Something positive from the deserts

A draw against the number 2 test team is meant a lot more

Yesterday was the end of South Africa and Pakistan’s tour to the United Arab Emirates which ended in a draw. But Pakistan played literally better in the longest format of the game. Although the pitches belted were taylor made for batters but still Pakistan managed to take wickets on those pitches too, and for the first time in many years, I saw a consistent batting performances from the green shirts, specially from Azhar Ali, who looked solid, although I must say he’s limited in shots, but still he has the tendency to stay on the wicket, which is the main criteria in this format.

It must also be noted that after Sharjah, these were the two grounds in the UAE where a test match between two international sides were staged here. Although Sharjah Stadium not being used for now but still there is a chance that the stadium might get a chance to stage an international fixture, specially when Pakistan is a no-go area for international teams. As expected the pitches were similar to that of sub-continent but still slow turn and bounce was also visible there, and like Pakistani grounds, these grounds were haunted during the playing hours, it must be noticed that 3 big guns of South Asia, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka all engaged in their home games right now, with playing against South Africa, New Zealand and the West Indies respectively and I have to admit that the crowd response was positive in Indian games, they’ve been engaged in giving incentives to the commercial parties like complementary enclosures and some more incentives on ground, have to give benefit of doubt to Sri Lanka as their grounds currently under construction, but must compliment Indian Board, for their management as they knew that their grounds must be under construction so they worked on the smaller grounds like Guwahati at others so that burden must not be fall on the big grounds like Mumbai specially when the future of Feroz Shah Kotla still undecided.

The reason I am diverting this to grounds because although Pakistan is forced to stage their future home games abroad, so by that time like South Africa when they were literally exiled from the international cricket, they improved their domestic structure, grounds and in 1991 they returned with a bang, but nothing of that sort I can see with PCB improving and upgrading their two big grounds atleast to cope with present time, and when their grounds are not loaded with much fixtures, so they should stage their domestic circuit to smaller grounds so that these grounds can be upgraded and plus smaller grounds can get the same attention like the big grounds of Karachi and Lahore.

Getting back to Pak RSA series, it was a positive for Pakistan, as they found some performances from their youngsters, like Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq and Tanvir Ahmed they could be a prospect for Pakistan in future. Although Kallis seams to be complaining about the condition of pitches, and was found saying that “The groundsman needs to ensure the game of Test cricket stays healthy and produces a good contest between bat and ball,” Kallis said. “It didn’t really live up [to expectations] and you can probably play another Test match straight away and not get a result. The pitch was really flat“. I say that pitches were real flat but you’re going to get similar sorta pitches in Indian Sub-Continent altogether whether its Premadasa, Chennei or Chittagong, you’ll be finding the same pitches whatsoever, and plus in the Dubai test, it was a slow bounce and flat pitch but still the magical spell from Umar Gul on the second day of the match which reduced the Proteas under 400 when their overnight score was 311, so they’re not allowed to complain on the pitches. Although Paul Harris has been a prospect for them and is a threat to opposing teams, but again thumbs up to Pakistan that they were able to save their test matches from Proteas, the number two ranked team, but being a cricket junkie, I wanted something in result, I must say South Africa looked a bit defensive as they should have showed some courage in giving Pakistan some more time to bat on instead of axing your ownself by playing half an hour on the next morning when their pace bowlers could have utilized the moisture on the pitch in a new morning.

But kudos to Pakistan team for showing a good show, but the next tour of New Zealand is a tough one, and as expected Amir and Asif wont be there.