Re: India/Pakistan series - Daily Diary
Lahori Munda's 2nd test day 5 review:
Pakistan should not play home test matches in this weather if the result would be dead pitches like the two we have witnessed so far in this series. It makes us look bad, defensive and gives the opposition the impression that we are afraid of losing home games. The second test match, just like the first one, ended in a tame draw. The previous two series between arch rivals, India and Pakistan, were closely fought and even the drawn games were action filled. No such thing has happened so far in this series. The batsmen have improved their averages, the out of sort players have taken time to settle down to play long innings and the bowlers have suffered non-stop. I agree people like to see aggressive stroke play so pitches all across the world are now accommodated for that, we rarely ever see a green top like we use to in the good ol’ days. But the pitches for the last two games have been just unacceptably in favor of the batsmen. One team has to play foolishly twice to hand a victory to the other team otherwise producing a result is next to impossible.
The day started with Pakistan comfortably ahead and Kamran Akmal raced to the 70’s before rush of blood made him play a little too far away from his body and gave a catch in gully to Kumble. Yousaf joined Younis Khan and recorded his second century of the series as Younis himself helped him self to another score in the 190’s. Yet again he was unable to convert that into a double hundred but nevertheless he is having a good time out there. Although his runs are scored on placid wickets but he did have a good run against India in India as well so he seems to enjoy playing the Indian bowlers. After Younis and Yousaf only Razzaq could reach double figures as a sudden rush of wickets saw Pakistan getting all out and Indians had to come out to bat some overs for the sake of formality.
With two high scoring drawn games all eyes are set on the Karachi match and although there have been talks about the fact that due to better climate in the city it is possible to create a supporting pitch but I personally am not sure if this will happen. Last time the two teams played at this venue was in an ODI and India has piled up a mammoth total of over 300 runs and Pakistan very nearly chased it down as they also scored over 300 but fell 12 short of the target, if memory serves me right. This means that the pitch in Karachi is also suited for batting and although efforts would be made to make it a little more sporting, I am not sure just how much it would offer the bowlers. One would hope it would offer enough help to ensure a result, that’s all everyone wants. At this time I think the players and the people of both nations are bored and tired of the past two games and they’d rather see their opposing team win then have another tame draw