Neighbor's Envy, Owner's Pride ?

*

Neighbor's Envy ? Yes

Owner's Pride ? Unfortunately Not !

India's World Cup Team has been announced. Some surprises never manage to surprise us. We know there will be surprises. We just have get ready to be surprised. Remember Sunil Valsan ? He has a distinction which even Sachin Tendulkar doesn't have. He was part of a World Cup winning team.

On every tour, we should carry a reservation candidate. Right now, Saha is the one in South Africa. Piyush Chawla it will be, for the WC-11. The OBC perhaps. How did he manage to get in there is a question only Srikkanth and Co will be able to answer.

Why does Sreesanth find himself out of favor and perpetually unfit and of late profligate Nehra retain his place is a big surprise too. No one grudges Munaf Patel's selection, but this team has at least 5 men in the 'wounded soldiers' list. Sachin, Sehwag, Gambhir, Praveen and Zaheer are the names. Do we have worthy replacements ? What will happen if 3 or 4 or all of them fail to recover ?

With Dhoni having more faith in any Tom, Dick and Harry compared to Pathan, it won't be a surprise if they go for 5 bowlers scheme of things. That should give some hope for Chawla. Else, he will not be playing a single match during the Cup.

As I was wondering over the selection issues, I was tickled by THIS ! Howsoever stupid might be their Head Butt; Pakistan Cricket is a marvel to be marveled about. They have demolished New Zealand in New Zealand, within a month of the Kiwis' tour of India where the fancied Indians were made to sweat and grind on home soil.

This is practically Half-B Team of Pakistan. Yunis Khan, Misbah ul Haq and Umar Gul are the only players from the possible best Pakistan -11 playing here. In spite of that, they have crushed the Kiwis in the first test and done so quite handsomely. Coming to second test, Pakistan are on the verge of a series win; their first since 2006.

We are talking about Australia missing their greats and how they are suffering. We also see how South Africa miss Kallis and India miss their 'Stars' every time they lose. Murali-less Sri Lanka become tooth-less Tigers. Pakistan are playing without almost entire team thanks to several problems and Ejaz Butt. But they still can win.

I salute the 'Spirit of Pakistan Cricket' ! And also the ever enthusing talent pool ! If only they had a proper system, they would have been the team to beat. Why doesn't someone bump off the Butt and some more of those Mismanagers of PCB ? They have so much talent at their disposal even for this job ! After all Butt is a Blasphemy on Cricket !

Still, in spite of all their problems; for me, Pakistan will be the dark-horses for WC-2011 !




S-Pun Doctor

Collapsistan Lost and Nobody Blamed !

Pakistan lost badly to South Africa at Abu Dhabi.

Collapsistan Lost and Nobody Blamed !

Kevin Peitersen calls John Buchanan [JB] a 'Nobody' [NB]. Does that mean Bhooka Nan was blamed ?

Usually Cricket reports contain so many details about balls and no-ball calls, wickets and tickets and runs and ruins !

And This was reported as a matter of fact rather than as a matter of act !

Beats me, just take a look at what all weird things happened...

From 140 / 1 after 30 overs, Pakistan were bundled out for 203 in the penultimate over.

Collapses aren't new to Pakistan Cricket. They can definitely be renamed 'Collapsistan'. But even by their own exalted standards, this was ridiculous because they weren't even properly hitting out !

After the departure of Younis Khan, from Misbah-ul-Haq down; 8 Pakistan batsmen just could not hit a single boundary if we leave out the lone sixer by Shoaib Actor.

In fact the last boundary of Pakistan innings was a mishit of the last ball of 26th over. Actor managed the lone sixer of the third ball of 49th over.

Younis Khan once again proved, "Clash is Temporary, Class is Permanent". Why is he such a recluse ?

Zulkarnain Haider made his ODI debut and played a classic test innings. Has he 'booked' his berth ?

Pakistan deployed 7 bowlers and they managed only 2 no-balls and both were bowled by Actor Miyan. They just are not ready to cross the line !

Hashim Amla is playing like Virendar Sehwag. Who gave him the liberty ?

Graeme Smith hurt his fingers again for the 739th time. 'Poppadam Fingers' !

Pakistan batsmen must have been intimidated by the name Lonwabo Tsotsobe. They probably thought it was some mosquito causing Dengue Fever. It's rumored that Afridi called Yuveraj Singh to find out about it !

AB de Villiers scored only 51. Can't believe that. When was the last time he got out so cheaply ?

Graeme Smith retired hurt. Kallis didn't want to be left behind and he too cramped !

South Africa are called Saffers or SA. But Pakistan team has three SAs in their 11. Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Actor. This was 3 SAs vs SA !

Saffers are shuffling their batting order like nobody's business. Is Greg Chappelle around there ?

Billy Bowden wasn't there, but A-sad Rauf more than made up for that by getting the prized wicket of Younis Khan !

So much happened and absolutely no noise pollution ! Why ?

Here are the reasons...

Pakistan Parliament hasn't constituted an inquiry commission and all the donkeys in Pakistan are reported to be safe.

Ejaz Butt is silent. Someone was heard gossiping he was attending an intensive course on 'Fart of Living' !

Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif are in Dubai; away from their herd, busy being heard.

Miyandad is playing 'Grand-Dad' and is getting ready to welcome his daughter's fifth child. He wants 11 children from her so that he can have a team of his own. He hopes to become the Undisputed Coach of Pakistan.

And Mohsin Khan is busy seeking no objection certificates for the As-ifs and Butts and is talking to Dawn !



S-Pun Doctor