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India did not show hunger on the field
If India could not quite finish the job of winning the Mohali Test, it was because the team did not show the hunger on the field, writes Javed Miandad.
If India could not quite finish the job of winning the Mohali Test, it was because the team did not show the hunger on the field. They didn't have the body language of a winner. They couldn't have lost from that position. When you worry too much about winning or losing, you stop playing good cricket. Australians are champions because they strive to play good cricket. Other things take care of itself.
It will be far too easy to lay the blame on the doors of Sachin Tendulkar for having batted too slowly on the second afternoon. The common refrain is it cost India important runs and time. But if you ask me India still had the right lead and five sessions to clean up Pakistan. They couldn't manage to do it.
To blame Tendulkar, or for that matter Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman for that second afternoon, is missing the point. To term it as the turning point of the game is childish. India then were in the process of consolidating their position. They did it and still had adequate time to spare. Three wickets in first four overs was a sensational follow-up.
Kamran Akamal and Abdul Razzaq still deserve every bit of praise which is coming their way. They showed the virtue of game's golden lesson: if you play within yourself and don't try to be ambitious, you can work wonders.
Razzaq has always played within his limit. Kamran may have been under some pressure for his spot but at least one more settled spot now is only good news for Pakistan. Youngsters must get a reasonable run. When you expect juniors to play like seniors, you are asking for the moon. One must remember one's own young days and then the expectations will be reasonable.
I am still worried about Pakistan's line-up. Yaseer Hameed must now be brought back. If a youngster is kept out for too long, he loses confidence. He has been with the squad but must now be played. I am also concerned about Pakistan's medium-pace attack.
Mohammad Sami is still not producing results and he continues to have no-ball problems. It happens when he tries to go for extra pace. As Laxmipathy Balaji showed so well in the match, you need to swing the deliveries rather than strive for extra pace for useful results.
