ALKHOBAR, 13 March 2005 — You would think Pakistan won the first cricket Test match, instead of drawing it, from the reaction of Pakistani expatriates. They screamed, jumped and danced in front of the television screen celebrating Pakistan’s performance at Mohali.
“For every Pakistani, this draw was equal to a thumping victory because when Pakistan were 3 wickets down for just ten runs, every cricket pundit predicted an easy win for India. They thought Pakistan had handed the game to the Indians on a platter. Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq who are not even genuine batsmen snatched victory from the hands of Indians and made everyone of us proud,” Raffia, a Pakistani cricket fanatic, told Arab News.
Shakil-ur-Rahman, a Pakistani expatriate from Jeddah told Arab News on phone that Pakistan would have won the game had they not dropped so many catches. “India’s Virendar Sehwag made 173 runs after his catch was dropped three times. Pakistan’s captain, Inzamam ul-Haq was given out leg before wicket twice in very doubtful manner. India was in a commanding position not because they outplayed us, but because we really played badly and got ourselves into a mess. So I am ecstatic that Pakistan was able to draw the match against all odds.”
Indian expatriates on the other hand were stunned at India’s inability to win. Gopi, a mechanic in Tughba area said, “I am very disappointed that we lost a match we had already won on the fourth day of play.” Then sarcastically he added, “Yes, but Pakistan played really well; not one of their players scored a zero this time. I think they were scared of being answerable to President Musharraf who will be in Calcutta to watch the next Test match so they put their heart into the game and achieved a draw.” Gopi is still confident that India will win the next two games and the series. “I am an admirer of cricketer Imran Khan and I believe in his prediction that India would win the series 3-0 or 2-0. I’m waiting.”
Nurul Aziz Khan was very disappointed at the Indian team’s performance. “India never had it so easy. They should have won. India’s middle order is to blame. After the openers gave a fantastic start, the middle order batsmen went into a shell. They only made 100 runs in 50 overs. They did not take advantage of having so many wickets in hand.”
The first India-Pakistan match was an absolute thriller. Even when it was evident that India would not win but the match would end in a draw, not a single spectator left the stand at Mohali. The love and hospitality that Indians and Pakistanis have shown each other has achieved what no diplomatic maneuver ever did. The next Test match promises to be equally exciting. India would have the home advantage, and the vocal chords of over 100,000 Bengalis rooting for them. If Pakistan fancies a victory, it would have to drastically improve its schoolboyish fielding. It was pitiful to note that during India’s second innings when the match was ending in a draw and there was no pressure Salman Butt dropped the catch of someone as potent, lethal and important as Virendar Sehwag. Pakistan must remember, “catches win matches”.
