Ads 468x60px

Monday, November 1, 2010

The mad scientist

Fabtastic!
Stupendiforous!
Supranormous!
There are not enough adjectives in the English language to describe Abdul Razzaq’s simply epic innings yesterday and, frankly, the ones available don’t do it any justice. So I just decided to make up my own. Why should we be bound to conventional rules and limitations when recalling an innings so unconventional in its construction and so limitless in its brilliance.
When Razzaq walked out onto the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, at least half the television sets tuned into the match must have been switched off. His entrance came at the cost of Shahid Afridi, who had seemed like the last hope of salvaging any semblance of pride in this game. Indeed, Afridi’s knock was spectacular within its own scale and you couldn’t help but believe that as long as he was alive the impossible was just about attainable.
But, as is always the case with Shahid, his brand of madness is more vulnerable to implosion than the calculated, introspective psychosis Razzaq brings to the table. Both dare to dream. Both are megalomaniacal in their ambitions. Both possess that unique spark of creativity reserved only for some, which make us – the viewer – believe that they are capable of the unimaginable. And yesterday Razzaq’s spark burned with the intensity of a nuclear furnace to incinerate the South African challenge, ball by ball, over by over.
Until the 47th over, bowled by Charl Langeveldt, there had been no impatient dash to the finish line, as is more characteristic of an Afridi innings. Even during that key over, there seemed a kind of logic at work during the carnage. As if now Razzaq had decided that, with the asking rate hovering above 13 per over and with the cushion of three wickets in hand, this was the time to cash in to ensure the asking rate at the end would not reach overwhelming proportions. The challenge was so great, however, that despite a mammoth 47th over Razzaq still left himself with 14 to get in the final six with the last wicket. Hardly a manageable task. But the Razzler was up to it.
Up till the 47th over, it was an innings at odds with the script of the game, the expectations of all rational viewers and with history itself. As Osman Samiuddin rightly observed, only after Razzaq smoked his last six was it possible to come to terms with the likelihood of victory. Our history of chasing South African scores is insipid, with our best “effort” being the overtaking of 223 back in the mid-90s. This oppressive history seemed destined to persist as our innings unfolded predictably with the loss of top-order wickets and our middle order’s inability to provide any acceleration. Any hope or belief we had was used up by Afridi who inspired us to place our faith in him but dumped our expectations in that all too familiar graveyard at long-on. Even the first three quarters of Razzaq’s innings seemed gloriously futile as he was always facing a mounting run-rate and the steady disintegration of support. At times you felt the innings was more ornamental than definitive as the violence seemed too measured to truly amount to anything.
But then we don’t have the benefit of being in Razzaq’s head when he orchestrates a masterpiece such as this. The greatest virtue of madness is that its “victims” can see infinite patterns and outcomes in scenarios where others simply see the finite and the orthodox. Where you and I would be unable to let our consciousness transcend worldly limitations, a Beethoven could compose a moonlight sonata or 5th Symphony and an Isaac Newton could formulate the laws of motion and theorize universal gravitation.
And an Abdul Razzaq could calmly see before him the route to victory whereas others could only conceive defeat.
Entire overs would go by without as much as a boundary. He would get beaten. Poke a single. Defend carefully. And then abruptly blitz a six or four with the comfort of one toying with children. There was a special kind of methodology behind it, one undecipherable to our limited consciousness. Was it confidence? That’s too simple an explanation. Razzaq was operating on a different plane of existence altogether. He surveyed the competing variables at work around him and it all made sense to him. He distilled the match into an elegant formula:
“If they allow me to free my arms, I’m going to kill it.”
And so he did.
The last over was never a problem for Razzaq. By then he had supreme conviction in this formula. Once he got bat on ball he was assured of the desired result. You see, that’s why his face is so puzzlingly emotionless. It all seems so simple and logical to him. No edges. No mishits. No leg-byes or glances. Just outright, ludicrously effective power hitting wherever and whenever he wanted it.
We’ll never be able to understand it or predict its next occurrence. The best we can do is to remember it fondly.
It was insane. It was inspirational. It was sensational.
It was “insational”!

Loving Abdul Razzaq

I’ve been a fan of Abdul Razzaq since the 1999 World Cup.  I was having an all-rounder phase at the time, and the thought of this “teenager” who could bat at three and bowl tidy medium really appealed to me. Even though his career has stalled, tripped and occasionally landed him in a rebel league, I’ve always kept the love for him.
I can see why people love him, he hits a big six, and seems to play cricket with almost no effort. But for me, it’s the little details of Razzaq that I enjoy.
I love Pakistani cricketers because they way often play cricket with every emotion they have. It’s like an audition for the school play. Razzaq is different. Even after he hits a big six his pulse never seems to register an increase. Nothing seems to please him while the cricket is on. Although, nothing really displeases him either. It’s a steady emotion of almost nothingness.
For instance, batsmen have many different ways of looking at their own sixes. Eoin Morgan gives the ball an angry stare. Cameron White looks uncomfortable. Shane Watson can’t decide whether to hold the pose or smile. And Jesse Ryder smirks. Razzaq seems uninterested in them. Almost like someone else has hit them. He takes his gloves off, has a chat with the non-striker, and keeps the same face on. It’s a beautiful habit.
On a good day, he might give you a cheeky half-smile, or a touch of frown.  On his normal days he just cements a perfect semi-grimace on his face.  The difference between his smile and his frown is so small that sometimes getting a wicket doesn’t change it enough to be noticeable.  It’s always a subtle performance from his face, and one I loved to watch for.
His posture should be mentioned as well – straighter than a Mississippi preacher.  His bowling action can be performed with a book on his head.  Possibly because of this stiff action he gets almost no pace. Well, that and the fact he is probably 50 by now. It’s almost camp, a stiff-backed prance with a high arm and relaxed pace. Almost beyond parody.
Yesterday he was at his brutal best. Where his grimace sort of becomes his cold-blooded assassin look. Just swiping the ball away, and never letting the emotion of the crowd or his team mates get him. In fact, the more the crowd got excited, the more he seemed worried with the strapping on his glove.
Razzaq would be the perfect assassin in some European film. Getting the job done, not letting the moment get to him, staying cool, and ensuring his weapons were ready for the next job. Graceful and suave, although not big on dialogue. A stunning performance. I gave it five stars.

South Africa hold edge despite Razzaq miracle


Pakistan's victories are rarely unspectacular. They rarely win without a blitz from the blue or a jaw-dropping demonstration of fast bowling. They almost always leave it late, and to a few men, sending their fans from despair to delight. But because Pakistan rely so much on moments of individual genius to overcome collective, sustained efficiency, they don't win as much as less exciting sides do.
Like well-oiled South Africa, who won ten consecutive one-day internationals before being blind-sided by Abdul Razzaq. Pakistan are certainly the more memorable side, in victory or defeat, but South Africa unquestionably the more successful. Even if South Africa go on to take the series 4-1, the stand-out match and performance could still be Razzaq's heist. It's a back-handed compliment of sorts but Pakistan would probably be willing to swap some of their breathtaking tendencies for mundane, run-of-the-mill victories. But that isn't this Pakistan's way.
So as the series moves to Dubai, South Africa will enter Tuesday's game as favourites once again, simply because it's likelier that Hashim Amla will provide a solid start, which his team-mates in the middle order will convert into a substantial performance. And it's likelier that Pakistan's batsmen will combust, whether from their indiscretions or South Africa's superiority. Should that come to pass, ODI No. 3064 is likely to fade from memory quickly. But if it doesn't, and Razzaq or another temperamental Pakistan player produces a mercurial performance, the battle between these two very different teams will be worth the watch.
Form guide
(most recent first)

South Africa: LWWWW
Pakistan: WLLWW
Watch out for...

Misbah-ul-Haq made only 31 runs in the first two ODIs after replacing Umar Akmal, who perhaps paid the price for one flamboyant shot too many. Misbah is likely to keep his place in the remaining games, considering he will be Test captain after the one-dayers are over, but would like to secure it with worthy performances. His steady approach could form the pillar around which the shot-makers can rally, but he is yet to find form.
Few people will remember Colin Ingram's century, a innings that was the bulwark of South Africa's 286 in the second ODI, because Razzaq blitzed it into an obscure page in the record books. Ingram does, however, average 85 with a strike-rate of 94 after five ODIs, and is a prospect for the future.
Team news

Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis missed the second ODI and it's not yet certain that they will return for the third. Smith got hit on his hand but x-rays revealed no fracture, while Kallis was racked with cramps and had to retire in the first game. He needed an intravenous drip after suffering from dehydration, which was triggered by a viral infection.
South Africa (possible): 1 Robin Peterson, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Colin Ingram, 4 AB de Villiers (wk), 5 JP Duminy, 6 David Miller, 7 Albie Morkel 8 Johan Botha (capt), 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 11 Charl Langeveldt
Never change a winning combination, if it ain't broke don't fix it ... the cliches exhorting the virtues of persisting with a winning side are numerous. But Pakistan, with their reliance on individuals, aren't a winning combination and so there's a case for Umar Akmal to be given a look-in once again.
Pakistan (possible): 1 Asad Shafiq, 2 Mohammad Hafeez, 3 Younis Khan, 4 Misbah-ul-Haq / Umar Akmal, 5 Fawad Alam, 6 Shahid Afridi (capt), 7 Abdul Razzaq, 8 Zulqarnain Haider (wk), 9 Umar Gul, 10 Shoaib Akhtar, 11 Saeed Ajmal
Stats and trivia

  • Only two ODIs have been played at the Dubai International Stadium - between Pakistan and Australia - and both were low-scoring contests. Australia's 208 for 4 is the venue's highest total
  • Beware Shahid Afridi the legspinner at this venue. In those two games against Australia, Afridi claimed 6 for 38 and 2 for 38 in ten-over spells.

Quotes

"We are feeling better now as a team. We have areas to improve on, but we will try our best in the coming games."
Shahid Afridi has said variations of this before, but consistency remains a shifting target
"I can't really say much, but you play an innings like that, then you deserve to win the game. It's never nice to lose, but rather here than in a World Cup."
South Africa's stand-in captain, Johan Botha, after the second ODI.

Butt and Amir accuse ICC of unfair treatment

A day after the ICC turned down their appeals against provisional suspensions from international cricket Salman Butt and Mohammad Amir hit out at the governing body's decision, reached after a two-day hearing in Dubai this weekend.
The pair returned to Lahore on Monday and spoke to reporters at the airport, claiming that the ICC had treated them unfairly. But as the day wore on, Butt appeared on several TV channels, intensifying his attack against the decision reached by Michael Beloff, the ICC code of conduct commissioner, and built up claims of "a conspiracy" against the players and Pakistan.
The root of their discontent was the the ICC and the hearing itself. "They listened to us but it felt as if their decision had already been made from before," Butt said. "It was not based on a single piece of evidence. There was no evidence that established that we had some agreement with Mazhar Majeed. After a 12-hour hearing the only so-called evidence they had was the same NOTW article and the same video everyone has seen."
Asked by Geo, a leading channel, to explain the contents of the video, an agitated Butt asked, "You are asking me questions but you tell me where am I in this video? These things have to be proven when you talk about such charges, you cannot base it on just suspicions. It is supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. I am not here to convince you, did he say on video that I had done something? Of course I am denying all this. I feel like I am talking to the English media."
Amir echoed similar concerns. "Before leaving for Dubai we felt the case will be in our favour, but when he gave the decision it looked as if he had written the decision before," he told reporters at the airport. "We went for the truth but this could be a conspiracy against Pakistan, to tarnish Pakistan's reputation."
The PCB has distanced itself from the defence of the players, insisting that it is up to them and their lawyers to resolve the matter. They have prevented the players, including Mohammad Asif who has withdrawn his appeal, from using board facilities such as the National Cricket Academy for training. But now, the pair insist, it is time for authorities to get involved.
"It [the PCB distancing itself] wasn't expected," Butt said. "Nobody from the PCB has even called us so I don't know what is going on there. But I think now is the time for even the government to get involved as well as the PCB because it isn't just about three players. This is Pakistan being cornered."
Butt and Amir have been suspended from international cricket, along with Asif, since September 2. They are not permitted to appeal against the latest verdict and they will now appear before an independent anti-corruption tribunal that will look into the actual charges and give a verdict on whether the players are innocent or guilty.
No date has been set for the full hearing despite a request by the players to do so. "We'll carry on, we'll wait for the hearing," Butt said, "They haven't given us a date even though we asked for it."

Highlights :: Pakistan v South Africa Highlights 2nd ODI at Abu Dhabi

P1 PAK v SA 2nd ODI


P1 PAK v SA 2nd ODI
Uploaded by cricfire. - Explore international webcam videos.

P2 PAK v SA 2nd ODI


P2 PAK v SA 2nd ODI
Uploaded by cricfire. - More video blogs and vloggers.

P3 PAK v SA 2nd ODI


P3 PAK v SA 2nd ODI
Uploaded by cricfire. - Explore international webcam videos.

P4 PAK v SA 2nd ODI


P4 PAK v SA 2nd ODI
Uploaded by cricfire. - Explore international webcam videos.

P5 PAK v SA 2nd ODI


P5 PAK v SA 2nd ODI
Uploaded by cricfire. - See video of the biggest web video personalities.

Razzaq ton sinks Proteas in thriller

Abdul Razzaq smashed Pakistan to an incredible one-wicket victory over South Africa in the second one-day international.
Set a target of 287 in Abu Dhabi, Pakistan looked doomed after slipping to 257 for nine with just 15 balls remaining.
With only last man Shoaib Akhtar for company, Razzaq threw caution to the wind and saw his side to their target with one delivery to spare.
Needing 14 off the final over, Razzaq went to his century with consecutive sixes off medium pacer Albie Morkel (nough for 52).
The all-rounder then survived a caught behind appeal before blazing the penultimate ball through the covers to clinch victory.
Razzaq finished unbeaten on 109 from 72 balls, including seven sixes and 10 fours. Shoaib faced only one delivery, which he blocked, during a 10th-wicket stand of 32.
Pakistan had recovered from 70 for four thanks to solid contributions from Fawad Alam (48) and Shahid Afridi (49) but a trio of run outs looked to have ended their chance before Razzaq's heroics.
Earlier, Colin Ingram continued his superb start in international cricket with another century as South Africa posted a score of 286 for six after opting to bat first at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
After Robin Peterson (six) was bowled by Razzaq (one for 37) in the fourth over, number three Ingram shared stands worth 83 with Hashim Amla (65) and 86 alongside AB de Villiers (29).
The Warriors left-hander, who marked his debut earlier in October with 124 against Zimbabwe, went to three figures for the second time in five one-day innings from 118 balls.
He failed to add any more, however, as Wahab Riaz (two for 43) trapped him lbw to leave South Africa 216 for four in the 41st over but JP Duminy (54) added quick runs at the death
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...