If the 2007 Twenty20 World Cup led to the discovery and rise of Misbah and Tanveer then the 2009 version was the return of the old guard. To be sure there was a newer generation on display as well but it was Razzaq and Afridi who came in from the cold. Razzaq had been dropped before the last Twenty20 Cup and was put in the deep freeze after the BCCIs insistence on banning ICL players. Afridi too was drifting in the nether regions for some time though his bowling had improved over the last year. But this was a new Afridi his final innings more reminiscent of Miandad's perfect pacing of the innings than the Afridi of old.
Miandad on the eve of the match said that there are a hundred and twenty balls and if you take a single every ball you have a 120 runs. Wasim Akram backed them to win it all when not many were willing to give them a chance. Gul, who finally installed himself as the premiere limited overs fast bowler, was in constant contact with Akram, Younis and Akhtar who helped him out. Afridi has already mentioned that Qadir had helped him out with his bowling. It was a coming together of the generations.
The team could not have asked more of the next generation of players in the final. Aamer, his action still somewhat flailing, bounced out the man of the tournament and performed credibly in the semifinal. It is hard to see Shahzaib remain in the openers slot and I don't think it was his position to begin with but he finally gave Pakistan the start they had been lacking all along. It was nothing spectacular but for the first time the next batsman went in with considerably less pressure.
Shoaib Malik returned to his old versatile self and being the ultimate team man. His bowling did not click his batting form was mercurial but he stuck it out and got the job done. In some sense he was the link between the last Cup and this one. If he had led Pakistan and took them to the final then he was fighting in the trenches this time. One man who probably did not get so much attention but performed a vital Gilchrist-like role at the top of the order was Akmal. With the bind Pakistan was in at the opening spot he shored up one end and produced some quick runs. Then there was the erstwhile journeyman Ajmal who came able and willing to play with the big boys.
Miandad on the eve of the match said that there are a hundred and twenty balls and if you take a single every ball you have a 120 runs. Wasim Akram backed them to win it all when not many were willing to give them a chance. Gul, who finally installed himself as the premiere limited overs fast bowler, was in constant contact with Akram, Younis and Akhtar who helped him out. Afridi has already mentioned that Qadir had helped him out with his bowling. It was a coming together of the generations.
The team could not have asked more of the next generation of players in the final. Aamer, his action still somewhat flailing, bounced out the man of the tournament and performed credibly in the semifinal. It is hard to see Shahzaib remain in the openers slot and I don't think it was his position to begin with but he finally gave Pakistan the start they had been lacking all along. It was nothing spectacular but for the first time the next batsman went in with considerably less pressure.
Shoaib Malik returned to his old versatile self and being the ultimate team man. His bowling did not click his batting form was mercurial but he stuck it out and got the job done. In some sense he was the link between the last Cup and this one. If he had led Pakistan and took them to the final then he was fighting in the trenches this time. One man who probably did not get so much attention but performed a vital Gilchrist-like role at the top of the order was Akmal. With the bind Pakistan was in at the opening spot he shored up one end and produced some quick runs. Then there was the erstwhile journeyman Ajmal who came able and willing to play with the big boys.
The team was undercooked and Younis made some critical tactical mistakes and media gaffes but he brought together the resources he had at hand, which were less than ideal mostly due to the ICL drops, and produced one of the most important results for Pakistan cricket.
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