Pakistan's story since the 2010 summer [Pictures included]

[Theo_14]

It was a tough summer for Pakistan. We witnessed several things that no one had expected to ever happen, an incident that every cricket fan is trying to forget but it shall always remain as part of the dark side of cricket.

A educated captain who seemed the ideal and perfect person/player to lead this side, who seemed so mature during his interviews surprised us all but what surprised us more was the departure of this 'rare talent' who only got better and better.

Despite what this young man has done, some moments like the magical delivery versus Johnson will never be forgotten.

Who would of thought his plane wouldn't land on a cricket pitch for 5 years?



It had been finally announced that these trio would be banned for 5 years or more, there was mix emotions on PP but that was bound to have as every had different opinions on these but the bottom line was these 3 were gone and dusted and it was time to move on.



It was time to move on. And the morale within the team was bound to be low after what had happend but it was time to move on and play some cricket against South Africa in UAE.

The surprise selection had to be Misbah but what surprised PP'ers even more was that PCB had decided to give him the captaincy and lead the side against SA.

There was doubts over this, but what did he do? He answered the doubters by showing what is capable of on the dry pitches against the South Africans...



How many times did he raise his bat after making half centuries? Even I'm lost but what he did during the series was just sensational and led his side to a promising draw against South Africa.

The performance of the team against SA in the longer format of the game and the determination, passion and belief shown in the Onedays certainly lifted some of the fans.



Despite Aamer's departure, there's no way Pakistan would stop producing youngsters with the potential to be world class and one player who was starting to show what he is capable of certainly impressed many PP'ers and even compared his 'body of shape' and 'style of play' to the great Inzamam.

That young man is Azhar Ali and he certainly delivered his full potential against South Africa and gave some fans hope and excitment that Pakistan have finally produced a batsman who ideally fits in the longer format of the game...

2011

It was a new year, a fresh start and ideal time of the year to forget the things in the past and move on.

One thing is for sure and that is that the team looked clean, hunger for success and determined to avoid controversies and finish the tour of NZ with a series win against them in the longer format of the game and 50 over game.

Well I wouldn't say the team is fully clean as their always going to be doubts judging by this picture...



Anyways...

Obviously the T20 series didn't go too well and one thing that hurt the PP'ers alot was the hattrick taken by Southee



But the team did not lose their focus and stayed together as a unit and pulled of a suprising win in the longer format of the game, in the first 1 of 2 test, and what a victory it was.



They managed to draw the 2nd test even though there's was a slim chance of winning it too but there was no need to risk it considering Pakistan had a ideal chance to win the series after a long long time!

[Theo_14]

And it even got better for Pakistan, they even managed to pull of a series victory against NZ in the 50 format of the game but one player who impressed us was this young man who managed to get his 100 and tranformed from 'waterboy' to our main 'opener' along with Hafeez :-



Anyways the main thing was that Pakistan pulled of a series victory against New Zealand and what a tour Pakistan had, and what a start to the year eh!

After what happend, who would of thought Pakistan would win the test and oneday series against NZ?



But now it's the World cup...

We already witnessed Umar Akmal destroying the Kenyan bowlers, it was as if watching the Inzy from 92' semi final with no helmet and sun shining around him...



But the question is...

Can Pakistan win the World cup?



Can Pakistan repeat what Imran Khan and his tigers had done in 1992?



Well..

If the beast can unleash himself like this...



And get Akhtar to produce magical deliveries like the one against ex captain jayawardene certainly gives us hope and the celebration also indicates 'he's back' which gives us even more hope...



Despite what has happend in the past, Pakistan has moved on and never looked back, so far it's looking promising and let's hope this continues for a long time!

And if the team sticks together and shows passion, determination and belief on the pitch then anything is possible when it comes to winning the big trophy.

Nothing is impossible, especially if your a fan who supports Pakistan



And let's round it off with :-



Pakistan Zindabad .

[yamibone]

nice one.

[Down2Earth]

just goes to show how things can improve when you drop traitors

[imshally81]

pictures give the following error

domain unregistered

[Sir_Afridi]

Great effort

[w8in_4_0402]

well done great effort loved kami pic

[intothevoid]

Superb thread and love the pictures - bring the jazba, we can DO THIS!

[praveen]

Frog in a ice cube has been their story so far?

[z2_daredevil]

Originally Posted by imshally81 pictures give the following error domain unregistered

yeah same here

OP plz check it !

[A.M.]

lots of frogs in the story

[abcanada]

I think this video sums up how team united before WC.
They should seriously make this part of their huddle and do it after every match......... win or loss!!

[SAF]

We have been playing very well since the spof fixing fiasco and have seen a great start to 2011. But where are the ODIs against ENG and RSA? We played really well in those as well.

Very good thread!! and nice pictures too! Just add the Umer Akmal chanting 'Pakistan Zindabaad" chant at the end of it.

[LegCutter]

For the people who cant view the pictures, you have to register at imageshack first.

[Theo_14]

Originally Posted by Shahid Afridi's Fan We have been playing very well since the spof fixing fiasco and have seen a great start to 2011. But where are the ODIs against ENG and RSA? We played really well in those as well.

We did, as I mentioned but I thought I'd just post pictures of the series we won then the matches we won and if I had added the England and RSA ODI series then it would of taken me more then a hour!

Very good thread!! and nice pictures too! Just add the Umer Akmal chanting 'Pakistan Zindabaad" chant at the end of it.

Thanks everyone and done .

[Hassan0987]

Nice thread

[Arsh_afridi]

All i can see is Mendaks

[haroonrasheed320]

man I can only see the frogs, please use some other image hosting site that allows you to embed them in forums. May be someone here can suggest you.

[SAF]

Originally Posted by haroonrasheed320 man I can only see the frogs, please use some other image hosting site that allows you to embed them in forums. May be someone here can suggest you.

Photobucket is the best.

[Theo_14]

Originally Posted by Ali Muzaffar lots of frogs in the story

Originally Posted by praveen Frog in a ice cube has been their story so far?

Originally Posted by imshally81 pictures give the following error domain unregistered

Originally Posted by haroonrasheed320 man I can only see the frogs, please use some other image hosting site that allows you to embed them in forums. May be someone here can suggest you.

Originally Posted by Arsh_afridi All i can see is Mendaks

For the people who cannot see the pictures just register in the following link and it only takes a minute to complete it.

http://my.imageshack.us/registration/

[NO 1 AFRIDI FAN]

Nicely done.
Well it has been a long journey, and boy am I happy that the spot fixing saga has come to an end. Finally we are witnessing the team play honest cricket and you can just tell they are 'hungry for success'.
How times fly by!


PAKISTAN ZINDABAD

[A.M.]

Originally Posted by Theo_14 For the people who cannot see the pictures just register in the following link and it only takes a minute to complete it. http://my.imageshack.us/registration/

thank u!!!

[amirfanforlife]

wooo, looks awesome
Top thread!

[usman2321]

Pakistan's great turnaround against all odds is what makes me love pakistan and this team. Almost Everyone had written them off for this worldcup. Groupings, Match fixing, Spot fixing, Loss of the worldcup hosting rights and loss of two of the best bowlers in the world all seem so long ago.

[AZ]

absolutely outstanding stuff Theo!

POTW for me.

[SAF]

People who still cant view the pics, try a different browser.

[Inzy's Aloo]

Top thread! That picture of Shoaib celebrating Jayawardene's wicket was great!

[AZ]

Originally Posted by Shahid Afridi's Fan People who still cant view the pics, try a different browser.

I did the registration thingy, can see them now.

[Omar Malik]

Nice stuff Theo!

[Khan88]

Great thread, and our fortunes really have turned since the England tour.

[usman2321]

^^ Agree

[SAF]

Originally Posted by AZ I did the registration thingy, can see them now.

Its weird, I never registered and still can see them and it works on my phone as well.

[Saqs]

I remember as soon as (or just before) we lost the Test in Sydney in early 2010 - there was some guy on PTV making a preduction that 2010 will be the worst year in their history for Pakistan cricket.

[Free Hit]

Originally Posted by Saqib Salman I remember as soon as (or just before) we lost the Test in Sydney in early 2010 - there was some guy on PTV making a preduction that 2010 will be the worst year in their history for Pakistan cricket.

it surely was....

spot fixing
t20 pwnages
Afridi retiring

[Dann]

Gr8 post!

[NZPakistanFan]

Great post! I really enjoy reading about the team outside of the statistics etc, and just about the triumphs and the honour that has been a significant factor since the awful revelations in England last year.

However, just wanty to be picky for a second. A lot of people on here still drop hints about Kamran Akmal being involved in fixing. I don't think ANY other Pakistan player has been investigated and put under the spotlight as much as Kamran. And yet, he has never once been charged with anything at all. In fact, the only things I've ever heard about him are rumours and innuendo. That's not how you should judge a person. You can dislike him as a player, but it's unfair to imply he was ever part of any corruption

[Theo_14]

Originally Posted by NZPakistanFan Great post! I really enjoy reading about the team outside of the statistics etc, and just about the triumphs and the honour that has been a significant factor since the awful revelations in England last year.

Thanks mate.

I personally believe that the year 2010 has not only been a bad year for Pakistan cricket and the fans but it's also been a bad year for cricket in general and has dented the reputation of cricket also credit must go to the moderators on PP for handling the situation so well on the forum with members as it was a busy and tough time of year, especially during the summer.

However, just wanty to be picky for a second. A lot of people on here still drop hints about Kamran Akmal being involved in fixing. I don't think ANY other Pakistan player has been investigated and put under the spotlight as much as Kamran. And yet, he has never once been charged with anything at all. In fact, the only things I've ever heard about him are rumours and innuendo. That's not how you should judge a person. You can dislike him as a player, but it's unfair to imply he was ever part of any corruption

The thing is, you can never be sure about Pakistan cricket especially after what has happend during the summer so there's always going to be some fans who will be doubting Kamran Akmal's commitment to the side although I personally believe he is completely innoncent.

I mean who on earth would have thought a person/player like Aamer would do something like that after hearing so many promising and positive things about him?

Yes Kamran Akmal has been proven innoncent and clean in the past but then there's also some fans who have doubts over PCB and I'd say I'm one of them as I'm not a fan of Ijaz Butt and PCB in general.

There's always going to be doubts over the team and players, it's sad but true however for now things are looking good and promising for the future, they are unpredictable on the pitch and of the pitch.

And thanks everyone, also...

For the people who cannot see the pictures just register in the following link and it only takes a minute to complete it.

http://my.imageshack.us/registration/

[najam2007]

Good compiling of pictures , but nevertheless we are united till the end.

[SOSami]

Loved the pictures. Loved the commentary.

Top work dude.

[pakistanbest]

Excellent work Theo, was a pleasure to read that aswell as emotional

Loved it

[Theo_14]

Thanks everyone, appreciated and apologies to any PP'ers who cannot view the pictures despite me mentioning a option which may solve the issue.

[Afridi_Fan]

What the hell? Why am I just seeing frogs and not pictures.

[lipton]

Pakistani tuhje salaam!!!!!

[pakcriclover]

i hope dey win da world-cup!!

[Theo_14]

Originally Posted by Afridi_Fan What the hell? Why am I just seeing frogs and not pictures.

For the people who cannot see the pictures just register in the following link and it only takes a minute to complete it.

http://my.imageshack.us/registration/

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by Theo_14 For the people who cannot see the pictures just register in the following link and it only takes a minute to complete it. http://my.imageshack.us/registration/

Yippiessssssssssssss



The crazy frogs are gone.

[Khan88]

Hey, Theo wondering if you would consider updating the thread with the similar format now that the World Cup is over for us. Great to look back on this post btw.

[Theo_14]

I was about to create a thread just then - but the forum seems busy, emotions are running high so I don't think the timing would be right - It's likely I'll be creating a thread on Pakistan's story during the World cup 2011 the day after tomorrow, insha'Allah.

[Fireworks11]

Oh, THAT haunting frosty day at Lord's. Still remains vividly fresh in the mind.

The teenage sensation had his name on the legendary honour's board at The Home of Cricket, but unfortunately will be remembered for the wrong reasons when visiting teams glance at the historic woodwork.





Undoubtably, the SHOT of the day: