Return of Razzaq makes a telling difference

He was away from international cricket for two years, a veritable outcast for choosing to play in the rebel Indian Cricket League. He was among the scores who decided to take up the amnesty offer made by their respective Boards but he was the fastest off the block in returning to mainstream – and what is more, Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaz made it count.

To be sure, reinventing himself in a new, mature batting incarnation, all-rounder Shahid Afridi walked away with the man of the match award in the semifinal and final but Razzaq’s return was the catalyst that revived Pakistan’s fortunes in the ICC World Twenty20. The team found the balance that had been missing earlier and did not lose any of the four games after his comeback.

What a heady 12 days Razzaq has had since he was cleared as Yasir Arafat’s replacement!
His abiliity with the new ball allowed Pakistan the liberty of identifying Umar Gul as their death overs’ specialist and not having to come on as the first change. His skills in stifling the flow of runs allowed spinners Shahid Afridi and Saeed Ajmal to come on and tighten the screws quite easily.

Razzaq claimed two wickets in his first game against New Zealand – Brendon McCullum, no less, in his opening over and Martin Guptill in the third. He bowled good spells against Ireland and South Africa in the semifinal but his biggest contribution came in the title clash against Sri Lanka on Sunday.

The scalps of Jehan Mubarak, Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene in the span of 13 deliveries with the new ball broke Sri Lanka’s back and set up a fine win for Pakistan. Razzaq, who had been earmarked as one of the finest allround talents to emerge in Pakistan but had chosen to play for ICL, came back to show himself what he had missed in the past two years.
International cricket will ready itself to see the return of some more exciting cricketers in the coming months – Shane Bond can be expected to slip back into the New Zealand side soon while a number of Bangladesh players can expect to be reinstated in their national team too – but Razzaq will have the pleasure of being the fastest former ICL player off the blocks.