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India tour Pakistan
- Samsung Cup 2004 |
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Gul's eye: Pakistan make it 1-1
LAHORE: The happiest ones after Pakistan’s
nine-wicket win are the those who sit in the red-brick structure of
the Pakistan Cricket Board here at the Gadhaffi Stadium. There were
broad smiles, hugs, high fives, Inshallahs and Mashallahs, because
they now may earn two to three month salaries as a bonus for this
year. ‘‘That is if Pakistan doesn’t lose in Rawalpindi,’’
said one of the employees there.
It is amazing what a win in cricket can do in the Indian and
Pakistani societies. Even the players get swayed with success. World
saw what speedster Umar Gul did when Pakistan packed off India’s
second innings for 241 on Thursday morning.
The Man-of-the-Match thought that was it and Pakistan had levelled
the series. Not until Umpire Steve Bucknor checked what on earth was
he up to that he realised Pakistan needed to bat again and get 40
runs to win this Test match.
Umar must have got his souvenir for his five-wicket haul. He was the
one who sprung a surprise for the booming names in the Indian
batting lineup. As stand-in skipper Rahul Dravid told the media
later: ‘‘He was a surprise package an inspired selection. He put
the ball in the right areas and broke the back of our batting.’’
Another youngster, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Akhtar had
the Indian innings shaking. Shoaib squeezed a rash stroke out of
Virender Sehwag who had swapped his crash-boom-bang batting with a
rather sedate approach.
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