Where politics failed cricket has won. An unprecedented reception, accorded by Karachiites to the Indian cricket squad, has silenced those, especially the international media, that Karachi is not safe for any sporting event, including cricket, which attracts a big crowd.
Besides media people from India and elsewhere, high profile Indian dignitaries like Priyanka, her husband Robert and her brother Rahul Gandhi were stunned to see the discipline of about 34,000 strong cricket-hungry crowd at National Stadium in the first of the five One-day International (ODI) series. They were calm and displayed the best quality of head and heart.
Before the start of the match, most of the Indian guests and media people were apprehensive of likely untoward incidents, but when the match got under way, they were surprised to see the positive response from the crowd, who backed up the Indian batsmen and appreciated every shot they played.
Commenting on the arrangements and crowd's behaviour, an Indian journalist in the press gallery said: "It was unprecedented and memorable and the Indian players must be repenting their refusal to play a Test match in Karachi."
Comparing the crowd behaviour with some international cricket venues, including those in India, he said he was highly impressed by the exemplary attitude of Karachiites, who had ample knowledge of the game and appreciated only the finer points of the game.
DALMIYA'S REACTION: Even the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Jagmohan Dalmiya, could not conceal his sentiments, and said he was highly impressed by the security arrangements and was moved by of the knowledgeable crowd.
Before leaving the stadium, Dalmiya was surrounded by print and electronic media people, who wanted to know his reaction about the match and future plans about the Test match in Karachi, he simply said: "Cricket has won."
He said he was always vocal about cricketing ties between India and Pakistan to bring the two people closer.
About the apprehensions of the Indian government leaders, the BCCI officials and players about security measures in Karachi, Dalmiya was non-committal, but said the BCCI followed the government instructions.
When asked to compare the attitude of Karachi people with those of Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and some other venues in India, Dalmiya praised the Karachi crowd, and said he hoped that the Indian team would not hesitate to play Test match at Karachi.
International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani, who was also surrounded by the media people, was of the view that there was no hitch in organising Test match in Karachi, and said that Zimbabwe, during their forthcoming tour, would play a Test in Karachi.
CRITICS RICULED: Anyhow, the Karachi one-dayer has slapped on the face of those, who were describing Karachi a troubled city, should not forget the train blasts in Madrid, Spain, where the Olympic Qualifiers were held according to schedule and no team abandoned the venue in panic.
In future, one hopes the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will take positive steps to counter negative propaganda in the Western and Indian media about Pakistan, especially Karachi and convince the ICC-member countries that Karachi is as safe as any other cricket centre in the world.
In this connection, it is heartening that the ICC has finally decided to take action against the countries, refusing to follow the ICC schedule for one reason or the other.
FLAWS AND BLUNDERS: However, India won the first one-dayer at Karachi, thanks to undisciplined and wayward bowling by Pakistan which allowed India to pile up a massive total of 349-7 in 56 overs - six overs extra.
This was the highest ever-Indian total in ODI against Pakistan, surpassing the previous 316-4 at Dhaka in 1997-98. It is also the second highest team total at National Stadium Karachi after 360-4 by the West Indies against Sri Lanka in 1987 World Cup. It is the highest total without an individual hundred in the one-dayer.
Commenting on Pakistan's performance, chief selector Wasim Bari was very critical of the irresponsible and inaccurate bowling.
He said pacers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami and medium pacers Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan and Abdul Razzaq had been reduced to club level bowlers by the Indian batsmen, who played the shots at will.
Defeats are part of the game, but the way Pakistani bowlers offered victory on a silver platter to the visitors was deplorable," he said.
He was also critical of the ground fielding, and said unless the Pakistanis maintained line and length, it was impossible to defeat teams like Bangladesh.
He said: "speed never the matches. It is the line and length and wicket to wicket bowling which pays." He said coach Javed Miandad and captain Inzamam-ul-Haq should do something to get rid of the menace of no-balls, wides and short-pitched deliveries. Besides, ground fielding also needs a lot of improvement.
MIANDA'S CONCERN: Concerned over erratic and inaccurate bowling, coach Javed Miandad told the bowlers, especially pacers Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami and Shabbir Ahmed, to concentrate on taking wickets rather than containing India's batsmen for the remainder of their run-filled one-day series.
"The pitches are perfect for batting and the bowlers have to struggle against quality Indian batsmen," Miandad said.
"In conditions where batsmen are so comfortable playing strokes, the best line of defence is to take wickets even though the bowlers might go for some runs in the process," he said.
INZAMAM, YOUHANA PRAISED: Bari was, however, all praise for skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana, whose responsible batting saved Pakistan from a shameful defeat.
In their turn, Pakistan's 344-8 in 50 overs is the highest innings total by any team
batting second in the ODI, beating the previous 329 record set by Sri Lanka against West Indies at Sharjah in 1995. It was also the highest total against India in the ODI surpassing the previous highest of 327-9 in 50 overs at Chennai in 1997.
The aggregate of 693-15 in 100 overs is the biggest in one-day cricket stripping the previous 664-19 in 99.4 overs in the match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka at Singapore in 1996.
Last but not the least, the Karachi one-dayer was the event which was organised by the PCB without the involvement of Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA).
Though the KCCA people felt isolated and almost boycotted participation in organising the match, a last-minute meeting was convened by the Sindh Governor, Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ibad, between the PCB higher-ups and KCCA officials.
The PCB was directed by the Governor to involve the KCCA in the arrangements. However, a compromise was reached between the two and the PCB issued 1,500 tickets of different enclosures to the KCCA.
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