice-captain) backed up every time Wasim charged in, eventually resulting in him walking over his own stumps. The floodgates were officially opened. The Windies cause was not helped by a certain Messrs Waqar Younis. A sight for the gods. Wasim charging in on one end, beating the bat every bowl with his complex mixture of outswingers, inswingers, yorkers and God only knows what else. Waqar thundering in and bowling his low trajectory missiles designed to decimate all in his way. No wonder the Windies folded for around a 100 runs. It was perhaps Pakistan's greatest win after the 92 Cup.
Two other incidents come to my mind both from the last Carlton and United that Pakistan, India and Australia took part in. Both incidents involve the demise of the world's most technically correct batsman, Rahul Dravid. In the first match, Dravid walks in to face the master. Akram keeps bowling tight outswingers and inswingers right on the stumps and gets Dravid's pads every time. I turn to my Indian friend and I tell him Akram is setting Dravid up. The over ends. Another over goes by. Akram back on. Does the same routine for two balls and then just fires one in straight. No movement, no swing. Dravid is caught right in front of the stumps, beaten by the pace. Wasim appeals in characteristic fashion and the umpire can do little else but oblige. Impressed? Maybe not, then read on..
[contd..]
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