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Pakistan, the playground, and the year 2021

The last days of the year 2021 are approaching and we are preparing to enter the new year with new ambitions and new enthusiasm. The New Year provides an opportunity to learn from the mistakes and shortcomings of the past and to plan better for the future. With good wishes for the new year, let's take a look at the last year, what did we see in it from the playground? What were the moments that will remain in the mind for a long time?

 

As you know, playing in the homeland means cricket! 90% of the news is about this game, so even if you don't want to, this part of the yearbook will be just a cricket book. Compared to the year 2020, 2021 has been a better year for us overall. Due to the reduction in the effects and severity of the epidemic, the color of playgrounds in the country was restored. Undoubtedly there were ups and downs, but overall 2021 will be remembered for a long time because of the spectator's return to the field and a great T20 World Cup.

 

A disappointing start

The year 2021 started for Pakistan cricket in a very disappointing way. This tour was the second Test of New Zealand which was actually the first match of Pakistan played in 2021. Here, Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat by an innings and 176 runs, as well as a 2-0 defeat in the series. New Zealand scored 659 in their lone innings, including a memorable 238 by captain Ken Williamson. Even after playing twice, Pakistan could not get close to New Zealand's total and in the second innings, they were bowled out for just 168 runs.

South Africa's 'full' hosting

After suffering a series of injuries at the hands of New Zealand, Pakistan now had to play a historic series as South Africa was coming to play on Pakistani soil for the first time since 2007. Here Pakistan took over from South Africa at home in exchange for defeat at the hands of New Zealand. Home Boy Fawad Alam's century in Karachi helped Pakistan win by 7 wickets and then Rawalpindi Test won by 95 runs thanks to the devastating bowling of Hassan Ali and Muhammad Rizwan's first Test century. 2-0 to your name.

Return visit, the result is the same

One could say that Pakistan won so easily over South Africa thanks to the home ground, but in the return tour in April, the result remained the same. Pakistan won the three-match ODI series 2-1 and the four-match T20 series 3-1. By the way, just a decade ago, no one could have imagined that Pakistan would beat South Africa on home soil in both ODI and T20 series like this.

Once again Zimbabwe

The frequency with which Pakistan has visited Zimbabwe in the last few years is probably unmatched by any other country. In April, Pakistan was seen playing again in Zimbabwe, where they won the T20 series 2-1 and then easily won both the Test matches. That is, he maintained the tradition of giving one match to Zimbabwe each time. Thankfully, there were no ODIs in the series, otherwise the performance of Pakistan in ODIs this year, given the result, anything could have come out here.

Unable to beat England

After returning from Zimbabwe, the players traveled to the United Arab Emirates where the Pakistan Super League (PSL) festival was held, but Pakistan's next target in international cricket was a tour of England after the PSL. Here 3 ODIs and as many T20 matches were played and the result came out contrary to expectations, or so to speak, exactly. 2-1 defeat after losing all ODI matches and taking the lead in T20. In the decisive third T20, England won by 3 wickets while controlling their senses while Pakistan's bowlers could not make a decisive attack.

When New Zealand 'cheated'

But wait, there are still some of the saddest and saddest moments of the year. In September, the New Zealand cricket team set foot in Pakistan to play 3 ODIs and 5 T20s after 18 years. While this series had historical significance, it was also considered very important for the preparations for the T20 World Cup. But on the same day that the first ODI was to be played in Rawalpindi, New Zealand abruptly postponed its visit to Pakistan on security grounds. This news was nothing short of a shock for Pakistan cricket. From the big names in national cricket to the general fans, everyone expressed deep frustration over New Zealand's decision as the effects could have been far-reaching and it did happen. Postponed visit to Pakistan.

And all the grief went wrong!

In this heartbreaking situation, Pakistan arrived in the United Arab Emirates to play T20 World Cup 2021 without any preparation. Here, Pakistan's first match was against traditional rival India, ie a team against which it has never won a match in the T20 World Cup. But this time, Pakistan turned the tide of history.

In the 'Biggest Match of the Year' held in Dubai, Pakistan defeated India by a total of 10 wickets to achieve a victory that Pakistan has never won in T20 cricket and India has never been won by anyone.

Shaheen Afridi played a pivotal role in Pakistan's success by taking big wickets from Rohit Sharma in the first over, Lokesh Rahul in the second over, and then Virat Kohli in the end. Then the unbeaten 152-run partnership of Pakistani openers Mohammad Rizwan and captain Babar Azam sealed the deal.

This victory will be remembered by Pakistanis for a long time, but also by Indians. In fact, this one victory is enough to make 2021 a memorable year for Pakistan cricket.

The victory against India gave a boost to Pakistan's players. In the next match, Pakistan also defeated New Zealand and thus won both the most difficult matches of their group from the very beginning.

After snatching victory from the jaws of defeat against Afghanistan, Pakistan also defeated Namibia and Scotland and reached the semi-finals without losing. At the very moment when it seemed that the next matches would be just a home run, Pakistan has already won the World Cup, as usual Australia got in the way of Pakistan.

In the semi-finals, the story of the T20 World Cup 2010 was repeated and Australia reached the final by beating Pakistan, where it also became the T20 World Champion for the first time.

Mission Bangladesh

After returning from the World Cup, Pakistan's next mission was to visit Bangladesh, which in many ways can be called a memorable visit. After winning all the T20 matches, Pakistan won both the Test matches in Chittagong and Dhaka.

But the competition was lively and spectacular. It was a very interesting series, from Pakistan's victory in the last T20 by just 3 wickets in the first T20 to the last-minute victory of the last Test in Dhaka.

The end of the year on your land

Pakistan toured the West Indies at the end of the year with Pakistan, which arrived in Karachi to play 3 T20 matches. Here, Pakistan won the series in a disappointingly empty field. The West Indies did not have the services of their most famous players, who participated in the World Cup.

Successes, failures, statistics

Pakistan played a total of 9 Test matches during the year, winning 7 and losing 2. These results may look better, but defeats against strong rivals New Zealand and victories against powerless South Africa, weak Zimbabwe, the West Indies, and Bangladesh may not be as significant. Then the defeat at the hands of the West Indies will be the most disappointing defeat of the year, which is very difficult if not impossible to forget.

 

At the individual level, Abid Ali scored the most runs in a Test year. It was a memorable year for Abid but it ended in a heartbreaking way. Abid, who scored 695 runs in 15 Test innings, suffered a chest injury during a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match in December, after which he was rushed to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a heart condition and underwent angioplasty. ۔ Now the world knows that a sword is hanging over Abid's career and it is feared that his cricket career will come to an end.

What's new in the new year?

Pakistan already has good news for next year. Australia has announced a full tour in March consisting of 3 Tests, 3 ODIs, and a T20I match. Later this year, England will also turn to Pakistan to play 3 Tests and a lot of T20 matches and after that New Zealand will also come to play 2 Tests and 3 ODIs. That means this year will be very hot.

Then also remember that this year is also the T20 World Cup. In October, there will be another battle on the Australian field and maybe Pakistan will get a chance to take revenge on Australia? That too on the plains of Australia? Well, our prayer would be that it would be better if such an 'opportunity' did not come, otherwise, Pakistan's recent record against Australia in the knockout stage of the ICC tournament is not good.