Predict the final winner and Ayub’s duck addiction

By K.R. Nayar
From Dubai International Stadium

Now that it will be an India-Pakistan Asia Cup final on Sunday, the media here has become extremely busy. An India-Bangladesh final would have been only about reporting what happened on the day of the final. That will not be the case ne. Discussions on who will lift the Asia Cup are at their peak. Many radio stations are running campaigns to predict the winner and who will be the hero of the match. Attractive prizes are on offer for those who can predict correctly.

Though Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav has said that India-Pakistan matches are no longer a rivalry, with India dominating in their tally of victories, no contest generates more off-field stories than this clash. There was a time when Pakistan fans used to say that “if it is Friday, it will be Pakistan’s day.” That was during the Sharjah matches in the 80s and 90s. Sunday is being seen as a neutral day at a neutral venue. The Sunday final can be called the ultimate stress-test day for every cricket fan’s heartbeat.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha celebrates with a chewing gum. Photo: ACC 

From chewing gum to chewing nails 

Chewing gum seems to be the solution for tension. In the Bangladesh-Pakistan match, Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha were chewing gum furiously, especially when the battle was at its peak, while spectators chewed their nails. Bangladesh batters seemed to believe that singles and doubles were for kindergarten kids and not for adults.They kept swinging for the fences — and walking back to the pavilion with the same speed.

Crowds before the tense finish that led to chewing nails 

If you happen to be in a group with India and Pakistan fans, the next few days will turn into a WhatsApp battle. One member in the group had a comment about why participants should be sporting in their remarks: “WhatsApp has no third umpire or match referee, and hence remarks cannot be reviewed.

Saim Ayub addicted to duck but successful as a bowler. Photo: ACC

Ayub’s duck addiction

 After Saim Ayub fell for his fourth duck in six innings in this edition of the Asia Cup, the feeling is that he is addicted to ducks. He has now joined the list of most ducks for Pakistan in T20Is with nine of them. Umar Akmal tops the list with 10. However, the only consolation for him is that he has displaced the legendary Shahid Afridi from second place, with eight ducks. However, he is the fastest to record the most ducks—just 45 innings—while Akmal took 79 innings and Afridi 90 innings to reach their tallies.

Bangladesh pacer Taskin or Tarzan

Taskin and Tarzan

Bangladesh’s opening bowler Taskin Ahmed, who bagged three wickets, was a victim of panic attack during the COVID pandemic. It is said he overcame his panic by hiring a gym instructor and working on his physique. Taskin, whose nickname is Tazin, looks so strong that his nickname could well be modified to Tarzan.

 Days of M & M and W & W

 Former Pakistan spinner Mushtaq Ahmed is the spin consultant for the Bangladesh team. Guided by a player who was part of Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup-winning team, the Bangladesh spinners are learning a lot. He has predicted that Rishad Hossain, who is a leg-break googly bowler like him, will reach new heights. Hossain picked the prized wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Hussain Talat on Thursday. 

A television grab of Mushtaq Ahmed in the dressing room 

There was a time when Pakistan bowlers used to attack in tandem. When Mushtaq and off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq played together, they were called M&M as they had the same first name and last name. That was years before the M&M chocolates emerged. Similarly, Pakistan once had an attack made up of W&W—pacers Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram. Both these pacers were commentators for this match.

Bangladesh’s Athar Ali and Mohinder Amarnath’s influence

Former Bangladesh opener and commentator Athar Ali was in big demand on Thursday for his comments. Almost all Bangladesh journalists sought his views on their team’s exit. Having been his co-commentator during an Afghanistan-Zimbabwe Test match, I’ve experienced his accurate observations on the game. 

Athar Ali with Wasim Akram in the commentary box.

India’s allrounder Mohinder Amarnath, who turned 75 on Wednesday, was responsible for transforming Ali from a middle-order batter to an opener while he was the coach of the Bangladesh team. In the Pepsi Asia Cup in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Ali top-scored with 82 against Pakistan. Incidentally, Ali can speak Urdu and has his roots in Uttar Pradesh.