Saleem back in spotlight as Pakistanis fight to win

LOVE him or loathe him, there is no denying the fact that Saleem Malik is a cricketer of the highest calibre.

The burly Pakistan Association all-rounder, whose controversial Mankading act earlier this season put him in the eye of a storm, was once again in the thick of the action as the Pakistanis all but clinched the CMI Sunday League title yesterday by defeating closest contenders Templars.

Typifying his fighting persona, Saleem singlehandedly lifted the Pakistanis from a dire situation. After being put into bat by the Templars, they were reeling at 88 for seven with 18 overs left.

Templars' left-arm medium pacer Erle Pereira had grabbed three wickets as had fellow-paceman Adam Clifton, and the Templars were right on top.

Saleem, who had come in at number six, seemed to have found a reliable partner in skipper Sada Hussain but a top catch by Templars' stand-in skipper Tony Correa, diving to his left at extra cover, saw the end of Sada.

Even the most optimistic Pakistani supporter - and there were over 200 of them by stumps - would have been forgiven for giving up hope. But Saleem, showing the spirit of a streetfighter, rose to the occasion with his innings, which was one of the best knocks seen this season simply because it was built on hardship.

Like the best steel, forged in the hottest fire, Saleem showed he could rise to the pressure-cooker atmosphere which the Templars had created early through superb fielding.