Can Nasir Jamshaid become another Wasim Akram?

Nasir & Wasim’s club mate’s monologue

I was watching Nasir Jamshaid’s match winning innings against Australia and was praising his outstanding performance against New Zealand, Bangladesh and in the match against mighty Aussies when Wasim Akram’s comments turned me nostalgic as he said, “I and Nasir Jamshaid have one thing in common. We have been playing from the same Ludhiyana cricket club and were trained by the same coach Mr. Saud Khan. But I and Nasir never played together.”

I have few things in common too with these two heroes of Pakistan cricket. I, Wasim and Nasir have never played together but I have played with Wasim at the start of my career and with Nasir at the end of my career under the same coach Saud Khan from the same club.

Wasim Akram’s statement reminded me of the golden old days. I was junior to Wasim and senior to Nasir. Wasim would visit Laudhiyana club as Super Star in mid 90s when I started my career from the very club. He was first playing hero of my generation. Wasim had been very respectful to his seniors especially towards Saud Khan who was his first mentor. Wasim would always give useful tips to the fast bowlers of the club in his short visits. Being a part of Ludhiyana club, I would always own those two deliveries which bowled Allan Lamb and Chriss Lewis out of the World Cup 1992 as if I bowled them out and earned world cup for Ludhiyana club. I played for many years from the very club. It was a fun playing in presence of a legend and under the coaching of his mentor. Telling the tales of Wasim’s success and Saud Khan’s coaching style would always be a matter of pride and pleasure. I would proudly say that I and Wasim have two things in common and that was the club and the coach. Wasim and Saud Khan have played with Imran Khan in different phases of their careers and were blessed with the same attitude. This attitude travelled through generations of Ludhiyana club and reached Nasir.

I still remember I played from the very club for many years. Towards the end of Wasim’s career, he almost stopped coming to the club but Saud Khan was quite regular in his visits. As he was a very ambitious cricketer and a professional coach, he would always keep himself updated with the changes in modern cricket. What made his different from others was his vision which he successfully transferred to the young cricketers. I was one of them who kept on dreaming of playing for Pakistan as long as I played with him. Wasim Akram, Ijaz Ahmad, Ata-ur-Rahman, Zahid Fazal, Abdul Rauf, Ashfaq Ahmad, Nasir Jamshaid and many other stars who represented country at highest level were groomed by Saud Khan. He has been a quality-conscious coach and to be part of his team was always a great experience.

One fine day, I received a call from my coach who asked me to join Ludhiyana club’s team at Punjab University ground for a match against Daily Khabrain. I played the match and we outclassed our opponent in that friendly match. With the help of Yasir Jamshaid’s unbeaten century, we put a handsome total of 274runs on board and defended it successfully. I send Khabrain’s 5 batsmen home in a 200 runs victory. We went back to the club next day and were celebrating our outstanding performance when Yasir’s younger brother Nasir arrived and asked Yasir to come with him for a routine knocking. I noticed that Nasir’s shot selection was amazing but he was not playing with a straight bat. I told him to play with a straight bat first and then to go for huge shots. He had a learning attitude and was very respectful as it was a culture of Ludhiyana club that we inherited from Saud Khan and Wasim Akram. He started following the instructions immediately and we started discussing the match as we were still haunted by our performance. Nasir never looked back and kept moving until he became a reliable resource of Pakistani team.

A Ludhiyana club cricketer Wasim Akram did not forget fighting spirit of Saud Khan’s when he was playing final of the world cup in 1992. He inherited Never-Give-Up attitude from Saud Khan. He is the very coach who taught the same philosophy to Nasir Jamshaid. Being a member of Wasim Akram’s club and student of Saud Khan, it is his responsibility to earn another world cup Pakistan. As Ramiz said, “he is the only cultured batsman of the world cup.” I am sure; the way he is playing his shots, making useful contribution to Pakistani score card, he can show miracles in Semi Final and Final.

I can still feel the sensation of being a junior and a senior of two superstars who are always ready to contribute to the best of their skills.

Cricket Diplomacy or Unprofessional Attitude

“Pakistan has played par below its potential”, Waqar Younis says. But spectators did not believe and their version of the story is; “In matches between Pakistan and India, “Cricket Diplomacy” plays. It earned us water last time (Semi Final 2011) and will benefit us with peace this time. Pakistan played according to the plan given by the government according to Rehman Malik’s instructions.”

The question is; Does Zia-ul-Haq’s famous cricket diplomacy still play in Pakistan-India matches?

At first, we need to understand what cricket diplomacy means. Zia’s cricket diplomacy had nothing to do with the match or its results. It was all about having an official meeting between the highest authorizes of both the countries in an environment that could dissolve tension between two countries which were on the verge of war.

I strongly believe; this “diplomacy” was never practiced in recent days. A new conspiracy theory and a “Modern Cricket Diplomacy” talks differently. Very “Good Will” series of 2003 and matches played between Pakistan and India were never accepted as clean matches. Spectators would always find something “suspicious” in the game plan and the execution, be it World Cup 2011 Semi Final or an ordinary match of Asia Cup between these two teams.

Not to talk much about the “Diplomacy” and believing that the match was played without this external factor, we can analyze the match by keeping ground realities in mind.

Pakistan-India matches have always been a test of nerves instead of a test of skills. Pakistani team was, by all means, a better side than Indians. Their batsmen were not as good as Indians were but still they were able to put a fighting total on board against a proven below average bowling side. And Pakistani bowling is just outstanding and can bowl any side out under 100. But nothing happened actually. Both the departments (bowling and batting) played par below their potential as Waqar stated.

What else went wrong with Pakistan is; the captaincy. Captains, not the players play in cricket. Unlike many other sports, leader’s role makes real difference in cricket. It was an army of lions, led by a sheep, to say the least.

Problems with Hafeez’s Captaincy:

Reaction of Pakistani spectators was justified this time as they were not introduced to such a defensive side. Pakistani Cricket would always outclass India in almost every match because of the attacking body language of the captains in 90s. Even in recent days, when Afridi was captain in World Cup 2011, he did not show his nerves in the toughest match of the tournament. He was the most aggressive player of the side on that particular day. Pakistan has always played attacking cricket. They were never afraid of losing a match. Body language of Pakistani captains remained positive even in crucial matches. However, Hafeez looked nervous defensive and throughout. His body language affected his side.

Captain played with extremely defensive strategy. His batting (15 runs on 24 balls) and field placing set the tone of the match. He forgot that he had world’s three best bowlers in his side. Anyone of them could change the game in favor of Pakistan but no one could do that because of the prevailing nervousness.

A total 129 was could not be defended by saving runs. They should have planned for 16 overs instead of 20 and put the pressure on India by having a slip in all 16 overs. Fielders were placed to save doubles and fours instead of asking them to put their efforts to run out batsmen and avail the sharp catches. You can save matches with good fielding but to win matches, you need match winners and to utilize them, you need a captain with positive frame of mind. Pakistan was lacking a fighter captain on that particular day.

Public & Media Pressure Handling

IPL has trained Indian cricketers. They know how to handle media and public pressure. Pakistani cricketers have not been exposed to such a huge crowd and media wars. I am afraid, someone worked on players’ speaking ability but forgot to tell the tactics of handling media.

Too Many All-Rounders

Whenever I see too many all-rounders in a side, I recall a phrase, “jack of all trades and master of none”. Shoaib Malik, Yasir Arafat, Shahid Afridi and Muhammad Hafeez are just too good but can you really afford playing all four in one side and still asking for Abdul Razzaq who could show miracles.

You need to relay on specialists like Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshaid, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, and Asad Shafiq (who’s never used) and go in the ground by giving them a responsibility for which they could be held responsible. Or you need to have ONE Shane Watson.

India played well but Pakistan underperformed. They need to come back with the positive frame of mind against Australia who are playing to win the world cup. To reserve their seat in Semi Final, Pakistan needs to play according to its ability by making few important changes in the side and in the attitude.

Greens would not be having pressure of “Cricket Diplomacy” against Australia but will meet true professionals. They need to be true professionals to qualify for the Semi Final again and that is not a Mission Impossible.