"Afridi used his brains after a long time"

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espnstar.com’s Rajarshi Gupta spoke to former Pakistani batsman Ejaz Ahmed after Pakistan won the ICC World T20 Championship. More... espnstar.com’s Rajarshi Gupta spoke to former Pakistani batsman Ejaz Ahmed after Pakistan won the ICC World T20 Championship. Ahmed, who had a solid career with Pakistan as a middle order and make shift opening batsman felt this win would do a world of good for Pakistan. "We have had no good news for a long time now. This is a great win and it will be a huge morale booster for Pakistan after what we have gone through recently." Photogallery: SL-Pak Final match Ahmed said he had no doubt about the team's credentials. "Pakistan have always done well in international competitions. No doubt, we have been through a rough patch lately and we haven't done all that well for a long time but this team had the talent. This would be a huge boost for our academies, who have done a wonderful job honing young talent." The former right-handed batsman heaped praises on skipper Younus Khan, who had drawn some flak for his on-field smiles and some stirring comments. Watch the highlights of the Pak-SL Final match "It is true Younus has faced some T20 criticism but he has had the best averages in the shortest format of the game. It has not been long since he took over as captain but he has done a lot with the side already We drew against Sri Lanka in the Test series earlier this year but they were high scoring matches and Younus himself was in great form. With the World T20 championship, Younus has shut everyone up. All his critics have eaten the humble pie." There was a huge uproar in the media back home in Pakistan for the captain's constant smiles on the field despite losing matches rather regularly. The middle order mainstay had to ultimately come out in his own defence, dismissing his smiling ways as laughing in the way of adversity. SX4 Super Selector Younus was also in the news for branding T20 as sheer fun, after which he was asked to explain his statements to the Pakistan Cricket Board. Whatever he thought has worked, for Pakistan now sit on top of the world in the shortest format of the game. Ahmed reckoned Younus had taken the criticism seriously and used it to his advantage. Speaking of the sensational show by Shahid Afridi, who is now certainly a national hero after drawing the wrath of many former players for his irresponsible first ball shot in he last ICC World T20 final against India in 2007, also found special mention from Ahmed, his former teammate. Samsung LED TV CKT Widget "Afridi used his brains after a long time and that showed on the field. (The temperamental all-rounder blasted two successive fifties in the semi-final and final, bagging Man of the Match awards in both games). He is already a useful bowler and if he improves his batting, Afridi could be a dangerous player." However, despite the earth-shattering win in England, Ahmed refused to get carried away. "Look, this Pakistani team is suited for the Twenty20 format of the game. They have to make long strides in Test cricket and ODI's. Even if you lose two early wickets in T20's, one good innings can get you back. But the other two formats need a lot more patience and class, which the present Pakistani team does not have, apart from Younus." Whatever, the weaknesses of the team be, the truth is Pakistan are on top of the world. They are the undisputed masters of Twenty20. Here is where the power lies. The men from across the border are on a roll.

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However, despite the earth-shattering win in England, Ahmed refused to get carried away. "Look, this Pakistani team is suited for the Twenty20 format of the game. They have to make long strides in Test cricket and ODI's. Even if you lose two early wickets in T20's, one good innings can get you back. But the other two formats need a lot more patience and class, which the present Pakistani team does not have, apart from Younus." Whatever, the weaknesses of the team be, the truth is Pakistan are on top of the world. They are the undisputed masters of Twenty20. Here is where the power lies. The men from across the border are on a roll.

All the above is very true. At this point in time Pakistan has made fantastic progress. When was the last time Pakistan was thought about as a potential cricketing country. Perhaps last in 2001 or so Pakistan was considered world beaters. They need to find some good batsmen from somewhere to excel in test cricket. Perhaps Mohd Yousuf will be of lot of help if he can reproduce the form he was in before he lost his sanity.