Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan

Obituary Bob Woolmer: 1948-2007

When one would sit down to write the history of Pakistan cricket, the events since last August would perhaps be mentioned as the (beginning of) Dark Ages of national cricket. It is needless to remind what has happened over the last eight months but the recent World Cup debacle, the sad demise of Bob Woolmer and Inzi’s good-bye to ODI cricket, crowns Pakistan’s most shambolic season in its history. What to follow looks ominous at the moment. Had Shakespeare been alive today he would have preferred the tragedy of Pakistan Cricket as a stronger impetus to write on than any of his other tragedies. He would have found all his heroes like Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Othello or even villain like Iago in the same plot. It would have been a masterpiece, a literary classic and a best-seller.

At exactly 4.00 am local time, Pakistan Cricket took its last breath as Trent Johnston, the Irish skipper, clubbed Azhar Mahmood for a six over long-on to sent the spirit of Pakistan cricket to the eternal world. The body was burried under Sabina Park’s pitch with an Irish Flag and a message for the mourning supporters: “Dil Bara Karow”. I am going to sleep now after taking part in the rituals. Would write a detailed obituary later. May its soul rest in peace. Ameen!.

Cross posted on http://www.mindurcricket.com

This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by Muhammad Asim.

Herschelle Gibbs’s might well be reported to Human Rights Commission, along with most of his other colleagues, for violating the rights of Dan van Bunge, DJ Reekers, RN ten Doeschate, TBM de Leede, PW Borren and LP van Troost. For the first time in international cricket an umpire raised-up his both arms and signalled six on each of the six balls of an over as Bunge was murdered by Gibbs. In first-Class cricket only Sir Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastari have done this in 1968 and in 1984-85 respectively.

Here is how Cricinfo expressed the ball-by-ball carnage:

29.1 van Bunge to Gibbs, SIX, Violence! Gibbs charged down the track and hocked it over long on.

29.2 van Bunge to Gibbs, SIX, Murder! Floated on the leg and middle stump line and Gibbs sends it soaring over long-off.

29.3 van Bunge to Gibbs, SIX, Carnage! Flatter one this time but it makes no difference to Gibbs. He just stands there and delivers. This one also has been sucked over long off.

29.4 van Bunge to Gibbs, SIX, Wah Wah! Low full toss and guess where this went Yep. A slap slog and it went over deep midwicket! He is going to go for 6 sixes in this over!

Thoughts on Pakistan-West Indies match at Sabina Park, March 13, 2007.

If you are into superstition then you would surely be thinking that Pakistan will always lose the opening match of an event and mind you they lost the opener in 1992 too and against the same opposition! If you are an opportunist then Pakistan has still Ireland and Zimbabwe to play with. If you are an optimist then you can say that it is better to lose and learn now and win later. But if you are a realist, then it is quite wishful to believe that this side would take the Cup back home.