By Noddy Bhai
April 18 2004

Noddy Bhai provides Pak Passion with his forthright views on the recently concluded and historic Pakistan versus India series. He states where it went wrong and who can hold their heads up high after the series? Well in my view, this complete series has had its fair share of comments regarding orders from the 'top brass', now whether its true or not we have all made our conclusions from the rehri wala to the federal minister.

Whatever has happened, one thing is for sure, we have let ourselves down as a team, in many aspects of the game and during the games, where we had the upper hand and didnt do the job.

Moving on, I think the squad picked for the ODI's and Test series, were fine, I think our fast bowling reserves are not as good as people think or what they read in the press. Our batting is capable but like normal inconsistent.

THE ODI'S

We started off amidst serious pressures which was expected adn we didnt perform, however, we got ourselves back and ahead of the game. Then the 4th ODI things went against us for whatever reason and some strange tactics. Nonetheless we lost the serious that we had well in our grasp. I believe we did enough with the particular squad to win the series and go into the Test Matches in great heart.

THE TESTS

Disaster struck from virtually day one. We lost the Test due to some poor tactics, all down to poor planning in my view. We may have underestimated their bowling attack and the way their batters scored runs, it was more like a 'pop gun attack' than two of the fastest bowlers in the world together with a former world class spinner finding his way back into the game.

You cant drop a guy and expect him not to punish you, Viru got 300, well played and good luck to him for the rest of the series. Sachin also under pressure got close on 200. The so called superstar Shoaib, ended up with nothing to show except money from TV adverts !

We as a batting team got starts but no one had the balls to go and get a big one. Following on we could handle a medium paced spinner who bowls the odd googly and flipper. Anil bhai won them the game. Yousaf got a ton but it is far more important to get it in the 1st innings of a game then in the 2nd dig.

Moving onto Lahore, where we lost the 2 ODI's.....A track which was supposed to be even paced and some help for the bowlers. A surprise in store for both teams in the name of Umar Gul.

Only an excellent hundred by Yuvvy gave India a score near 250, let alone 287. Well done Umar who wasnt match fit due to long periods of rest and only the odd game for Peshawar with 5/31. Shoaib takes his firt wicket of the series.

In return, our batting was solid in the chase of 287 and beyond, Imran Farhat rode his luck (well done) to a ton, backed by another effortless hundred from Inzi. Cameos from Yousaf and a battling 70 odd from Asim Kamal, putting us ahead of the game on day 3.

Pakistan had a lead to defend and spured on by many speeches by the coach and management, we were sniffing a win, if we could hold our bowling lines and catches together.

We did so, and Shoaib answered some of the critics with a spell of 3 wickets all crucial and Sami gettin Sachin and 1st inns century maker Yuvraj. The Nation was expecting now. The bowlers shared the wickets and special mention to Dani also for taking out a possible stubborn tail in no time.

A few drives from Taufeeq and Yas saw us home and to a muted celebration by our side who were exhausted and ready to move to Pindi for the finale.

Third Test saw some problems for us which lead to us having to rotate the reserve bowlers. It shud not have mattered for me as it was a track to help the seamers.

The TOSS WAS VITAL...I thought win it Inzi and win the game.

We were shi**, simple.

Reasons:

Dont drop The Wall and expect him to go next ball. Went OK, 247 runs later.

They knew how to bowl on the surface which looked made for their seamer but why not ours.

Our batters didnt go on, when set like Yasir, Imran, the big 2...

Shoaib ran in for the 1st time in the series on his home ground, then got unfit.

Sami and the support bowlers couldnt get the wickets when needed, which meant for me, game over chasing near 400 to make them bat.

We lost the series to the better and more prepared side. Better spirit on the field, off the field, they stayed fit and even has Ganguly back in the vital game.


All in all, some pluses, but mainly nothing to write home about:-

ASIM KAMAL:
I kept saying on the threads this guy knows his limits and bats to them. Guts in the 2nd inns today after being injured. Due a place in the ODI side for me.

SAMI:
Just needs to convert his efforts and hard work into wickets now at Test level. They will come for sure.

KANERIA:
Shows his willingness to keep things tight and try for his side when the chips are down.

UMAR GUL:
The best support seamer we have. Again, I have said before, he will alsways take wickets where there is some sideways movement and he proved it.

KAMRAN AKMAL:
Ready to take over from Moin.

YASIR HAMEED:
Man, Yasir, after getting so many starts, you need to go on for yourself and your team. Pick your shots now.


For me, Javed Miandad has had to eat serious humble pie.

IRFAN PATHAN, in every galli in Pakistan, well go and find one, if you do, we will have a budding all rounder in the making and a possible cricket superstar. 12 crucial wickets and good runs when needed.

KUMBLE, the old boy can still win games, be it in India, Pak or SL, who cares, India dont.

He denies saying it now, but we all kn ow.

He has work to do to lift this team and groom some new boys.

Who will it be and will Inzi stay as skipper or someone else come in ?

These are MY views on the series.