OOPS!! PAK did it again.....

It is said that cricket is losing out to soap operas in viewership because of latter’s entertainment value and the dramatic twists and turns in the plot. But if there is anything in world cricket today that comes mighty close to a saas – bahu soap opera, then it has to be the Pakistan cricket team.

They are called the mercurial side, you don’t know which side of the coin will turn up. Their antics both on and off the field have been etched in cricketing folklores, but the recent defeat to Sri Lanka in the first test match has left a lot to be desired and has once again brought forth the problem of Pakistan’s throwing away of matches at crucial stages, no pun intended.

Lords, Wanderers, SCG……there have been umpteen examples in the recent past where Pakistan has failed to seize the initiative after getting the opposition right under the mat, but failing to finish the job. Although some of these instances have come under the fixing cloud, but the general sense has been that Pakistani team doesn’t have the confidence and lack the killer instinct, which is really surprising considering how naturally gifted their players are and the Pakistani teams of the past were known to have an aggressive approach towards the game and have a never say die attitude.

The defeat against Lanka was a rude reminder of the fact that Pakistan continues to lose from hopelessly winnable situations, turning the window of opportunity for the opposition into a goddamn gateway. Pakistan’s defeat was the 12th instance in the history of the game where a side lost after posting a score in excess of 450 in the first innings.

The most apparent reason for such a monumentally disastrous performance was the defensive batting approach followed by Pakistan in the 2nd innings. They kept poking away like sitting ducks and were withered away easily once Herath got his groove as the scoreboard was going nowhere and the conditions were becoming more helpful for the spinners.

It is a shame because for genuine cricket fans like me, we associate Pakistan cricket with a lot of intensity and maverick attitude. The wristy flicks of Saeed Anwar, the lethal combo of Wasim – Waqar, the craftsmenship of Saqlain and the constant chattering by Moin behind the stumps has been a part of our growing up years. Seeing Pakistan cricket disintegrating like this is a source of anguish not only for Pakistan supporters, but cricket fans all over the world.

But all is not lost, it’s not like Pakistan has forgot to play the game. Pakistan still produces some of the most exciting cricketing talents in the world, who keep showing sparks of brilliance now and then. The need of the hour is to give them proper guidance and for the seniors to own up responsibility. They need to play their natural game and try and revive the glory days of Pakistan team of yore.