hockey
Pakistan have been three-time winners of Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey
In 2001, Pakistan were eyeing a hat-trick but they performed miserably. They were unable to reach the medal rostrum for the first time, finishing fourth
By Dr Ijaz Ahmed
Malaysia is one country which has made great strides in recent times and has virtually astonished the world. It has proved itself to be an Asian tiger in the real sense and is now one of the most vibrant economies of the continent. A "testimony" to that is world's tallest building in the country.

Four big feats elude retiring Brian Lara
Lara made 18 in his 299th and last outing against England. He could have completed this rare triple century had his team managed to book a place in the semifinal of the grand event at least
By Ghalib Mehmood Bajwa
The game of cricket has various attractions mostly relating to statistics. Usually cricketers love to accomplish different kinds of batting, bowling and fielding milestones during their playing career. Some managed to grab their target and some missed it due to different reasons. Different cricketers have different approach regarding statistical distinctions. Many of the guys want to achieve a certain landmark at every cost whereas some other don't care about individual feats and deliberately ignore such things.

A collapsed cricket team that continues to collapse
During the five ODI series before World Cup 2007, Pakistan could play a strong innings in only six of the 23 matches
By Waris Ali
Pakistan are a collapsed cricket team; they have collapsed many times and will continue to collapse at least in near future, too. None of its players, particularly batsmen, has been consistent in performance. Their debacle during the World Cup 2007 should not come as a surprise in the wake of the fact that they have a long history of playing collapsed innings; many times they were just below 50 for loss of four or five wickets, and could reach some 'respectable' score after an unexpected good hitting of a 'saviour'. In fact, Pakistan have been playing stumbling innings and have always been at the risk of an unpredictable failure.

A week ago, Australia, as a result of their superb form and utter dominance over their rivals, completed the World Cup treble by lifting the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup (CWC) in the West Indies after outclassing Sri Lanka.

Surprised? I don't think so because not many would have taken this achievement as a shocker. Most of the people had expected the impressive Aussies to complete this feat. Though the Sri Lankan team had mighty support from all the circles, with many hoping for a South Asian World Cup win, rain interruptions and a superb Adam Gilchrist century didn't help Sri Lanka's cause.

All the credit goes to the Australian team players for once again brushing aside their opponents with ease without even dropping a single point throughout the whole tournament. They have been undefeated in the World Cup matches since their loss to Pakistan in the 1999 edition at England.

On the other hand, the Sri Lankan team also made the headlines for most of the tourney with their breathtaking mode of playing. Their attacking gestures on occasions and sub-continental style of play made them the hot favourites to dethrone the defending champions.

But the better part of credit must go to both the teams' coaches.

Australia coach John Buchanan, who was in charge of the team for the last time during the Caribbean saga, had been at the helm since Australia's World Cup triumph in 1999. He, though, had a few lows during his tenure but his overall ratio of winning matches as a coach is unparallel. Though Australia lost the 2005 Ashes in England and later lost back-to-back One-day International (ODI) series (first to England in a triangular series in Australia which also featured New Zealand and later to Kiwis in an away series), his success with the Australian team has made him one of the best in the business.

Under his coaching, Australia remained the No 1 Test side and never lost their position. Their one-day status got a stain for a period of just one month when South Africa replaced them but they stormed back to regain their place as the No 1 ranked ODI side during the recently-concluded World Cup. Two consecutive World Cup triumphs go to his credit along with plenty other Test and ODI series victories.

Sri Lanka, too, have seen themselves transformed once again into major force of cricketing world under an Australian coach. Tom Moody, a World Cup winner with Australia in 1987 and 1999, has instilled a new life into the South Asian team.

Sri Lanka, under Moody's dynamic coaching, have gone from strength to strength and their class was shown during the World Cup where they were tough to counter with. With the blend of experience and youth, Sri Lanka can only get better and according to Moody himself, his team in a few years time will be the one's to beat and will overcome Aussies' supremacy.

That shows how important role a coach plays for his team's development and future.

As a Pakistan team fan, one would say they want a same kind of person as Buchanan or Moody for their team to help them out in this time of catastrophe.

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was murdered during the World Cup after Pakistan faced an embarrassing defeat at the hands of minnows Ireland. Though Pakistan is seeking a new coach as Woolmer's replacement, there have been questions raised about the team's performances in the past few years under the previous coach. Though Woolmer was a great coach and regarded as having the shrewdest mind in world cricket, there are queries about his methods and the way he handled the team. His success rate of winning ODIs, Tests and major tournaments with the Pakistan team was very poor.

In the season 2003-04 Pakistan embarrassingly lost to India at home, both their ODI and Test series, under Javed Miandad's coaching. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) then started looking for a new face to replace Miandad. Fortunately, or may be unfortunately some might say, they got hold of Woolmer to sign for the coaching post. Woolmer, who was working with ICC Associate countries at that time, took up the Pakistan job. He had previously worked as South Africa's coach as well.

Woolmer's tenure with the Pakistan cricket team started on a bad note. He was appointed by the PCB just before the Asia Cup in Colombo in 2004 which featured Asian powerhouses Sri Lanka and India besides minnows Bangladesh, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates (UAE). Pakistan went out in the semifinals stage leaving question marks over their temperament in big tournaments.

Worst was to follow then. Pakistan played in a tri-series (Videocon Cup) against India and Australia at Amstelveen, Holland. There, they were brushed aside in the final by the world champions and they had to return once again empty-handed.

The next tournament, the 2004 Champions Trophy in England, was seen as a comeback trail for the Pakistanis on the world stage. Their warm-up for the tournament wasn't good though as they lost to Australia, once again, in an ODI played at Lord's in the National Westminster Bank Challenge. Pakistan were bracketed in Pool C for the Champions Trophy along with minnows Kenya, West Indies and India. Pakistan did make the semifinals but once again failed to make a bigger impression as they were humbled by West Indies who went on to win the tournament.

Three tournaments, all failures, wasn't surely a good start for Woolmer's job. The next task came a bit easy as it was a home series against Sri Lanka. Pakistan drew the two-match Test series 1-1 but lost the triangular ODI series which also featured Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka came on top at that time leaving Pakistan once again to experience the feeling of winning.

Criticism started flowing at a high after these poor performances and Woolmer's appointment came in the shadow of harsh analysis.

Team Pakistan, according to some, wasn't able to cope up with Woolmer's way of teaching. Some said the lack of communication between the players and the coach resulted in disastrous performances. Whatever the reason was, things had to change quickly or Woolmer's ouster appeared to be on the cards.

An away series to Australia was next on the schedule. This was enough to add more miseries to Pakistan's poor performances previously. Australia hammered Pakistan 3-0 in the three-match Test series. The ODI series was a triangular affair with West Indies the third team. Though Pakistan made it to the finals (which consisted of three matches), but Australia once again proved to be the dominant force and nailed a 2-0 victory to complete the series double.

Pakistan still hadn't won a tournament or a Test series or an ODI series under Woolmer's coaching.

The one-day affair started to get better for Pakistan slightly afterwards. Pakistan toured India in 2004-05 season under immense pressure. India had crushed Pakistan in the previous series between them and a revenge for Pakistan was on the cards. India were beaten comprehensively by their neighbours in the ODI series (Pakistan won 4-2 in the six-match series). The Test series though went to the wire with the final result a 1-1 draw in the three-match series.

At last some joy and relief for both Team Pakistan and Woolmer was seen. Pakistan then started to develop into a more consistent side. Their next assignment was an away series to West Indies. They comprehensively beat the hosts 3-0 in the ODI series to make a clean sweep. Test series win again went begging as the two-match series ended in a 1-1 draw. But it was a good omen for Team Pakistan as it was their first Test win in the Caribbean since 1988.

The winds of change then started flowing Pakistan's way a bit and gave a sigh of relief to Woolmer as well.

The 2005-06 season started in a positive way for the team. England toured Pakistan to play a five-match ODI and three-match Test series. Pakistan won both the series, ODI 3-2 and Tests 2-0. This was the first Test series win for Pakistan under Woolmer's coaching.

The thing which had always lacked in Team Pakistan was their consistency to win matches on a regular basis. Whoever the captain was; whoever the coach was, no one ever was able to bring the steadiness and reliability in the Pakistan cricket team. Same was the case with Woolmer too. When things seemed to move on a right track, a u-turn was made ruining all the previous efforts and hard work which was being put into for the team's betterment. An identical situation of lack of consistency was seen after Pakistan's home series against England.

The Indian team toured Pakistan again in the 2005-06 season. They had a good tour last time around when they won both the ODI and Test series. And they were seeking to make amends for their ODI series loss to Pakistan when their neighbours toured in 2004-05 season. India thrashed Pakistan in the five-match one-day series 1-4. Pakistan though won the three-match Test series 1-0 after winning the last Test. This is where Pakistan's inconsistent form was seen. They had won the previously played three ODI series against India (away), West Indies (away) and England (home) but this time they were outclassed.

Woolmer's contribution to the team was once again put under spotlight then. Questions were asked again about the team's performances especially after being gunned down by arch-rivals India on home trough. Woolmer this time came up with an answer which heard in the next series against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan toured Sri Lanka in their last series of 2005-06 season and dominated the proceeding in both the ODI and Test series. They won the three-match one-day series 2-0 and two-match Test series 1-0. Mohammad Asif's magnificent bowling on that tour helped the team a lot and supported Woolmer to move on with his job in a positive manner. Pakistan then drew the DLF ODI Cup against India at Abu Dhabi 1-1.

During Woolmer's tenure, a lot was said about his relationship and understanding with the captain. Besides that, his method of coaching and cooperation with the rest of the players was also brought under spotlight. Woolmer was undoubtedly a good person, a better coach, but he never got going with the players. His views always contradicted with that of the team's captain or vice-versa. Some sources say that the captain never got going along with Woolmer and he wanted to implement ideas of his own and didn't agree to Woolmer's suggestions. Few players in the team, having attitude problems or egos in the air, didn't cooperate with Woolmer ever and misbehaved with him too on a number of occasions. And when these sort of things start happening in the team, only a downfall can be predicted for it. Same scenario was seen with Team Pakistan as well.

Pakistan went to tour England in the 2006-07 season. They had beaten the Englishmen in both the ODI and Test series when hosted them in the previous year. But what happened on their tour to England is seen as the worst debacle Pakistan has ever suffered.

Pakistan lost the four-match Test series 0-3. They forfeited the last Test match (at the Oval) after being alleged for ball tampering by the on-field umpires and refused to continue playing the match. Subsequently their captain was banned for a few matches for bringing the game into disrepute and the coach was left stranded to answer all the media and critics as a result of his team's gesture. This was another incident that proved to be a stain on Woolmer's CV after being appointed as Pakistan coach. He, after all his experience, wasn't able to handle his team and couldn't help them out. Pakistan drew the five-match ODI series 2-2 ending the tour on a disastrous note.

Sources say that after the Oval Test, fallout was seen between the captain and the coach. Woolmer, afterwards seemed less interested to work hard on his job was just working with the team to complete his contract which was to end after the 2007 World Cup.

The theme continued after the England tour as well when Pakistan disappointed once again in a big tournament, this time in the 2006 Champions Trophy in India. Though they won the first match against Sri Lanka, the lost the remaining two group matches against South Africa and New Zealand under Younis Khan's captaincy who had replaced Inzamam for this tournament because of Inzi's ban which had been imposed on him after the Oval Test incident. Woolmer was again unable to make the team turn into a solid combination. Pre-tournament controversies, which included Inzamam's ban, Younis's captaincy drama, change in PCB management and a lot of other things also didn't help Woolmer's cause.

Pakistan couldn't possibly replace Woolmer at this time because the World Cup was nearby and opted to continue with him.

Pakistan united back to win the home series against West Indies after the Champions Trophy disaster though winning the five-match ODI series 3-1 and three-match Test series 2-0. People thought that Woolmer might have worked some magic with the team then. But it has to be put under consideration that the touring West Indies party was an under-strength side.

Pakistan then toured South Africa, Woolmer's previous national team whom he coached before Pakistan, hoping for a good warm up just before the 2007 edition of the World Cup.

But Pakistan disappointed again losing the five-match ODI series 1-3 and three-match Test series 1-2. They even lost the Twenty20 match there. These sort of preparations were surely unwanted before a big tournament such as World Cup.

Selection dilemma and players' fitness problems along with that of the PCB and the captain added to the team's miseries before the Caribbean event. And the result because of all these problems was seen recently.

Pakistan bowed out of the World Cup losing to minnows Ireland in their second match of the tournament. They lost the opener to the West Indies before that. Even bigger shock was to be felt later when Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room. Police has been treating Woolmer's death as a murder and the investigations are still going on.

So what can be said of Woolmer's tenure as Pakistan's coach? Although he lost his life working and contributing for the team and tried his level best to bring up the best from the team's players. He tried to inflict new ideas and gave suggestions to boost up the team's confidence. I agree with everything. But what's important for us people, if we see it from a different perspective, is what Woolmer achieved for the team actually.

After all that I searched out, Pakistan's performances under Woolmer's coaching, he failed big time to work with a talented side as Pakistan is. May be the administration and few players didn't cooperate with him and they are to be blamed as well, what I feel as a cricket enthusiast and a team supporter is Woolmer never fulfilled the promises and didn't live up to expectations.

Every batsman in world cricket must have taken a sigh of relief when the sport's most successful fast bowler, Australia's Glenn McGrath, announced his retirement from international cricket after the World Cup final last month.

Australia created history by winning the World Cup the third time in a row. McGrath also set a new World Cup record by taking 71 wickets in 39 matches, breakong the previous record of 55 wickets set by Wasim Akram. He was also declared Man of the Tournament in his last World Cup. McGrath finished his career with fifth place in the ICC ODI bowling ranking.

After the retirement of McGrath an era of fast bowling has ended. No doubt that Australia still have enough bowling strength consisting of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait, Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson etc, but the Aussies will also miss the services one of the finest fast bowlers of his era. McGrath is regarded as among the best fast bowlers in the history of the game; specially he was most successful in the World Cups.

His last international appearance in the final as Australia created history by winning the World Cup for the third consecutive time, secured 15 points during the course of the tournament, including three Player of the Match performances.

The 37-year-old Glenn McGrath has been the backbone of Australian fast bowling for the last decade. He was not only a spectacular fast bowler but he is technically also sound and accurate. This combination makes him more lethal than any other fast bowler, he produces hostile pace and unlikely bounce on even the most flat of pitches. He has a remarkable strike-rate of delivering on his objectives.

He has been one of the best fast bowlers in Australian cricketing history and the main contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket during the 1990s and into the 2000s. His best Test bowling figures are 8-24, achieved against Pakistan during the first Test at Perth in the 2004-05 season. His ODI record is nearly as impressive; in 259 One-day Internationals he has captured 381 wickets at an average of 22.02 and with an economy rate of 3.88 runs per over.

After taking the wicket of Brian Lara in the ICC Super Series Test at Sydney in October 2005, McGrath became the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket with 520 wickets, after surpassing former West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh's 519 wickets. Finally he ended his career with 563 Test wickets in 124 Tests with the average of 21.64. Overall he is the third highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

His countryman, the master leg-spinner Shane Warne in 145 Tests is the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 708 wickets at an average of 25.41. Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan is on second place with 675 wickets in 110 Tests at an average of 21.73

Glenn Donald McGrath, born on February 9, 1970 in Dubbo, New South Wales, made his first-class debut for New South Wales in 1992 and a year later, aged 23, he made his Test debut, as a replacement for Merv Hughes.

He made his Test debut against New Zealand at Perth in 1993, where his match figures were 3-142. His career highlights include an extraordinary 8-38 against England at Lord's in 1997.

Although injuries to other players forced upon him the unfair burden of spearheading Australia's attack at an early age, McGrath has generally thrived under the pressure of needing to make regular breakthroughs for his team. He is essentially a highly determined and competitive cricketer who is always striving to maximise his talents.

McGrath has had success against every opposition team, in both Test and one-day cricket. He deliberately targets the opposition's best batsmen. This targeting of opposition batsmen has worked.

In his 13 years' splendid career, McGrath has won 11 Man of the Match and five Man of the Series awards in Tests. In ODIs, he has won 15 player of the match awards, six of which have been in World Cups. Only Tendulkar, with eight, has more awards in the tournament.

He was named as Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1998. Next year he was also selected as Wisden Australia Cricketer of the Year. In the year 2000 he also won the Allan Border Medal.

McGrath's 7-15 against Namibia at Potchefstroom in 1999 is the best bowling figures in a World Cup match, and the second-best in all ODIs, after Chaminda Vaas's 8 for 19 against Zimbabwe in Colombo in 2001-02.

In ODIs in which he bowled at least eight overs, 11 times he finished with an economy rate of less than two, and only four times went for more than seven an over. His most economical and most expensive figures were both at Sydney, within five days of each other -- against India in 1999-2000 he returned astonishing figures of 10-4-8-4, while against Pakistan five days later he leaked 67 in eight overs.

Caught Gilchrist bowled McGrath combination is very usual narration which used for 90 times in Tests, just behind the most successful combination of Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee which combination dismissed 95 batsmen. In One-day Internationals, the McGrath-Gilchrist combination victimised 73 players.

Tests 124 29248 12186 563 8-24 10-27 21.64 2.49 51.95 28 29 3

ODIs 250 12970 8391 381 7-15 7-15 22.02 3.88 34.04 9 7 0

Malaysia is one country which has made great strides in recent times and has virtually astonished the world. It has proved itself to be an Asian tiger in the real sense and is now one of the most vibrant economies of the continent. A "testimony" to that is world's tallest building in the country.

It also personifies unity in diversity. Muslims are in majority but they constitute only 55% of the population. The rest is mainly composed of ethnic Chinese and people of Indian origin. And the minorities enjoy full rights and in a true literal sense.

Islamic code is applicable only on Muslims. Even annual beauty contest to select Miss Malaysia is held but it is open only to non-Muslims and the winners even go to global contests like Miss Universe and Miss World.

Sport is also one of the domains where Malaysia's wealthy status has converged. To be part of Motor Grand Prix circuit is a "status symbol" for a nation. Malaysia is one of the selected countries which are part of this elite group. It has also conducted the Commonwealth Games (in 1998), a mega sports event perhaps second only to the Olympics in magnitude.

One sporting discipline of which Malaysia can be called as a hub of international activities is hockey. As a "host" Malaysia has many distinctions. Along with Holland, it is the only country to have held the World Cup twice (1975 and 2002). As far as the Junior World Cup is considered, Malaysia stands alone to have held it twice (1982 and 1989). Likewise, it is the only nation to have conducted the Asia Cup twice, both seniors as well as juniors.

Apart from it, Malaysia was the first country outside the "big four" of international hockey i.e. Pakistan, Holland, Germany and Australia to stage the Champions Trophy, which they did in 1993. And the Malaysian hockey federation added yet another feather in its cap by hosting the first and so far the only Intercontinental Cup in which selected teams representing the continents of Asia, Europe, Africa, Oceania and the Americas participated in 1990.

On the field itself also, Malaysia has achieved glory in international events. Malaysian hockey's finest hour was a fourth position in the third World Cup of 1975 when they were the hosts. Another achievement was getting a silver medal in the 1998 Commonwealth Games also in Malaysia, when hockey was included in these Games for the first time.

Outside their own boundaries, a high mark for their hockey was a fourth position in the inaugural Junior World Cup in 1979. In the 2000 Olympics, although Malaysia did not finish high in the eventual rankings they caused quite a sensation. They drew not only with Pakistan but also with the then Olympic and World champions Holland (who later won the gold). In the Asian Games of 2002, it was Malaysia who defeated Pakistan in the bronze medal play off to condemn the latter off the medal podium for the first time in Asian Games hockey.

And the Malaysian enthusiasm for this stick and ball game is not confined to holding the international events only. Their domestic league is highly competitive and keenly attended and followed. Many foreign stars adorn the MHL as professionals. Which included among others, Dhanraj Pillay, India's best forward of the last decade and half.

India's great right-out of the recent past, Mukesh Kumar, has also plied his trade here. While in 2002, the greatest penalty corner flicker of this era, Sohail Abbas, appeared for BSN club along with fellow Pakistani, Kashif Jawwad. And Sohail's penalty corner goals played a major part in helping his club qualify for the knock out phase. Then in the final, with more that 10,000 fans jam packing the Bukit Jalil stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Sohail netted the only goal of the final.

Interestingly, the next year, when the BSN club could not sign Sohail, they opted for young and upcoming Pakistani Imran Waarsi as their penalty corner expert.

The man who is generally acknowledged as the real spirit behind Malaysian hockey is Sultan Azlan Shah, a member of the royal family and Raja of Perak State. Azlan Shah also had a stint as king of Malaysia for five years from 1989 to 1994. The country has a unique arrangement of kingship being rotated between members of the royal family.

Sultan Azlan Shah remained an active hockey player well into his sixties and an important event of his birthday used to be a hockey match participated by the Shah himself. He has also remained the president of the Asian Hockey Federation for quite a few years.

In recognition for his great love and services for the game of hockey, a tournament titled the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is being held in Malaysia since 1983. Being an invitational tournament, it is not always participated by all the top teams. For instance, Holland entered the tournament for the first time last year as did Argentina, becoming the first team to appear from South America. This year also two teams are making their first appearance in the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament. They are Canada and the new emerging force in Asia, China, which in the 2006 Asian Games stunned the hockey world by winning the silver medal and in the process defeated both the traditional power houses of Asian hockey -- Pakistan and India.

The tournament has become almost a yearly affair since 1994 and is now the most highly regarded "invitational" hockey event. The Asian nations, Pakistan, India and South Korea along with Malaysia's 'neighbour' Australia have been more frequent participants.

And Pakistan has been a regular participant except from 1995 to 1998. The cause of this absence was really regrettable. It was due to then secretary of PHF, Col Mudassar's greed for power. The national team was not sent to the Azlan Shah Cup all these years as Col Mudassar was active in his overt and covert efforts to replace Sultan Azlan Shah from latter's seat of President Asian hockey federation.

This was really unfortunate since Azlan Shah has always been a great admirer and supporter of Pakistan hockey. Nevertheless Malaysians had the last laugh. Pakistan was about to stage the 5th Asia Cup in Lahore in November 1990. But the event was shifted to Malaysia just a couple of weeks before the start.

The reason given was that some of the competing nations had refused to travel to Pakistan, citing "security concerns" in the wake of the October 1999 military takeover.

The great "international hockey personality" Col Mudassar was unrepentant even then.

Before 1999, Malaysia in general and the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in particular had been a sort of "jinx" for Pakistan. The green shirts had never been able to win a major tournament there. They were second in the third World Cup in 1975, third in two Junior World Cups (1982 and 1989), fourth in Champions Trophy in 1993 and unplaced in the Commonwealth Games in 1998.

Until 1999, Pakistan's only tournament victory at senior level in Malaysia had been a 4-nation tourney in 1980, though they had won the junior Asia Cup in 1992. And in the Sultan Azlan Shah cup itself, up to 1998 Pakistan had been the bridesmaid in four out of five appearances with the third position coming their way on only other occasion.

However Pakistan finally came out of the hoodoo by winning the Sultan Azlan Shah cup in 1999. Not only that, Pakistan became the first nation to retain this cup by emerging victorious again the following year. A feat later repeated by Australia.

In 1999, in particular, Pakistan exhibited superb display, thoroughly appreciated by Malaysian crowds. They won all their six matches by a margin of two or more goals. That year Pakistan pumped in 29 goals in total, a Pakistan record for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Similarly, Sohail Abbas's personal tally of 12 goals is also a Pakistan highest for this particular tourney.

In 2001, Pakistan were eyeing a hat-trick but they performed miserably. They were unable to reach the medal rostrum for the first time (finishing fourth). Moreover, they also let in 25 goals. This is the highest, Pakistan has ever conceded in an international tournament.

In the next three editions of Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, Pakistan finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in 2003, 2004 and 2005 respectively.

Last year, Pakistan again failed to reach the podium and ended 5th with Holland winning the tournament for the first time and that too on its maiden appearance. Interestingly, Pakistan had beaten Holland in the pool match!

Australia has been the most successful country winning the tournament four times followed by Pakistan who have won it thrice.

Pakistan's top-scorer in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup: Sohail Abbas -- 37 goals (in four editions), also an all-comers record for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup

Year Venue Gold Silver Bronze

1983 Kuala Lumpur Australia Pakistan India

1985 Ipoh India Malaysia Pakistan

1987 Ipoh Germany Pakistan Britain

1991 Ipoh India Pakistan USSR

1994 Penang England Pakistan Australia

1995 Kuala Lumpur India Germany New Zealand

1996 Ipoh South Korea Australia Malaysia

1998 Ipoh Australia Germany South Korea

1999 Kuala Lumpur Pakistan South Korea Germany

2000 Kuala Lumpur Pakistan South Korea India

2001 Kuala Lumpur Germany South Korea Australia

2003 Ipoh Pakistan Germany New Zealand

2004 Kuala Lumpur Australia Pakistan South Korea

2005 Kuala Lumpur Australia South Korea Pakistan

2006 Kuala Lumpur Holland Australia India

The game of cricket has various attractions mostly relating to statistics. Usually cricketers love to accomplish different kinds of batting, bowling and fielding milestones during their playing career. Some managed to grab their target and some missed it due to different reasons. Different cricketers have different approach regarding statistical distinctions. Many of the guys want to achieve a certain landmark at every cost whereas some other don't care about individual feats and deliberately ignore such things.

Indian batting stalwarts Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, pacer Kapil Dev and South African Gary Kirsten etc belong to earlier mentioned group while Pakistan's Imran Khan, Australian Glenn McGrath, Steve Waugh, Shane Warne and New Zealander Nathan Astle etc representing the later kind of cricketers. It is worth mentioning here that Gary Kirsten delayed his retirement plans just to complete his century of Tests and join 20 Century Club.

Out-going West Indian captain Brian Lara, who gathered several unmatched laurels including two Test triple centuries during his illustrious career, but could not complete a well deserving triple century of ODIs that was just one game away at the time of his retirement. Lara made 18 in his 299th and last outing against England. He could have completed this rare triple century had his team managed to book a place in the semifinal of the grand event at least. Remember, there are very few cricketers who had a place in 300-plus ODI Club.

Apart from this 'mishap', Lara also missed a couple of other notable distinctions when he suddenly decided to quit all forms of cricket. During his career, Lara scored 11953 Test, 10405 ODI and 21993 first-class runs as well as twin giant batting records of a Test best 400* and 501* in first-class cricket. The gifted left-hander could have completed his 12000 Test and 22000 first-class runs had he not changed his mind regarding retirement from Test cricket. Remember, prior to the World Cup, Lara had expressed his wish to continue playing Test cricket after the mega event.

During the mega event, Brian Lara, who had 19 ODI centuries, failed to enter the Elite 20-Century Club despite having some weak opponents. It may be recalled here that Lara could not score an ODI hundred in his last 49 matches. Lara was not the first cricketer who missed such a big feat from so near. There have been several players who missed or forced to miss such notable Test and ODI landmarks before.

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul Haq also had a share when it comes to missed milestones. During his farewell Test series against South Africa earlier this year, Inzi missed a golden chance to join a select band of batsmen with centuries against all Test playing nations. Remember South Africa was the only side, which is missing from his century collection.

Before Inzi, eight batsmen ñ Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara, Gary Kirsten and Marvan Atapattu have already achieved this distinction. Inzamam got a golden chance to score a century against the South Africans in the second Test at St George's Park, Port Elizabeth but he was left stranded at 92. Inzamam still has a slim chance of scoring that much wanted ton if he managed to play against South Africans at home later this year.

Aussie pace spearhead Glenn McGrath, who brought an end to his career after being named Player of the Tournament in just ending World Cup, could have become only fourth bowler with 400 plus wickets in ODIs after Pakistanís Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Muttiah Muralitharan had he played one or two more ODI series but usually the Australians did not bother about records. McGrath ended his ODI career at 381 wickets.

Former Aussie skipper Steve Waugh also missed two major distinctions which were very much in his access. He missed the feats of 200 ODI and 100 Test wickets with a very thin margin. Waugh had 195 wicket in ODIs and 92 in Tests. He could have joined select band of all-rounders with 7000 runs and 200 ODI wickets and 10,000 runs and 100 wickets in Tests as well had he captured those handful of wickets during his 17-year Test career.

In ODIs, only Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya and South African Jacques Kallis had this honour. However, in Tests, Waugh would have been the only one to have such a great distinction. In other words, a mere (5+8) 13 international wickets deprived Waugh of two great feats.

It is to be noted here that Waugh had wanted to prolong his Test career to a bit more time till India tour 2004 but the Australian Board forced him to quit immediately after home rubber against the Indians in 2003. Resultantly, Waugh, who had 10927 Test aggregate, could not complete his 11000 runs.

Similarly, Aussie master spinner Shane Warne, who had 293 scalps in 194 ODIs, could have completed 300 wickets and 200 ODI matches easily by playing a couple of more games but he did not feel necessary to grab these distinctions.

In-form Sri Lankan all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya has reached on verge of three landmarks (100 Test wickets, 200 first class wickets and 300 ODI wickets). Jayasuriya required 4, 9 and 8 wickets respectively to reach the said landmarks. Now it has to see whether he gets a chance to accomplish these targets or not.

Recently New Zealandís key all-rounder Nathan Astle suddenly retired from international cricket and become the first player to close his career with a tally of 99 ODI wickets. Next nearest is former Aussie off-spinner Peter Taylor, who ended his career with 97 wickets in ODIs. Similarly, South African spinner Nicky Boje, who called it a day a couple months ago, missed his century of ODI wickets. At the time of his resignation, Boje, who had exactly 100 wickets and 1312 runs in Tests, had 96 ODI wickets in his kitty.

Former Indian captain Muhammad Azaharuddin had different rather sad story to tell. Azhar was in tremendous batting form and he had wanted to play cricket for some more time when he was banned for life due to his alleged involvement in match-fixing scandal. Azharís charismatic form can be gauged from the fact that he scored a classic century in his 99th Test match which eventually proved to be the last of his career and he thus could not complete a well deserving century of Tests.

Windies pacer Curtly Ambrose also missed his century of Tests and finished his career after playing 98 matches. Interestingly, at that time every member of the struggling West Indies team wanted him to play Test cricket but a fed up Ambrose strictly refused to prolong his career.

Following cricketers also missed different targets from so near. New Zealandís all-rounder Chris Cairns missed his 5000 ODI runs by just 50-run margin. Aussie all-rounder MA Noble was three runs short of his 2000 Test run mark when he quitted the game. Seasoned Australian batsman David Boon capped his 107-match Test career with 99 catches which is very rare. All-time batting great Sir Don Bradman was just four runs short of his 7000 figure when he announced his retirement. Bradman had another painful distinction when he was left stranded at 299 against South Africa at Adelaide in 1931-32. It would have been his third Test triple century. However, former New Zealand skipper Martin Crowe became the only batsman of Test history who was dismissed at 299 by Sri Lanka at Wellington 1990-91. Ex-English bowler DL Underwood remained three scalps away from his 300-wicket mark at the conclusion of his Test career. Another bowling great Sydney Barnes finished with 49 wickets just one short of 50, in a single Test series in 1913-14.

Former Australian wicket-keeper batsman Ian Healy could not complete his 400 dismissals by a thin difference. At his retirement, he had 395 victims (366 catches and 29 stumpings) to his credit. Similarly, Indiaís Syed Mujtaba Kirmani was two victims short of his 200 mark at the end of his Test career. Another Indian wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia was a victim of another kind of nervous nineties. Mongia has to finish his Test career with 99 catches. His overall dismissals were 107. Likewise, Kiwi gloveman Adam Parore could not complete his double century of catches and wrapped up his career with 197 catches and 7 stumpings.

The act of missing milestones is not restricted only to individuals there are some incidents when different teams missed rare landmarks due to different reasons. Reaching the aggregate of 700 in an innings has been very special in any form of the game but Pakistan strangely missed this mark by just one run against India in 1989 at Lahore when their half of the batting line was still in the dressing room. Similarly, in 1957-58, West Indies declared their innings at 790 against Pakistan at Kingston, Jamaica and lost a golden chance to register the figure of 800 in the record books.

Pakistan are a collapsed cricket team; they have collapsed many times and will continue to collapse at least in near future, too. None of its players, particularly batsmen, has been consistent in performance. Their debacle during the World Cup 2007 should not come as a surprise in the wake of the fact that they have a long history of playing collapsed innings; many times they were just below 50 for loss of four or five wickets, and could reach some 'respectable' score after an unexpected good hitting of a 'saviour'. In fact, Pakistan have been playing stumbling innings and have always been at the risk of an unpredictable failure.

While it is only the Test match format that allows use of all types of cricket techniques in an attempt to win the game, the one-day format has gained greater significance in view of the fact that all international tournaments, i.e. the World Cup, the Champions Trophy and triangular series, are played in this format. That is why, a sharp dissection, here, of Pakistan cricketers' performance has been kept limited to the one-day cricket format.

Before the World Cup 2007 tournament started in March this year on West Indian islands, the Pakistan team had played five one-day series during the cricket season of the year 2006. Starting from the home series against the visiting team of India in February 2006, the Pakistan team visited Sri Lanka and England from March to September, before hosting West Indies late last year and touring South Africa early this year. While they can boast of victories in Sri Lanka and in Pakistan against West Indies and the drawn series in England, their losses to India in home series and South Africa as tourists nullify their performance.

While four of the total 23 matches had to be abandoned due to rain, Pakistan were defeated in 10 of the remaining 19 one-dayers. In only six of the 22 played innings, Pakistan could play a fairly good innings; in the remaining 16 matches, the team collapsed badly. In three matches, Pakistan's first wicket fell without making a score.

The February 2006 series comprising five one-dayers between the archrivals Pakistan and the tourists India concluded at shameful defeat to the hosts; after victory in the first match, it consistently collapsed during all the four remaining matches, during which Pakistan played first and set targets of 265, 288, 161 and 286 runs, which India achieved without any trouble. During the series, Salman Butt, Abdul Razzaq, Yousuf and Younis Khan twice failed to score runs in double figure; however, Inzamam, Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal only once failed to score a double figure.

In the first match, Pakistan were stable and lost first wicket on 50 and second on 201. The 311-7 innings was owed more to Salman Butt's 101 and Shoaib Malik's 90; other key batsmen, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf, Inzamam and Razzak stayed on the pitch for fewer minutes to score 25, 17, 17, 16 and 4 runs, respectively.

In second match, the first wicket fell without making a score, second on 43, third on 46 and fourth on 68. Salman Butt, Kamran Akmal, Shahid Afridi, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Razzaq collapsed with individual scores of 0, 14, 1, 8, 18 and 14, respectively.

In third match the first wicket fell without making a score and the first four had fallen at 82. It continued the same tradition of collapse; Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Yousuf, Inzamam and Younis scored just 0, 19, 1, 16 and 16, respectively.

In fourth match, the first four wickets had fallen for 29. In this low-scoring innings, Kamran, Salman, Malik, Younis, Imran Farhat and Razzaq were out for just 3, 13, 9, 0, 14 and 1 runs, respectively.

The fifth match was, however, a story of strong batting innings started by the opening partnership of 62 runs, the next two wickets had fallen within 15 runs. Shoaib Malik was the lowest scorer with 12 runs.

The three-match one-day series between the hosts Sri Lanka and the tourists Pakistan, played at three stadiums in Colombo in March 2006, ended in favour of the tourists with a 2-0 victory, but was a record of single figure batting innings by key batsmen of Pakistan. In the first match in Colombo, the first wicket fell on the single figure of 8, second on 27 and third on 54. In an innings of 201/8 of the first one-dayer, three main batsmen Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi failed to reach the double figure score; they scored 5, 7 and 2 respectively. In the second match in Colombo, Pakistan's first five wickets had fell on 47 runs only. The record of the second one-dayer also carries a similar position; in an innings of 134-6, four players, Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan and Inzamam failed to reach the double figure score by returning to pavilion on individual scores of 4, 2, 4 and 1 runs, respectively.

Shoaib Malik, however, successfully scored 17 runs. However, the third match was a story of a strong batting innings when the openers contributed 61 runs partnership. With a rather consolidated innings of 229-6, the third one-dayer had also seen two players Inzamam and Afridi out for just 12 and 1 runs, respectively.

The Pakistan team's tour of England for NatWest one-day series in September 2006 gives no better picture; the tourists badly failed in all the five innings to play consistently. The five-match series concluded without falling into the lap of either team; both claimed two victories after the first match had to be abandoned.

A simplified analysis of the fall of wickets can show how inconsistent, non-professional batting Pakistan players demonstrated during the series. In the first ODI in Cardiff, Pakistan's first wicket fell on 12, when Shoaib Malik was lbw for 5. However, rain did not let the match to reach completion stage. In the second one-dayer at Lordís, the first wicket fell on 9 and second on 30, when Shoaib and Hafeez were out on their individual scores of 10 and 1, respectively.

The third match played at Southampton shows a worse picture; the first wicket fell on 2 and second on 29, when Shoaib Malik could score only 1 run, and Afridi and Akmal failed to make a single run. Pakistan lost its first wicket in the fourth match, played at Trent Bridge, for 11, second for 17 and third for 41, when Hafeez, Younis and Shoaib Malik failed to reach double figure score. The fifth match presented a very miserable picture; the first seven batsmen of Pakistan cricket team had returned to pavilion at the team score of 102, when Afridi, Inzamam, Razzaq and Kamran failed to reach the double figure score, while Hafeez, Farhat and Yousuf scored 18, 15 and 11, respectively.

The West Indian team departed from Pakistan in December 2006 with three defeats and one victory in the five-match one-day series. The first match had to be abandoned because of rain. In the second match in Faisalabad, though it was a victory, the opening partnership broke at 1, while the first five wickets had fallen for 90 runs only. Hafeez scored 0, Shoaib 6, and Farhat and Razzak 17 each. Played in Lahore, the third one-dayer was a story of a fair batting when the openers scored 64 runs. In the fourth one-dayer in Multan, which Pakistan lost to the tourists, the first four wickets had fallen for just 47 runs when Afridi, Hafeez and Shoaib score 1, 1 and 0, while Imran Farhat and Kamran Akmal scored just 13 and 11, respectively. The fifth one-dayer against West Indies recounts the story of a strong Pakistani batting innings of 239-3.

In four of the five innings Pakistan played in the five-match one-day series, the first four wickets had fallen before reaching the total score of 100, while in two matches the first wicket fell without making a single score. While the third match ended without result, the 3-1 defeat was a miserable performance.

South Africa trounced Pakistan in the first one-dayer played at Centurion Park on February 4, by a margin of 164 runs, when the latter failed to score the gigantic total of 393, set as a target by the hosts. Pakistan had lost the first four wickets for 70 runs only, when Hafeez, Kamran, Younis, Afridi and Inzamam scored only 21, 13, 13, 17 and 15, respectively.

Though Pakistan dragged their innings to 47th over, its first seven batsmen had returned to pavilion by 20th over. The second one-dayer was, however, a tit-for-tat response by the tourists, when they heaped huge 351 runs total, however, opener Kamran was out for zero and skipper Inzamam had scored just 13 runs.

The third match in Port Elizabeth had to be abandoned due to rain after Pakistan had played its innings to score a fair total of 245 runs for 8. But it also narrates a sorry state of affair; the first four batsmen had returned to pavilion for 71 runs only, when Imran Nazir scored 13, Kamran 6, Inzamam 1 and Afridi 8. The shameful 107-run total by Pakistan is a story of miserable performance; eight players failed to reach a double figure run, while Inzamam was not-out for 45, and Yousuf and Shoaib Malik could score 21 and 19, respectively.

South Africa achieved the target without losing a wicket. Pakistan continued this shameful performance in the fifth match also; in the 153-run total, Hafeez, Yousuf and Inzamam had contributed 0, 5 and 0, respectively and the first six wickets had fallen 83 runs only.