It was a sage and inspirational quote I heard in a renowned medical drama: “The odds mean crap. So people should face it, and they should fight it”. Perhaps the odds were considerably stacked against the Pakistan side every time they took the field, so much so that the ‘unpredictables’ tag wasn’t relevant to a bunch of men who seemed to show little willingness to win.
Nonetheless, such has been the nature of the Pakistani side that no matter who took the reins they seldom failed to restore why they are known by the unpredictables moniker. Make no mistake, they have been self-destructive on more occasions than one.
There was widespread condemnation, including from their countrymen, but Sarfaraz Ahmed’s men kept surprising the world, defeating top-notch sides on the grandest stage that had steamrolled them prior to the most significant event.
Beating England was the inaugural step, the team that stood no chance against the hostile pace attack of the Windies edging the hosts at a venue that had been severely unkind to the bowlers. But that’s the thing about defying odds: it challenges when you least expect it to, and with some instances of fortune, you come out on the other side victorious.
(Lindsey Parnaby/AFP/Getty Images)
Undeniably the men in green have also found two men with mettle, although contrasting gameplans but complimenting each other immensely well. Yes, it’s Babar Azam and Haris Sohail.
The frightening similarities not only comprise the sequence of results but also both men promising to play the roles of Javed Miandad and Inzamam Ul-Haq. While Babar Azam, who is the heart and soul of Pakistan’s batting line-up much like Miandad was, puts a massive prize on his wicket, it also resonates by how the right-hander anchors the ship at the middle, being the glue that holds the batting together, much like Miandad’s quality of reliability.
Then there is Haris Sohail. Sohail was never a guaranteed starter in the playing XI, let alone allowed to form a vital cog in the current line-up. It was always going to be the experience of Shoaib Malik that mattered on the biggest stage of all. But if the 1992 campaign was anything to go by, it was Inzamam Ul-Haq’s whirlwind knock of 60 off 37 balls. There wasn’t any second thought needed.
Now, 27 years later, it is Haris Sohail, who played a potential knock of 89 against South Africa, who could prove as the turning point of Pakistan’s campaign. As much as the left-hander is known to be the ones and twos player, he displayed an attacking brand of cricket, which was just what Pakistan needed at that stage. Another classy and a relatively tenacious knock of 68 followed a breezy 89 against the unbeaten Kiwis to ace a tricky chase on an insidious pitch.
Yes, they have hope backed up by some eerie similarities to their solitary World Cup-winning campaign. Not that it could be a resurgence that is significant enough to capture their second title, but they have the momentum on their side.
We know the Australians, Indians and Windies and their incredible record at the World Cups. However, that conceals Pakistan beating the odds out of nowhere, which deserves equal recognition.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
We were hoping for a great contest, and we got one! Dave Warner might have gone out a winner, but there were many moments…
Australia have an almighty fight on their hands to secure a 17th consecutive Test win over Pakistan on home soil, after the tourists claimed…
The contentious decision by umpires Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth to delay play due to bad light midway through Day 2 at the SCG…
A Pat Cummins five-wicket haul had Pakistan on the brink of being bowled out midway through the final session of Day 1, with the…
The Boxing Day contest has come and gone, and while we depart the ‘G with another Aussie victory, how bloody good was that match?…
The David Warner "circus" is about to roll into the SCG for the final time in a Test match. The veteran opener was given…
