
Pakistan have just risen to the world’s number one Test playing nation.
They have done this all by themselves.
It is not a quirk in the system.
It is not like how India got there despite not beating anyone away from home except for the 8th ranked West Indies or the 7th ranked Sri Lankan team.
It is not as though they got lucky. It is not as though they have had an easy home draw.
They have had everything against them.
- India won’t play them unless it is at a World Cup because apparently Adelaide is immune from terrorist attacks
- Their captain was caught in a spot fixing sting
- Justice Qayyum said he was too lenient on Wasim Akram in regards to match fixing
- The PCB offices were raided by the tax office
- Their players were banned from the IPL but their commentators were not
- Hafeez was banned from bowling
- Saeed Ajmal was banned from bowling
- Mohammad Amir threatened to split the squad
- Afridi did split the squad over and over
- Yasir Shah failed a drug test
- Shoaib Malik retired, returned, made 200 and then retired
- Some pathetic humans shot up a Pakistani school during a New Zealand series
- Ramiz Raja’s hair
However, the biggest issue is that they have not played a home Test since 2009.
Not one.
In that time they have played 24 test series. They have lost only six of those. Three were against Sri Lanka, with one each to Australia, England and South Africa.
They have also smashed all of those teams.
England couldn’t beat them at home despite having the carrot of playing for the world’s number one ranking. England choked.
Since not being able to play at home, Pakistan are a 75% chance of not losing.
Since 2009, they have played 18 test matches in the UAE, losing only three.
The stadiums in Dubai and Sharjah and buried in the middle of sand dunes and devoid of crowds. The UAE is not a home ground for Pakistan. It is a neutral venue. Please don’t pretend otherwise.
Pakistan don’t have the luxury of doctored pitches, of screaming fans or the ability to sleep in their own beds surrounded by family and friends.
Pakistan attempted to resurrect home cricket in 2015, when Zimbabwe toured for a couple of ODI’s. However, some fool blew themselves up outside a stadium ironically named after tyrant Colonel Gaddafi. Was it linked to the cricket? We don’t know. But it happened and the world doesn’t like bombs going off near sporting events. Unless of course it happens at a relatively small event like an Olympics in Atlanta. Then, according to Western values, we can quickly forget and move on.
You can’t move on when bombs go off near cricket stadiums in Pakistan.
Pakistan are Test cricket’s nomads.
When Pakistan last played at home, Instagram wasn’t yet invented. Younis Khan was in his 30’s and heading towards the back end of his career. Misbah was 35 and should have been thinking about retirement.
Pakistan rising to become number one is not just the biggest story of the week.
It is the biggest story of the decade.
Globally.
In all of sports.
They are more inspirational than The Mighty Ducks and the Karate Kid combined.
They are now the best in the world. Better than Australia. Better than England. Better than South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the West Indies.
Despite every natural advantage that their bigger neighbours have, Pakistan are better than India.
This is a fact.
Oh, what we would give for India to drop their false politically motivated pretenses and play Pakistan in a Test series. It wouldn’t matter if it was in London or the Emirates or Switzerland. But they won’t. India are scared of losing.
Pakistan aren’t scared of losing. They are scared of not playing. Of not feeding the national psyche.
Never change Pakistan. You are the best.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD.
DennisCricket_ so many factual inaccuracies In this piece! Over emotional nonsense Dennis! Sorry to say! Lol
nikhilpuro List them.
DennisCricket_ 1) Ind scared of losing despite having a better win-loss record v pak in last 15 yrs 2) UAE isnt home adv for pak etc etc
nikhilpuro They are not factual inaccuracies. They are opinions
DennisCricket_ 3) india beat 7th and 8th rank teams away, but pak couldnt beat even ZIm away. Drew. Only beat SL away.
DennisCricket_ you say Ind only beat WI and SL away, well Pak drew with Zim away. Havent beaten anyone but SL away.
DennisCricket_ Dennis for Pak PM ♥ much thanks
DennisCricket_ You talk of empty stadia in the uae.so? Have you watched How empty pak stadia were pre-2009? Even for ind-pak in 06!
DennisCricket_ India will never play they can’t handle a loss to us but Misbah isn’t mentioned very openly in this piece he deserves it
DennisCricket_ You imply UAE has no home adv for pak.Load of tosh.Pitches in UAE are prepped specifically to suit pak and their strengths!
iadeel47 https://dennisdoescricket.com/the-misbah-years/
DennisCricket_ oh yeah thanks U0001f60a
DennisCricket_ SaeenShabzzz Pronouncement is incorrect till their own encounter.Isn’t it ?
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ india scared of losing to pak? But they have a better win-loss record v pak in tests last 15 yrs.Beat pak in pak!!
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ the pitches are controlled by the curator from ICC with ‘some’ input from Pakistan
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ and how many series they have played after 2007? And if you wanna go back why not make it 30 years? Or more?
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ absolute cock. The curators are ICC folks but pitches prepped exactly as pak want. No problem, uae is their home!
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ let’s say yes it is home so why India is reluctant to play there? Citing issues to match fixing?
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ The reason india and pak havent played since 2007 are non-cricketing. We know it. Lets not go there! #terrorism
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ but you had your ipl there which was pretty successful
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ so why play Pakistan in WC events why include coaches from Pakistan commentators and umpires but not players
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ No. Because the 2 governments have strained relations. Also not right to play pak after they bombed pathankot
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ and the curator of Dubai intl stadium is from ICC academe Tony hemming
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ that’s really funny what your media feeds you if I go this line I can tell you how many incidents backed by ind
DennisCricket_ ok Dennis population of 180 Million are behind you now. You have to be our next PM.
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ don’t go this line
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ Indians are burning ……some serious jealousy . #No1
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ love you dennis
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ he prepares the pitch exactly how pakistan wants. Thats home ground advantage.
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ that’s where you are wrong I have said some inputs from Pak remember Dhoni havng issues wd Curator
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ curator of Eden gardens for not having the pitch he wants so how can you say a guy from ICC do us a favour
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ Look, im not here to fight dude. I have huge admiration for Misbah. He’s been a fine leader. Said it many times
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ appreciate that but agree with Dennis Ind won’t play with Pakistan in near future with this test team
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ Thats coz of the political tensions. No bilateral series.
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ well suit yourself your media does feed you some strange things can’t help it
nikhilpuro iadeel47 the reason Hindustan not playing porkistan is cause of Terrorism, no 1 occupation of porkistan
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ India is a better team than pak in all forms. Has been so for years. Fix the terrorism, everyone will visit pak!
nikhilpuro They kind of don’t. They’ve had to adapt to the UAE, as opposed to the other way around.
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ winning last three series doesn’t makes world no 1 in shorter format no doubt they have been a better side
UsamaMazhar91 Adapt to the UAEU0001f602U0001f602U0001f602 They played in empty stadia in pak, pak pitches are slow, flat rubbish just like UAE. Suits pak style.
iadeel47 DennisCricket_ There is no clear No1 in workd cricket today. Top 4-5 teams capable of beating each other in certain conditions.
DennisCricket_ #clickbait you asked me to show you your inaccuracies. I did!! RespondU0001f605U0001f602U0001f61d
nikhilpuro No. 🙂
DennisCricket_ Ok. Cool. You got what you wanted!! Indo-pak twitter spats and clickbait eyeballs!! Well doneU0001f61bU0001f61c
nikhilpuro Everyone’s a winner!
nikhilpuro but our evolution has been gradual not abrupt we started from bottom and made our way like Dennis mentioned 75 percent wins
DennisCricket_ By the way, Read up on the terror strike in pathankot. Thats why the last indo-pak series was canned. Govt Diktat. Wiki it!
nikhilpuro sir app jal keh kebab Ho gaien hain.
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ loved your backing to Pakistan comprising clean Mohammad Amir…
nikhilpuro DennisCricket_ all other teams have issues playing away but we have drew this recent series also beaten nz ther Aus will be tst