1999, joy against India and 2023, Afghanan despair. What does Chennai hold now for Pakan? | Cricket-world-cup News
The last brutal shove came on Thursday morning. Even as they called for support for their team through a statement, the Pakan cricket board made it clear that Babar Azam, the captain, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, the chief selector, had the full freedom to pick the world cup team. In other words, the failure was entirely on the shoulders of the team management. Short of saying, ‘Thank you, but you are on your own now’. It’s a place that the Pakan team are intimate with.
A World Cup campaign for Pakan without their former players going after their players, with or sans merit, is incomplete. Sharp criticisms coming from all quarters – from past and present cricketers, some that get personal, some so sharp and to the point that it has even convinced a few of them to feel sorry for their captain, some so far away from the truth that their players are just laughing it off.
Beyond the thrill of watching their fast bowlers, what makes watching Pakan fascinating is how well they manage to duck all the bullets fired at them and fire in unison when the world least expects them to. Since 1992, at almost every World Cup barring the 1996 and 2011, they have been seeking to revive a new version of cornered tigers. And if there was ever a moment where they can revoke the spirit of 1992, it is here. With just two wins from five matches with all the four coming up – including their one against South Africa on Friday at Chennai – being a must-win, they look a team that is so disjointed that you don’t know if they would be able to arrest their slide.
But before they regroup and raise, it would be interesting to see how Pakan manages to put behind all the noise that is being directed at them. Their vice-captain Shadab Khan, who himself has been under pressure, offered a simple solution.
“The mentality is that when someone is not in the team, they are the best. When someone is in the team, they are the worst. It’s like that. But reality is – you have to win. You have to win. Because if you are winning, everything will cover up. And if you are losing, it doesn’t matter how good you are, how your team is playing before. So the main concern is – if you are winning, everything will cover it,” Shadab said.
Chennai: Pakan’s captain Babar Azam with team director Mickey Arthur during a practice session ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 match between Pakan and South Africa, at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (PTI)
However, beating South Africa, a team that is flying high at the moment, will be no easy thing. So below-par has been their performance, post their defeat to Afghanan – that didn’t really come as a shock – Babar Azam has been facing calls to quit as skipper. And after inviting the likes of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Yousuf and Aaqib Javed for a meeting, the Pakan Cricket Board’s statement wouldn’t have helped either.
“Looking ahead, the board will make decisions in the best interest of Pakan cricket based on the team’s performances in the World Cup. At present, the PCB encourages fans, former players and stakeholders to rally behind the team as they strive to make a triumphant comeback in the mega-event,” the PCB said. “Captain Babar Azam and Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq were given freedom and support in forming the squad for the ICC World Cup 2023.”
For a team that went into the Asia Cup in September as the No 1 ranked ODI side, they have been on a nose-dive since. It is hard to pinpoint one reason behind the dramatic change in fortune, but the evening in Colombo where pacer Nasim Shah limped out injured, broke Pakan’s back that they haven’t been able to stand tall since then. Sans Nasim, with Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf struggling for rhythm, their bowling which has been their strongest suit has let them down. And with a batting line-up that follows a decade-old template in place, and fielding being lacklustre, they have only been making it more and more challenging each game.
“I think we have underperformed, in all three matches. We haven’t underperformed this way before. We know that we are not playing good cricket. But our team has bounced back from this situation before and hopefully, we will come out of this situation. I feel that the way our bowling line-up is, it has underperformed a lot in the World Cup. So, as a bowling unit, we will have to get up and win for our team. From tomorrow, our do-or-die matches start. We have to play on our strengths and try to do extra,” Shadab said.Most Read
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But if there is any team that tends to thrive on adversities, it is Pakan. It is part of their DNA that stirs them to come back from the dead. In team meetings, their team director Micky Arthur, apart from using the 1992 team, has also been reminding them of their Champions Trophy campaign in 2017, where after losing to India in the opening game, they bounced back and lifted the title.
“We know how to come out of such situations. And there are miracles in our belief. We have full faith in our team. Our team was playing well before the World Cup. You have no option, there is nothing to lose, because if you lose, you are obviously out of the tournament. So, I think the more positive things you bring to the match, the more you benefit,” Shadab added.
It’s now time to walk that talk. But if they sink, it won’t be a surprise. If they stay afloat, it won’t be a surprise either. It’s Chennai’s Chepauk that once gave them a memorable Test win in India, it’s Chennai where they drowned to a loss at the hands of Afghanan the other day, and it’s Chennai where their 2023 world cup fate will now be decided.
