An Ominous Issue

Certain things in this game never change. Multi-dimensional cricketers areworth their weight in gold as Abdul Razzaq, Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeezshowed. (Mutthiah) Muralitharan still finishes his 10 overs in three spells asspearheads normally do.

And predicting Pakistan is a waste of time. Mercurial they are and never moredangerous when pushed to a corner. They do not scatter when their house is onfire. They are only out when the final blow of the 15th round has beendelivered; the last ball of the pulsating game has been bowled.

Sri Lanka were favourites before and during the course of the game. They werewinners in my book after 254 runs. But Pakistan had its head and heart workingin unison. A blistering start and a little cat-and-mouse game in the final overswhen they waited for the spinners to finish their spells. They were quick tounderstand the significance of gathering dew on the turf.

It is now clear that conditions would have a big say in the tournament. Mostteams would choose to field first; at least in Jaipur and Mohali in the North asdew in the evening favours batsmen. The ball starts to come on to the bat morereadily and a proper grip for the bowlers is a hazardous business.

Mumbai would have the other extreme as batting progressively becomesdifficult. Batsmen have the 'grace' period of first few hours when the effect ofrepairs and roller is in place. Then the ball stops and spins and batting canbecome increasingly difficult.

Sri Lanka still is a rising superpower. The depth and flavour of theirbowling is unquestioned. Their speed across the turf makes them perhaps the mostimproved fielding side in the world.

I detected even Muralitharan and (Sanath) Jayasuriya trying to take theshortest route to the ball and attempting to throw even when completelyunbalanced. We would ignore Marvan Atapattu for the time being but I liked whatI saw.

Still they would ponder if their attack is suited to these conditions. Butfor (Chaminda) Vaas, none of the other three medium-pacers finished their quota.(Ferveez) Mahroof, who is having a good tournament, was under-bowled. They mightbe better off with an extra batsman or spinner. None of their top order kickedon and made a big score after getting starts and that hurt them more thananything else in the end.

So in this group, we now have two upsets in two days. Well as New Zealand hasplayed, Pakistan and Sri Lanka still look the sides to beat unless and untilthey are caught turkey in adverse conditions. I would not rule out a three-waytie from this pool.

An ominous issue had hung over the game like a pall of gloom. Shoaib Akhtarhas been skating on thin ice for a while. Much as you understand the exertionsinvolved in the business of fast bowling you still cannot condone drugs. It isjust not the example you set forth for youngsters; it is also a matter of yourown health since cricketers, unlike athletes, have a longer span ofinternational career.

It would be a folly, though, to see the issue in isolation. Cricket boards,especially in the sub-continent, need to educate cricketers on the perils ofdrugs. During my days in county cricket, there were random tests which conveysthey were alert to the possibility of performance-enhancement drugs.

Shoaib needs more than a rap in the knuckles. Authorities have to set anexample for others to desist from doing it. I feel sorry for Mohammad Asif forhe appears a genuine talent. The International Cricket Council (ICC), I believe,would now have four instead of two random tests during the Champions Trophy. Ifeel it was coming all the while.

PTI