Pakistan cricket greats hail ODI series win in India

Former Pakistan greats hailed the team's success against India as people in Pakistan celebrated a rare ODI series triumph with a 85-run win at Eden Gardens on Thursday.

Pakistan media also went into overdrive as India slumped to a humiliating defeat in Kolkata following the six-wicket loss in the first ODI in Chennai.

"It was yet another woeful display by the famed Indian batting line-up, which has been struggling for sometime now and has been largely responsible for the team's forgettable results in recent times," The Nation reported noting that the ODI world champions have lost a home bilateral series for the first time in more than three years.

"They are in free fall, and continue to touch a newer nadir each time. The failure of the batsmen has been a common factor in all these reversals, and it was no different at Eden Gardens. Despite the bowlers taking ten wickets for 109 to keep Pakistan to 250, India crumbled without any fight, losing their top five batsmen before they had reached 100. The tail had collapsed before MS Dhoni could even think about improbables such as miracles," it added.

Pakistan added to their record of being the only side, other than Australia, to inflict home ODI series defeats on India in the previous ten years. They also continued their impressive record at Eden Gardens, and have now won all their four ODIs at the ground.

"Pakistan today completely outclassed India in every department of the game. And I would give full marks to young players like Nasir Jamshed, Junaid Khan and M Irfan who performed with such a big heart in front of a full house at the Eden Gardens, which is not easy even for a seasoned campaigner," former captain Rashid Latif said.

"People can't imagine the pressure that Pakistani players face when they are playing at big venues like Kolkata, Bangalore or Chennai. Only those with very strong nerves can still perform. That is why I give full credit to the younger players for their outstanding performances," he added.

Former wicket-keeper batsman Moin Khan said that 141-run opening stand between Nasir Jamshed and Mohammad Hafeez made all the difference in the match.

"There were heavy overcast conditions at the Eden Gardens and the pitch had lot of bounce and these two batted sensibly. They relied on timing their shots rather than trying to force shots, a mistake all other batsmen made from the both sides," Moin said.

Legendary batsman Javed Miandad felt that the ODI series win over India was a big shot in the arm for Pakistan cricket.

"The series win has come at the perfect time and will put our players in the right frame of mind for the coming tour to South Africa," added Miandad who famously hit a last-ball six to clinch victory in a match against India in Sharjah.

Former off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed said the series win would count as one of the memorable ones for Pakistan cricket.

"I thought Saeed Ajmal, Hafeez, Junaid Khan, Umar Gul, Irfan and (Shoaib) Malik, bowled outstandingly today and didn't panic in the middle overs," he added.
 

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