Are Pakistan better than India now? Over the wicket

This column is being written from the Sharjah Cricket Stadium just before the start of the Pakistan-Afghanistan match. Flashes of some of the exciting clashes between Pakistan and India still reverberate in this stadium.

India are not willing to test their prowess against Pakistan here, but with Pakistan closing the gap with India in the world rankings, it is but natural to sit back and consider whether the present Pakistan team is growing better than India now.

Contests between these two arch-rivals were so full of adrenaline, and that was something that made the game very competitive. This venue, as well as the numerous series between these neighbours, has played a big role in raising the popularity of cricket.

Pakistan are currently on a high and India, after their series defeats to England and Australia, are slipping down the ladder. Indian fans may well believe that India lost because they played abroad in conditions alien to them, whereas Pakistan inflicted a clean sweep on England in conditions favourable to them.

So the real test of whether Pakistan or India are the better team will come to the fore when they clash on conditions familiar to both. And what better venue can one think of than the UAE, which is neutral to both. It is unfortunate that fans around the world are being denied such an exciting clash merely due to political reasons.

External influences

Pakistan cricket has never looked better. If this trend continues, it is just a matter of time before they reach the No.1 rank in world cricket. However, this team needs to be protected from external influences.

Misbah-ul-Haq, with his calm and mature approach, has so far steered the team safely. What makes Pakistan better than India now is the presence of promising players like Azhar Ali, Azad Shafiq, Mohammad Hafeez and Adnan Akmal, who have chipped in at the right time despite not being star players yet.

Unfortunately for India, many of their top players are on the evening of their career and youngsters have not contributed enough. It is a fact that, unlike Pakistan, India does not have a balanced attack. So until a bunch of match-winners are discovered, victories will elude them. Skipper Dhoni should be willing to take that challenge and not express his willingness to step down. He needs to show the maturity that Haq exhibited in lifting Pakistan from shambles and humiliation.