Hum hoon gay kamyaaab aik din...aka... Dream Team

So I watched the Africa XI vs Asia XI matches like the cricket fanatic that I am. Besides the regular fare of smashing cover drives ala Kumara Sangakaara and prolific straight driven sixes ala Yousuf Youhana, there was a whole new thrill that found itself uncovered in my heart along with the hearts of the spectators present in the stadium.

Brotherhood. Not patriotic fervor that leads us to cheer for our country’s team and boo the triumphs of the other country, but a prolific undercurrent of camaraderie that extended beyond geographical constraints.

When Abdul Razzak and Anil Kumble took the stand against impending defeat in the most unlikely 8^th wicket stand in cricket history, the hugs flowed seamlessly between Hindu and Muslim alike just as the two icons of long lost unity dug in and fought out what was always a lost cause in terms of the match. But what they managed to be victorious at was re-implementing the seamless bond that existed between the people of two nations that had existed since time immemorial as one.

When Zaheer Khan of India went up to rap Shoaib Akhtar across the head in a gesture of appreciation for the towering six he had just hit, there was no malice in his smile. Just pride. Pride to be playing on the same time for the same cause and getting there together.

I agree there is no cricket match more thrilling than one played between India and Pakistan, but what I discovered anew was the thrill of watching players from the two countries pitting themselves together against all odds. There was no lack of yahoos from me when Zaheer khan claimed a wicket Shoaib Akhtar had been setting up in his over

I don’t want make this sound like a case for indo-pak friendship. I’m all for it, but don’t feel well versed enough in the politics of the matter to give a learned opinion. There’s too much ambiguity about sensitive issues like Kashmir and Siachen, and oh the completely different religions to presume that all ills can be forgiven altogether and the thin line on the map demarcating the rift across a piece of land can be erased. What I am suggesting here is a dream. A dream team so to say of the once mighty subcontinent. Take the best of the two countries, set them up together and bring on the Aussies and the English and the Africans and the whole damn world for all I care, and let them get past us. There’s no denying how well the sub continental players feed off of each other’s strengths. That is what makes matches between them so exciting even for non-sub continental viewers. Sure history plays its part in defining the stakes but it’s the way that everyone is at his best that makes their efforts so remarkable. Put that knowledge of each other’s psyche in a common goal and I have no doubt, in my mind at least, that they will be invincible. It’s the ages old adage at work really, united we stand… but its an adage worth pursuing just as much in the context of a sport as it is in the context of an Asian economic colossus. But again, this post is not meant to be a commentary on the politics of two nations, just the bringing together of two enormous pools of talents that can very well define the very epitome of cricketing brilliance. So here it is my choice of the Indopak juggernaut that may very well put every other collaborative effort in the cricket universe to redundant shame:

Sehwag

Tendulkar

Dravid

Youhana

Inzi

Afridi

Razzak

Pathan

Zaheer Khan

Anil Kumble

Shoaib Akhter

Now the match winning potential of everyone in this team has been tested and proven time and time again. Instead of relying on 3 or 4 match winners here’s an ensemble of the sturdiest blocks of resistance against all odds from both teams. Yes I know there has been talent on both sides left out, but I’m not suggesting revoking the individual teams of the two countries, just the smelting of the very best the two have to offer in order to take on the best of the rest of the world.

Personally I can’t wait to see Tendulkar and Inzi building a partnership together against the onslaught of unerring accuracy from the likes of Mcgrath and Pollock. But even otherwise, this line up offers the most promising array of defiant game play imaginable. Just imagine a brutally fast Shaoib Akhter over followed by unerring left arm seam bowling from Pathan. Hell maybe if you pit them against the pathetic US team, we’ll find their innings ending in 10 balls. It’s the closest we’ll ever get to the devastating opening spells from Wasim and Waqar, if it means pooling together the resources from our now friendly neighbors, bring it on I say.

Just dreaming though, I guess I’ll be testing out this team in the sucky EA sports version of the game before it ever actually happens. But I just felt like thinking up my own dream team and recording it for prosperity. That done. I’m off to play some cricket.