Calcutta Clippings (19 February 1999)

19 February 1999

Calcutta Clippings

Hasan Masood

CALCUTTA, Feb 18: Saeed Anwar carried his bat throughout the second innings of Pakistan to join the elite club of Test cricketers.

At the Eden Gardens today, the elegant opener blasted an unbeaten 188, his highest score in Test cricket, but was left stranded at the other end before scoring his maiden double ton. Anwar's previous best was 176, scored against England at The Oval in 1996.

In the history of Test cricket only two other openers attained the rare feat of being invincible throughout an innings. And, incidentally, with the joining of Anwar, it remains an all-Pakistani club.

Nazar Mohammad and his son, Mudassar Nazar, achieved the feat before the left-hander. More interestingly, all of them did the fabulous deed against their arch-rivals India.

Nazar Mohammad earned the distinction in Lucknow on Pakistan's first tour of India way back in 1952-53 while Mudassar emulated his father at Lahore in 1982-83.

Anwar, however, also became the first Pakistani to score a century at the Eden Gardens. The Asian rivals have played five Test matches so far here in Calcutta.

It was Anwar's eighth Test century. His previous seven tons are: 169 v NZ at Wellington (93-94), 136 v SL at Colombo (94-95), 176 v England at The Oval (96), 149 v NZ in Rawalpindi (96-97), 118 v South Africa in Durban (97-98), 145 v Aus in Rawalpindi (98-99) and 121 n.o. v Australia in Peshawar in the same season.

After the end of third day's play, an understandably tired Anwar termed the innings as the best of his life.

When asked whether he was disappointed for not being able to score a double hundred as wickets kept tumbling at the other end, Anwar said, "Well the India-Pakistan match is always a pressure match. It can happen in any time. But I am very happy that I could carry the bat throughout the innings."

"It was Srinath who made all the difference with his brilliant bowling today. But I think what ever we scored in the second innings is a fighting one," he added.

Although Anwar was available for the press, but a tight-lipped Srinath, who finished with his career best haul of 8 for 86, left the stadium putting the index finger on his lips.

The local West Bengal press continued their negative reporting on the performance of Pakistan team. Today the local media has raised an accusing finger towards Pakistan tear-away Shoaib Akhter who magnificently yorked Indian master batsman Tendulker for a duck on Wednesday.

According to Anandabazar Patrika, one of the leading dailies here, Shoaib is a chucker and he throws at least twice in every over.

In the report the newspaper carried opinions of some cricketers without disclosing their identity.

Pakistan middle-order batsman Inzamamul Haq, who suffered a neck injury on the night of February 4 when their team bus fell into a ditch on way to their hotel from the airport, returned home today.

"We have sent him back so that he can get himself fit before the match against Sri Lanka in Lahore early next month," said team physio Dan Kissel.

"There was no point for him to stay around and just watch TV," said Dan.

Former Pakistan pacer Sikander Bakht thinks the betting scandal in the Pak cricket would never be solved unless the government sincerely wants.

The lithe Pakistani, who is here as a Star Sport commentator, commented on the much-talked-about issue while in conversation with this correspondent during the lunch break.

"This problem should have been solved much before had the Pakistan government and the Board wanted that sincerely. They are not very keen to do that because most of the star cricketers will have to hang up their boots if that happens," Said Bakht.

He also blamed the PCB for appointing Aamir Sohail as Pakistan captain before throwing him out of the squad all of a sudden.

"He (Sohail) is a very hot headed guy and everybody knows that," said Sikander.

Indian opener Sadagoppan Ramesh has been slapped with a one-match (for both one-day and Test) suspended ban for three months for showing dissent after he was adjudged lbw by South African umpire Dave Orchard on Wednesday.

The left handed opener, who made his debut in the first Test against Pakistan in Madras last month, refused to leave the crease immediately after receiving the lbw verdict. Instead he raised the bat in a bid to indicate that he made a contact with the ball.

A hearing was held last night by match referee Cammie Smith, and Ramesh was found guilty under the Clause 3 of the ICC's code of conduct.

Taking into account that this was his first offence, Smith gave Ramesh a suspended sentence for three month from Feb 18 to May 17, 1999. During this period if Ramesh repeats the same, he will be suspended for a match, Test or ODI which ever comes first.

Former Indian skipper Kapil Dev does not want to get involved with India's cricket administration because he is not that rich.

Talking to this reporter, Kapil, the World Cup winning captain said that all the cricket administrators in India belong to 'right' houses and according to the present system no one can remove them from the top posts.

"You see they have only money. They never played cricket at its highest level. And I feel ashamed to be attached with them," said the world record holder for the highest haul of Test wickets.

He also gave his opinion about playing cricket in India during summer.

"I don't like this idea because the players are go through lot of heats during summer and the officials would never understand that sitting inside the AC boxes.

Former South African batsman Barry Richards wants ICC to take immediate steps to raise the dwindling standard of West Indies cricket which has hit its lowest ebb recently.

"Without West Indies, cricket will lose its charm and that is not wanted by anybody who loves the game," said Richards.

"Their 0-5 defeat to South Africa is very painful for me because I always enjoyed their cricket. It is about time ICC ought to come up with some plans to save cricket in the Caribbean. Otherwise this game will be lost there," Richards said.

Source :: The Bangladesh Daily Star (https://www.dailystarnews.com)