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    Pakistani cricket emerges from exile, but are the Shaheens headed for glory?

    Revival of International Cricket in Pakistan

    Written by: Mirza Salam Ahmed
    Posted on: May 26, 2015 |

    The exuberance of the Gaddafi crowd was at an all-time high

    It has been a long, bumpy road to recovery for Pakistani cricket, but it is finally on its way. After a six-year long isolation period in which Test-playing nations disregarded the idea of playing cricket in Pakistan, it was not surprising to witness the exuberance of the crowd when the first T20 match between Pakistan and Zimbabwe kicked off on Friday. The exile of Pakistani cricket is finally nearing its end.

    The conspiracy that ended cricket in Pakistan was the attack on the Sri Lankan team in 2009, which left seven Sri Lankan players injured and six policemen dead. But this was nothing new to a country that has been war-ridden for years due to terrorism. 2002 saw a bombing at a hotel in Karachi where the New Zealand team was staying. The following year, all series scheduled for Pakistan were relocated to Sharjah, UAE. However, with Bangladesh and South Africa returning to play and India arriving at the scene in 2004, Pakistani cricket bounced back.

    A similar, less critical stance could have been taken by the ICC and other cricketing bodies in 2009. However, at that time, the ‘Big Three’ were breaking and the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), leading the cause, had major reservations against Pakistan being included in the upper tier of cricketing nations. The Shaheens managed to rally support for their cause, but their attempts remained futile.

    Revival of International Cricket in Pakistan

    Security officials monitoring the teams

    Now, the winds are changing. The green sea is returning to cricketing coliseums, and a fire has been reignited to boost the confidence of the Shaheens. An electrifying atmosphere was witnessed at the Gaddafi Stadium on the two T20 games (with both thrillers ending in Pakistan’s favour). Each victory saw the stadium erupt with a roar of jubilance. However, that ear-splitting thunder was not a rumble to celebrate victory, but rather a plea to the heavens to see more cricketing action in a country whose second biggest religion is cricket itself. 

    Security remains a key concern at this stage, and upon entering the vicinity of the Gaddafi Stadium, it became clear that it is not being taken lightly. Police patrols were observed miles away from the Stadium, and rangers were strategically positioned on the routes of the players. The security inside the stadium was taken over by the PCB administration as well as the rangers. It was this commitment to bringing a risk-free environment that convinced fans to flock in support of the Shaheens.

    Wilson Manase, the Zimbabwe Cricket chairman, explained that the decision to play in Pakistan came after the Departments of Defense of both nations expressed their satisfaction with the security situation. Manase praised the strenuous effort made by the Pakistani government in providing top quality services and a secure place to stay for the players.

    Revival of International Cricket in Pakistan

    The Pakistan players celebrate after taking the series 2-0

    Now, it’s up to Pakistan to maintain their repute, both on and off the field. The latter seems to be doing well, but when it comes to the game itself, sharp criticism has been laid upon Coach Waqar Younis and the recent performance of his men. Although Pakistan has won both fixtures, it was their usual explosive nature that saved them from embarrassment at home. Their 11th hour Samaritans, Shahid Afridi and Bilawal Bhatti played their part, but with the current situation, a turbulent performance is predicted in the ODIs.

    Veterans have been called back into the squad to bring stability and guidance to the fresh blood in the squad. The 16-man squad has been heavily revamped. Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Sami have been reintroduced. Meanwhile, Saeed Ajmal still hasn’t made it to the ODI squad for the three matches in Lahore. Umar Gul has also been sidelined.

    In: Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Sami, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Anwar Ali

    Out: Fawad Alam, Saad Nasim, Saeed Ajmal, Sami Aslam, Umar Gul, Zulfiqar Babar, Rahat Ali

    Pakistan ODI squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Shoaib Malik, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Anwar Ali, Hammad Azam, Imad Wasim, Yasir Shah, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Junaid Khan

    Revival of International Cricket in Pakistan

    This line-up gives us a glimpse into where Pakistani cricket is headed. After an unbalanced performance in the ICC World Cup earlier this year, fans are seeking out new heroes, and the time is ripe for them to appear. The current campaign for rejuvenation is definitely an emotional one, for players and fans alike. Nerves will be tested, not just on the ground, but on the Pakistani streets as well; but that is easier said than done. In reality, it will be a while before we see bigger nations return to Pakistan and witness the Shaheens reclaim their lost glory.

     

    All images have been taken from www.espncricinfo.com


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021