The Unquiet Ones
 | |
| Author | Osman Samiuddin |
|---|---|
| Publisher | HarperCollins India |
Publication date | 25 November 2014 |
| Pages | 510 |
| ISBN | 978-9350298015 |
The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket is a book written by Pakistani sports journalist Osman Samiuddin. The book was published by HarperCollins India and released on 25 November 2014. In 2015, the book was shortlisted for the 'Book of the Year' award by the Cricket Writers' Club.[1]
Content[edit]
The book details the story of Pakistan cricket; how the game transformed from an urban, exclusive sport into a force uniting millions in a vast, disparate country.[2] The book has five sections which contain thirty-one essays, with each section covering distinct eras of varying lengths of time. Each section starts with a match that is used to define that era, and includes essays on a maximum two players who were similarly definitive. The ultimate section covers the last 22 years, from 1992 to early 2014.[3]
Reception[edit]
A reviewer for ESPNcricinfo stated that "this book on cricket comes across as one of the most authentic and authoritative depictions of what the country is actually like." He described it as a "superbly researched book", while criticizing "the complete absence of any discussion of the women's game." The reviewer rated the book 4.5/5, writing that the book is "highly recommended".[3]
A reviewer for Wisden India called the book an "ode to Pakistan cricket". He further stated that "the 500-odd page tribute to Pakistan cricket is more than the sum of its research material – it's no mere quizzer-goldmine". He adds that "the book deserved a bigger title to match its scale".[4]
A reviewer for Express Tribune called the book "a triumph" while stating that "the research – let us call it scholarship – is immense".[5] A reviewer for DNA India praised the "extensive research". He further added that Samiuddin "keeps the reader glued to his book" while praising him metaphorically for "a well-crafted century on debut".[6]
A reviewer for New Statesman calls the book "magnificent as stand-alone history of Pakistan cricket".[7] Nadeem F. Paracha, a cultural critic writing for Dawn calls the book "a knowledgeable fan's history of Pakistan cricket" and "a youthful celebration of a wildly impulsive cricketing culture".[8]
Errors[edit]
Some of the factual/typographical errors in the book surfaced so far are:
- The use of the past tense in the following sentence is wrong because at the time Minhas was alive and in his 80s. “Safdar Minhas was a tall, fast off-cutter…”[5]
- The book says, "Australia fell from 305 for one to 310 all out" in the second innings of the 1979 Melbourne Test when in fact the Australian team slipped from 305 for three to 310 all out.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ "'The Unquiet Ones' shortlisted for cricket book award". The Express Tribune. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ "The Unquiet Ones: A History of Pakistan Cricket". Amazon.com. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ a b Naqvi, Ahmer (10 January 2015). "Telling Pakistan's story through its cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ Dasgupta, Shamya (1 March 2015). "An insider's 'jazba' for Pakistan cricket". Wisden India. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ a b Yusuf, Imran (11 January 2015). "Book review: The Unquiet Ones – war and peace and reverse swing". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ a b Krishnan, G (8 February 2015). "Book Review: The Unquiet Ones- A History of Pakistan Cricket". DNA India. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- ^ Wigmore, Tim (27 October 2015). "Sporting chaos: the history – and future – of cricket in Pakistan". New Statesman. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
- ^ Paracha, Nadeem F. (1 February 2015). "Pakistan cricket: Two books, one history". Dawn. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
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