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Razzaq right on

At last we got a wicket that must have reminded both teams of the tracks in the subcontinent. It was flat and did not deteriorate as the game progressed. It was also a good toss to lose because the wicket did look fresh in the morning and I too would have put the opposition in if I had the choice.

Pakistan have only Abdur Razzaq to thank because it was he who cut loose in the last few overs and got Pakistan past the 250 mark. That he topped off his batting effort with a five-wicket haul shows just how talented he is. Razzaq is developing into a genuine world-class all-rounder who can win matches both with the bat as well as the ball. He promises to be the scourge of many top bowlers in the days to come. His five consecutive fours against McGrath and his innings here today shows that he is growing in confidence. He is by far the most consistent player in the tournament so far. Players like Razzaq, Shoaib Akhtar, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf Youhana, Azhar Mahmood and Shoaib Malik ensure that Pakistan have enviable bench strength and a great storehouse for talent in the future.

It was also heartening to see the old warhorse Ijaz Ahmed getting a few today. Hopefully he will continue to chip in the remaining games. Our bowling, too, was satisfactory. Our main worry was Sachin Tendulkar. Once we had posted 262 on the board, we knew that Sachin would open. As the Indian innings progressed, it was evident that he would be the one man who could come between Pakistan and victory.

Interestingly, whenever I have been in a Pakistani one-day side, Sachin has never got among the runs. Today, he showed the world why he is considered the best batsman around. Some of the shots he played were simply amazing. It is a real pity that he is burdened by the over-dependence of the team on him. Earlier, opposing teams used to feel that Sachin's dismissal meant they could win the game. Today, I feel that the Indian players, too, feel this way. Sachin too seems to be aware that once Dravid and Ganguly are out he is the team's only hope. This is why his shots dried up once these two were out.

The Indians are really missing Azharuddin. According to the media, the team management does not want Azharuddin because they think he is not a team man. However, with none of his replacements clicking he should be considered. If there is some problem with his attitude, the officials should talk to him and try to motivate him. I still feel that Azhar has a couple of years of international cricket behind him.

I also hope that Sachin is given a longer stint as captain this time round. A captain is only as good as his team. Today, if Steve Waugh were to captain Kenya, I doubt whether all his astuteness and aggression would win him the World Cup! Sachin just needs his players to back him a little more and only then can his worth as a captain be truly gauged.

The Indians must be particularly disappointed by Dravid's performance in the Tests as well as the one-dayers. Every batsman goes through these lean phases. He needs the coach or a senior player to thrash out his problems with, and he needs to know that the team is behind him at this difficult time. Dravid is a world-class player, there is no need for the press or his fans to criticise him unnecessarily.

Looking ahead to Sunday's game at the MCG, we are looking forward to a win out there. Our batting has been improving with every outing and our fielding looked sharp today. I think we are peaking at the right time, I hope the boys will keep the momentum going.

(Gameplan)

Wasim Akram