Pakistan Cricket Board’s last ditch efforts
Butt has finally done the right things but maybe at a wrong time!
One can expect the unexpected from the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 Cricket Board (PCB) given their previous acts which have not only bemused the Pakistan supporters but the whole World as well.
The board recently named http://www.senore.com/Cricket/United-Arab-Emirates-c3033 (UAE).
A player, who was dropped due to a string of poor performances, was not only called back but the crown of captaincy was placed on his head too.
The excuse given by the chief selector, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 and there wasn't any suitable leader in the side.
Now the whole equation has changed drastically after Ijaz Butt ended his differences with Younis Khan after a meeting in Lahore. Though Younis has been included for the One-dayers only, but if he performs well he will be an automatic choice for Tests.
Younis has been the backbone of Pakistan’s batting line-up alongside Mohammad Yousuf during the past couple of years and his recall has brought back a wealth of experience to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Young-c41367 batting side, which was exposed in England's difficult conditions. Younis
also has the respect of youngsters in the side.
Meanwhile, the emergence of young middle order batsmen Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali has minimised Misbah's chances to at least be a part of the team unless he performs extraordinarily.
Misbah's stint as Test captain may well be limited to South Africa’s series as there isn't a better player than Younis to lead Pakistan in Tests. He guided Pakistan to a T20 World Cup triumph in circumstances when Pakistan was devastated by insurgency in
2009.
He could have taken Pakistan cricket to new heights if he had been allowed to run the affairs of the team smoothly. Fed up by the politics in the team, he opted to sit out of the team for sometime which gave miscreants a perfect chance to close the door
on his return.
Previously, the group of Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and Misbah ul Haq mainly plotted the demise of Younis alongside Yawar Saeed, former manager of Pakistan cricket team. But now Yawar Saeed in not with the team as he resigned from the post of
manager after the terrible tour of England which saw Pakistan players allegedly involved in spot-fixing.
Yawar's decision to quit showed that he is a coward, who got off the sinking ship of Pakistan Cricket.
PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has started to clean up the mess especially after a row with English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which prompted the International Cricket Council (ICC) to step in and resolve the issue. ICC has also ordered the PCB to resolve its
internal problems or face sanctions, which have stimulated the lazy chairman to get back on track and save Pakistan cricket's blushes.
Butt’s apology to the ECB, the decision to drop Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal, and to recall Younis Khan, are the positive steps taken by him, which are, not usually associated with him.
Butt is finally doing the right things but at the wrong time as his tenure comes to an end. Furthermore, the damage has been done to Pakistan cricket and its image. Although, it is never too late, Butt deserves a little appreciation making up for his blunders.
One can hope that he continues to do better with every passing day, to at least take Pakistan cricket to a respectable position before he says goodbye to the PCB. It is hard to salvage the respect and honour but there is still a ray of hope at the end of
the tunnel!
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