How the tables have turned. A year ago India was the team on the up - a performing unit with an experienced and respected leader. Pakistan was in shambles, winning just the odd-game here and there through sheer chance and a leader who could do very little except bat.
Eerily, these 2 men are still the leaders in person, but their personas have changed beyind recognition. Ganguly has been reduced to a wreck clinging on to his spot in the team on the basis of past records while Inzamam has first through example and then through hitherto unknown leadership skills made this a really tough fighting unit. No doubt in very small steps, but surely, there is some professionalism and consistency developing in the Pakistan setup. Bob Woolmer, the very knowledgable coach has been given a reasonable atmosphere in which to function - and hence he can afford to keep out useless "stars" like Shoaib Akhtar - although there are the Aamir Sohails of this World who love to make a fool of themselves by commenting on that - while India is once again gripped in a frenzy of hero-worship with "rational" fans who "have the interest of the team in the mind" rushing in to save non-performers like Tendulkar and Ganguly.
The icing on the cake and the just reward has been the extension of Inzamam's captaincy. I am really happy for him today. He is such a wonderful and likeable human being not to mention an astoundingly talented and great batsman. When Pakistan came to India, I knew that the result of this series would decide the fate of Inzamam as captain. And I was sad because I knew I could not have it both ways - of course I wanted India to win. As it turns out India turned in a performance so unworthy, there was hardly any room to feel bad. Luckily, we managed to draw the Test series before we jumped into our pathetic streak and it turned out to be a great result for Inzy. Here's wishing him a good run as skipper.
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