Shaheens: From zero to hero

Web Desk

28th Jun, 2022. 01:08 pm
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Pakistan showed a spectacular performance throughout the T20 World Cup 2021.
Shaheens defeated India by 10 wickets in their World Cup opener.
They defeated West Indies 3-0 in the home ODI series.

International cricket is gradually returning to the cricket-crazy nation. The last time an international team came to Pakistan was Sri Lanka in 2009. However, the Lions abandoned the tour after several players were targeted by the terrorists.

After that, no big 3 team visited the country due to security concerns. Only a few teams including Zimbabwe, West Indies and Bangladesh visited Pakistan to play, that too only the white-ball series.

Last year, when Ramiz Raja assumed the duties as the Chairmain PCB, he strived hard to bring back international cricket to the country. Especially the big 3 which are England, Australia and New Zealand. He seemed successful in his efforts at first but it looked like it was not fate.

New Zealand toured Pakistan to play 3 one-day internationals and five T20 internationals. However, with just a few minutes remaining for the first ODI on September 17, The Kiwis canceled the match amid the security reason that was later deemed false.

England was the next team to follow after New Zealand. They were to send both their men’s and women’s teams to Pakistan for the white-ball series. Australia, who were thinking about stepping into the land of pure also backed off from their decision stating players’ security over anything else.

Ramiz, who was disappointed by the act of the boards, said that Pakistan has been used and binned by the western block. “It’s the feeling of being used and then binned — that is the feeling that I have right now,” the former Pakistan captain said. “I certainly feel that we are up against a western mindset, a Western bloc.”

T20 World Cup

Ramiz, after New Zealand and England, abandoned the tours, asked the national players to fuel up the anger within them and unleash it in the T20 World Cup, which was to begin after the Kiwis left the country. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also encouraged the players saying, ” ‘Harnay Sai Ghabrana Nahi Hai’ and fight till the last ball, he also assured the players that the people of Pakistan are behind their team, regardless of the results.”

The Men in Green responded with their historic win against the arch-rivals India in the World Cup opener, where they thrashed Men in Blue without losing a single wicket.

CONGRATULATIONS: Pakistan beat India by 10 wickets! #WeHaveWeWill #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/XQLliympz2
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 24, 2021

Pakistan also defeated New Zealand by 5 wickets in their World Cup encounter. After the match, Pakistani fans shouted ‘security issue resolved.’

🔥 Game 1 – Beat India by 10 wickets
🔥 Game 2 – Beat New Zealand by 5 wickets
What a start to Babar Azam and Pakistan's #T20WorldCup campaign 🙌#PAKvNZ 👉 https://www.bolnews.com/sports/cricket/2022/06/shaheens-from-zero-to-hero/amp/ pic.twitter.com/jHWWWO9U8v
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 26, 2021

Pakistan was phenomenal until it reached the semifinals where they were to face one of the top teams, Australia. Men in Green played well till the very end, but with only one mistake, Pakistan lost the match to the Kangaroos.

Australia tour of Pakistan

The international cricket revival came after Cricket Australia announced their tour of Pakistan with a total of 3 Tests, 3 ODIs and a one-off T20I. For those unversed, this was Australia’s first visit since 1998.

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Our Aussie men are headed to Pakistan ✈️
It will be the first time our Australian men's team have toured Pakistan since 1998! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/1LGBCZZEgy
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) February 4, 2022

Australia clinched the Test series on 1-0 with two matches ending without a result and a one-off T20I. However, Pakistan bounced back to claim the ODI series by 2-1.

Clean sweep

West Indies toured Pakistan for three one-day internationals only. The series was a part of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.

With the Shaheens in form, they tore through the Windies winning the series 3-0. The last time the Green Shirts won all the matches in a series was in 2018 against Zimbabwe where they clean swept the host 5-0.

Another series win 🤩
Pakistan clinch Osaka Batteries Presents Spotify Pakistan vs West Indies ODI Series 2022 3️⃣-0️⃣ 🏆💪#PAKvWI | #KhelAbhiBaqiHai pic.twitter.com/0DpuA4O0el
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— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) June 12, 2022

Pakistan is now standing at the fourth spot in the Super League standings, amassing 90 points. They also moved to the third spot in the ICC MRF Men’s ODI rankings recently.

ICC Men’s ODI rankings