By Saj Sadiq
November 19 2002

Pakistan recorded an emphatic 10 wicket victory against a struggling Zimbabwean side. The victory even to the most partisan of Pakistani supporters was easier than expected with none of the African batsman getting to grips with the Pakistani bolwing attack. The 2 test Series petered out into an easy victory for an efficent Pakistani outfit. Keen observors of the game will proabably state that Pakistan never really had to work hard for their wickets or their runs, but playing away from home can always prove to be a tricky affair and one should congratulate the whole of the Pakistani team in performing in a professional manner.

The most gratifying aspect of this match from a Pakistani persepective was that Pakistan never let Zimbabwe get any sort of hold on the game. From having Zimbabwe 4 for 1 in their first innings right through to the end of the match Pakistan never let up. Too often a lethargic attitude to their game has resulted in poor sessions and occasionally days for Pakistan, but one can't really recall Zimbabwe ever dominating 2 consecutive sessions in this series.

Saqlain was rightly in my opinion named man of the match having taken 10 wickets on a wicket which wasn't exactly an Indian dustbowl. Yousuf Youhana was the mainstay of the Pakistani batting and seeing him in action and regaining form after his "off-field" problems is heartening for all Pakistani supporters.

Kamran Akmal must be congratulated on his performance in this match. A neat and tidy wicketkeeper who took some excellent catches, he also performed well with the bat sharing a 121 run partnership with Yousuf. Although many ex players keep slating the domestic set up in Pakistan and the lack of coaching, one must note that we keep producing gifted youngsters from virtually nowhere.

All in all an expected and encouraging victory, which on the back of the Aussie series gives hope for the future.

Pakistan now move onto the 5 match one day series which starts on Saturday in Bulawayo, before a testing series in South Africa.