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A find indeed
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Shoaib Malik, who stole the limelight at the ODIs, was at his scintillating best in Hyderabad
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Shoaib Malik was at his best during the tour Photo: P.V. Sivakumar
Pakistan rebounded strongly to clinch the one day international (ODI) series against India and even more than the victory itself, what seemed to be a very encouraging sign for Pakistan cricket was the emergence of some capable young players who proved their merit under pressure.
One of those who made a significant impact was Shoaib Malik whose talent and determination was evident when he played against India `A' at Hyderabad before the start of the ODI series.
In the early stages, the team seemed to be in the process of reconstruction. The Pakistani think tank was experimenting with the younger players in an attempt to find a winning combination. As far as batting was concerned, the visitors needed to establish more stability and consistency in the middle order.
They were hoping that the younger players in the side would play a more meaningful role in the team's overall performances. For any team the future looks rosy only if young players are performing well.
Best foot forward
But by the end of the tour, they probably had every reason to be pleased. Shoaib Malik with his consistent performances in the ODIs was probably the "find" of the tour. Hyderabad cricket fans had a chance to see Shoaib at his best at the Visaka stadium in Uppal. The lanky Pakistan all-rounder impressed the experts. Although the match never really sparked off any fireworks, his performance stood out as an exception.
His display with the bat was clearly the best seen in the match. The Pakistani all rounder who is married to a girl from Hyderabad, brought the proceedings alive with a display of daring strokeplay just when the contest seemed to be degenerating into a dull and drab show.
He was the only batsman who seemed inclined to come out of his crease and attack the bowling. His uninhibited strokeplay showed that he has the eye and the sense of timing to hit the ball with power and precision. His impeccable shot selection and ability to score freely on both sides of the wicket marked him out as a batsmen of unusual talent. Shoaib, who was born on Feb 1, 1982 in Sialkot, (in the Punjab region of Pakistan) has already had extensive experience at various levels. He has played for Gujranwala Cricket Association, Sialkot Cricket Association, Pakistan International Airlines and also Gloucestershire cricket club in England. At a young age Shoaib seems to have gained valuable experience and has mastered quite a lot of the skills needed to be successful at the international level. The Man of the Match award that he bagged in the final ODI in Delhi was a fitting reward for his efforts. If he stays focussed and works hard, Shoaib could very well turn out to be one of the mainstays of the Pakistan team in the near future.
Abhijit Sen Gupta
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
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