A battle in impulsivity Sameer Tayebaly Pakistan have once again made their way to the Caribbean, a set of islands that never fail to inspire feelings of joy and relaxation. But many a time, these wonderful traits have been a source of criticism for their cricket team, with the West Indies’ infamous 60s label as “calypso cricketers” a prime example. A team brooding with talent, with Frank Worrell and Gary Sobers to show for it, they were seen more as entertainers than sportsmen. The team of the 80s, built on aggressiveness, revenge, and the calm captaincy of Clive Lloyd, instilled a strict work ethic and winning mentality to the side. However, West Indies’ entertaining and joyful style has never escaped them, as we saw with Gayle and co. dancing endlessly to Gangnam Style during their victorious World T20 campaign in 2012. The cricketers born on the beach love the game, but, like anything on the beach, there’s always an element of fun involved! Their opponents, a menacingly bipolar Pakistan, also have a unique absurdity that historically, has made them impossible to predict. They have always had a knack for doing the unthinkable, in both victory and defeat. From Sarfraz Nawaz’s reverse swing, perfected by Waqar Younis, to Saqlain Mushtaq’s invention of the doosra, used in all its splendour by Saeed Ajmal, Pakistan have always been creative and innovative in their artistry. Despite the prevalent passion for cricket, Pakistan does not have the institutions and facilities that are available in developed countries. While players like Stuart Broad and Peter Siddle are great in their own right having been coached from a very early age, Pakistan’s bowlers have a certain wizardry that only comes from the creative notions of a child’s mind. Hours of playing on the street, and the guts to do something different, means Pakistan may not always be successful, but they’ll never fail to disappoint on TV. 5th ODI: Georgetown, Guyana, 1993 On April 3rd 1993, when West Indies left the field against Pakistan in Georgetown, they believed they were victorious. With two runs required of the last ball, Ian Bishop pushed the ball to deep mid-on. As Bishop and Man-of-the-Match Carl Hooper began to run the first, thousands of spectators stormed onto the ground in a pitch invasion quite common in the 90s. Wasim Akram, the bowler, upon receiving the ball, dropped it, perhaps distracted by the chaos ensuing on the field. The match finished with the scores level, and while West Indies felt they won because of a superior wickets tally, ICC referee Subba Row intervened to declare a tie. After a see-sawing encounter, the series concluded at a thrilling 2-2.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:13:34 +0000
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