First, but not last

A win against Zimbabwe on the cricket field would not ordinarily bring the kind of rejoicing – and relief – we have been seeing since Pakistan’s third World Cup outing ended at Brisbane on Sunday. The victory, following two decisive defeats, finally allows Pakistan to post its first points on what had been a depressing Pool ‘B’ table and lift itself off the very last spot amongst the seven teams. It also keeps hope alive that Pakistan can reach the quarter finals. The national team’s first victory in the World Cup must lead to bigger and better things. Now that the sea of green flags has stopped waving, there will be much analysis of what was a precarious victory. A 20-run win is not a convincing one, especially when it comes against a team from which not too much is expected. And compared against the colossal 300-run plus totals we have been seeing more and more often in one-day contests, Pakistan’s 235 runs after winning the toss and choosing to bat first was not soul-stirring stuff either. As the top order crumbled, held together only by a typically determined 73 not out from captain Misbah-ul-Haq, it seemed we were going to witness scenes similar to those seen previously during a tournament that has not gone well till now. Muhammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz helped ensure the final score-card showed a victory for Pakistan.
For now we must hope this marks a key turning point for Pakistan, as its bowlers – and we hope later its batsmen – adapt to the bouncier, friskier pitches they have been encountering, compared to the ones at home. Tough challenges lie ahead and Pakistan can now afford no mistakes as it inches closer to what we hope will be a place in the knock-out stages of this contest. The celebrations we saw on Sunday, both at Brisbane and at home, with the clenched fists and prayer beads highlighted too why cricket is so important to us. It goes beyond watching a ball curve magically through the air or the crisp flourish of a bat send a ball to the boundary. As a nation beset with multiple crises and multiple divisions, cricket draws us together. It can do so especially well when there is victory to revel in, and we hope more victories will make this happen over the coming days.