Shoaib Malik, preppy, young, canny, athletic but not entirely embedded in Pakistan’s Test side, was made captain. Salman Butt, the opener who hadn’t played in a year, came back and did so as vice-captain, new selectors arrived, new central contracts and, of course, a new coach. Inzamam is in the process of being eased out, Mohammad Yousuf was temporarily sidelined, Abdul Razzaq banished, religion nudged back, in with the new(ish), out with the old(ish). Six months later, as Malik led his side to the final of the Twenty20 World Cup, a good, solid tale of redemption (and little beats that kind of yarn) surpassed only by that of their conquerors, the question emerges: is Pakistan cricket feeling good again?

It is and it isn’t. For a start they lost the final, which doesn’t do much for feel-good. Losing to India does even less. To do so by five runs takes the biscuit and as great a game of cricket as it was, it was a little greater for those who won. Sreesanth hadn’t yet caught the ball and already one channel was asking viewers to decide, whether Younis, Afridi or both should be shunted out.

Misbah-ul-Haq, whose selection was criticised, became Misbah-ul-but, as in, “He was outstanding but...” The real Butt, Salman? Best not mention him. Malik, who did so much to get his side there, led well but for that final cross-batted swipe... and wait till he leads a Test side.

After the year just gone, a final against Norway in the ICC’s new Scandinavian Cup would’ve been reason enough for excitement perhaps, and yet here was Pakistan, celebrating and berating equally. Make no mistake: a dashing run to the final, the emergence of new and old players, a daring captain and a new coach, were all celebrated and duly acknowledged, especially against the country’s troubled current backdrop. We just didn’t do it blindly.

... contd.