PCB’s mishandling of issues revoked bans, fines.
It has been proved over and over again that cricket management is a science and ought to be run by those who are proficient enough to handle the game at national and global levels. With inefficient, corrupt and self-cantered management looking after its affairs, the quality and standard of the game is plunging down the drain; disgracing the country on the international level.
The management of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has turned the Lahore office into a hub of controversies, conflicts, politics and rivalries. As a result, the high standards of cricket in Pakistan have been shaken to the core. The PCB works under a dictatorial mindset and system where the management has no regrets at all.
By banning half a dozen senior players and plummeting cricket in an ocean of depression was the first big mistake of the season. Then, they removed the ban after realising that the national team is not a burly outfit without them. This u-turn by the management serves as a concrete proof of the board’s lack of understanding of the game itself. In spite of the so-called reconciliation among the martial factions, lack of collaboration and coordination among the PCB officials continues. Its most recent example was when Waqar Younis, the national coach, who holds a significant place in the board, was not consulted while selecting the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup. Younis was not included in the selection committee meeting. When the question was raised, PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt gave an insolent reply that “Waqar should concentrate on his own job and not poke his nose in the administrative matters of the board”. The Pakistan Cricket Board has always been a board of individuals rather than a cohesive team. The top brass of the PCB fails to realize that running the board efficiently needs a team rather than a one-man show.
The clash between the players, the management aided by the politicking in the team resulted in many altercations between all the stakeholders. Actions reached such appalling heights that Pakistan cricket became an amusement park in the world of cricket. Aside from discontenting the whole nation, the seriousness of the issues also alarmed the sports ministry and its committees.
Looking into the turmoil under which Pakistan cricket team remained during and after the disastrous tour of Australia, it seems that the PCB management remained completely ignorant or bemused about the nature of the issues and their remedies. With no idea how to bring the national team out of this depression, the PCB found it convenient to pardon the ‘faulty players’ by recalling them through a happy ending. For the dire need of picking a well-balanced squad for the Asia Cup, it was perhaps a genuine requirement.
The glimpses of plight and tribulations through which Pakistan team has passed and the ultimate outcome, however, ought to have a brief mention. Former skipper Shoaib Malik was charged of being the core cause of the entire dilemma in the team for which even the new captain Shahid Afridi was not in favour of his comeback. But largely due to ‘hidden powers’, Malik made his way back to the national squad. The decision of removing the ban on Shoaib has been indignantly criticized by Chairman of the National Assembly Sports Committee Iqbal Muhammad Khan as well as condemned by former chief selector and legendry leg spinner Abdul Qadir. It was revealed that Iqbal Khan had guaranteed the behaviour of Shahid Afridi.
Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal is also back in the squad backed by the PCB chief who took a forward roll by disagreeing with the involvement of any player in match-fixing. Kamran, though the first-choice and solo wicketkeeper in the squad, was clearly alleged of match-fixing during the winless tour of Australia by team coaches Aaqib Javed and Intikhab Alam. His induction did not receive any adverse comments. As for the redundant Shoaib Akhtar’s addition in the side, there are no qualms about his aptitude as a top rank speedster. Detractors are only concerned about his physical fitness. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and expect to see a better, in-form and disciplined Shoaib Akhtar in the days to come. Bowling his share of ten overs in every game without any physical break down is difficult to say the least.
The squad seems to be a healthy mixture of youth and experience with the trio of youngsters Asad Shafiq, Umar Amin and Shahzaib Hasan being given the exposure of a high-quality competition. With India’s recent collapse against Zimbabwe, the Pakistani squad also seems to be going through a bad patch. Predictions are few and far but cricket lovers can expect the Asia Cup final to be played between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
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