After close to three decades Pakistan was finally given the greenlight to host a major international cricket tournament.
But after only five days of the Champions Trophy tournament, the host and defending champion has bowed out.
For years the country was off-limits because of security fears. but in recent years top Test nations made successful visits to Pakistan and returned home impressed with the country’s ability to pull off matches smoothly and safely.
But one country that steadfastly has refused to cross the border they share is India.
Prior to the Champions Trophy competition, India assured the governing body of the game — the International Cricket Council — that it would compete. But closer to the time, India made an about turn, leaving egg on the face of the ICC by demanding that its matches be played outside of Pakistan.
Pakistan originally had made it clear it wouldn’t bow down to India’s request but, in the end, India got its way. The host nation roped in Dubai for matches involving India and, if India does reach the final, the encounter also will take place in the desert city.
As so often happens, the ICC goes down on its knees to accommodate India. As the governing body of the second-most popular sport in the world behind soccer, the ICC should have put its foot down and suspended India.
Other countries believe governments should not be allowed to interfere in sport, but this does not apply to India. Soccer has often suspended countries where there has been interference from their governments, but India happens to have a major clout in cricket as it keeps the game afloat around the world with the unbelievable revenue it accrues from the Indian Premier League (IPL).
India has taken over as top dog in the pound after the game was previously dominated by England and Australia with their colonizing attitude. They had stamped their authority on everything that pertained to the game, but the emergence of the IPL has India to slowly move to the top of the roost and calls the shots.
But back to the Champions Trophy, where India also is making waves while Pakistan is in the doldrums. After losing its first two matches, the players are taking heat from former stars and its die-hard fans for its below-par performances.
The fans are devastated and that is no surprise as Pakistan has regularly produced some of the world’s greatest cricketers such as the incredible Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar, just to name a few.
Mohammad Rizwan’s Pakistan was off to a disastrous start as it was thrashed by New Zealand and that much-anticipated confrontation against arch-rival India turned to be one-sided.
Cities in both countries came to a standstill as all eyes were glued to their television screens while all the 25,000 ducats for the match at the Dubai International Centre were sold out minutes after being offered for sale.
At the end, there was joy in India while Pakistan endured heart break after Indian ace Virat Kohli rediscovered his batting skills to carve out a magnificent century in the six-wicket thrashing.
On Monday, New Zealand compounded Pakistan’s misery by drubbing Bangladesh by five wickets to book a spot in the semis along with India at the expense of the home team and Bangladesh. The highlight of this match was a sublime 112 off 105 balls by Rachin Ravindra as the Kiwis posted 240 for five in reply to Bangladesh’s 236 for nine.
Now the cream of Group A — India and New Zealand — face each other on the weekend to decide who finishes on top. All eyes now turn to Group B, which consists of Australia, England, Afghanistan and South Africa.
Australia got off to a flyer by pulling off an electrifying victory over England in the opener for both teams. The Aussies proved again that Steve Smith’s squad cannot be underestimated despite coming in without the world’s finest trio of fast bowlers — Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Starc.
Cummins and Hazelwood are sidelined by injuries while Starc pulled out for personal reasons. It is the first time in 14 years the most-potent pace attack in Aussie history has not been in action, but skipper Smith says it doesn’t matter as he has the horses for the course.
The Aussies pulled off an epic chase of 352 in Lahore thanks to a magnificent knock of 120 not out from 86 balls by Josh Inglis. Australia completed the five-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare.
Prior to that, England opening bat Ben Duckett flogged the Australians for a rip-roaring 165 as England posted 351 for eight — the highest score in Champions Trophy history.
It appeared an insurmountable total, especially after the opposition struggled at 136 for four. But Aussies never say die in ICC tournaments and proved that once again.
Australia’s encounter versus South Africa in Rawalpindi on Tuesday was washed out by rain. Since both Australia and South Africa won their opening matches and took a point from Tuesday’s draw, they each have three points.
The abandonment means England has to defeat Afghanistan on Wednesday and South Africa on Saturday, but a loss in either game will see England headed home.
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