Since yesterday, television news channels are flashing images of Pakistan victory in the T20 Cricket World Cup. Conquests of a team that was considered underdog right through are being glorified. The team deserves every bit of praise that is showered on it. Pakistan once again lived upto its reputation of being the most unpredictable team and always a difficult proposition when its team chemistry works.
If leadership was one differentiating factor that emerged from IPL T20 competition in South Africa, the T20 Cricket World Cup has brought team work to fore front – A great lesson for professionals in every walk of life.
Teams that combined well made it to later stages in the tournament and those which could not rallied behind.
Indians, were at best a loosely packed bundle of talent, which never worked together or in tandem. The result, the pre tournament hot favourites could register wins only against teams like Bangladesh and Ireland and losing all the super eight matches against majors.
Aussies, a side, full of hard core professionals, seem to have forgotten all about team ethics and their professionalism could not get them any where.
Sri Lanka was one team that had variety in bowling and batting departments and exhibited a lot of enthusiasm on the field. This team played great cricket till the finals where law of averages caught up with them.
Pakistani outfit, with their back to the wall at each stage of the tournament had started to click as a team as the tournament progressed. In the finals, all their bowlers delivered. Batsmen exhibited the kind of discipline required against a superb bowling attack of Lankans. It was indeed a triumph for the team.
Cricket like any other team sport will be won by individuals thriving on their talent, professionalism, intelligence and discipline only when backed by their teams. Impeccable execution of plans hinges on coordinated efforts by the team and not on brilliant performance of individuals alone. So the need of the hour is that captains and coaches must create a context for unity of purpose among the team members and see that the unit delivers as a team.
If leadership was one differentiating factor that emerged from IPL T20 competition in South Africa, the T20 Cricket World Cup has brought team work to fore front – A great lesson for professionals in every walk of life.
Teams that combined well made it to later stages in the tournament and those which could not rallied behind.
Indians, were at best a loosely packed bundle of talent, which never worked together or in tandem. The result, the pre tournament hot favourites could register wins only against teams like Bangladesh and Ireland and losing all the super eight matches against majors.
Aussies, a side, full of hard core professionals, seem to have forgotten all about team ethics and their professionalism could not get them any where.
Sri Lanka was one team that had variety in bowling and batting departments and exhibited a lot of enthusiasm on the field. This team played great cricket till the finals where law of averages caught up with them.
Pakistani outfit, with their back to the wall at each stage of the tournament had started to click as a team as the tournament progressed. In the finals, all their bowlers delivered. Batsmen exhibited the kind of discipline required against a superb bowling attack of Lankans. It was indeed a triumph for the team.
Cricket like any other team sport will be won by individuals thriving on their talent, professionalism, intelligence and discipline only when backed by their teams. Impeccable execution of plans hinges on coordinated efforts by the team and not on brilliant performance of individuals alone. So the need of the hour is that captains and coaches must create a context for unity of purpose among the team members and see that the unit delivers as a team.
