It’s the prefect script for the 2011 ICC World Cup final. Sri Lanka vs India, after a Pakistan vs India game! The Cricket World Cup couldn’t have caught or captured the imagination of the cricketing world any better! By the time this column is read the world would have already witnessed the crowning of a new champion in cricket. Will it be India or Sri Lanka? Unquestionably anybody’s guess as both teams are strong and well matched and has the intensity a Champion team requires.
Taking a look at the ride to the finals, I am sure both Sri Lanka and India could have simply done better than the final outcome. True both teams won but didn’t they go through a few needless nervous moments? For Sri Lanka the fret could be the lack of runs for Mahela Jayawardane. One was looking forward to Mahela spending time in the middle against New Zealand when he was dismissed. Furthermore Sri Lanka also committed an error which has to be avoided at all times and that was to lose your two inform batsmen in quick succession and just after a big partnership, creating pressure on an untried middle order. It was a huge respite that Chamara Silva, Samaraweera and the injured Mathews pulled Sri Lanka, out of the mire to a point, and finally took them home to reach yet another final!
On the positive side which will raise the buoyancy level of Sri Lanka was the bowling. Lasith Malinga and Ajantha Mendis were marvelous with the ball. Whilst Malinga went for a few runs his strike rate was brilliant. As for Mendis more or less the forgotten man of the bowling line up, here he was once more putting in another very fine spell of spin. Against England he was economical and tough to score off in the power plays. However against the Kiwis he was one step further up adding his wicket taking skills too, which bamboozled the batsmen. Besides the bowling the consistency of Dilshan, Sangakkara and Tharanga has been a huge plus which no other team can enjoy! The mountain of runs made by them has definitely been the catalyst for Sri Lanka’s successes with the bat.
Then what about India? I am firm believer that the semi-final against Pakistan was not really won by India but instead lost by Pakistan! It may sound mean but I am afraid it is true. How can a team win after dropping a batsman of the caliber of Tendulkar four times? Then what about the Indian recovery to 260 after being rather perilously placed at six wickets down for just over two hundred? The difference between the Pakistan bowling in the semi final and the Sri Lankan bowling the Indians will face in the final has been evidently noticeable. The Lankans never allowed the kiwis to pull through after they got a foot hold in the Kiwi innings. But Pakistan simply let through the chance of bowling India out cheaply after doing all the hard work.
And in the batting what justification can Hafeez possibly give for the shot he played when on forty nine and Pakistan looking good? To me these are some of the mysteries surrounding Pakistan cricket even now. I sometimes wonder how serious some of the Pakistani cricketers are about winning. Or else how can you explain the approach of Misbah another powerful striker of the ball? I am definitely inclined to think that all is not well in the Pakistan camp. There seem to be divisions and may be other interests that seem to divert the attention of the cricketers. Another classic example is Kamran Akmal! One of the most inconsistent players in the Pakistan line up who is tolerated despite all his sins! Surely Pakistan could pick a better and more committed wicket keeper than him. But what makes the selectors persist with Kamran? Again another unanswered question besides a few more which are baffling and honestly destroying Pakistan cricket!
Back to India, I am sure Dhoni knows and the whole of India know that they got out of jail against Pakistan in the Semi Final. Yet I wonder whether there can be a second time lucky situation for India just in case they mess things up again. Sri Lanka is and will be a completely different kettle of fish altogether come the final in Mumbai on Saturday.
So lets hope as Sri Lankans that Sangakkara and his men will prevail on the second of April ending all the speculations and fulfilling the expectations of the millions of ardent Sri Lankans fans.
Roshan Abeysinghe is a leading
cricket promoter and an international cricket commentator |
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