Wasim Akram And Selectors Take Sigh Of Relief After World Series Cup Glory (27 Jan 1997)

27 January 1997

Wasim Akram, selectors take sigh of relief after WSC glory

ISLAMABAD, Jan 26: Pakistan`s much-acclaimed World Series victory in Melbourne must have come as a big sigh of relief not only for skipper Wasim Akram but also for the six month`s old selection committee.

Unprecedented number of new faces were inducted into the national squad by the three-man selection committee. This practice took time to yield results, sometimes evoking whimsical reaction from the detractors. The final outcome, though, put Pakistan virtually on top of at least one-day world cricket map, sparking an euphoria comparable only with the country`s maiden World Cup win back in 1992.

Wasim Akram`s first year-long stint as skipper in 1993 was marred by unsavoury controversies such as Marijuana-using charges brought up by Grenada Police against four Pakistan players during the infamous 1992-93 tour to the Caribbean and rebellion by almost the entire team against his captaincy later the same year. His kitty was bereft of any outstanding performance by the team under his wing. Pakistan lost the three-Test series in the Caribbean 0-2, heavily lost a triangular one-day series in South Africa against the host country and West Indies and were emphatically defeated by a Brian Lara-spearheaded West Indies in the Champions Trophy in Sharjah.

When the authorities fell back on him as captain in late 1995 in the wake of bribery allegations by Australians against Salim Malik and embarrassing defeat by Sri Lanka at home, Wasim Akram was being given less than an optimistic chance to do better. But here he is, leading from the front to bring Pakistan an apogee of glory and establishing himself as a successful skipper, on top of his undisputed place as one of the greatest-ever cricketers the country has produced. "His captaincy was inspirational and he motivated his players well," manager Yawar Saeed said of a lanky 30-year-old Akram as the team arrived back home after winning the World Series Cricket Trophy =97 considered the most prestigious after the World Cup=97for the first time in 17 years.

Apart from the bedazzling triumphs in limited overs cricket, Wasim Akram has also not been without his share of Test wins with 2-0 humiliation of home side in England last summer being the crown jewel of his run of victories in this form of cricket.

That was Pakistan`s third successive Series win on English soil after earlier such feats under the stewardship of Imran Khan and Javed Miandad in 1987 and 1992.

The commentators Down Under like Bill Laurie and Richie Benaud were full of praise for Wasim Akram`s deft handling of his relatively young and raw players and his success in bringing the best out of such novices as Shahid Khan Afridi, Mohammad Zahid, Shahid Nazir and Mohammad Waseem.

The scintillating performance of these players, along with those by Saqlain Mushtaq, Ijaz Sr. and Waqar Younis, justified the preference of selectors Salim Altaf, Zaheer Abbas and Haroon Rashid in turning to fresh blood for raising a team that could mount a strong challenge in the World Cup in England in 1999. But the way Pakistan Juniors, boasting at least three Test and oneday international players, meekly capitulated before touring England Juniors in both unofficial Test and one-day series just before the finals against West Indies in Australia, had raised many questions about selection policies. "With Test batsmen Shadab Kabir and Hassan Raza and one-day International Abdul Razzaq in Pakistan team, they should have thrashed England Juniors 3-0," critics pointed out. At least a dozen players were baptised into international cricket in the nearly six months since the inception of current selection committee: Azher Mehmood, Azam Khan, Hassan Raza, who became the young-ever cricketer to win a Test cap, left hander Shadab Kabir, Shahid Nazir, Mohammad Zahid, Zahoor Elahi, Mohammad Waseem, Mujahid Jamshed etc.

But it was Saqlain Mushtaq, the 20-year-old off-spinner discovered by the previous selection committee who stole the limelight in Australia with his deceptive bowling. "They (the Aussies) kept asking about the secret of my delivery which moved away from the right-handed batsman," quipped an impassive Saqlain in what can be termed as summation of Pakistan`s impressive performance Down Under.

Though Pakistan have found a winning combination, the vulnerability of batting line-up cannot be overlooked and hence the muchneeded return of Salim Malik and Saeed Anwar.

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