Razzaq conquers his demons

It is a startling record; since the beginning of 2001, Pakistan have played in 34 Tests and drawn only two. They have won 17 and lost 14, even if six of those wins came against Bangladesh. Tellingly, seven of their losses have been by an innings and of the remaining seven, barring the false dawn at Colombo against the Australians when they lost by 41 runs, all have been comprehensive, shattering routs.

Among the many things you can conclude from that, one in particular stands out. When it comes to grinding out an honourable draw, Pakistan lack the wherewithal for a scrap. Generally, their batsmen have collapsed with unerring regularity and deplorable alacrity, especially in the Perth Test in December and the Rawalpindi defeat against the Indians last April. Within this bleak perspective then, made grimmer still by yesterday's top-order shambles, today's performance constitutes a minor miracle. And for Abdul Razzaq to be at the heart of the rearguard makes the draw doubly remarkable and triply frustrating.

Razzaq in a sense is emblematic of Pakistan's travails. He is accomplished, immensely so. Earlier in his career it was suggested he had the temperament to bat one-down and bowl first-change in both forms of the game. Since 2001, however, his decline has been the stuff of legend, to the extent where his place in the Test team has been in doubt. When the pressure is cranked up, Razzaq has become the poster-boy for the meek, self-inflicted and shameless surrender. Today he belatedly rose to a challenge.

It became obvious during his innings that he was challenging himself, not the elements or the bowlers or even the situation as much. He was proving to himself, in leaving ball after ball outside off stump, ducking underneath bouncers and cutting down on cutting that he could do it. Not a shot was played in anger; yes,he struck Kumble disdainfully over his head for the shot of the day, but anger it wasn't. One ball stood out from the 260 he faced - in the seventh over after lunch, with the game still at a fragile juncture, Zaheer Khan tempted him with a full, wide outswinger, the kind he either scorches through the covers or edges to the slips. This time he did neither. When he scored his 50th run, there was no acknowledgement, a sign perhaps that today he had conquered himself.

Of course it helped that accompanying him was, for one day at least, the second-best wicketkeeper-batsman in the game. When Kamran Akmal was made first-choice glovesman for the tour of Australia, he had many critics in Pakistan, most of whom thought either Moin Khan for his batting or Rashid Latif for his keeping should have been there instead. An impeccable tour Down Under with the gloves assuaged little and when India beckoned, there were still ridiculous calls for the veterans to return.

It is ridiculous because, as a pure keeper, he currently has few equals in the game. He is short and agile, and has a great feel for the delivery, as his movements to Kaneria in particular are testament to. Kaneria's extravagant bounce and variable turn make for awkward work, but Akmal barely faltered throughout his spell, rising and moving in rhythm with the ball. Out of a total of 516, there was the solitary bye. But his hands were used for another purpose today.

If anything, it was his batting which fuelled the doubts but the boy can play. He cuts, fashionably late but supremely well, and he cover-drives from a textbook and for the camera. When on 99 he calmly played out eight dot balls, including a maiden from Kumble, his defensive technique and temperament shone.

Pakistan won't be carried away by this result, however. As they move to Kolkata on a high, their top order, blown to waste here, lies in disarray, symptomatic of a deeply embedded dilemma. Their fielding and catching might not be this bad again but they cannot continue to offer any batsmen, particularly the Indians, such a host of reprieves, especially given the scarcity of their bowling resources. That has only increased the heavy reliance on Danish Kaneria which, so early in his career, is potentially a graver cause for concern.

For now, briefly, Pakistan can sit comfortable in the knowledge that this team has a heart and a spine. Both were displayed fleetingly over the last year, but more forcibly here. Given their record since 2001, that calls for a celebration - cautious and brief.