‘Don’t look at the bowler. Just look at the ball’ – Rizwan Cheema
This was what the dashing Canadian batsman had said in an interview to Cricket Canada back in 2010 just before leaving for the World Cup qualifying tournament. And how well he has proved that today against England, when he didn’t bother about the reputation of the English bowlers and only looked at the leather
2 days before the 2011 World Cup, a little known Canadian has given the tournament a perfect advertisement with a knock few would ever forget. Playing against England in the warm-up game at Fatullah, Rizwan Cheema, a Pakistan-born Canadian smashed an unbelievable 93 odd 70 balls with a staggering 15 hits to the fence to send ripples across English fans. Canada lost the match by just 16 runs but won the hearts of the cricket fans with a bold display. Cheema’s knock will sure liven up hope for the so-called minnows in both groups.
Back in the 2003 World Cup, another Canadian, John Davison had smashed apart West Indian bowlers on his way to a record-breaking 111 off just 67 balls. And Just before the start of the World Cup 2011, another unheralded Canadian has hit the roof with a stunning batting display against a powerful England. The World Cup 2011 has no doubt seen its first major surprise even before the first ball has been bowled.
When the 32-year old Cheema came in to bat, Canada were reeling at 28 for 5 and were even staring at that embarrassing 36 all out they had scored against Sri Lanka in the 2003 World Cup. But, in came the big hitter and suddenly things turned around for Canada. He had come into the tournament with a reputation of being Canada’s most dangerous and aggressive batsman and how well he lived up to that reputation. Cheema did not spare a single bowler and even the likes of Ajmal Shahzad and Stuart Broad were treated with contempt. He missed out on a deserved century when he was caught by Bell off the bowling of Broad, who finished with figures of 5-39.
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