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THIS TIME SOMETHING DIFFERENT FROM DUBAI
February 17, 2012
Dubai in recent times features in the Pakistani news media because of some sort of political news coming out from there but this time its cricket which has hit the headlines. Pakistanis have always been provided with moments of pride and moments of embarrassment by the practitioners of sport which is quite famous in this part of the world. Cricket victory in Dubai has once again proved the point that the game of cricket is not played in Pakistan right now but still the team is able to perform brilliantly on foreign venues.
Victory against England is particularly more significant and worth-enjoying because of the flames of tension with the English team and media where somehow Pakistani cricketers received the negative coverage. The incident when Pakistani players were caught red-handed while dealing with the bookies came as a rude shock to the people of the country and the admirers of the game. In response the English media and occasionally the behaviour of English players upset the matters between both teams.
Saeed Ajmal’s skilful hand at the ball did not go well the English media and objections were raised on his action to deliver that particular delivery termed as “Teesra”. Despite all the noise and muck-raking the players meant their job and have done the number one test team. The feat deserves all the plaudits for the team has done so well in adverse circumstances and brought the much-needed relief and respite in the lives of Pakistanis who are hard-pressed due to fast-rising inflation and constant power outages. Pakistan’s ranking is sure to improve after clean sweep against England and now it has to be seen that how does the team deliver in ODIs and T-twenty encounters. The first ODI has exposed the unpredictable Pakistani side but at the same time resilience is also a hallmark of Pakistan team. Conditions certainly favour the team as the typical playing Asian conditions do not suit the English players. The performance of the team in these formats of the game would be icing on the cake and people would feel optimistic about the revival of the game in the country which got disrupted in the wake of frail and failing security environment. The momentum which has been built in Dubai after the World Cup fiasco has to continue to bring back the international cricket in the country and this is what adds to the task of the players. Victory against good teams in few more tournaments and series would certainly enhance the prospects and possibilities to revive the game in the country thus giving Pakistan the status which it deserves on account of its long association and deep affinity with the game.
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