 "Sarfraz Nawaz, it isn't the pitches; India is just better")
The numbers, they say, never lie. India this World Cup: played three, won three. Pakistan this World Cup: played three, won one, lost two. But hidden under those telling numbers, according to former Pakistan pacer Sarfraz Nawaz, is a wicked conspiracy that has helped India string together this imperious streak — the pitches in Australia and New Zealand.
On a balmy Adelaide evening two weeks ago, India comprehensively outplayed Pakistan in a lopsided game, taking their head-to-head record against the old enemy to an unblemished 6-0 in World Cup cricket. The pitch that was used at the Adelaide Oval, from what we saw, was the same for both teams, unless they inexplicably decided to change it after Virat Kohli had blazed his way to yet another one-day international hundred. With the passel of cameras around at international matches these days, changing strips at the break is something that the curators would not risk doing.
ALSO READ: India have been provided favourable pitches in WC: Sarfraz Nawaz
The World Cup is a contest between the 14 best teams in the world, not just India and Pakistan. Nawaz’s comments reek of the ineradicable animosity that has now become an integral part of cricketing ties between the two countries. One wonders whether he also expressed his displeasure about the tracks that have been laid out for co-hosts New Zealand, who have won four matches on the trot; or South Africa, who have won their last two games by a margin of more than 200 runs.
There is no doubt that the Gabba wicket in Brisbane for the Pakistan-Zimbabwe game was a challenging one to play on. The ball misbehaved at times and it was a difficult surface for playing shots. But Pakistan should be beating teams like Zimbabwe with ease, no matter how the pitch is behaving. Against the West Indies in an earlier game at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Pakistan were soundly beaten on a batting-friendly wicket. The Windies scored in excess of 300 and Pakistan were skittled out for a paltry 160. Pakistan lost that game purely due to some horrid shot-selection and not because the pitch was behaving devilishly.
Nawaz also said that the pitches for India’s games were prepared keeping in mind the strengths of the world champions — mainly their batting. In their opening two games, India batted first on pitches that had enough juice for the quicks. But against both Pakistan and South Africa, India batted sensibly, seeing of the new ball and accelerating in the middle overs. Pakistan, on the other hand, have lost early wickets even on good batting wickets. Also, with abysmal showings with both bat and ball so far, it’s difficult to recognise what Pakistan’s true strength is. Blaming curators and concocting risible conspiracy theories seems to be the easiest thing to do.
As for question marks over India performing so well all of a sudden after enduring a dismal three months in Australia, one often forgets that India are the world champions and holders of the Champions Trophy. Always a big tournament team, it was only a matter of time before the Indians came good. Nawaz was the man who discovered reverse swing. He should know a thing or two about reversals. For him and Pakistan, criticising pitches will not help. Going back to the drawing board will. Pakistan should stop worrying about the pitches and focus on the task at hand — qualifying for the quarter-finals.
On a balmy Adelaide evening two weeks ago, India comprehensively outplayed Pakistan in a lopsided game, taking their head-to-head record against the old enemy to an unblemished 6-0 in World Cup cricket. The pitch that was used at the Adelaide Oval, from what we saw, was the same for both teams, unless they inexplicably decided to change it after Virat Kohli had blazed his way to yet another one-day international hundred. With the passel of cameras around at international matches these days, changing strips at the break is something that the curators would not risk doing.
ALSO READ: India have been provided favourable pitches in WC: Sarfraz Nawaz
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After Pakistan laboured to a win against Zimbabwe on Sunday, Nawaz, on a Pakistani news channel, said that India’s impressive performance in the tournament can be put down to the favourable pitches they’ve played on. Pitches, somebody should tell Nawaz, can only go so far in determining the outcomes of matches. As banal as it may sound, players win you matches, not pitches. And right now, the Indian team can boast of players who are vastly superior to their Pakistani counterparts in all departments of the game.
The World Cup is a contest between the 14 best teams in the world, not just India and Pakistan. Nawaz’s comments reek of the ineradicable animosity that has now become an integral part of cricketing ties between the two countries. One wonders whether he also expressed his displeasure about the tracks that have been laid out for co-hosts New Zealand, who have won four matches on the trot; or South Africa, who have won their last two games by a margin of more than 200 runs.
There is no doubt that the Gabba wicket in Brisbane for the Pakistan-Zimbabwe game was a challenging one to play on. The ball misbehaved at times and it was a difficult surface for playing shots. But Pakistan should be beating teams like Zimbabwe with ease, no matter how the pitch is behaving. Against the West Indies in an earlier game at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch, Pakistan were soundly beaten on a batting-friendly wicket. The Windies scored in excess of 300 and Pakistan were skittled out for a paltry 160. Pakistan lost that game purely due to some horrid shot-selection and not because the pitch was behaving devilishly.
Nawaz also said that the pitches for India’s games were prepared keeping in mind the strengths of the world champions — mainly their batting. In their opening two games, India batted first on pitches that had enough juice for the quicks. But against both Pakistan and South Africa, India batted sensibly, seeing of the new ball and accelerating in the middle overs. Pakistan, on the other hand, have lost early wickets even on good batting wickets. Also, with abysmal showings with both bat and ball so far, it’s difficult to recognise what Pakistan’s true strength is. Blaming curators and concocting risible conspiracy theories seems to be the easiest thing to do.
As for question marks over India performing so well all of a sudden after enduring a dismal three months in Australia, one often forgets that India are the world champions and holders of the Champions Trophy. Always a big tournament team, it was only a matter of time before the Indians came good. Nawaz was the man who discovered reverse swing. He should know a thing or two about reversals. For him and Pakistan, criticising pitches will not help. Going back to the drawing board will. Pakistan should stop worrying about the pitches and focus on the task at hand — qualifying for the quarter-finals.