Full marks to gutty second string Kiwis

Full marks to the gutty second string New Zealander cricketers on their wonderful showing against Sri Lanka in the three one-day cricket series which ended with the last game in Dambulla on Saturday.

Although Sri Lanka had to huff and puff for a face saving victory helped by Duckworth and Lewis, it was the visitors who played the better cricket and it was a travesty of justice that prevented the Kiwis from flying away with the Dialog Trophy. Initially it was a pity that the three games had to be spoilt by the inclement weather. When the weather decides to bat and the overs are reduced from the original 50, it takes away the game as a contest.

But the game must go on and rules are there as to how many overs

constitute a result. And when overs are reduced it becomes a slap bang game with all the weired strokes being played.

Expected to stuff the Kiwis

When the Kiwis stepped down with an under strength team, which we said was a slap on Sri Lanka cricket, the Lankan cricketers were expected to stuff the Kiwis in all games.

But with the absence of Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Kane

Williamson, the Kiwis rallied and after a no show first game, stunned the full strength Lankan cricketers with an amazing display to chalk up a memorable victory in the second game. Left arm spinner Rangana Herath will always remember the mauling by Nathan McCullum who blasted him for 26 runs in an over.

But thanks to the weather in Dambulla which suddenly turned bad and helped by the dreaded pair of Duckworth and Lewis, the Lankans scampered home by 36 runs to save blushes and share the series.

In the process of the three matches being played, it exposed the shortcomings in the Sri Lankan cricketing get up. It taught Sri Lanka cricket a lesson and that lesson was that however much an opposition is weak, it should not be taken lightly.

Selectors learn a lesson

And Chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya and his band would also have learnt a lesson and that lesson is that experimenting with players should not be done when it is an international series. It could be done if a series has been won and a game or two is remaining.

When it is an international series we must put to battle our best players. We won't buy experimenting. Why that guy who could win a match on his own Thisara Perera was ignored for the first two games was inexplicable.

Perera is a brilliant allrounder. All rounders do not come dime a

dozen. When they do come they must be treated with due respect. Perera can hit any attack, hold the brilliant match winning catch and could slice through any batting order with his vicious cutters. Then it remains a mystery his benching.

No some more for Whatmore

For coach Dav Watmore the honeymoon with Pakistan cricket has ended and ended ingloriously with the sharing of the Two Test series with South Africa and the thrashing of 4-1 in the limited-over series in the United Arab Emirates. The writing was on the wall for Whatmore when Pakistan lost a Test match to lowly rated Zimbabwe in Robert Mugabe land. The cry and demand then by former Pakistan greats led by Rameez Raja was for Whatmore's removal.

The greats did not spare Captain Misbah Ul Haq as well. They asked for his head too. But the Pakistan Cricket Board and the selectors did not act hastily and wield the axe, but allowed both, continuity against the South Africans. But Whatmore, after the debacle in the desert, has apparently got the message and has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board that he

would not be seeking a renewal of his contract which ends in February next year due to his personal and family reasons.

Mutual agreement reached

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board, a mutual agreement had been reached not to extend his contract which ends on February 2014. Under Whatmore Pakistan have not won a single Test series and (PCB) interim committee chairman had admitted that he was under pressure to sack him. Whatmore will however continue to coach the Pakistanis and his last fling will be a series against Sri Lanka in the UAE in December- January 2014. Whether the selectors will continue with Captain Ul-Haq is left to be seen.

Coaches have rarely had smooth pitches in coaching sub continent teams such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. For these countries winning is not everything, but the THING.

Losing is anathema to them. When a team wins, everyone from the coach to the captain, the team and officials all bask and savour the glory of victory. But when a side capitulates, those lynched are the coach and the captain.

Glorious uncertainties

That is how cruel this wonderful game that was conceived and given birth to by the British and which is studded with the glorious uncertainties and also known as the great leveler can stuff you. That is why this game is also called a funny game.

Under former opening batsman Moshin Khan as coach, Pakistan cricket rode the high horse with many a victory to show. But with Khan quitting and Whatmore taking over, their fortunes tumbled and is now gasping for breath.

The cry at the moment in Pakistan is for a home grown coach to take over. As to who it will be who will be able to pump the oxygen and get the adrenalin in Pakistan cricket flowing and keeping it breathing will be interesting to watch. Like in India cricket is a craze in Pakistan.

They have highly talented willow wielders who can hold their own or shine even better in any exalted company of cricketers.

But what is holding them back from performing and winning laurels is their inability to play as one delta force. The one man who moulded the cricketers and got them to play as one strike force was that great all rounder, turned politician the one and only IMRAN KHAN who led them to win the 1992 World Cup in Australia.

Former legends show interest

With Whatmore being the topic, also comes the news that former test legends Abdul Qadir and Zaheer Abbas have shown interest in holding the top post of Chairman in the Pakistan Cricket Board. Also interested in the job is Mohsin Khan. This is a sequel after a court ordered elections for the post to be held next month.

Zaheer Abbas was a beautifully stroke maker in the 1970s and made tons of runs. Qadir was a superb leg-spin googly bowler and mesmerized many a batsman with his excellent control and vicious spin. Mohsin Khan was a stylish opening batsman and with him as coach, Pakistan cricket enjoyed some of its best years.

'I will contest the elections. I have the ability to run Pakistan cricket with honour, know cricketing matters well and have the experience for the post', said Qadir who also served as Chairman of selectors.

'If I am given the honour of serving as chairman, I would certainly bring about change', said Khan who had to make way for new coach Dav Whatmore last year despite guiding Pakistan to 3-0 whitewash of England, the then world number one team.

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