JEDDAH, 27 May 2006 — Younis Khan and Abdul Razzaq set the Al-Ahli Stadium in Jeddah on fire with scintillating sixes and fantastic fours in an international exhibition match between Pakistan XI and Asian XI yesterday.
Set a modest target of 197 runs, Pakistan won the 35-over day-and-night match with ease in the 31st over.
Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian flags of all shapes and all sizes fluttered in the warm evening breeze that heralded the onset of international cricket in Jeddah.
“We had never seen them in flesh and blood. They existed only in the television screens. Tonight we saw them putting a powerful display of action in front of our own eyes,” said an international school student who came to watch the match with his father.
The electrifying display by the famous Pakistani batsmen sent the sizable mass of cricket aficionados from the subcontinent into rapture. The cries of “Jeetega bhai jeetega, Pakistan jeetega” vibrated through the air as Younis and Abdul Razzaq sent the ball over the boundary and into the crowd on numerous occasions. It was nothing short of the sweetness of victory for the mostly subcontinental spectators for whom cricket is second only to religion.
Missing in action, however, were the Saudis.
Save for the men in uniform, there was not a Saudi soul in sight watching the game of passion in action. Those who promoted it here in the Kingdom were also conspicuous by their absence. But then the spectators had fun “because we watched our heroes in action in Saudi Arabia.”
The formidable Inzamam ul-Haq led the Pakistani team. Rated as one of the best masters of the game, Inzamam was the cynosure of all eyes. Cool as a cucumber, he played his part in seeing his team put up a fantastic performance. At the fall of every wicket of the rival team, the Pakistani team would huddle together and thank God — a strong symbol of togetherness and team spirit.
If Inzamam played a sterling role as a captain for his team, it was Ajay Jadeja who led the Asian XI with aplomb. He lost the toss and the match but won the accolades of the crowd. He himself batted in style and experts said had Jadeja stayed a little longer in the middle he would have changed the result of yesterday’s match.
For Asian XI it was Sri Lankan Kumara Dharmasena who topscored with 61 runs in their total of 196 runs. The Asian team was bundled out in the 31st over. Pakistan reached the target by losing six wickets. Inzamam fittingly scored the winning runs.
