Wounded Tiger: Pakistan Cricket's Unexplored Narrative

Supremely gifted teenagers, Javed Miandad’s unappreciated role as a frontrunner and also the revolutionary impact of reverse swing on cricket square measure a number of the hanging themes of British author Peter Oborne’s perceptive new book Wounded Tiger: A history of Cricket in Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Wounded Tiger, a play on Imran Khan’s nearly legendary ‘cornered Tiger’ speech before the 1992 tourney final in Melbourne, aims to line things straight and go deeper into a world wherever cricket has “been entwined with national identity” ever since the times of the dominion. this era of Islamic Republic of Pakistan cricket, the book highlights, additionally is figure of speech for true the country presently finds itself in. however throughout the journey, Wounded Tiger additionally reminds its readers that the magic these men are able to create on the sector, and square measure still capable of, will ultimately result in national recovery.

Oborne, WHO is additionally the chief political commentator for the Daily Telegraph, says, “Cricket writing concerning Islamic Republic of Pakistan has typically fallen into the incorrect hands. it's been distributed by those that don't like Islamic Republic of Pakistan, square measure suspicious of Pakistanis, have their own preconceptions.”

The author, WHO has additionally written the victory life history Basil D'Oliveira, Cricket and Conspiracy: The much Story among different works, starts off by going into detail concerning however Indian authors Rama Guha and Shashi Tharoor, the latter WHO additionally served as a United Nations official, square measure “careless” in misrepresenting facts concerning Islamic Republic of Pakistan cricket in their individual efforts. Autobiographies by England cricketers, with some exceptions, square measure blind to the heat and generosity of the Pakistani individuals and English journalists have cared-for imitate, he adds.

Oborne argues that in and of itself Pakistani cricketers seem as caricatures.

“Javed Miandad as a hooligan; Imran Khan as a princely descendent within the tradition of Ranji; AH Kardar as a fanatic. None of those pictures bear abundant reference to reality.”

Wounded Tiger, though, isn't almost about presenting a more true image of those nice men. It appreciates the “beauty” of Islamic Republic of Pakistan with its present follies. From the uncertainty over the ages of the best “teenaged debutants” to master inventors and also the most shrewd of tacticians to the power of family planning surprises that's distinctive to Islamic Republic of Pakistan alone.

Oborne puts this distinctive ability in context once he writes of Pakistan’s 1954 tour of England, a tour that several say place the country on target for future greatness.

“This was the dark state of affairs as Islamic Republic of Pakistan approached the fourth matched game at the Oval: Kardar’s job on the road, dissension within the camp, ridicule within the press, and Pakistan’s position as a take a look at nation in question. In several groups everything would have fallen apart, however not Kardar’s Pakistanis. Fazal place pressure on Kardar before the Oval game to issue an announcement that Islamic Republic of Pakistan would win the take a look at.”

Oborne's story concludes with Islamic Republic of Pakistan in cricket isolation however the essential message is of celebration and conviction that Misbah-ul-Haq and also the future holds some promise.