Farhat builds platform for Pak, and his own, revival

After Multan, Pakistan were in the pits and looked it. A sharp and successful bowling spell by Umar Gul restored a degree of self-esteem, bu...

After Multan, Pakistan were in the pits and looked it. A sharp and successful bowling spell by Umar Gul restored a degree of self-esteem, but Yuvraj Singh’s sparkling ton ensured that India stayed in the game if Pakistan similarly faltered. So the hosts needed at least one out of the top three youngsters to make his presence felt to reduce the pressure on the middle order, the kind that had made it wilt and wither at Multan. Taufeeq Umar and Yasir Hameed fell after getting well set, but Imran Farhat is made of sterner stuff.

With his place in the team under a serious threat from his prodigious namesake, Imran Nazir, Farhat compiled a quality hundred that went a long way in strengthening Pakistan’s position on day two. It was not an innings completely without blemish; there were a few false strokes. And he should have trudged his way back to the pavilion well before he posted 101 against his name, and also with one run separating him from the joy and glory that a hundred against India inevitably brings.

But Farhat rode his luck, not recklessly but in a rather composed manner, subduing his spirited nature in service to the team’s cause. While there is no denying Inzamam-ul Haq’s and Yousuf Youhana’s contributions in taking Pakistan to a position from where they could feel that beating India and bringing the series to even footing is within their reach, the platform was surely provided by Farhat.

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Does this innings, surely worth its weight in the context of the ongoing match or even the series, herald Farhat’s coming of age? It is really too soon to say, for Farhat —who idolizes another southpaw, Saeed Anwar — has had a chequered career.

Sons to a sports teacher, Farhat and his elder brother — the wicket-keeper batsman Humayun who is now firmly out of reckoning for national duty — made their international debut against New Zealand in 2001. The younger Farhat was considered a phenomenal talent, a view endorsed by as unimpeachable an authority as Geoff Boycott.

His forays in the middle in Pakistan colours, however, did not match that exalted billing. More often than not he allowed his exuberance to get the better of him and threw his wicket away, most shockingly after getting rather well set and greater things within his reach.

And that is one grouse that several selectors and disappointed fans have held against him, for no fault of theirs.

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Perhaps Aamer Sohail, in his brief but eventful stint as chief selector, being one himself appreciated the maverick in him, or maybe he had run out of his more favoured options, like Mohammad Hafeez. Farhat, however, got his chance, some would say unfairly ahead of Imran Nazir, whom Ian Chappell and Clive Lloyd rate as an incomparable talent.

But Farhat made the most of the opportunity, with his first Test hundred against South Africa and then a world record four back-to-back century partnerships with Yasir Hameed when the Black Caps visited Pakistan last season. That ensured his survival till now, despite a string of poor scores in between. His career gets a new lease of life with this hundred against India.