Pakistani Cricket In A State Of Flux
Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot over the last few years due to the country’s security condition and indiscipline among the players. However, even after all the chaos which has been witnessed, the Pakistan Cricket Board has managed to put in order a 15-man squad for the upcoming Asia Cup Cricket 2010 which begins on 15th June in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan will face a hectic four months, starting with the four-nation Asia Cup in Sri Lanka, then playing Australia in two Twenty20 and two Tests in England before taking on their hosts in four Tests, two Twenty20 and five one-day games. It is high time for the team to rebuild not only their own confidence but also restore the nations faith in them, everyone’s pinning their hopes on an influx of fresh young blood and a relatively inexperienced captain to turn their fortunes around.
Some of the players that were banned and fined as a result of their disastrous performances (on and off the field) have (to the surprise of some) made the cut to the final squad flying to Sri Lanka. For some of them, this will be the first chance to get back with their business and bring back some dignity for themselves in the eyes of the Pakistani nation and the world at large.
Shahid Khan Afridi, the talented all rounder of Pakistan, has taken up the challenging role of leading Pakistan in all formats of the game and this has enabled him to obviate all sorts of bans that were imposed on him. Given the choices of captain available to Pakistan, Afridi was an automatic choice for captaincy given his past record and seniority coupled with the fact that he is an aggressive player by nature which attributes, (it is hoped by some) he can perhaps transform in his captaincy quality. He will have to work extremely hard on the tactical decision making of his game, which is a must particularly at times when going gets tough in the middle. He will of course be reliant on the suggestions and support of his yet another newly inducted vice captain, Salman Butt.
The recent pardon granted to Shoaib Malik (despite all sorts of allegations and problems that were linked with him), Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Mohmmad Asif and inclusion of Shoaib Akhtar after a long lay off to the squad of Asia Cup has come as a surprise to many. It perhaps reflects the uncertain and shifty mindset of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) which continues to live up to its reputation, to the dismay of the Pakistani cricket fans.
The worst case of all is that of Rana Naved-ul Hasan, who openly accepted that he underperformed while playing for Pakistan during the Australia tour to undermine the then captain Younis Khan, for reasons known best to him and those who were in the anti-Younis clan. Rana is perhaps the luckiest man in the cricketing history to have survived after what is deemed to be no less than a quasi treason. Except for the few appropriate selections (which they did not had much choice but to include), PCB has failed miserably in decision making, disciplining the players, resolving their issues within the four walls of their offices and to a lesser extent in curtailing expenses.
All said and done, it is time for the PCB to be revamped. People are frustrated and agitated. They need to see PCB’s role as a guiding body which is respected by the players and the fans alike for notable contributions.
Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf have had their share of criticism and finger pointing. There is no denying the fact of their major contributions to Pakistan cricket and their clean and unstained record. Mohammad Yousuf, it seems, has made up his mind and has left the Pakistan cricket in a state of shambles. Despite repeated requests from media, Afridi and others, he is unwilling to change his mind. He is badly hurt it seems. For a lot of people, his career was almost nearing an end and due to his religious commitments, he has called it a day. Perhaps, his self respect forced him to resign. Whatever the reasons may have been, he will always be remembered as a faithful ambassador of Pakistan. We have wasted yet another batsman who had immense talent and the blame will most certainly go to the PCB for that, fairly and squarely.
The status of Younis Khan is also not clear. He can be moody at times but with out a doubt, Yousuf has formed the backbone of the Pakistani middle order batting. His appeals in court are still in progress and as some argue they’re being deliberately procrastinated by not acceding to his fair demands (i.e. of open hearing where media and others can be privy to the discussions). His call for an open hearing is a justified one.
This is just the end of a beginning as far as Pakistani cricket is concerned.
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