One can barely find a better example than the ongoing 2019 ICC World Cu to sum up Pakistan cricket – blowing hot and cold.
Having started their campaign on a disastrous note with a humiliating loss to the West Indies in the opener, the Pakistani side stayed true to their tag of being one of the most unpredictable sides in the game when they bounced back in fine fashion to outscore the hosts and the pre-tournament favourites, England. As if that game was not enough evidence, the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side once again, on Wednesday (June 12), showed there was enough room for further surprises in them.
After some quality bowling from the Pakistani pacers that saw them restrict defending champions Australia to a ‘modest’ 307, their batsmen just didn’t turn up on the day. Though the tail-enders entertained the spectators with some fearless strokes, it was not enough as they were bundled out for 266, losing the game by 41 runs.
There’s no doubt that this loss is another blow to Pakistan’s chances of making it to the top four, especially with one of their games already being washed away and the rains threating to play spoilsport in the coming weeks too. But if there’s one positive that Pakistan can surely take away from this match, then that has to be Mohammad Amir.
For someone who broke into the scene at the tender age of 17, life has been anything but smooth sailing so far for Amir. From being caught and banned for spot-fixing, to returning to the international stage to help his side win the 2009 ICC World T20 and the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, the Pakistani pacer has seen the good, bad and the ugly side of the sport. And ahead of the World Cup too, controversies barely left his side.
Being included in the 15-member squad despite a poor form since that 2017 Champions Trophy triumph was more than enough reason for critics to question the role Amir would play and how useful would he be for Pakistan at the quadrennial event. And this time though, they had the numbers going for them too.
Amir was barely a part of the Pakistani side in the build-up to the World Cup. And when he was included in the squad for the 2018 Asia Cup in the UAE, the left-arm pacer barely showed signs of the promise he once carried.
Then came his time in England – a place that saw him being pushed to the darkest corner a few years back. But this time though, Amir was determined to make a mark for himself.
For all practical purposes, their opening game against the Windies was nothing to be proud of. Defending a total of 106, the Windies were steamrolling the chase. But even in such a helpless situation, Amir ensured he took back something. And his three wickets against the Caribbean side was just the beginning of what was to come.
Then, came England. Tagged to be the odds-on favourites to lift the title at Lord's on July 14, and coming into the game on the back of a splendid win over South Africa, the Three Lions barely showed any signs of letting go of the momentum. But then Amir seemed to have other plans for them too. On a flat deck, the pacer stuck to his line and probed the batsmen with his pace. Though it was not fruitful on most of the occasions, especially with the ball coming on to the bat with ease, Amir returned with the figures of 2 for 67.
While the two games he played showed the quality he possesses in flashes, against Australia, Mohammad Amir, the movie, was running full-house for close to three hours. Though David Warner had a go at him in his first spell, Amir accounted for the prized wicket of the Aussie skipper Aaron Finch, before returning in his second to claim four more and notch up his career-best figures of 5 for 30.
His performance wouldn't have saved Pakistan the blushes against Australia, but it did help Amir restore some lost pride in the same land that saw him lose everything a few years ago.
Feature photo courtesy: AFP Photo / Saeed Khan
