India and Pakistan in Another Dreary Series 1960-61

India and Pakistan in Another Dreary Series, 1960–61. Pakistan, who won the toss and batted first in four of the five drawn Tests, scored 2,481 runs for 68 wickets in 1,101.5 overs at a rate of 2.25 runs per over. India, who had first use of the wicket in only the last Test, scored 2,178 runs off 1,014 overs at an average of 2.14. The difference is virtually negligible, but Pakistan on four occasions set the tempo. Furthermore, while they scored 140 for 3, 146 for 3 declared, and 59 for no loss in the second innings of the Kanpur, Calcutta, and Madras Tests, respectively, they were completely safe from defeat and were able to bat without a care in the world.

In only two Tests did India get a second innings. In Calcutta, they were in peril of losing the game when they batted a second time, and in the final Test, they went in when only ten minutes remained on the last day. In the first four Tests, one was tempted to condone India's rate of scoring because Pakistan took about two days to put up totals of between 300 and 350, and then it was not worth India's while to take risks and try and force a result in the remaining three days. But when it came to Contractor's turn to call the tune in the last Test on an unimpeachable wicket at Delhi, his outlook was no different from that of his rival. Just over a full day's play was lost in the whole series.

Rain took away four and a half hours from the third test at Calcutta. However, the fourth day's play in the Madras Test was curtailed by 20 minutes due to a fire breaking out in a section of the stands, and the start of the final test was delayed by an hour. After accounting for these curtailments, the two teams aggregated 4,669 runs for an average scoring rate of 194.54 runs per day (of five hours) and 38.85 runs per hour. The 200-mark was topped on only 11 of the 24 days, and on half of these occasions, it was on the last day, when a decisive result was out of the question.

But Pakistan must get credit for the highest number scored in a day. Ironically enough, it was on the opening day of the first Test that they made 241 for 1, with Hanif Muhammed batting in all his glory for the only time in his nine innings. The lowest mark was reached by India on the third day of the second Test, when they put on no more than 149. India, I thought, was the superior side, and it was dropping catches at crucial stages that prevented them from winning the Bombay Test. At Delhi, it was through chances for all three batsmen who made sizeable scores that India built up a huge total, and they let the match slip out of their fingers, dropping no less than five catches.

At Bombay, in the first Test, Pakistan were 300 for 1 at one stage. Then followed a collapse that was a virtual landslide, and they were all out for 350. The fear of a recurrence of such a debacle and Hanif Muhammed's loss of form after his magnificent century must have detracted considerably from their confidence, although Saeed Ahmed did more than take over the role of sheet-anchor in their batting. Increasingly Reliable As the series progressed, the middle of Pakistan's batting became increasingly reliable, but rarely did Pakistan in India exude the air of mastery. The only batsman on the Pakistan side who batted always with the demeanor of one in command was Saeed Ahmed.

Imtiaz Ahmed, who opened with Hanif, accumulated 375 runs for an average of 41.60, including a hectic century; at least the latter part of it was at Madras, but none of his big innings were free of chances. At number four in the batting order, Javed Burki looked like a cultured cricketer. He did not come off in the first Test because he joined the team only a couple of days before the game, having stayed back in Pakistan to appear for a public service examination.

But scoring 79 and 48 not out, he provided a backbone for both the Pakistan innings at Kanpur and in Calcutta; he twice topped the 40 mark. He played no small part in saving the final Test, scoring a valiant 61 in the first innings Half of this inning was played practically one-handed because he had been badly injured. Javed Burki could barely grip the bat in the second, but he kept the ball out of the clutches of five or six close fielders for 45 full minutes and aided Mushtaq-homed in halting a collapse.

Mushtaq Muhammed, at number six, proved as resourceful as Burki, more so when things were going against his side. At the start of the tour, he looked like a rabbit for leg spinners, but he dealt with them competently by stretching fully forward to smother the spin. For a small man, he drove with force on either side of the wicket and hooked and pulled without fear. He was struck more than once in trying to hook Desai's kicking deliveries, but it never stopped him from getting behind the line of the ball; his century, which snatched victory out of India's grasp at Delhi, was a valiant effort. He did not make many runs in the second inning, but without his long vigil, it might have again folded up quickly.

The tail-enders all took their turns at 45 to rise to the occasion. At Kanpur, Nasim-ul-Ghani, the Pakistanis' only left-hander, played an invaluable innings of 70, a real life-saver. At Calcutta, the hard-driving Intikhab Alam made 56 and enabled Pakistan to touch a respectable mark in the first inning. At Madras, the only Test in which Pakistan declared their first innings, no wagging of the tail was called for, and at Delhi, Mahmood Hussain frustrated India's hopes of a victory by saying Pakistan had a varied attack but not one with the potential to run through the Indian batting.

In a team of 17—too large a compliment for so short a tour—they brought out three fast-medium bowlers, Mahmood Hussain, Muhammed Farooq, who had never played for Pakistan before, and Muhammad Munaf, described before the team arrived as the quickest bowler on the other side of the border. Then came Fazal Mahmood, now bowling with a shortened run and a lower arm at just about medium pace. Among the spinners were off-spinner Haseeb Ahsan and left-arm Nasim-ul-Ghani, both found on the tour to the West Indies in early 1958. Leg-spin was served up by the stocky, swarthy all-rounder Intikhab Alam, who, with Richie Benaud as his model, turned out to be a better leg-spinner than we expected.

The terror of Pakistan's new ball attack was obviously on the wane. Mahmood Hussain had lost much of the speed and lift he had when he came here eight years earlier. Before the tour had advanced very far, the other two pace bowlers, Farooq and Muhammad Munaf, went on the invalid list, and Hussain had a lot of work to do. Fazal Mahmood pulled a muscle in the opening game of the tour, an injury that recurred in the match before the first test and again in the first test. As a run-saver, he was effective, bowling steadily at just short of a length, but only the softish, green wicket at Calcutta gave 46 Pakistani players in India the look of a match-winning bowler. This was one test captured at 5 for 26 in which he was a menace.

In the first Test, Mahmood Hussain and Fazal Muhammed were well supported by Muhammed Farooq, who took 4 for 139 in 46 overs. But he got his first three wickets and that of Roy, Baig Contractor, without much cost. An injured muscle after this Test allowed him only two smaller games, but he returned to the side in the fifth Test and once more bowled effectively, bringing the ball in nicely off the wicket. A bowler with a run-up reminiscent of Ray Lindwall, Muhammad Farooq, at 22, is Pakistan's young bowler of the future, provided, of course, he trains up his muscles to withstand the strain and hard work. Nari Contractor and Pankaj Roy opened for India in the first Test.

If Pankaj Roy did not play again in the series, it was because of his unsure fielding and not because he was not impressive while making 23 runs out of an opening stand of 56. Contractor, who aggregated 319 runs for an average of 53.17, was consistently personified, and contrary to the fears of many, his batting remained unaffected by the onus of captaincy. Pankaj Roy was replaced by M.L. Jaisimha, who made a laborious 99 in almost eight hours in the Kanpur Test and remained Nari Contractor's opening partner for the rest of the series. He never made another big score in four more innings, but he always stayed till the shine was off.

Never did he look anything but a batsman of Test match class. Jaisimha, however, does not enjoy opening the innings because it stifles his stroke play, which is as brilliant as that of any contemporary Indian batsman. Nothing was more unfortunate from the Indian angle than Baig's failure to get going. In contrast to his teammates, the little Oxford batsman sought runs from the very moment he arrived at the crease. He did not play even a full over at Bombay, but at Kanpur, he seemed to be seeing the ball very well and provided a few moments of delightful cricket while making 13.

At Calcutta, he started shakily against the spinners and was just settling down when he made an ill-advised pull and was bowled. Faultless Technique Manjrekar returned to the side for the first time since his knee gave way during the tour of England. Faultless technique makes him a sound and solid batsman despite his capless knee, but his stroke play has certainly been affected. Against Pakistan, he played his drives as handsomely as he always did, but less frequently. Umrigar had a most successful series, with his six innings yielding him 382 runs, including three centuries. Chandu Borde always batted in cavalier fashion, and he invariably changed the complexion of the innings.

He failed at Kanpur after a handsome innings of 41 at Bombay, and the selectors wanted his head. Had Milkha Singh not reported ill on the morning of the match, Chandu Borde would not have played at Calcutta, where he saved India with innings of 44 and 23 not out. When Haseeb Ahsan at Madras was threatening to mow down India for a paltry score after Pakistan had put up 448 for 8 declared, their highest total of the series, Chandu Borde played the longest innings of his career, 177 not out, and again proved himself the man for a crisis.

He played another useful inning in Delhi, but this time his touch was unsure. As I have said earlier, India played Surendra Nath in only two Tests, trying to make do with either Surti or Umrigar as the other opening bowler. A great burden therefore fell on Tiny' Desai, and bowling 215.5 overs, more than any other Indian bowler, he captured 21 wickets at an average of 29.76.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test at Kandy 1994

The Pakistan national cricket team toured Sri Lanka in August and September 1994. Those days it was considered outside the normal cricket season, for a three-match Test series and five Limited Over’s International matches. Pakistan won the Test series 2–0.

On the first day of the 3^rd Test match played at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy in August 1994 (Test Match # 1267). Pakistan beat Sri Lanka with the super performance of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. Both bowled superbly and bowled out Sri Lanka just 71 runs without being unchanged. At one stage Sri Lanka was 48 for 9, but the last wicket added a few precious runs to reach the score of 71. This was the lowest Sri Lanka score at those times.

Pakistan wins the toss and is elected to field first on the tricky track. Sri Lanka handed Test cap to Chaminda Vaas, Ravindra Pushpakumara, Sanjeeva Ranatunga, while Kabir Khan made Test debut for Pakistan.

Waqar Younis declared Man of the Match of 6 for 34 and 5 for 85. He also made 20 useful Runs in the first innings. Waqar Younis dismissed Roshan Mahnama, Sanjeeva Ranatunga, Arjuna Ranatunga, Hashan Tillkaratne, Kumar Dharmasena, and Chaminda Vaas.

Sri Lanka Bowled bowled out 71 Runs in 28.2 overs. Wasim Akram 4 for 32, Waqar Younis 6 for 34.

Pakistan First Innings 357/9d Inzamam-ul-Haq 100, Aamer Sohail 74, Basit Ali 52, Saeed Anwar 31, and Captain Salim Malik 22.

Ravindra Pushpakumara 4 for 145 and Kumar Dharmasena 4 for 75.

Sri Lanka 2^nd innings 234 all out. (Hashan Tillekeratne 83 not out, Ruwan Kalpage 62 and Arjuna Ranatunga 32.

Waqar Younis 5 for 85, Mushtaq Ahmad 3 for 35, Wasim Akram 1 for 70, and Kabir Khan 1 for 39.

Pakistan won the match by an innings and 52 runs.

Pakistan also won the test series by 2-0.

The test match supervised by Sri Lankan B.C Coorey, and Ian Robinson of Zimbabwe., while T.V umpire was K.T Francis. Match Refree was Camie smith. 

Imran Khan - The Greatest Cricketer

Imran Khan is the greatest cricketer ever produced by Pakistan. A great leader, a Captain, and a true man make history to won the 1992 cricket world cup. 

 

Aamir Nazir - Former Pakistan Fast Bowler Learnt the art of Reverse Swing from Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Aamir Nazir - Former Pakistan Fast Bowler Learnt the art of Reverse Swing from Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. But unfortunately, he didn't perform up to the selectors' expectations and being dropped after few years. Though, he has the reverse swing class. At one time, he was being a future prospect of a Pakistan attack. He had his runup problems at the start of his career, but later on, he rectify his issue.  

 

Wasim Akram had various other idiosyncrasies which hardly helped matters for the batsman.

But with the Pakistanis – starting with Imran Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz before Wasim and Waqar came on the scene – it was a very different game.

Ijaz Ahmed Junior – Former Middle Order Batsman

Ijaz Ahmed Junior is a former Pakistan middle order batsman. He appeared in two tests matches and two ODI’s for Pakistan in 1995-96. Ijaz Ahmed Junior was born on February 2, 1969 at Lyallpur (Faisalabad). He made test debut against Sri Lanka at Peshawar on Sep 1995. In the first inning he was caught by AP Gurushina off Muttiah Muralitharan bowling for 5 off 30 balls.

In the second test match at Faisalabad he scored 16 runs off 41 balls with 3 lovely ground shots. However he dismissed cheaply again for 8 runs off 31 balls of Chaminda Vass Bowling. This was his final appearance for Pakistan, that is truly unfortunate for a talented batsman.

He went back to domestic cricket and he work hard to come back. Therefore, after two years of exorbitant hard working he come back to Pakistan side who was visiting to Australia for Carlton and United series. Pakistan won the series first time in Australia. But he was failed again on the two chances provided him.

In the first match against West Indies, at Perth, he scored 3 not out, off 2 balls batting at No 9 positions. Simply, unluckily as Pakistan senior players played most of the inning. However in the 2^nd match at Sydney his batting could not come. This was his final match for Pakistan. That is extremely a sad end of his career not provided too much opportunities.

He has brilliant domestic records, of scoring 13058 runs at 40.93 with highest score of 229* including 33 hundreds, 62 fifties 232 catches. Also, as an right arm off spin bowler, he grabbed 171 wickets with the best of 6 of 62 including 6 times five wickets an inning and one time ten wickets in a match.

In a 152 list A matches, he scored 4418 runs at 35.62 runs with the best of 134, including 5 hundreds, 33 fifties and 63 catches. In the bowling department he took 79 wickets with the best of 5 for 42.

In 11 T20 matches, he scored 125 runs at 17.85 with the best of 44, and no wicket under this format. These stats clearly shows that he deserved more chances, but Pakistan selectors unsatisfied with the limited opportunities provided to him. That is extremely unfair for a batsman who has more than 40 averages in domestic cricket.

Even though at one stage, Ijaz Ahmad Junior was compared with great Inzamam ul Haq. But he could not thrive on international cricket for long time. That was a sad story of unfortunate cricketer. 

Lillee Grave on Faisalabad Pitch

This is memorable picture of depicts the great Australian fast Bowler Dennis Lillee on the receiving end of Taslim Arif bat. Dennis Lillee had a torrid time at Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad on the tour to Pakistan in 1979-80. When he tried really hard and hard but to no avail, to be successful on the featherbed presented there by the grounds man.

The ordeal provoked into him into making the now famous remark about making his grave on the side of the pitch. Wicket Keeper batsman Tasleem Arif on the other hand would remember the Test match fondly as not only did he remain in the ground on all of its five days.

Taslim Arif scored brilliant double hundred 210 runs on this dead surface. The highest score by any Pakistani wicket keeper batsman, and also turned his arm over, (capturing the wicket) as did all the rest of his colleague in the Pakistan team.

The great Australian fast bowler Lillee went wicket less in this Test match, saying frustrated on the dead surface, whenever he dies, he should be buried beneath the match pitch. But remember West Indies powerful side bundled out here just 53 in 1986-87 against Pakistan. Also, this was the same ground, where famous incident took place of Mike Gatting and Shakoor Rana were embroiled.

In 1998, Pakistan vs. Zimbabwe Test match was abandoned without being a ball bowl due to heavy fog engulfed entire city for five days. Pakistan have won six test here, and lost five matches, and 12 matches ended without a result. The first ever Test match at Faisalabad played in 1978, between India vs Pakistan which was high scoring draw.

Basit Ali, in his young days.

Misbah-ul-Haq Equals Fastest Test Hundred

No one can believe, that a 40 years old guy can make a fastest Test hundred. Misbah-ul-Haq converted the fastest fifty in Test cricket just off 21 balls and register his name into the joint-fastest century off 56 balls on the fourth day in Abu Dhabi. But Misbah-ul-Haq did it brilliantly against Australia in the 2nd test at Abu Dhabi on Nov 02, 2014. Before that he done a fastest fifty in the history of test cricket. So it likes a dream that Pakistan captain holds the two respected records of test cricket, and make his name on the top of list. This is simply unbelievable for whole world, especially for Pakistan fans. He has been criticizing due to his famous word "Tuk Tuk". A magnificent inning played by him, which he can proud himself through out his career. We should give a huge applause to Misbah for this special inning. We're sure now he'll get the respect as he deserve.

Fastest Hundred in The History of Test Cricket

 Fastest Fifties in the History of Test Cricket

Misbah-ul-Haq converted the fastest fifty in Test cricket - off 21 balls - into the joint-fastest century - off 56 balls - on the fourth day in Abu Dhabi on Nov 02, 2014© Getty Images

Misbah-ul-Haq Smashes Fastest fifty in the history of Test cricket.

What a Great Knock by Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq scored Fastest Fifty in the history of Test Cricket, just made in 20 balls against Australia in the second test at Abu Dhabi on Nov 02, 2014. Jack Kallis of South Africa previously has the record in 24 balls against Zimbabwe at Cape Town in 2004-05. A brilliant inning.

Sarfraz Ahmad 2nd Test Hundred off 80 balls against Australia at Dubai in Oct 2014

Sarfraz Ahmed got to his century in 80 balls against Australia at Dubai actually is the fourth fastest by a Pakistan batsman. The record is held by Majid Khan who scored a hundred off 74 balls against New Zealand in 1976. However, Boom Boom Shahid Afridi has scored two 78-ball hundreds. Across countries, this is the 18th fastest century in Tests where balls-faced data is available. Moreover one number of wicketkeepers who have made a faster Test hundred than Sarfraz. Who is none other than Adam Gilchrist scored a 57-ball hundred versus England at Perth in 2006. Whereas Safraz's innings was the 12th time a wicketkeeper posted a 100-plus score at a 100-plus strike rate in Tests, with seven of those being by Gilchrist.

Sarfraz Ahmed exults after his hundred, Pakistan v Australia, 1st Test, Dubai, 2nd day, October 23, 2014 @ Getty Image

The highest partnership for the 6th wicket for Pakistan in ODIs

The protagonists Sohaib Maqsood & Fawad Alam, who added 147 runs for the sixth wicket, in 117 balls against Sri Lanka at Hambantota 23 Aug 2014. This is the record sixth wicket partnership for Pakistan. It is also bring Pakistan back from the dead and drag them over the line with one ball left to play, after all manner of final-over drama. It was only the second time in the last three years that Pakistan had successfully chased a 250-plus target.

Shahid Afridi Set Anoth Record For Pakistan.

Shahid Afridi has set another record of most matches to leave behind former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq in One-Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka at Hambantota 23 Aug 2014. Shahid Afridi broke this record when he started his 379th match against Sri Lanka in Hambantota. Afridi played career 379 ODIs while the world class batsman Inzamam-ul-Haq had played his career 378 matches. Shahid Afridi, age 34, has scored 7619 runs so far in his 378 ODIs while he has taken same 378 wickets. Afridi now involve in 266 international matches win, a record number of win by a Pakistani player, beating Inzamam (265).

The Youngest and oldest players to be picked as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year

The annual Wisden accolade, which started in way back 1889, is the oldest individual award in cricket, and perhaps in any sport. Pakistan Mushtaq Mohammad is the youngest player to be picked as one of the Five Cricketers of the Year when he was only 19 when chosen in 1963 for his feats on Pakistan's tour of England the previous year.

The Youngest and oldest players to be picked as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year @ Getty Image

Test debut on his birthday.

Pakistan left handed opening batsman Shan Masood celebrated his 24th birthday on the first day of Test against South Africa in Abu Dhabi. He gave himself a present the following day by making 75 in his maiden innings. Shan Masood was actually the 12th man to make his Test debut on his birthday, and the first since Sewnarine Chattergoon of West Indies, against Sri Lanka in Port-of-Spain in April 2008. The first man to do it actually did so in the first Test of all is Australian Bransby Cooper, against England in Melbourne in March 1877, was celebrating his 33rd birthday on the first day of Test cricket.