Green shirts' 2014 in field

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Green shirts' 2014 in field

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LAHORE (Web Desk) – Green Team started the year with some good memories and records. Morale was high when the new year started. 2013 proved very good for Pakistan as Green Team gathered various records to its name.

• The main record to discuss here was the Pakistan’s victory against South Africa in South Africa. 30 November 2013 was the day when Pakistan became the only Asian team to have defeated South Africa in a bilateral series in South Africa.

• After the successful South Africa tour Pakistan hosted Sri Lanka in UAE. Pakistani all-rounder Muhammad Hafeez scored 3 tons in a row that …….

• Pakistan’s batting was considered as one of the weakest batting lines among the top international teams. But interestingly Pakistan’s captain Misbah ul Haq was the top scorer of 2013. He scored 1373 runs with the help of 15 half centuries.
• Saeed Ajmal took most wickets in a calendar year third time consecutively. 103 batsmen became the victim of Ajmal’s unplayable bowling.

Happy New Year 2014
Everyone’s expectations from the national team were extremely high as they finished the last year on a high note. But it was very unfortunate for the Pakistani cricket fans as only three bilateral series was scheduled in 2014 along with T20 World Cup and Asia Cup.
Although Pakistan lost all three series and failed to win both events i.e. T20 World Cup and Asia Cup but there are few events that will be remembered in Cricket history for long time to come.

300+ chase in Sharjah Test

Pakistan is considered to be one of the weaker sides when it comes to chasing targets but the record of fastest 300+ chase in Test history belongs to Pakistan. This record was made on 20 January 2014 when Pakistan was playing against Sri Lanka in Sharjah Test. Sri Lanka set the daunted target of 302 and Pakistan had to chase the target in just two sessions (A minimum of 59 overs) to square the Test series 1-1. Timely century from Azhar Ali and equally effective half century from skipper Misbah ul Haq helped Pakistan pull of a sensational victory. Pakistan won with 1.3 overs to spare, reached the target by scoring at a run rate of 5.25 runs per over which was the fastest ever 300+ run chase in the Test cricket history.

Pakistan’s Victory against India in Asia Cup
When we talk about historic moments then how can someone forget Green Team’s victory against India in Asia Cup 2014? Match was played at Mirpur, Dhaka in Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. It was the must win match for both teams as both teams had been defeated by Sri Lanka. Pakistan restricted India to 245-8 despite couple of wrong decisions from umpire on a pretty flat track. Pakistan started the innings quite well and in the middle of the game Pakistan got the things under its control. But a mini-collapse in batting made things difficult for Pakistan as run rate hit the 10 runs/over mark.
This situation was ideal for Shahid Afridi but the support from the other end was zero as wickets kept falling at regular interval.
Pakistan needed 10 runs in the last over with two wickets in hand. Indian Captain Virat Kohli handed the ball to Ashwin but it was an Afridi’s day. He finished the game in style. Pakistan won the match with two balls to spare thanks to Afridi’s two huge sixes.
While commenting, Ramiz Raja quoted on the last shot
He goes again, goes big, IT GOES UP IN THE AIR…. AND IT’S SIX… SHAHID AFRIDI YOU BEAUTY!!

Pakistan’s highest run chase in ODIs
Although Pakistan did not win the Asia Cup 2014 but will remember this tournament for long time as Green Team gathered couple of records. Asia Cup was obviously Afridi’s tournament thanks to his blistering and aggressive batting.
While chasing Bangladesh’s 326 runs target, Afridi came to bat and scored 59 runs off just 25 balls and took the game away from Bengalis. It was first time in Pakistan’s cricket history when Pakistan chased down such a huge total.

Ahmed Shehzad’s T20i Century
Ahmed Shehzad became the first batsman in the Pakistan’s cricket history to score century in all three formats of the game. He achieved this milestone in the match against Bangladesh featured in ICC T20 World Cup 2014. Ahmed Shehzad was the 12th batsman who scored a T20 ton.

Fawad-Maqsood record partnership
Pakistan toured Sri Lanka in August 2014. In the first ODI, played on 23 August 2014, Pakistan made another record. While chasing 276 runs target, Pakistani young guns piled up 147 runs off 117 balls and made a record stand for the sixth wicket. It was Pakistan’s highest ever sixth wicket partnership. The young batting pair constructed a rebound for their team from a struggling position of 5-106. Pakistan won that match by four wickets with two balls to spare.

Ban on Saeed Ajmal
September was the worst month for Pakistani cricket. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was banned from bowling in international cricket by the ICC after his action was deemed to be illegal for all deliveries. Saeed Ajmal was Pakistan’s no. 1 bowler in all three formats.

Pakistan’s record-breaking Test series against Australia
Pakistan hosted Australia in UAE. Tour started from October 5 with one T20 match. 3-match ODI series and two-match Test series were scheduled after a T20 match. Unfortunately Pakistan had lost T20 and ODI series. Test series was Pakistan’s shot at redemption along with some senior players.

Pakistan on record-breaking spree
Series against Australia was the most memorable Test series of Pakistan as scores of records were broken by the team.

Younis Khan’s successful comeback

Younis was criticized badly before the series against Australia. It seemed that his career was over as selectors had not selected him in the Test squad but somehow Younis made his place in the team and played the series of a lifetime.
Pakistani team was struggling at 7-2 in the first innings of the first Test and then Younis came to the crease and scored a brilliant ton that helped Pakistan reach a comfortable total. It was Younis’s 25th Test century that placed him with Inzamam ul Haq in the list of most Test centuries scored by Pakistani batsmen, the threshold that he surpassed only in the next innings.
Younis Khan’s show was not limited to first innings. He showed his class in the second innings as well and scored another ton that made him the first ever Pakistani to score 26 Test centuries.
Younis’s redemption was not over yet in the first match. With his amazing form, Younis notched a memorable 213 for what was his fifth double hundred to steer Pakistan to a massive 570-6 (declared) in their first innings of the second Test.

Sarfaraz Ahmed’s aggressive comeback
Wicket keeping is a very crucial department especially in Test cricket and Pakistan had been struggling in this department from a long time. Sarfaraz’s aggressive comeback with both bat and behind the wickets made things better for the team. Sarfaraz piled up 109 runs off just 105 balls. That century was the 2nd fastest century by a wicket-keeper.

Misbah’s fastest century
Misbah ul Haq is considered as one of the slowest batsman among Pakistani team. 40-year-old Pakistan skipper had been criticized badly for his slow batting but Misbah responded to his critics by scoring fastest ton in the Test cricket history. Misbah achieved this milestone off just 56 balls and equaled West Indian legend Sir Viv Richards’s record.

Centuries, Centuries and Centuries …
Nine centuries along with a double century were registered in Pakistan’s scorecard against Australia. 8 centuries and a double century were scored by Pakistani team while David Warner was the man to hit a ton from Australian side.
Younis Khan: 2 centuries and a double century
Azhar Ali: 2 consecutive tons
Misbah ul Haq: 2 consecutive tons
Ahmed Shehzad: 1 Century
Sarfaraz Ahmed: 1 Century

Pakistan whitewashed Australia
Pakistan has always proved a tough contender in the UAE. In February 2012, Pakistan whitewashed number 1 Test side of that time, England. In October-November, 2014, Pakistan unexpectedly whitewashed Aussies. It was the most pleasant sight of the year for the Pakistani fans.

Hafeez bowling banned by ICC
It was a massive blow for Pakistan as ICC banned Muhamamd Hafeez from bowling in International cricket as his arm bent more than 15 degrees while delivering the ball which is considered illegal. Lacuna in Hafeez’s bowling action was identified during first Test against Australia.

Revival of International Cricket in Pakistan
It was heartening to see an international team visiting Pakistan after more than five years. Thanks to Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Shahryar Khan’s efforts, Pakistan was able to host Kenya cricket team at home soil. Kenyan team played 5-match One Day series against Pakistan A team.
The last team that visited Pakistan was Sri Lanka in March, 2009. The Sri Lankan national team had to leave the tour unfinished in the wake of a terrorist attack that it faced in Lahore on March 2, 2009.

Shahid Afridi retirement
Pakistani star all-rounder Shahid Afridi announced his retirement from ODI cricket after World Cup 2015. With a number of records already under his belt, he is now eyeing the feat of completing 8,000 runs and 400 wickets during the upcoming World Cup in Australia and New Zealand before bidding farewell to the 50-over format.