In the ever-evolving landscape of cricket, a new style of play has emerged, aptly coined "The Pakistan Way." We heard it first from one of the finest voices of Cricket and also well versed with Pakistan Cricket, Nasser Hussain, “The Mercurial Pakistan”. He further adds before start of Champions Trophy 2017 Semi Final vs England, “You don’t know about them on what day which Pakistan would turn up.”
BazBall, PatBall, and now this #ThePakistanWay as catchy and as ditto versions as they might seem. They all stem from the same driving force i.e., being clear about the way they going to approach the game & moderate the flow of the game. Now if it leads to England losing from being 180/1 in their first innings at Lord’s and end up losing. Then be it. Or PatBall being smart about exposing the technical deficiencies of English Batters by utilizing Bodyline Tactics early on 2nd day. So be it. In all that prism, where does #ThePakistanWay find its place? We got to see some glimpses of it in the PCT Victory over Sri Lanka in 1st of 2-Test Series.
When it dawned on the picture-esque Galle Fort in all its glory, the Men in Green at that stage had almost forgotten the taste of victory having gone on an unfortunate 365 days winless run. Fast forward four days, It’s a low score chase: Day-5 on turning track bear in mind, the last 45 minutes had resulted in a panic run out of Noman Ali while Prabath Jayasuriya was doing his best impression of Rangana Herath: making sure that Pakistan fans have a sleepless and anxious night trying to detox them from PTSD of Galle’09, Sydney’10: so on and so forth.
A commanding boundary on his leg side from Babar Azam against slightly disciplined Ramesh Mendis showed one of the key facets of #ThePakistanWay signifying the clarity with which he approached the challenge at hand by plundering 30 runs in first five overs of the day. The message was loud and clear, We’ll be Cornered Tigers at Worst, but the Roaring Tigers at Best. So, do provide sniff of the meat at your own perils. #ThePakistanWay will be ever dynamic to pounce upon it. The scenes transcended afterward with brisk 30 runs from Saud & half century from Imam Ul Haq further stamped #ThePakistanWay
Too long an ado for a throwback to Saud Shakeel's Heroics which in the process did arguably one of the best away knock by Pakistani batters. What better stage than being 101-5 to announce the arrival of #PakistanWay? When the temptation or even the sheer history of batters collapse would’ve been to think:
Is there another way?
The way is one.
I should retrace the track? It’s lost and gone!!!
Rather, his score timeline read as 83 of 88 balls when partnered with ever-reliable Salman Agha & when he became the first Pakistani double centurion in history to have achieved that milestone, it took him 233 balls from the 100 to 200 mark. In both of those phases, his flicks, and use of feet vertically and horizontally echoed things louder and louder. Pace Moderation & Clarity. as stats of Ball Middling accuracy stamped as 85.2% and 90% respectively. All the while, did you see any reverse scoops, or ramp shots in that innings? Instead, we all got to witness one of the most sumptuous shots in the recent Test Cricket history of Pakistan and that was Saud Shakeel's inside-out aerial shot over the cover for delicious boundary.
Pakistan will stand true to your words Nasser Hussain, “mercurial Pakistan” as is the essence of #ThePakistanWay as it relates to:
Then I’ll make here my place,
(The road leads on),
Stand still and set my face,
(The road leaps on),
At this point, it would be pretty Fair to remember what the track was before #ThePakistanWay. Successive losses in 2 International T20 Tournaments, followed failure to qualify for WTC23 Final to name a few, painted the canvas of ordinary PCT fan like this:
Friend, I have lost the way.
The way leads on. Does it?
Now without even going into #Qudrat_ka_Nizam vs #DimaghSe debate or even without cursing the Flat Pitches during Home Test Season; The thing which mattered most was to make the move for new way, you’ve to learn the harsh lessons and try to right the wrongs. Conquering the Galle Fort on 20th of July showed a newfound sense of purpose and clarity in their approach. But guess what’s in store by thinking:
What was missing piece of puzzle then. It was #ThePakistanWay, a track of harmony, rhythm, calmness & clarity. Put all those elements of SuperStars, Fans Support & Healthy Team Culture together on the track of #ThePakistanWay, the tune out of it will be CT Bajay Gi!!!!
When it dawned on the picture-esque Galle Fort in all its glory, the Men in Green at that stage had almost forgotten the taste of victory having gone on an unfortunate 365 days winless run. Fast forward four days, It’s a low score chase: Day-5 on turning track bear in mind, the last 45 minutes had resulted in a panic run out of Noman Ali while Prabath Jayasuriya was doing his best impression of Rangana Herath: making sure that Pakistan fans have a sleepless and anxious night trying to detox them from PTSD of Galle’09, Sydney’10: so on and so forth.
A commanding boundary on his leg side from Babar Azam against slightly disciplined Ramesh Mendis showed one of the key facets of #ThePakistanWay signifying the clarity with which he approached the challenge at hand by plundering 30 runs in first five overs of the day. The message was loud and clear, We’ll be Cornered Tigers at Worst, but the Roaring Tigers at Best. So, do provide sniff of the meat at your own perils. #ThePakistanWay will be ever dynamic to pounce upon it. The scenes transcended afterward with brisk 30 runs from Saud & half century from Imam Ul Haq further stamped #ThePakistanWay
Too long an ado for a throwback to Saud Shakeel's Heroics which in the process did arguably one of the best away knock by Pakistani batters. What better stage than being 101-5 to announce the arrival of #PakistanWay? When the temptation or even the sheer history of batters collapse would’ve been to think:
Is there another way?
The way is one.
I should retrace the track? It’s lost and gone!!!
Rather, his score timeline read as 83 of 88 balls when partnered with ever-reliable Salman Agha & when he became the first Pakistani double centurion in history to have achieved that milestone, it took him 233 balls from the 100 to 200 mark. In both of those phases, his flicks, and use of feet vertically and horizontally echoed things louder and louder. Pace Moderation & Clarity. as stats of Ball Middling accuracy stamped as 85.2% and 90% respectively. All the while, did you see any reverse scoops, or ramp shots in that innings? Instead, we all got to witness one of the most sumptuous shots in the recent Test Cricket history of Pakistan and that was Saud Shakeel's inside-out aerial shot over the cover for delicious boundary.
Pakistan will stand true to your words Nasser Hussain, “mercurial Pakistan” as is the essence of #ThePakistanWay as it relates to:
Then I’ll make here my place,
(The road leads on),
Stand still and set my face,
(The road leaps on),
At this point, it would be pretty Fair to remember what the track was before #ThePakistanWay. Successive losses in 2 International T20 Tournaments, followed failure to qualify for WTC23 Final to name a few, painted the canvas of ordinary PCT fan like this:
Friend, I have lost the way.
The way leads on. Does it?
Now without even going into #Qudrat_ka_Nizam vs #DimaghSe debate or even without cursing the Flat Pitches during Home Test Season; The thing which mattered most was to make the move for new way, you’ve to learn the harsh lessons and try to right the wrongs. Conquering the Galle Fort on 20th of July showed a newfound sense of purpose and clarity in their approach. But guess what’s in store by thinking:
- Did we had lack of enough super stars in the recent years? Probably Not
- Weren’t PCT fans onside with players like never before? Surely yes
- Any other shoutout to Positive & Healthy Team Culture of past great teams? Hard to call, right?
What was missing piece of puzzle then. It was #ThePakistanWay, a track of harmony, rhythm, calmness & clarity. Put all those elements of SuperStars, Fans Support & Healthy Team Culture together on the track of #ThePakistanWay, the tune out of it will be CT Bajay Gi!!!!
