Pakistan's historic series win rekindled memories of old Pakistani fighting-spirit combined with a great deal of skill

by Saj Sadiq (28th November 2013)

You have to be thick-skinned to follow the Pakistan cricket team. In fact some would say you have to be “off your head” to want to follow a team where anything is possible. Pakistani cricket is a crazy business, a stressful and only occasionally enjoyable occupation. From the sublime to the horrid in a matter of days and from being brilliant to providing comedy value within a matter of minutes.....you just don’t know what is going to happen and when it’s going to happen. But that is what makes the team so appealing, there is just absolutely no predictability about what could occur on any given day.

Consistency, forget it! Chaos, that’s more like it. We make the simple things look impossible and the impossible things simple.

I must admit, of late it’s been pretty painful following a team that has played some dour cricket. Yes they had won some important matches, but largely the manner of the victories was quite tedious and lacked that flair, passion and aggression that Pakistan cricket is well known for. To the shock of my family I’d even opted to not watch some of Pakistan’s recent matches, prompting my wife to ask me if I was feeling ok. It takes a lot for me to miss a Pakistan match but of late that anticipation just wasn't there.

The Champions Trophy was a dour affair to cover and my passion and love of Pakistan cricket has been dwindling by the day. Post-Champions Trophy, the brand of cricket was hardly enthralling for someone who was brought up watching the likes of Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. Following the team was becoming more and more of a drag, rather than something to look forward to.

However on Wednesday in Port Elizabeth, the Pakistan cricket team did what they do best - win a match from the jaws of defeat. It wasn’t so much the win that was so enjoyable, rather the manner. The Pakistani cricketers fought like, dare I say, Cornered Tigers. There was an “in your face” attitude from the majority of the Pakistani players, an aggression that hasn’t been evident for a while now and a real zest and hunger in their cricket.

The Pakistanis fought with each other, fought for every run and literally fought the umpires and opponents at Port Elizabeth. It was fantastic to see eleven captains out there which must have rekindled fond memories for some of us old timers. It was great to see the players shouting at each other, encouraging each other, glaring at each other and backing each other up - these things usually occur when the team is really up for it.

Other teams would have crumbled under the onslaught from AB de Villiers, but even with only 11 needed from two overs Pakistan were still in the game with Ajmal and Junaid to bowl. The match ebbed and flowed and how wonderful it was to see the joyous scenes at the end. That is what makes Pakistan the opponent that everyone fears - at their best they never give up, at their best they are an opponent that never lies down, is never beaten.

I realised I’d enjoyed the match when I woke up with a sore throat today after all the shouting, particularly in the last few overs..........that hasn't happened for a long time. In addition, one of my neighbours asked me earlier with a big smile on his face “everything ok yesterday, there was a lot of noise coming from your place”. I simply replied with “oh yes everything was just fine.”

The end of the match was rather unusual as I thought I’d put the commentary on mute – yes it had gone that quiet, particularly when the band started to pack up. Without wanting to focus on the negatives, I’d be embarrassed if I was one of the South African commentators and listened back to the last few overs of the match. Yes support your own team, give your team credit and praise them, but how about some words of appreciation for an opponent that has just won an absorbing encounter.

Is Pakistan cricket back? Too difficult to say after one great victory, but let’s have more of this brand of cricket, let’s have more of the eleven captain syndrome, let’s have more of this aggression, let’s have more of this passion and let’s have more of this must-win attitude from the players.

  Discuss!