Khawaja Fariduddin: A challenging assignment for a great cricketer (24 Aug 1998)

24 Aug 1998

A challenging assignment for a great cricketer

By Khawaja Fariduddin

PAKISTAN cricket is going through a period of crisis, which is dragging on and on for more than two years, resulting in a disappointing performance by the team at home and abroad even through individually our team is loaded with stars.

Several remedus have been tried including frequent and repeated change of captains but unfortunately without success. In this very difficult state of affairs the appointment of Javed Miandad as a coach brings a glimmer of hope and great expectations.

His target should be the World Cup 99 for which he will have to ensure discipline, prime physical fitness of each members of the team, plus restoration of confidence and unity. The assignment is by no means easy. In the current circumstances it is a stupendous task and a formidable challenge. He must succeed not only for himself but for the sake of cricket in Pakistan.

Though it is not yet clear, but Miandad has given a hint that he might once again don the pads and take the field if the situation, so demands. There is no doubt he has in his heydays been a great batsman vying with some of the best the game has seen.

It is now nearly three years since Javed Miandad retired from International Cricket, bringing to an end twenty glorious cricketing years. Starting from Karachi in 1976 to Banglore in 1996 was an eventful journey studded with one milestone after another. The beginning itself, his first test appearance at Karachi against New Zealand was spectacular. He stormed into test cricket with a blazing 163 in the first innings and 85 in the second. What more could one expect from a young 18 year old.

It was a dream entry to test cricket sending a strong and definite message to the cricketing world that a star is born. From then on Javed Miandad never looked back. He rapidly established himself as an international cricketer of repute with consistent scores of fifties, hundreds and even double hundreds in al the cricketing centres of the world.

His defence was impregnable. His aggression was commanding, authoritative and even merciless. he had a rich repertoire of strokes which he played with excellence all round the wicket. His cover drives, square cuts, his pulls and hooks, late cuts through the slips and that inimitable finest of fine glances through the leg slip eluding the wicket keeper and fine leg, were all a treat to watch. He used the reverse sweeps so effectively that it baffled the best of opponents. He was a great improviser. He was never deterred by the fastest of bowlers or by the best spinners int he game. He tackled them all with ease and confidence. His swift running between the wickets was exemplary. Many a batsmen at the other end would find if difficult to cope with him.

Miandad was never ever overawed by a situation. In fact he excelled and was at his best in a crisis. Countless number of times he brought the team out of trouble and carried them to shore. How often he snatched victory for Pakistan from the jaws of defeat leaving the opponents stunned and shattered. Who can forget one of his epic innings at Sharjah against arch rivals India. At 67 for 4 Pakistan was in deep trouble but with Javed Miandad at the crease there was always hope.

Pakistani fans had trust in him and he did not betray their trust. First he set about to repair the damage in his typical style with prods and pushes, a nudge here and there, adding singles and doubles and lifting the score slowly but surely to a manageable level. Once he had entrenched himself firmly the target through still very stiff was no problem for him. Nearly nine to ten runs were required in the lst ten overs with barely three wickets in hand. Recognizing the need, Miandad from then an launched a ferocious attack and carried the battle into Indian territory spreading panic in their ranks.

Thousands on the ground in Sharjah and many more on TV across India and Pakistan could hardly believe when the last over came left. It was then runs were required in six balls with last wicket holding on a virtual cliff-hanger. Six runs came in the five balls and then came the last with four runs still required for victory. Chetan Sharma took a few steps to bowl. Miandad stopped himand began to survey the field as if to say I am the monarch of all survey.

The Indian Captain was nervously relocating his fielders for the last ball trying to plug the gaps here and there perhaps not realising that all his efforts will prove useless as Miandad had other intentions. He blasted the last ballover and above their heads with a mighty blow for a six heralding the famous Sharjah victory for Pakistan.

Miandad's 280 not out at Hyderabad was yet another great innings against India. It was a balanced mixture of caution and aggression. He was ideally placed for a final assault on the then world record of 365 when Imran Khan madea highly controversial declaration thus depriving Miandad the possibility of achieving a great feat which also would have been a unique honour for Pakistan.

Javed has played many a memorable and scintillating innings at home and abroad exhibiting a distinct class of batting which was far above the rest. He put to sword many great bowlers in the last two decades. Lillee,Roberts, Garner, Marshal, Kapil Dev, Parsanna, Bedi, Botham, Hadlee have all at one time or another experienced the wrath of Miandad's batting powers. Fast wicket or a vicious turning strip Miandad, a skillful master, was able to negotiate any crisis with comfortable ease. At the end of a one day match between England and Pakistan in England the famous English spinner Phil Edmonds had remarked that even on a difficult wicket Miandad is the most difficult batsman to get out. Geoff Bycott, Sunil Gavaskar, Vivan Richard are among his admirers and acknowledge him as one of the all time batting greats. Richard is reported to have said if ever I have to ask anyone to play an innings of my life it would be Javed Miandad.

As a Captain he was brilliant. Under pressure he excelled and responded with counter pressure. He never panicked. His assessment of strengths and weaknesses of his opponents was uncanny. His field placings and bowling changes were immaculately precise and appropriate to the situation.He made right moves at the right time. his understanding of the game was exceptional. He was a cricketing genius.

It was indeed very sad that inspite of al this Miandad was subjected to very unkind and shabby treatment by the Cricket Establishment of Pakistan. He was repeatedly replaced as Captain. Each time he responded with dignity and grace. Inspite of being badly hurt and much against general expectations he always agreed to play as an ordinary team member for the sake of the team and Pakistan. He always kept his pride subordinate to higher national considerations.

Most astonishing was the decision of the board to drop him as Captain even after he had led Pakistan to convincing series win against England in England and against New Zealand in New Zealand. This inexplicable act of the Board led to an unprecedented turmoil in Pakistan. The team lost its bearings and took one tumble after another and till this date inspite of talented cricketers we have failed to perform as a team to our full potential due to absence of a good leader.

In the fading years Miandad ws unfortunately afflicted by a serious knee injury which kept him out of cricket for nearly two years yet he made a determined effort and came back to play for Pakistan for the last time in the Sixth World Cup thereby setting a record of participations in all the six World Cups.

When Miandad appeared for the last time in Karachi and Lahore, a jam packed National Stadium erupted into a frenzy of thunderous applause. More than fifty thousand spectators gave Miandad a standing ovation for a moment one thought an unending ovation an ovation rarely seen in the annuals of sporting history. The ovation was not only in admiration but also a to take of deep gratitude from the people of Pakistan to the great Miandad for bringing so many times so much glory to Pakistan.

Source:: Dawn (https://dawn.com/)