DADA Haathi prediction for 2nd Semi Final: Pakistan vs India

Boom boom, not doom doom

Cricketers have had several nicknames (sometimes pet names) which are remembered long after they have departed. The first that comes to my mind is that of Fred Truman, who was a fast bowler of epic proportions. His speed could only be matched with his fiery temperament, which was why he was called Fiery Freddie Truman.

We had Merry Max (Maqsood Ahmad), who was born 30 years too early, for he was fond of hitting the ball mercilessly. ‘Hit out or get out’ was his motto and each time he came to the crease, things perked up. Even sleepy radio commentators woke up. He played Tests but he was meant for what was initially called, ‘instant cricket’. No prizes for guessing that the term was used for One Day cricket, somewhat disdainfully by the purists, who thought that only five- or six-day games were real cricket.

Merry Max (not Marry Max) was once out at the score of 99 (his highest) when playing against India in the 1954-55 series. A cricket fan, addicted to radio commentary, got his first and last heart attack. Subhash Gupte, who took five wickets in a deadly spell, including Merry Max’s prize wicket, said that if he had even the slightest inkling about the tragic turn of events, he would have postponed sending his Pakistani friend back to the pavilion, until he completed what would have been his only 100.

Few would remember that pop singer Nazia Hasan’s second (or was it third?) album was titledBoom Boom. But unluckily, its sales and popularity were no patch for her earlier one – Young Tarang.

We then heard of the dual word, ‘Boom Boom’ when Shahid Afridi punished the Indian bowlers with sixes after sixes in New Delhi. He had earlier created record for the fastest century in ODIs in Kenya in the second match that he played (in the first one, he didn’t get a chance to bat).

Afridi has surpassed Sanath Jayasuriya’s what seemed to be an inaccessible record of the highest number of sixes, a few months ago. Statisticians will tell you how many the two scored. All I know is that our flamboyant (read, unpredictable) batsman crossed the Sri Lankan’s record in fewer matches.

The wheel of fortune has completed one full circle. Afridi was selected to play for Pakistan because the leg spinner, Mushtaq Ahmed was unfit. Wasim Akram recalls that when he saw a well-built, fair-looking lad hitting Waqar Younis mercilessly above the ropes during practice, he decided to ball to the mercurial young man himself. I must confess I got the same treatment from him.

But now Afridi is much more invaluable as a bowler than as a batsman. His guile and his variety is amazing. While these lines are being written (on the eve of the semi-final) he has taken the highest number of wickets in the current edition of the World Cup, twenty-one being the current number. He has also proved to be a competent captain in the shorter forms of the game.

Years ago, while  waiting for a flight from San Francisco airport, I ran into three Indian students, who asked me if I was an Indian, to which I said I was from their neighbouring country. “Oh! So you are from the land of Boom Boom Shahid Afridi?”

“Do you like to watch him bat?” I queried.

“Yes, we love to see him bat but not when he is playing against our boys,” was the reply.

Boom Boom was the nickname given to him by none other than Ravi Shastri, while he was commentating on an India-Pakistan ODI. What happens when Afridi doesn’t score? They love him so much that no one says, ‘Doom Doom’.

When I was writing a book on the charismatic cricketer for Liberty Books, Karachi, we racked our brains and finally thought the title of the book should be ‘Boom Boom Shahid Afridi‘. You know what? The book sold very well. There was a slight drop in the sales when he bit the ball but then when he started taking wicket after wicket, its sales have taken an upward swing once again. So, anything that has the tag of Boom Boom is unpredictable but never, I repeat never, dull.

It has always been our desire to play in India: Afridi

A relaxed Shahid Afridi was upbeat and in high spirits during his interaction with the media, ready with a quip and the right word during a lively session in which he was at his witty, charming best.

Pakistan chose to take Tuesday off ahead of the semifinal tie against India. “Why, don’t you like it?” he asked a journalist. “We have worked hard, we wanted to take the day off today so that we can save our lives for tomorrow. It might be a new thing, but new things should keep happening, right?” The Pakistani captain said his team was excited about playing in India. “India began as one of the favourites and they have played very well,” he observed. “But my team combination is very good, all the boys are enjoying themselves and there is no pressure on them. We have played above our expectations. “Whatever be the result, it is a great occasion that we are playing in India. It has always been our desire to play in India. We are enjoying ourselves because the people here want to see us play and the people in Pakistan want to see India play there. We have tried to make this relationship stronger and I am hopeful relations will be even better in future. Whatever the result, the cricket should be good and people should enjoy the game. It’s a big thing for us to play in India. We know how important this game is for both teams and we are well prepared for this.” The World Cup was huge for the people of Pakistan, Afridi stressed. “It’s very important. This World Cup matters a lot to us and we are trying to bring cricket back to Pakistan. People talk about pressure here, but if you enjoy what you are doing, you will perform better. The coaches are doing a great job with the youngsters and all my senior boys are talking to the youngsters about how to handle the pressure. I am not really concerned, I know they will enjoy the crowd.” As captain, this was his biggest game to date, Afridi agreed. “Obviously, to play in India against India is a huge challenge for me,” he said. “I take up the challenge whole-heartedly and our full effort will be geared towards playing well. Whatever be the result, I want to see effort and fight from every member of the team.” Several members of the Pakistani team have stressed on team spirit and unity in the lead-up to the semifinal. “I get emotional during team meetings in a bid to lift the boys, and from what I have seen, they do lift themselves!” he laughed. “We are an emotional nation, in fact both our nations are. I try to say stuff to motivate the boys and help them play good, positive cricket. I don’t think this unity is because of me, I don’t want to take any credit for it. When the team does well, all 15 players do well and that’s when it becomes a unit.”

Have you read this, Mr PM?

Perhaps if Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had reads excerpts from former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf's memoir called, In the Line of Fire, he would have a re-think on his invitation to the present Pak leadership, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari about inviting them to Mohali to watch the India vs Pak cricket semi-final tomorrow.


Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (L) shaking hands
with his Pakistani counterpart Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani

In his memoir, the general, known as Mush, currently in exile in London, spewed venom about India, mocking the country's fake encounters (during war) and laughing at gallantry awards which he said were a figment of the Indian army's imagination.

On page 301 of his book, Musharraf talks about an Indo-Pak cricket match he watched while in India. Even at that time, Mush claimed Indian PM Manmohan Singh invited him to the match.

An excerpt from the book reads, "My next meeting with Manmohan Singh occurred when the Pakistani cricket team toured Indian and he invited me to one of the games. I accepted the invitation and went to a one-day match in Delhi on April 18, 2005. I travelled via Ajmer Sharif the visit that I had missed after the Agra summit. This, I thought, was an auspicious beginning."

"April 18, 2005, began with the cricket match. Unfortunately, for my hosts, the match turned out to be an embarrassment for India because one of Pakistan's star batsmen, Shahid Afridi, clobbered virtually every ball that the Indians bowled at him.

Many of his hits headed straight for our VIP enclosure. Like any normal cricket fan, I wanted to jump out of my seat shouting and clapping, but I had to control my enthusiasm in deference to my hosts. Before the match was over, we left for our discussions. It goes without saying that I was dying to get back to the exciting match.

So during our official one-on-one meeting I suggested to the prime minister that we go back to see the last hour of the match and also distribute the prizes. I made him agree in spite of his concerns about security. By then, as the meeting continued, my staff kept sending in notes informing me about the collapse of the Indian team when its turn came to bat.

India's entire team got out long before the end of the game. Tightly repressing any outward signs of my inner joy, I had to inform Manmohan Singh that the Indian team's batting had been wasted and there was no point in another visit to the stadium. "Boys will be boys," some might say, but they obviously don't know cricket or the importance of a match between Pakistan and India."

Then Musharraf says on the next page, "I invited Manmohan Singh to Pakistan and he accepted readily.

As I write this in June 2006, we are still awaiting his visit. The Indian cricket team toured Pakistan in early 2006. This gave India's prime minister an opening but he didn't take it, apparently because Indian officialdom felt that our discussions were far too serious to be missed with something as, "frivolous" as cricket.

As it turned out, India won four out of five one-day international games. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could have attended one of the games that India won, and we would have been even!"

Indo-Pak series very soon: PCB chairman

Bringing hope for the die hard cricket fans of both the nations, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman, Ijaz Butt said that in very near future we can expect a full cricket series between India and Pakistan. Butt, who entered India via Attrai Border to watch the semi final match along with his family, But 

t said, "I have come here all the way to cheer my team and hope they do well. The morale of the team is very good and I hope that they do well in the semifinal as well."

On a question, the PCB chairman said, "This world cup means a lot to the Pakistan cricket. A victory here will really pick up things back home and it can be a big plus for Pakistan cricket."

Not complaining about lesser number of visas and tickets to Pakistani fans, the PCB chairman said, "No I think the BCCI has given us all the help and there are no complaints. They did whatever could be done about tickets."

Although many people back home want to come but that is not possible, he added.

On cricket relations between both India and Pakistan, the PCB chairman said, "The cricketing relations between both countries have always been good and their has never been an issue. I hope this year only we may have a full Indo-Pak series including Test match and one day internationals."

Butt, who avoided political queries, however said that the recent comment by a pak minister on match fixing is not going to effect the performance of the team." The Pakistani team is in great form and they have distractions and will be under no pressure, he added.