Pakistan in India 2004-05

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Shahrukh Khan

Age: 124
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Younis Khan has been named as Pakistan's vice-captain for their forthcoming tour of India, while Arshad Khan, the tall offspinner, has earned a recall to the Test team. Shoaib Akhtar, who recently ruled himself out of contention with a hamstring injury, was left out of the 15-man squad announced today by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Shabbir Ahmed, who has been struggling with injury, did not recover in time and nstead the pace department is spearheaded by Mohammad Sami, and also includes Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Mohammad Khalil. Pakistan will also lean heavily on Abdul Razzaq's medium-pace.

Danish Kaneria heads the spinners and will be assisted by Arshad, who was rewarded with a recall for performing consistently in domestic cricket in Pakistan. Arshad last played a Test against England in 2000-01. Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi, the allrounders, strengthen the spin department.

Squad Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Yasir Hameed, Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Asim Kamal, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal (wk), Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Arshad Khan, Mohammad Khalil.

Posted 20 Feb 2005

Rain Man says
so far so good...
Posted 16 Mar 2005

Bazigaar says
pak ke batting click na ke to mushkil ho jae ga
Posted 17 Mar 2005

India 407
Pakistan 198/2 (47.0 ov) Pakistan trail by 209 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

Drinks

younis Batsmen: R B 4s 6s S/R   
Younis Khan (RHB) 72 119 9


Yousuf Youhana (RHB) 70 106 10 0 66.04
Posted 17 Mar 2005

India 407
Pakistan 245/2 (58.1 ov) Pakistan trail by 162 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings


Batsmen: R B 4s 6s S/R   
Younis Khan (RHB) 100 148 13 0 67.57 Striker
Yousuf Youhana (RHB) 85 146 11 0 58.22 Non-strik
Posted 17 Mar 2005

India 407
Pakistan 273/2 (66.0 ov) Pakistan trail by 134 runs with 8 wickets remaining in the 1st innings

************* At Stumps **********

younis khan 108 not out
yousuf youhana 101 not out
Posted 17 Mar 2005

Younis and Youhana sizzle

The Bulletin by Amit Varma at Kolkata

March 17, 2005



Pakistan 273 for 2 (Younis 109*, Youhana 101*) trail India 407 (Dravid 110, Sehwag 81, Razzaq 3-62) by 134 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out



Yousuf Youhana topped his innings with a smack to midwicket off the last ball to reach his hundred © Getty Images



Yousuf Youhana and Younis Khan made unbeaten centuries as Pakistan ended the second day of the Kolkata Test strongly, at 273 for 2. They were still 134 behind India, who had reached 407 in the morning thanks to a last-wicket partnership of 44 between Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. With eight wickets in hand, though, on a pitch that did not help the bowlers at all, the deficit seemed paltry.

The second-day pitch at the Eden Gardens is generally a good one to bat on, and once Youhana and Younis were set, the bowlers were helpless. Younis, after his failures in Mohali, played watchfully, eschewing risk but not attack. He was quick to rock back or lean forward when the bowler erred in length, and clinically punished the bad balls that came his way. His elevation to the vice-captaincy had been accompanied by jibes that he did not even deserve his place in the team, and he had a point to prove here. He succeeded, and was 109 not out at the close.

Youhana, except for a brief period in the evening when he had an intriguing contest with Harbhajan, played fluidly, with delectable strokes on both sides of the wicket. It was an innings of class and character, of finesse and fortitude. He slowed down significantly towards the close of play, but brought up his century with a flourish: a four to midwicket off the last ball of the day.

The morning had begun well for Pakistan, but after they took three early wickets, the last-wicket pair of Harbhajan and Kumble batted with enterprise, scoring at more than four-an-over without ever moving into slog mode. The Indian innings ended when Harbhajan was leg-before to Abdul Razzaq for 27, but crossing 400 was an important psychological milestone achieved.

Pakistan's openers seemed less assured. Taufeeq Umar was out of his depth, and was dropped twice in the slips before looping a short ball from Lakshmipathy Balaji meekly to midwicket. Shahid Afridi hit a few crisp boundaries, but the inevitable miscued hoick came, off Irfan Pathan's bowling, and was easily caught by Sachin Tendulkar at mid-on.

Then came two men who would be captain, and took responsibility.

How they were out


India


Karthik run out (Khalil) 28 (345 for 7) Tried to steal a single that wasn't there, beaten by a direct hit.

Balaji b Afridi 3 (357 for 8) Beaten and bowled by a quicker googly.

Pathan c Younis b Kaneria 8 (363 for 9) Lovely bat-pad catch by Younis at silly point after Pathan played forward.

Harbhajan Singh lbw Razzaq 27 (407 for 10) Trapped on the crease.

Pakistan


Shahid Afridi c Tendulkar b Pathan 29 (35 for 1) Mistimed an attempted hoick, caught at mid-on.

Taufeeq Umar c Harbhajan b Balaji 18 (70 for 2) Looped up a short ball on his body towards midwicket, good overhead catch taken.

Posted 17 Mar 2005

Rain Man says
wow thats why i can't stop cheering for Pakistan, wat a great performance...keep goin Pak...
Afridi did his job, 7 4z lol..nice...n 3 wickets...

hats off to, Younis n Youhana...
Posted 17 Mar 2005

ab kahan gaya baazigar...aaj nahi nazar ayega
Posted 17 Mar 2005

Bazigaar says
shahrukh khan said:

ab kahan gaya baazigar...aaj nahi nazar ayega



hian wo kiyon? i am not against paki team yar
Posted 18 Mar 2005

Bazigaar says
aj to maza a gya..wah wah...muah...muah....khush kiya pak team ne so far, hopefully esee tarah kheltay rahain...
Posted 18 Mar 2005

Bazigaar says
i'm so happy @ pak's reply k bas can't tell... kiya A1 batting ke hae...younas khan to kher..is over-rated (sorry bout that), but youhana... hope they 2 can keep going like this and abhi we got inzi, akmal, razzaq and kamal to bat too...hope they don;t lose this good opportunity
Posted 18 Mar 2005

great job Pak

Right now, im not really paying attention to cricket. Over here, its all MARCH MADNESS college basketball n NBA, since the playoffs r comin soon.
Posted 18 Mar 2005

India 407 &
Pakistan 393 India lead by 106 runs with 8 wickets remaining

1ST INNINGS
younis khan    147
yousif youhana 104

92/2 (22.1 ov)
Posted 18 Mar 2005

Bush_Blasta said:

great job Pak

Right now, im not really paying attention to cricket. Over here, its all MARCH MADNESS college basketball n NBA, since the playoffs r comin soon.



YOU MUST BE TALL
Posted 18 Mar 2005

shahrukh khan said:

Bush_Blasta said:

great job Pak

Right now, im not really paying attention to cricket. Over here, its all MARCH MADNESS college basketball n NBA, since the playoffs r comin soon.



YOU MUST BE TALL


lol, hell no!im mad short Only 5'6"
i just love to watch basketball.
i play it also, but i play PointGuard.
Posted 19 Mar 2005

i got sony...so i m watching cricket on that i also got geo with sony
Posted 19 Mar 2005

saw today episode of ANA on geo
Posted 19 Mar 2005

Tendulkar's fall levels the scales

The Bulletin by Amit Varma

March 18, 2005



India 407 and 133 for 3 (Dravid 54*, Tendulkar 52) lead Pakistan 393 (Younis 147, Youhana 104) by 147 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out



Sachin Tendulkar spoke to Steve Bucknor about insufficient light shortly before he was dismissed © AFP



This series is being played on a rocking chair. Yesterday, it seemed that it had leaned far enough towards Pakistan to need just one further push to keel over, but then the Indians pulled, and pulled, and pulled. They got eight Pakistani wickets for 120 runs on the day, to take a lead of 14, and then moved smoothly to 121 for 2. A shocking decision from the 58-year-old Steve Bucknor, playing in his 100th Test, resulted in Sachin Tendulkar, in sublime form, being sent back to the pavilion for 52, after which India finished on 133 for 3. But that was the only bad moment in an otherwise outstanding day for India.

Rahul Dravid and Tendulkar had added 98 in 168 balls when Bucknor struck. Tendulkar was beaten by the late swing of a ball from Abdul Razzaq, and the daylight between bat and ball was visible from the press box, at the furthest and highest part of the ground. Bucknor, after his usual deliberation, lifted his finger. Tendulkar shook his head and walked off. India have been hard done by Bucknor before, but they were still in a strong position as the day ended.

Both Dravid and Tendulkar played immaculate innings. "I was in complete control," Dravid had earlier said of his first-innings 110, and this innings was quite in the same vein. Even Danish Kaneria, from whom so much had been expected, could not rattle him, and resorted to bowling a negative line outside leg, from round the wicket.

Tendulkar, criticised for batting slowly in the Mohali Test, did nothing of the sort here. He batted so well that everything Pakistan bowled was played with ease and command. His 50 came off 83 balls, a knock of the highest class. But it was unfulfilled, cut short for no fault of Tendulkar's.

Earlier in the day, India's bowlers worked hard to get Pakistan out on a pitch where they had struggled yesterday. Lakshmipathy Balaji bowled two tight spells in the morning, accounting for the first wicket of the day, Yousuf Youhana, who shouldered arms to an incutter and was trapped lbw for 104.

Harbhajan Singh also tested the batsmen. With the pitch offering him little assistance, he flighted the ball generously. He ran in aggressively, wearing a white patka that was reminiscent of that great flighter of the ball, Bishan Singh Bedi. He got the wickets of Kamran Akmal and Mohammad Sami after lunch, both of them tempted into injudicious heaves. He had begun this game on 189 Test wickets, equal with Erapalli Prasanna, and he now became India's most successful offspinner.



Only three runs seperated Younis Khan from 150 when Anil Kumble dismissed him for a career-best score © AFP



Anil Kumble was India's bowler of the day, picking up three important wickets. His intensity was such that had he been a fast bowler, his run-up alone would have daunted the batsman. Being the legspinner that he is, though, aggression had to be matched with cunning. Today, the Pakistanis weren't a match.

His most important wicket was that of Younis Khan, lured into pushing a legspinner to VVS Laxman at second slip. Younis had, again, been the best of Pakistan's batsmen, and had taken his score along to 147. He had a useful partnership of 50 with Inzamam-ul-Haq, who made a fluent 30 before playing at a ball, from the otherwise lacklustre Irfan Pathan, that was angled across him and caught the edge.

The lower order showed none of the application they had displayed at Mohali, and a number of loose shots were played. It was a huge advantage for India to have taken the lead, given that they had the advantage of bowling fourth. But they started the second innings poorly.

Gautam Gambhir was yorked by Sami in the second over of the innings, and Sehwag was bowled off an inside-edge in the fourth. He had hit Mohammad Khalil for three fours in his first over, and his dismissal rocked that chair the other way just a bit. But then Dravid and Tendulkar came together and rocked it back.

How they were out

Pakistan


Youhana lbw Balaji 104 (281 for 3) Shouldered arms to an incutter from Balaji, hit outside the line but not offering a shot, fair decision.

Inzamam-ul-Haq c Karthik b Pathan 30 (331 for 4) Fished at a ball angling away from him, straightforward edge.

Asim Kamal run out (Tendulkar) 6 (347 for 5) Run out going for a third run, excellent throw from the deep by Tendulkar.

Younis Khan c Laxman b Kumble 147 (361 for 6) Caught at second slip pushing at a legbreak.

Kamran Akmal c Tendulkar b Harbhajan 0 (362 for 7)An injudicious hoick off an offspinner that looped up to mid-on.

Abdul Razzaq c Dravid b Kumble 17 (378 for 8) Tried to cut Kumble, edged, off the glove of Karthik to Dravid at first slip.

Mohammad Sami c Ganguly b Harbhajan 7 (378 for 9) Tried to hoick Harbhajan on the leg side, ball looped up, Ganguly at short leg ran back and took the catch.

Mohammad Khalil c Sehwag b Kumble 4 (393 for 10) Mish*t slog caught at midoff.

India


Gautam Gambhir b Sami 1 (14 for 1) Beaten by a searing yorker.

Virender Sehwag b Sami 15 (23 for 2) Under-edged a ball outside off stump that stayed low, and it slowly bounced back on to his stumps.

Sachin Tendulkar c Akmal b Razzaq 52 (121 for 3) Beaten by late swing, adjudged caught behind by Steve Bucknor. Replays showed Tendulkar had missed the ball
Posted 19 Mar 2005

Bazigaar says
match in uncearian situation...   

dravid really needs to go now

India 407 & 178/4 (51.5 ov)

R Dravid (RHB) 73
KKD Karthik (RHB) 12
Posted 19 Mar 2005

India v Pakistan, 2nd Test, Kolkata, 4th day

Afridi blitz sets up run-chase

The Bulletin by Amit Varma

March 19, 2005



Pakistan 393 and 95 for 1 (Afridi 59, Taufeeq 29*) need 327 more runs to beat India 407 and 407 for 9 dec (Dravid 135, Karthik 93)
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out



Rahul Dravid's second-innings hundred helped India take control of the game © AFP



Rahul Dravid made a determined 135, his second century of the match and the 20th of his career, and Dinesh Karthik hit a pugnacious 93 as India moved into a position of strength in the second Test at Kolkata, leaving Pakistan 422 to win. But Pakistan started strongly, as their openers added 93 quick runs. Shahid Afridi played some flamoyant strokes as he raced to a run-a-ball half-century, and though he was out just before the close, he had shown his side what was possible.

There wasn't much in the pitch to indicate a result. It had grown slower, but it hadn't deteriorated otherwise, and the only Pakistani bowler to make an impression was Mohammad Sami, who bowled with fire in the first two sessions, and was met with the ice of Dravid and Karthik. He did pick up the wicket of Sourav Ganguly, though, predictably enough with a short ball.

Ganguly, a man whose batting has declined alarmingly in recent times, unleashed yet another bad shot from his varied repertoire of poor strokes in the eighth over of the morning. He tried to pull a short ball from Sami from outside off stump, top-edged it, and was caught by the bowler running towards midwicket.

A short while later, VVS Laxman went on the back foot to defend a short ball from Sami and was struck on the helmet. He retired hurt with a swollen left eyebrow, but later returned after Dravid was out and played an aggressive cameo, unselfishly losing his wicket in the quest for quick runs.

Dravid had begun fluently, needing no time to settle in, but slowed considerably after Laxman's retirement, and went through a nervous period in the 90s. He also seemed tired after reaching his hundred, batting as solidly as ever but no longer stroking the ball so fluently or placing it as precisely. The young man at the other end, however, did both those things.

Karthik, who had made centuries in the semi-final and final of the 2003-04 Ranji Trophy, showed all the makings of a specialist batsman, and his driving and cutting was excellent. He was enterprising both in strokeplay and in running between wickets, and ran many quick singles with Dravid. He had expressed his admiration after the Mohali Test for Kamran Akmal's second-innings century, and here, he almost emulated him.

The important wicket of Dravid fell to Danish Kaneria shortly before tea. Seeking quick runs, Dravid holed out to mid-off, and left the field to a standing ovation. Not long after that Karthik was bowled round his legs trying to sweep Kaneria, who was bowling a negative line from round the wicket.

Irfan Pathan then played some lusty strokes, making 38 off 30 balls before the Indians declared on 407 for 9. Surely Pakistan had no chance of winning. Well, no-one told Afridi that.

Afridi is predictable in a sense that he both scares bowlers and gives them the thrill of opportunity. He played a couple of iffy shots, but there were some thumpacious boundaries as well. You could call it Sehwag-esque, except that Afridi has been doing it even before Sehwag. Collis King-esque? Trumper-esque? Well, he eventually threw his wicket away, hoicking Anil Kumble to Ganguly at short fine leg, so let's call it Afridi-esque.

His assault meant that along with a draw and an Indian victory, a Pakistan win had also become possible. Unlikely, but possible. After all that has happened in this series, count nothing out.

How they were out


Ganguly c&b Sami 12 (154 for 4) Tried pulling a quick short ball from outside off stump, top-edged it to midwicket.

Dravid c Kamal b Kaneria 135 (321 for 5) Holed out at mid-off trying to force the pace.

Karthik b Kaneria 93 (331 for 6) Bowled round his legs trying to sweep a delivery that landed in the rough well outside leg stump.

Laxman st Akmal b Kaneria 24 (377 for 7) Gave Kaneria the charge, stumped.

Harbhajan b Razzaq 0 (378 for 8) Wild swing down the wrong line.

Balaji c Akmal b Razzaq 0 (378 for 9) Wild swing to ball angled across him, got a slight edge.

Pakistan


Afridi c Ganguly b Kumble 59 (93 for 1) Hoick to fine leg.
Posted 20 Mar 2005

if pak maintain tha wickets..3/4 runs per over...then they can win...afridi did damage 59 runs in 59 balls pak 95 in 20 overs
Posted 20 Mar 2005

9 4s and 2 6s
Posted 20 Mar 2005

Bazigaar says
ohoo je..last day

105/2 (23.3 ov)

Pakistan require another 317 runs with 8 wickets remaining
Posted 20 Mar 2005

Bazigaar says
nah..pak has lost it's 4 wickets...only youhana is key batsman left at the moment...things don't look good for pak..damn
Posted 20 Mar 2005

Kumble bowls India to victory

The Bulletin by Anand Vasu at Kolkata

March 20, 2005



India 407 (Dravid 110, Sehwag 81) and 407 for 9 dec (Dravid 135, Karthik 93) beat Pakistan 393 (Younis 147, Youhana 104) and 226 (Afridi 59, Kamal 50, Kumble 7-63) by 195 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out



Inzamam-ul-Haq met an unfortunate end, bowled by an delivery that rolled on to his stumps © AFP



Anil Kumble proved irresistible on the fifth day, as he has so often in the past, and sent Pakistan skidding to 226 all out, taking 7 for 63 and giving India victory by 195 runs and a 1-0 lead in this series. Even on the final day the Eden Gardens pitch had no demons in it, apart from the very odd ball that either zipped low or kicked up, but the pressure Kumble exerted ensured that the batsmen had no chance of sticking it out in the middle.

India started the day as favourites, as neither of the two options before Pakistan - scoring 327 for a victory, or surviving 90 overs for a draw - were easy to achieve. Kumble made matters worse for Pakistan when he slid the first ball of the morning down the leg side, and Younis Khan overbalanced. Dinesh Karthik's fine Test match continued as he pulled off a smart stumping (95 for 2).

The early wicket completely changed the odds, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who came in next, was not his assured self. He poked and prodded, pushed and blocked, but could not get his normal flow going. And Kumble used this to full advantage, settling into a choking line and length. After a little more than half an hour at the crease that yielded a mere 13 runs, Inzamam was put out of his misery. He could not keep out a quick delivery from Kumble, and the ball squirted onto the stumps via bat and pad (115 for 3). Inzamam's wicket was undoubtedly the key for India, and even the unperturbable John Wright had to vent some emotion, pumping his fists on the dressing-room steps.

Just as the idle whispered that this match had shades of the India-Pakistan Delhi Test of 1999, and that Kumble had taken all the wickets to fall thus far, Lakshmipathy Balaji produced a high-quality delivery that was pitched in the right spot and swung away late to get the edge of Taufeeq Umar's bat. Umar had spent two unconvincing hours at the crease for 35 runs (115 for 4).

Of all the batsmen who played on the final day, Yousuf Youhana appeared the most relaxed. Although he was not his bustling, fluent self, he was firm in defence and positive in outlook. But he came across Kumble in the mood, and one popped off the inside edge to Gautam Gambhir at forward short leg (178 for 5).

Abdul Razzaq joined Asim Kamal, Pakistan's rock-solid revival man, and silenced an increasingly vociferous Sunday crowd with a brutal heave off Kumble that sent the ball soaring into the stands. The blow was trademark Razzaq, and was not so much a declaration of intent, as a gentle reminder that Pakistan were not going to roll over and play dead. But Kumble is the sort of man who takes every six off him personally. He struck back with a ripping topspinner that Razzaq only manged to edge back onto his stumps (188 for 6).

Kamal quietly compiled runs at his end, sometimes breaking the mould and attacking the spinners when the ball was a bit full or wide. But he lacked support at the other end. When Kamran Akmal, the hero of Pakistan's rearguard in Mohali, played well inside a straight one from Harbhajan Singh and was bowled (203 for 7), the result appeared a foregone conclusion.

With tea just around the corner Kumble picked up his sixth wicket, when Kamal attempted to flick the ball and only managed to pop it up to Mohammad Kaif, substituting for VVS Laxman, at forward short leg (214 for 8). The respite at tea proved temporary as Kumble struck yet again, with his first ball after tea, trapping Mohammad Sami plumb (223 for 9). The end came soon after, when Danish Kaneria played all over a quicker one from Harbhajan and was bowled.

How they were out

Younis st Karthik b Kumble 0 (95 for 2)
Went forward to a full ball down leg, missed it, stepped out, stumped.

Inzamam b Kumble 13 (115 for 3)
On the front foot, quickish ball, played on.

Umar c Sehwag b Balaji 35 (115 for 4)
Edged a ball pitched on the perfect line and length, slanting away from him.

Youhana c Gambhir b Kumble 22 (178 for 5
Edged to forward short leg.

Razzaq b Kumble 6 (188 for 6)
Dragged a quick topspinner back onto his stumps.

Akmal b Harbhajan 7 (203 for 7)
Played well inside the line of a straight one.

Kamal c Kaif b Kumble 50 (214 for 8)
Flicked to the onside and edged to short leg.

Sami lbw b Kumble 9 (223 for 9)
Plumb in front to a straight one on middle and off.

Kaneria b Harbhajan 3 (226 for 10)
Played down the wrong line and found his off stump pegged back
Posted 20 Mar 2005

wo hooo....!!!! great win win win win win win win
Posted 22 Mar 2005

100 Tests for Inzamam

The quiet colossus

Osman Samiuddin

March 23, 2005





Pakistan's giant © Getty Images



The way he is, he shouldn't be a batsman. He shouldn't even be a sportsman. Where other batsmen stride to the crease, Inzamam-ul-Haq lopes and mopes to it, shoulders hunched. He drags his bat along with him like a scolded schoolboy would his satchel. Not for him the bravado entrance of a Mathew Hayden or a Virender Sehwag, chest out, brandishing the bat as weapon. Increasingly when he is dismissed, he loiters despondent for an eternity, not as protest but because of an acute awareness of its implications. Hayden and Sehwag can afford bluster; if they go, they have Ponting, Gilchrist, Sachin or Dravid. But if Inzamam falls, as John Wright's fist-pumping celebration at Kolkata in the second innings suggested, half the battle with Pakistan is often won.

As with all his best innings, Inzamam's 100th Test has crept up on us almost unnoticed. Only three Pakistanis – Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram and Salim Malik – have played in over 100 tests and it somehow seems right, bearing in mind the larger-than-life personality each possessed, that they achieved the landmark. With Inzamam, it sounds mildly implausible; 100 tests? Really? He will probably end up eclipsing Miandad as the greatest batsman Pakistan ever produced. How, given his inert demeanor, has he managed it?

He stretches the traditional confrontation between ball and bat. Not till the very last moment, at which point the ball invariably looks like winning the battle, does he react. By that time, motionless almost apart from an incongruous shuffle here or there, the length is clear in his mind and it remains only for him to bring down his bat, with strength or otherwise, but always, always, with quick hands. Energy conservation is maximised and only as much as necessary is ever spent. You see it in his running and his fielding, especially in the short cover position he lately loves.



Recognise that slim boy-wonder? © Getty Images


It's not so much a technique as an attitude and with it he has become the most important Pakistan batsman of his time, possibly ever. Two innings in the 1992 World Cup made him, and won it for Pakistan. His undefeated 58 decided the Karachi thriller against Australia in 1994-5, but it has been only since 2000, by which time both Miandad and Malik were gone, that his value has become clear. For much of the time since, Pakistan's batting has disintegrated, while his, in inverse proportion, has flourished. The most wretched and vivid example of this dependence came at Multan in 2003, where but for his 138 not out, Pakistan's batsmen would've contrived to lose to Bangladesh. In 41 tests since 2000 he has averaged nearly 57, with 12 centuries. How important is he to Pakistan? More than statistics will ever tell you, for they don't tell you of the thin support and heavy load he has had to bear. Still, they are revealing. Of his 20 test centuries, 15 have contributed to Pakistan wins and he averages over 75 in all their wins since 2000.

So what, you say? In a golden age for batting, does he really bear comparison with the greats? Lara, Sachin, Hayden, Ponting, Dravid after all have better figures, players who, when that ludicrous question of having someone bat for your life is asked, would rightly get picked before him. And he won't be remembered in the same way a Lara or a Sachin will be. Where they have saved their very best for the best - Australia and South Africa of the nineties – Inzamam has average, even poor records against them. No, even though he may not lack their batsmanship, he lacks the drive, the ruthlessness, the sustained pursuit of excellence, the sheer force of will and personality which has marked their greatness.

But of course he does; it is a result of the very attitude which pulls us to him in the first place. Despite his apparent insouciance and the pressures on him, his lumbering starts, his unsportsmanlike appearance, he has managed to achieve all that he has; 100 tests, over 7000 runs and an average threatening 50 and that is worth appreciating. Occasions such as his 123 at Karachi last year against the Indians, or his 86 at Mohali last week, when he outshone even the most stellar batting line-up of our time are worth cherishing. These are occasions when everything clicks, when his very casualness suddenly becomes his redeeming feature and not a glaring hindrance. These are occasions where his genius emerges, where he fleetingly and slyly hints, rather than emphatically asserts, to being the best batsman in the game today.



Recognise that slim boy-wonder?
Posted 23 Mar 2005

third test..day 1..Bangalore

Pakistan 198/2 (56.3 ov)
India Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first

Pakistan RR: 3.50


Minimum overs
remaining today: 33.3

inzimam 116 not out
younis khan 76 not out
Posted 24 Mar 2005

India v Pakistan, 3rd Test, Bangalore, 1st day

Inzamam and Younis power Pakistan

The Bulletin by Dileep Premachandran at Bangalore

March 24, 2005



Pakistan 323 for 2 (Inzamam 184*, Younis 127*) v India
Scorecard and ball-by-ball commentary
How they were out



Inzamam-ul-Haq batted superbly in his 100th Test as Pakistan took control at Bangalore © Getty Images



An outstanding unbeaten 184 by Inzamam-ul-Haq, playing his 100th Test, was the highlight of the opening day at Bangalore, as Pakistan powered to 323 for 2. Inzamam was superbly supported by Younis Khan, who was unbeaten on 127. The two batsmen added 316 for the third wicket after India had made early inroads, dismissing both openers with only seven on the board.

Full report to follow.

Tea Pakistan 202 for 2 (Inzamam 119*, Younis 72*) v India

Inzamam-ul-Haq emulated Colin Cowdrey, Alec Stewart, Gordon Greenidge and his former team-mate, Javed Miandad, by scoring a century in his 100th Test as Pakistan took control of the third Test on a placid pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Inzamam's 21st hundred was a majestic effort, one that utterly changed the complexion of the match after India had struck two early blows with the new ball. By tea, Inzamam and Younis Khan, who played his part with a responsible auxiliary effort, had added 195 to set the platform for a big push in the final session.

India surrendered any trace of initiative soon after lunch, with Inzamam playing some crisp cuts and fluent shots off the pads. Untroubled when driving Lakshmipathy Balaji off the front foot, his back-foot play was simply imperious, with strokes piercing the field almost at will. He also ensured that Younis didn't lose the plot, going down the pitch and administering a pat on the back after a loose shot.

With Younis easing towards his 50, Inzamam stepped out and lofted Anil Kumble effortlessly towards the long-on fence, and then moved to 96 with an exquisite cover-drive off Irfan Pathan, the 15th four of his innings. Minutes later, a tuck off the hips to square leg gave him the single he needed to bring up a century that would mean so much to him, and his team.

His openers hadn't done him any favours at the start, but as has happened fairly frequently in the recent past, Inzamam was left to steer his team out of choppy waters. Yasir Hameed, in the side in place of the out-of-depth Taufeeq Umar, had started with a beautifully timed straight drive, but the opening crescendo from the crowd hadn't even died down when Shahid Afridi, who played that blistering innings in Kolkata, nicked Balaji's first delivery. And when Hameed edged one from Pathan, Inzamam strode out in his usual sedate fashion, mere minutes after being presented with a special memento on the field.



Younis Khan carried on his great form and supported Inzamam superbly © Getty Images




Both Balaji and Pathan bowled with terrific discipline and verve on a pitch that hid no demons, but Inzamam was in prime form, getting off the mark with a gorgeous cover-drive and following up with a nonchalant swivel-pull for four. The outfield tended to be slow, but Inzamam's sweetly timed shots sped to the fence, and with Younis also lacing some superb drives and cuts, the total slowly mounted.

Harbhajan and Kumble, the hometown hero, bowled 12 overs between them in the morning without really discomfiting either batsman, and the small smattering of grass on the surface appeared more to be a binding agent to prevent it cracking under an unrelenting sun. By tea time, it was India that were starting to exhibit cracks, with the fielding increasingly ragged in the face of some superb batsmanship. And not even being mistaken for Haidee Tiffen by the electronic scoreboard operators would have detracted from the big man's sense of delight. The job, though, was far from done.

How they were out


Afridi c Dravid b Balaji 0 (4 for 1) A tame edge to first slip.

Hameed c Karthik b Pathan 6 (7 for 2): A faint tickle through to the keeper as the ball slanted away from him.

Teams
Pakistan
1 Yasir Hameed, 2 Shahid Afridi, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Inzamam-ul-Haq (capt), 5 Yousuf Youhana, 6 Asim Kamal, 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Kamran Akmal (wk), 9 Danish Kaneria, 10 Mohammad Sami, 11 Arshad Khan.

India
1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Gautam Gambhir, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 VVS Laxman, 6 Saurav Ganguly (capt), 7 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Harbhajan Singh, 11 Lakshmipathy Balaji
Posted 24 Mar 2005

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Posted 25 Mar 2005

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