heyn 24 October 2021, Shaheen Shah Afridi demolished the star-studded Indian batting lineup—Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Virat Kohli—before Pakistani batsmen ensured an easy 10-wicket win over India with 13 balls to spare. That was last year’s T20 World Cup in Dubai.
That hurt, real bad. I have supported my team since then…I don’t remember when. Well, asking since I have mastered the art of fixing Doordarshan’s antenna”did you come(TV signal) standing on top of the roof. However, I have seen one hand on my heart and the other on a vertical-hold knob on a grainy black and white Texla TV to ensure a clear transmission to my family members. Like in May 1997 when Saeed Anwar pulled the Indian bowlers apart. That 194 left a mark. But you knew that your team was not good enough for the Pakistanis of that era. And it meant living with that bitter truth amidst all the pain of the heart. And one hope, that someday, Sachin will settle the accounts with the neighbours.
Analysts have cited various reasons for last year’s loss – from team selection to the cowardice of the Indians on the field. Like any other Indian fan, I am also an expert. This is cricket, you see. But my reasons for losing were different.
They say, keep your friends close and your enemies close. Well, not the enemy, for all political correctness. But the Pakistanis are definitely the opponents. And that’s one thing we haven’t done for over a decade now. We don’t play him in bilateral matches anymore, so we don’t know him. simple as that. And as long as this continues, we will keep watching Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah-‘The guy who shook India and almost won the game for Pakistan, Surprise after Asia Cup-spring surprise earlier this year.
During the 2021 T20 World Cup match, a commentator had observed of the cheaply dismissed Indian batsmen: “They can’t play him (Afridi) and the Indian fans watch in disbelief.” Afridi dashed India’s hopes of bringing the T20 World Cup back home after 14 years.
No amount of studying your opponent’s match footage—where you watch them execute their skills at a slow pace to decode their mystery and mastery—will give you the match confidence you need. Match confidence is a learning form that remains unmatched, cricket or not.
If defeats in league matches of ICC and Asian Cricket Council tournaments are so painful, imagine what the blood of Men in Blue fans will be if we lose to the green jersey in the final? And after all the drama and broken hearts, chairs and fan fists, another cricket expert will tell you that you lost because you didn’t know your opponent very well. Who will lose then?
Read also: Babar, Rizwan, Afridi crush Team Kohli as Pakistan ends World Cup losing streak against India
miss the chance
There is no doubt about the talent powerhouse that Team India is today; They can go on and win matches against the fanatics in ICC tournaments to keep the slate clean like last year. But if covering all bases can give us better results in prestigious ICC and multilateral outings, why not? In ICC tournaments, India’s dry run continues since 2013 Champions Trophy win,
We have had a better team than them in the last two decades, but taking a look at the statistics you will know that Pakistan still have 18 more wins in ODIs against India. one-on-one clash, His Test win record remains even better. By not playing we have left a golden window.
However, as of now, the ICC tournament statistics are in India’s favour. The two teams have been face-to-face since 1992. Seven chances in ODI World Cup, and Pakistan is yet to defeat India. In T20Is too, India have registered eight wins over Pakistan’s three. Since 2000, both countries have played 55 ODIs and India have won on 28 occasions While Pakistan 26. One match missed. Despite India being a better team for the most part of the last two decades, the record is almost equal to that by Pakistan.
So why leave even the slightest chance for the rivals and risk your chances in high-profile tournaments, when playing them in bilateral matches can prepare India better?
Play a five-match Test series with him. defeat them. Even if you lose, you will learn. Invite them to the greenest wickets we have in India now and narrow them down to the lowest score. India has enough pace-charge right now. Play ODI, T20 even if it is in Dubai. Don’t want peace with them? Don’t take it Remove cricket from the list of don’ts between the two countries. Invite them, avenge past defeats and improve your stats against them – it’s also a rivalry. And when it comes to sports, I like it that way.
When athletes from rival countries take to the field, they capture their cricketing culture and wonder with their respective bubbles of energy. And to burst those bubbles it takes a statement from the umpire: ‘Let’s play’. With this begins the collective exchange of knowledge and skills and the art of knowing one’s opponent.
And it is not limited to the land. When former players from rival countries share commentary boxes, there is also an exchange of game knowledge. Take for example the disagreement between Wasim Akram and Gautam Gambhir (two commentators during the Asia Cup between India and Pakistan) on how a T20 game should be approached.
When India take on Pakistan on 23rd October, we will have played them on four occasions in 364 days. Hopefully, I won’t have to read a similar result. Like this from the Asia Cup on 4 September earlier this year:
‘Pakistan won by 5 wickets with a ball to spare.’
Because we have some match experience and that comes from playing with your opponent.
Thoughts are personal.
(edited by Prashant)