Is Pakistan cricket really at the lowest ebb?
Now and then a champion emerged -- Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Saleem Malik, Abdul Qadir, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq, Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar, but mostly the Pakistanis lived on their wits
By Dr Nauman Niaz
Pakistan cricket is at a low ebb. Although it may not return to the desperate days of the last three years -- when individual deeds were celebrated in the absence of any hope of victory, a period when Australia declined to tour their country and play them twice in the last couple of years -- the nation's cricket community is struggling.

Brojen Das will shine as the sub-continent's greatest swimmer
I had told the then Pakistan High Commissioner in the UK, that if I did not come out successful, he will have to drag out a dead Brojen Das from the Channel
By Dr Ijaz Chaudhry
All the criticism made Brojen Das's resolve stronger. He pledged to himself that in 1961 he would not only better his own timing but also break the Channel record. "All these thoughts were with me when I jumped into the Channel this year on September 8 for the fifth time to try to set up a world record. I had during my fifth swim a good sea to begin with but after midnight I had to encounter very rough seas towards the end, which robbed me of the chances of setting up a new world record.

By Dr Ijaz Chaudhry

Brigadier Manzoor Hussain Atif was a larger than life character in the world of hockey. Very few people in their lifetime have as many achievements and in so many

multidimensional roles.

As a player and captain as well as a manager/coach he attained the greatest glories. And as an administrator on the national, continental and world stages he left an indelible mark.

Born in Gujarat in Pakistan's Punjab, Atif was educated at Zamindara College Gujrat -- his college won the Punjab University championships for the first time under his captaincy -- and Government College Lahore. He joined the Army and made himself noted in the national championships when representing the Army team.

M H Atif made his international debut at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki when the Pakistan hockey team finished fourth. He was a regular in the eleven when Pakistan won its first ever medal in any sport, a silver, in 1956 at the Melbourne Olyimpics. The 6ft 2in full-back was at the peak of his defensive powers in 1960 when Pakistan claimed its first ever gold, dethroning India, who had won all the last six golds.

In 1964, in his fourth and last Olympic appearance as a player, Atif captained the silver medal winning Pakistan side. In the Asian Games, Atif won two golds in 1958 and 1962 -- when he was also the captain of the side in the latter event.

As a player, Atif is regarded as one of the all-time best left full-backs of Pakistan and he also had the knack of scoring crucial goals off penalty corners in vital matches. He sounded the board in Pakistan's victories in the semifinals of the 1956 and 1960 Olympics as well as the final of the 1962 Asian Games. And in the 1964 Olympics, he was Pakistan's top scorer with six goals. He is one of the only two Pakistanis along with Brig Hameedi to play in four Olympics.

After hanging up his boots as a player he took the managerial role and it was as manager of the national team that Atif attained immortal status.

His first major was the 1968 Olympics. Manzoor Hussain Atif took the managerial role of the national team only nine months prior to the big event. Since 1962, the team's graph was going downwards. Pakistan had lost both the titles: the Olympics and the Asian Games.

He made some courageous decisions.

Abdul Rasheed Junior was a right-in but Atif switched him to centre-forward and trained him to be a poacher who could avail even half chances. Rasheed turned out to be Pakistan's top scorer at the 1968 Olympics.

For left-half, he preferred Gulraiz Akhtar over the popular Fazalur Rehman. Gulraiz Akhtar was not as flashy and attacking but was safer in defence as compared to Fazal, who was taken as a reserve.

As Mexico was at a height of more than 7,000 feet above sea level, so Pakistan's training camp was held at Lower Topa near the hill station of Murree.

Atif's well-prepared Pakistan team regained the gold at Mexico in some style -- winning all its nine matches.

As manager, his only 'failure' was the bronze in the 1976 Olympics though luck also played its part. Atif, as always, had done the proper planning as Pakistan lacked any astro-turf. Atif made arrangements for the team to stay in the Canadian city of Toronto before the tournament to get acclimatised to the astro-turf as well as the Canadian weather, a few weeks before the Olympics.

Pakistan easily qualified for the semis where they came across Australia. The greenshirts began sensationally, taking the lead in the very first minute and it seemed that Pakistan would be all over the Australians.

In the very next minute, the legendary forward Shahnaz Sheikh had to leave the field after being struck by the stick of an Australian player. The Pakistan team lost the composure and the momentum, and resultantly the match as well. They had to settle with the bronze.

Atif was given the managerial role again in 1984, at the Los Angeles Olympics. Australia had beaten Pakistan in as many as the last seven tournaments, and they were everyone's favourites.

Atif accepted the challenge, did his homework thoroughly and discovered their secret of success against Pakistan. Through deep video analysis, he concluded that Australians made sudden forays into the Pakistani territory. These attacks originated from their right side in which invariably as many as seven players including the right full-back, the right-half and the centre-half took part. To counter that Atif adopted the policy of 'nipping in the bud'.

He told his centre-forward to tackle the Aussie centre-half as soon as he entered the Pakistani half. Similarly, the left-in and the left-out were assigned to counter the opponents' right back and right-half respectively.

Pakistan came across Australia in the semifinal and the master strategist's team upset all the calculations and defeated the Aussies -- it was regarded by some as the biggest upset in the team events of that Olympics.

Pakistan then went on to win the final and an Olympic gold for the last time.

Hence he has the unique honour to be directly involved with all the three golds his country obtained at the Olympics, two as manager and one as a player. In addition, he also has two silvers as player -- including one as the captain -- plus one bronze as the manager.

All these achievements make Brigadier Manzoor Hussain Atif not only the greatest Olympian Pakistan has ever produced, but also the most successful hockey Olympian in the history of the world's biggest sporting event and, arguably, the greatest Olympian from any team sport.

However, his finest hour as manager is yet to be mentioned. That was at the Bombay World Cup in 1982. Pakistan, the defending champions, were going through a lean patch prior to the big event. Having won the first two editions they had finished fourth at the third Champions trophy in 1981. Then they failed to win two four-nation tournaments in Europe. It was time for the maestro to step in. Atif assumed the managership and Pakistan entered the World Cup after a four-match series against India. The stuff that Atif's 'dream team' displayed at the fifth World Cup was out of this world. They simply pulverised the opposition in an artistic manner never to be seen again. Pakistan created many records: winning all the games by margins of two or more goals, scoring a record team tally of 38, putting in 12 goals in a single match. And all these records are intact even today.

He had four stints as manager at the Olympics/World Cup during which Pakistan won three golds and one bronze. And in all these, they lost just one match, the semifinal against Australia in the 1976 Olympics.

Atif's influence has been profound at every possible level -- from grass roots to the global. He had the ability to spot genuine talent even on streets. One day while parking his car in front of Rawalpindi's Flashman's Hotel he saw a few boys indulging in a game of hockey on a nearby grassy strip. Atif stood there with his eyes focused on one of the lads who was not letting any boy touch the ball and weaving patterns around them. Atif asked the lad's name and told him to join the national team's camp. That boy was Mohammad Ashfaq who later went down in history as one of the finest inside-rights produced by Pakistan and played a stellar role in Pakistan winning its first grand slam: the 1968 Olympics, 1970 Asian Games and the 1971 World Cup.

After managing the 1968 gold medal winning side he immediately paid attention to raising a second string. Very next year when Pakistan staged an international tournament in Lahore, Atif's newly raised junior string was good enough to take the best in the world. They even defeated the 1968 Olympic silver medallist Australia in the semifinal!

And the final was played between the two Pakistani sides. Atif's hockey activities were temporarily put to halt because of his professional military commitments in the former East Pakistan. In the 1971 war, the brigade under Atif's command was the only one at the Eastern front not to cede a single inch by the time General Niazi signed the surrender documents on the 16th of December.

After spending a couple of years as a Prisoner of War in India, Atif resumed his military duties. After retirement from the Army, the chairman of PIA Air Marshal Nur Khan invited him to join the airlines sports department where he served as the director of sports. His PIA colts' scheme yielded a plethora of quality players for the national hockey team. Then in 1978, Atif became the secretary of PHF with Nur Khan as the president of the body.

This combination of Nur Khan (president PHF) and Atif (secretary PHF) which lasted from 1978-84 saw Pakistan virtually ruling the hockey world winning two World Cups, the Los Angeles Olympic gold, two Asian Games gold, the inaugural Asia Cup and the inaugural Junior World Cup!

Atif remained secretary of PHF from 1978-1990. He also had another brief stint from 1999-2000.

He also made inroads into the international hockey bodies and in no small way. He was the founding secretary of the AHF (Asian Hockey Federation) and held that office for as many as 16 years. At the global level, he played an even longer innings. He was the Vice President of the FIH (International Hockey Federation) from 1982-2001. In addition, he also had the honour to be the first non-European Chairman of the Hockey Rules Board in the history of FIH. The CV is simply awesome.

During these tenures, Atif played a vital role in introduction of many important hockey tournaments including the Champions Trophy, Asia Cup (both men and women), Junior Asia Cup (both men and women).

He was also instrumental in introduction and spread of the game in many parts of the world especially Asia and Africa. In the mid 1970s, he started hockey in the world's biggest country China virtually from scratch; bringing sticks and balls from Pakistan.

A man with great foresight, he had realised very early that the Middle East would soon be a major sports centre. The Pakistan/India hockey series organised by the great visionary in Kuwait and Dubai in the mid 1980s were the first real international hockey activity in that part of the world. Then he went a step further. The two four-nation tournaments in Dubai and Kuwait in January 1986 were the first ever international hockey events to officially offer prize money any where in the world.

A physically imposing personality with articulate manners, as the chairman hockey rules board he introduced some revolutionary changes, none more than the abolition of the off side rule. A daring man who believed in his convictions, he knew that the idea of introducing 'No Offside Rule' would evoke a lot of controversy. And that was how it was received initially.

After a study period, the off side was abolished at all the levels in 1996. It turned out to be a huge success in making the game more attractive with an increased number of field goals and less stoppages and in turn getting more sponsorship and TV exposure. Els van Breda, the president of FIH, remarked that the game of hockey would always be obliged to Atif for 'No Offside Rule'.

Atif also has the distinction of being the first hockey personality to be awarded the Olympic Order of Merit.

Atif and hockey are synonymous and two can't be separated from each other. Qasim Zia became the president of PHF this October. When he named the managerial and selectorial teams of Pakistan's senior and junior strings, it was clear that he has decided to get rid of the dead wood. Not a single person, from the dozen or so listed, was from the pre astro turf era.

Yet, Qasim Zia was wise enough to name M H Atif as advisor. So Atif remained associated with his love till the end. And a few weeks before his death despite poor health he was there at the National hockey Stadium Lahore as chief guest in the final of a tournament where he also distributed prizes.

The man who breathed hockey breathed his last on the 8th of December in an Islamabad hospital on the eve of the Muslim festival of Eidul Azha.

What the great man achieved as player, manager and administrator is virtually impossible to be emulated by any one in any sporting discipline -- a virtual Mount Everest.

The writer is a freelance contributor

ijaz62@hotmail.com

When England landed on Indian soil for the Test series, it did not seem to be the cricketers but a bunch of super-heroes who will remain immortals in the history of the game forever. It was a brave, wise and highly-needed decision to save the game in the sub-continent. We all should thank England for taking a decision that would do a lot of good to the future of the game in the region.

It has set a precedent that can urge not-so-brave cricket nations to visit the terror-hit countries to keep the course of life in motion. The English decision confirmed the fact that this world still has the capacity to back its words uttered to decimate the terror or terrorists. It is a nice way to proclaim that we will not surrender to the interests of few people who like to behold anarchy in the region.

This decision could be seen in the light of either lust for money, IPL, goldmine Indian economy or for unadulterated love of the game. We can think that they opted to go to the country that was under siege few days back by handful of terrorists and this decision would not have been taken if they had to land in Karachi or Islamabad but at least they took the correct step in the right direction. Their courage could tell others to follow the suit out of shame or empathy. Now we can expect something similar from India next year which definitely tops our list of current agenda.

Let us shift our focus to more cricketing affairs. Whether England win or lose, they will definitely emerge as the winners but what can we really expect from them in India where mighty Aussies floundered recently?

Australia came to India with a huge buzz. It was termed as the series for the number No.1 spot in international cricket. Everything was focusing incessantly on what India can do right to make Aussie rights, wrong and vice versa. Aussies knew from the word go that they have been lacking in certain areas such as bowling to dismiss Indians twice in a Test.

One of my fellow cricket writers objected severely when I used the word "brittle" in an article for the Australian bowling attack before the start of World Cup 2007 and he proved correct in the end. But on this recently concluded Indian tour, it was nothing more than a brittle-looking bowling pack at all. I had no doubt in my mind before the much hyped series that India will emerge as winners in that four-Test rubber.

But with England, things are slightly different. First and foremost, English units do not carry the same weight of expectations of doing well every time they play which is part and parcel of Aussie mind frame. The English team will not be expected to dominate the game as soon as the whistle blows. So England can go negative and squeeze a draw. England can play the cat and mouse game.

Pietersen has more options up his sleeve than Ponting had. The tall South African-born can set the fields that slow down the pace of the game. Their batsmen never teed off in all the One-day Internationals that they played before the horrendous Mumbai attacks but that is certainly not a drawback but an advantage that they can used to their benefit. English batsmen can allow to steer the game where they want to by playing some uncharacteristic aggressive cricket where their whole game plan can go horribly wrong or by pacing the innings slowly and stoically.

Ian Bell, Alistair Cook and Andrew Strauss are not programmed like Sehwag, Hayden or Yuvraj. They all like to build innings and have solid defensive techniques and this was where they lost it in last Ashes but this time they have to face manageable Indian attack on scuffed-up slow Indian tracks than menacing Aussie juggernaut on hard to handle Australian tracks.

All of them can score runs at frustratingly snail-like pace and force a boring draw which they would surely settle for any time considering the strength of Indian outfit presently. Ashes 2005 was memorable because then they had the services of belligerent Marcus Trescothick up the order who liked to grab the initiative from the very first ball through his expansive drives and cuts.

If for instance they will score totals in vicinity of say 500 or 600 then they can fall back on Steve Harmison and Andrew Flintoff reverse swing expertise to make the game for them. Both know how to make the old ball talk appreciably and sneak wickets at regular intervals and if they fail to find their golden touch then they can ask Monty Panesar to don Nasser Hussain's tailored-attire of Ashley Giles who brought Indians to their knees through boredom by bowling to somewhat effective leg-stump line in 2001.

It was not fascinating gamesmanship but effective way of shaping up the game. Big bullish Lancashire all-rounder Andrew Flintoff have always performed phenomenally well on Indian tours so you never know what fired-up world class cricketer can spring up with once we got to the deep end of the contest.

The exuberance of KP as skipper and major batsman can also turn the ride in their favor who also won too many hearts by making the full but concerned squad to fly to India once more.

They have made the bold decision of touring the terror-hit country, managed to assemble the full squad to show their commitment to the game, now all they need is a win to complete their blooming heroism. There is a hope with the wing let's see where they end up.

The England team has returned to India for the Test series. This is very good for cricket in our region and we should all applaud the courage of the English cricketers who are willing to put themselves at some risk in returning. This in spite of the comment made by Geoffrey Boycott on the team's return, "its roobish" he is reported to have said. Let me hasten to add that he is a great supporter of cricket in the sub continent.

Pakistan cricket has been one of the biggest sufferers of terrorism. One team after another and indeed high profile foreign cricketers have voiced their reservations to play in Pakistan. I believe the PCB in the past years had neither the understanding nor the courage to face up to the many underlying reasons that have contributed to this state of affairs.

Pakistanis by and large are not good at public relations. This is proven by the animosity that we seem to incur when migrating to other countries, two cases to justify this remark come to mind; the Turks are the biggest migrants to Denmark, yet it is Pakistanis who carry the can for one and all sins.

The second is that it was most strange to witness in a Sydney Test match, the large number of second generation Pakistani origin migrants waving Pakistan flags and supporting the visiting team against their home side.

The public relationing of the PCB is also reflective of this shortcoming. This downside has been further contributed to by our three previous Chairmen having no standing in world cricket which combined with limited 'on ground knowledge' of the game prevented them from making any improvements in the state of affairs.

The stark reality is that whilst Pakistan had become the 'team to beat', coming to Pakistan was best exemplified by Sir Ian Botham's unpleasant remark that "I would like to send my Mother in Law there for a vacation," or sentiments to that effect.

We can take umbrage at the attitude of the world and go into a sulk or accept reality and act to correct the situation. The current day cricketer is a professional. He wants to earn as much money as he can during his working life and will go and play anywhere if the price is right. The England team agreeing to return to India is the best proof of this. We should give thought to a fact that notwithstanding who may be responsible for the Mumbai disaster, the attack highlighted the total incompetence of the law enforcing agencies, and yet the players are prepared to return voluntarily and trust their safety to them.

The reality is that 'the price is right'. I have no doubt that the increased insurance premium that will be demanded by the company covering the players has also been the subject of discussion between the two Boards and suitably agreed to giving the players and their families some comfort.

India is a much more tourist friendly country than Pakistan. Whilst it is not the charter of the PCB to change this state of affairs, it is their responsibility that visiting cricket teams and players are encouraged to develop the perception that visiting Pakistan is not going to be a period of hardship.

This is best achieved by developing a plan that will ensure that visiting teams have enjoyable tours and then sending our own high profile players to sell this plan to the players in all cricketing countries. The PCB must also take heart from the fact that the previous three Boards have not even begun to tap the possibilities that are available to reach out to our corporate bigwigs and thus relatively easily increase the money in the game whilst in turn providing advertising mileage to the corporations.

This should enable the PCB to significantly increase the rewards to players in the form of Man of the Match, Player of the Series etc., making it more lucrative and attractive for visiting teams. Pakistan may not be the biggest market in the region but we are a country of one hundred and seventy million people who are passionate about the game and who are best reached through Cricket.

In this connection what bears clarification is the net amount of money that the PCB will receive from television rights over the next five years. It being accepted that the amount would be subject to all the tours actually taking place. If it is 140.5 nillion US dollars as stated by the Chairman it is fantastic, but if it is only 'almost double' of what we earned the last time the Scarlet Pimpernel has struck again.

The discussion about tours to Pakistan being shifted to neutral venues is once again to the fore. Whilst one is appreciative of the need for PCB to earn from home tours, we must not push national pride totally to one side. We are unable to hide the reality that Pakistan is a major target of terrorism but we can take decisions that would give us some chance of saving face.

One good option available is to shift the tour to the Country that is due to visit here and arriving at a profit sharing system. This to my mind is ideal for the upcoming Indian tour, should of course the Indian team be unwilling to visit Pakistan. It will give our Cricketers the ideal opportunity to be true ambassadors of our country and let cricket be the peacemaker. It will also give the Indian side something to field!

The alternative of shifting to venues within the ACC should also be considered. Whilst Abu Dhabi is a suitable location, the Dubai Stadium will not be ready in time and thus Sharjah is obviously the other venue being pushed when the UAE is being proposed. We should recall that Sharjah was not very popular with India in the past and unless this is going to be ignored one should be cautious.

There is no doubt that the cricketing establishment from Pakistan quite rightly has much loyalty towards the Sharjah Stadium and its management but this option does need to be clearly thought through.

Though the Mumbai terror attacks have affected the game of cricket at large in the sub-continent rather in the entire world, yet it has particularly proved disastrous for cricket in Pakistan. India are due to visit Pakistan next month, and in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror incident, the chances of that much-awaited and all-important tour seem to have virtually over as now the ball is in the court of the Indian government and not the game's governing bodies in the two countries.

Yes, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has sought the government permission for the January 13 to February 19 tour while news reports suggest that India's government has refused permission to send a team for tour of Pakistan.

It may be mentioned here that India are scheduled to play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a Twenty20 match during the five-week tour. And, it was to be the fifth series between the two Asian cricket giants since 2004, when cricket ties resumed between the two arch rivals after a gap of as many as 15 years due to political tensions between the two neighbours.

The irony is that the tour was first put in doubt much in advance before the Mumbai terror incident when the Indian government denied permission to its junior hockey squad to visit Pakistan last month.

It may be mentioned here that foreign teams' tours of Pakistan are in jeopardy since March this year when Australia cancelled a Test tour of Pakistan in March and the International Cricket Council put off the high-profile Champions Trophy in September due to security concerns. After that all eyes were set on the Indian tour and it was hoped that this tour will prove as prologue to many an international teams' visit to the violence-stricken country, but now the situation has turned otherwise.

It may be mentioned here that in the case of Indo-Pak cricket, hope used to prevail for long as those at the helm of affairs of Indian Board have been cooperative with Pakistani counterparts and vice versa on teams' tours in volatile political situation.

The BCCI and the PCB have collaborated well on cricket front for many a year and have shown a professional rather friendly attitude towards its each other in time of need, but now the former (BCCI) has been rendered unable to continue with its neighbor-friendly policies as its request for a security clearance for the Pakistan tour was pending with the India government, which seem reluctant to let it go.

The Indian Government rather seems adamant to make sports subservient to political whims and caprices. And the losers are none others than Pakistan.

The 'cancellation' of the India tour will not only add fire to the already tense political scenario between the two nations but will also affect the game in Pakistan on every front including the financial one. The cash-strapped PCB will definitely be unable to make for the financial losses and cope with the financial constraints as running cricket on professional lines involves a lot of financing. The Indian team's tour was at present the only way out for PCB to replenish its dwindling bank accounts and get some respite from the financial crisis.

The Indian team tour was also significant as it could have paved way for other teams to tour Pakistan and help international cricket activities limp back to normalcy in the country. India is giant cricketing nation and it would have helped minimise the concerns expressed by western teams regarding visit to Pakistan. It would have definitely sent positive signals to the world and would have in the interest of the game in the entire South Asian region, which is a force to reckon with in world cricket.

The Mumbai terror acts have also exposed the double standards of the western teams' players. While the England team's return to India to resume its aborted cricket series in India, is a welcome move, but in the broader context when comparing the western teams' reluctant to tour Pakistan in similar circumstance, it has certainly made the cricket fans in Pakistan feel dejected as it tantamount to isolating and sideling Pakistan only in the name of security concerns.

England cricketer were also said to be a target of the Mumbai hotel attackers, but in Pakistan till now players have not be targeted by the fundamentalists. But the irony is that England team landed back in India for playing the Test series, and majority of other players featuring in the cash-rich IPL and ICL are also willing to reap the benefits of the game despite the adverse security situation in India following the Mumbai incident. And in the case of Pakistan, they are unwilling to visit despite being assured 'fool proof' security rather head of the state security to them. It is very unfortunate for cricket in Pakistan, but this has been a case with Pakistan cricket for while and at present these seems to be no way out.

While one would laud England for resuming its aborted tour of India after the Mumbai terror attacks, the PCB should use it as a means to pressurize foreign teams to undertake their tour of Pakistan. Because it would be unjust to play in one country of the region and avoided the other because of the socalled 'security concerns'.

The latest on the Indo-Pak tour is that Indian cricket maestro has also termed the tour as impossible in current circumstances. "It will be 'impossible' for the India cricket team to tour Pakistan next month in the wake of the Mumbai militant attacks, former skipper Sunil Gavaskar was quoted to have said.

"I think under the present circumstance, when at the highest political and diplomatic level there has been a fallout because of what has happened, I think cricket would not be an exception."

Moreover, the ACC chief executive Syed Ashraful Haque has also admitted that it can't get involved in the issue as it was a matter between the two governments. The ACC can't get involved in the issue as it was a matter between the two governments.

In a way, every quarter is harping 'helplessness' with no light at the end of the tunnel for a while at least.

In the wake of the hopelessness on the cricket front all around, cricket at neutral venue is the only option left for Pakistan, but the question is till how long. Because in the process, Pakistan cricket fans will be deprived to see their favorites words stars in action at their home grounds.

To conclude one may say that security situation is not satisfactory the world over and is more or less the same everywhere, particularly in the post 9/11 scenario, no place can be termed to be a safe haven and as such sports should not be made to suffer on the pretext of the existence of any such situation.

In the context of Pakistan, the world teams as also the Indian Government should change their stance as in the process the cause of sports will suffer a lot. The political situation between the two countries is grim, yet cricket could have been made an exception as the situation demands that sports and politics should not be mingled at this crucial juncture of period as it will further aggravate the already tense political situation in the region rather than normalising the 'severed' ties which have added a lot to the woes of the people across the great divide. Instead of making cricket suffer in the process, it should be served as a means to defuse tension between the two nations.

Here one would definitely recall the 'cricket diplomacy' by Gen Ziaul Haq (late), who went to India in the 1980s to watch a cricket match that helped lesson the then 'mounting' tension on the political scenario in the two countries. The current leaders of the two sides should definitely learn from that single yet a significant move of the past when cricket was made to prevail over politics in the larger interest of the region.

Time has come for more such moves as the situation is moving from bad to worse and needs a timely intervention.

Is Pakistan cricket really at the lowest ebb?

Pakistan cricket is at a low ebb. Although it may not return to the desperate days of the last three years -- when individual deeds were celebrated in the absence of any hope of victory, a period when Australia declined to tour their country and play them twice in the last couple of years -- the nation's cricket community is struggling.

Curiously it has been reduced not as badly by bad administration or a lack of resources or even formidable rivalry from the muddied oafs but rather by its own want of cohesion. Pakistan cricket has failed to unite behind the common cause. Over the years it has had more splinter groups than a political party. Until Pakistan cricket works with a single mind it will not climb the rankings. Adopting the old adage, they will either hang together or separately.

A month ago Pakistan trounced West Indies 3-0, an equally fractured outfit suffering from all manner of malaises. West Indies has plenty of talent but not the sense of service or the work ethic required to reach the top. Instead, present players wander around in a state of miserable bliss whilst yesterday's champions fill their pockets with loot. CLR James and Sir Frank Worrell must have looked down on both parties with disdain. The highest achievement possible for this team is to climb to seventh in the rankings. Probably it will be too much like hard work. A lot of easy money can be made from Stanford and other 20-over competitions.

Accordingly the Pakistan team could slip to seventh spot on the log, but it'd be a mistake to let a few bright days blur the picture. Pakistan cricket is in decline and an enormous effort will be needed to bring about a revival. Demoralisation is not far away, with aging players hurrying to cash in their chips and give point-scoring interviews, and callow youths suffering seasons of failure and taking scars into adulthood. Pakistan's most talented cricketers tend to start and finish too early -- a luxury our nation could ill afford.

The team must not be allowed to slide any further. Over 25 years barring the last three Pakistan has been a respected, resolute, intelligent outfit. In those years it has produced several superb cricketers and fielded a number of highly regarded sides. Often the players were caricatured as a craggy lot, inclined to chew gum and frustrate opponents, but they played a hard game and never gave up.

Now and then a champion emerged -- Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Saleem Malik, Abdul Qadir, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Inzamam-ul-Haq, Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar, but mostly the Pakistanis lived on their wits. As a rule the sides were a distinctive mixture of dedicated professional and maverick. Always the characters -- blockers or dashers or thinkers, were writ large.

As far as bowling was concerned, they kept a niggardly length, and with a few notable exceptions Imran, Wasim and Waqar were as menacing as a jam sandwich. Dibbly dobblies (Sarfraz Nawaz, Sikander Bakht, Aaqib Javed, Ata-ur-Rehman, Ashfaq Ahmad or Aamer Nazir) were the main fare on offer, inviting deliveries that meandered towards the other end with the sort of wan smile that has such a powerful effect upon red-blooded batsmen.

Spinners were top class. Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq were canny, unflagging experts capable of pinning down even the most commanding players. Abdul Qadir, Iqbal Qasim and Tauseef Ahmad teased opponents' brains and cheek needed to upset batsmen.

As far as batting was concerned, Pakistan famously put a high price on their wickets. Now and then fielders felt obliged to enquire whether a Pakistani batsman had breathed his last. Shoaib Mohammad, Mudassar Nazar, Wajahatullah Wasti and Mohammad Wasim could be included in the honourable role of sticks in the mud whose obdurate defence blunted many a sharp attack. Although seldom the prettiest to watch, these rugged practitioners put runs on the board. It is hard to imagine them batting as loosely as did their successors down under recently, when wickets were thrown away like hats at Armistice. Indeed the only encouraging signs to emerge in recent times are Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.

Pakistan has an identity and a strong history. Unfortunately it also has an ability to lose focus. All sorts of arguments can break out, between Karachi and Lahore, rural and urban, past and present, critic and player, coach and captain; and most are publicly aired. Perhaps it is because the pool of talent is not deep enough to prevent heads swelling or differences growing. Everything else shrivels besides this great tradition. Pakistan cricket lacks the powerful idea that scorns pettiness. And even the top stars could lose their way at the critical moments. In a small nation particularly, it is possible to want too much. It is also hard to avoid backbiting.

It was not so much the defeat in South Africa that told the tale as the nature of the defeat. Not long after, Pakistan was hard pressed to beat Ireland and subsequently they lost. Simply, Pakistan lacked resolution and technique. The bowling without Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were not presentable -- both batting and bowling were woeful. It was astonishing to see so many batsmen caught in errors. Ireland was grateful. After all, they had a few troubles of their own.

Pakistan to cope with the delusions and other problems reverted to a strong group of elders dedicated to the task of restoring the national cricket team. So many mistakes had been made. The appointment of Geoff Lawson was chief among them. Determined to impose himself but lacking the skills required to guide players of different ages and dispositions, he broke up the team and drove players away before their time was up. The last thing an inexperienced team needed was an erratic man at the helm. As a result of the various upsets, Mohammad Yousaf and others walked away prematurely.

Australians could dump players of that calibre once signs of deterioration were detected. Not that it is easy to persuade veterans to retain fitness, ambition and devotion once they start to drift. Apart from anything else the temptations of the ICL and the IPL have a strong appeal to cricketers nearing retirement, whose wages have been relatively modest in comparison with their expectations; All the more reason to make them feel appreciated.

At least Geoff Lawson wanted the job. Pakistan cricket suffer from a plethora of past players aware that they can make a better and easier living as observers of the game. Rather than fighting this fact the Pakistanis needed to recognise it. People like Saleem Altaf, Javed Miandad, Wasim Bari, Aamer Sohail, Abdul Qadir and Mohammad Ilyas are now part of the management teams. They need to spur all possibilities of development and it could only start if the ills are identified.

Pakistan's most obvious mistake in recent times was backing down over Mohammad Yousuf. Apparently, the country's best batsman had had enough. Frustrated and reassured by friends that his international career was not imperiled by signing Yousuf put his moniker on the dotted line. But the BCCI and the Dr Nasim Ashraf run PCB insisted that ICL players must be outlawed, and even the new team at the PCB had to cave in, though seemingly indecisive. Of course, the financial and future stakes were high but the PCB had given its word; confused in the face of intimidation. Now it seems there is a gush of fresh air; at least Ijaz Butt and et al stood firm on the appointment of a new coach, Intikhab Alam.

Then various players wanted to be able to withdraw for a bit to take up lucrative 20-over contracts with ICL in India. No such license has so far been given. The players who have defected to the ICL need to be seen compassionately; they really haven't sinned. PCB needs to keep thinking along those lines.

Money is one thing, but it is not everything. So what is the 'X' factor that pushes more and more players out of Pakistan cricket? For want of a better phrase, let's call it the 'egg-shell syndrome'. Virtually everybody is forced to walk on them all the time. There is a constant fear of treading on toes, causing offence or being misunderstood.

This may sound like an extraordinary exaggeration, but it is not: at least half the country's domestic players don't really know their status within the team which pays their salaries. Are they good enough, or hardcore villains? Were they dropped on form, or politics? It is a well-intentioned piece of failed administration that has succeeded in speeding up decline for the three or four years. But now, it seems, the players are sick of it -- all the players.

Above all, Pakistan cricket needs to recover its strength of mind. Retrospectively, Lawson's departure will help, for he was too wild for the position. But he was not to blame for the weak performances or the fact that too many capable players have too easily swapped Pakistan's silver for the gold available on the subcontinent. A powerful plan must be put in place, with intelligent leadership, improving facilities, and pride taken in the baggy green and the star on the pockets. Pakistan cricket needs to be happy.

Over the years Pakistan cricketers often over-performed. Under astute captains like Imran Khan or Wasim Akram, or when a touch of greatness was added to a canny outfit, they were hard to beat. But the self-destructive streak was never far away.

All the criticism made Brojen Das's resolve stronger. He pledged to himself that in 1961 he would not only better his own timing but also break the Channel record. "All these thoughts were with me when I jumped into the Channel this year on September 8 for the fifth time to try to set up a world record. I had during my fifth swim a good sea to begin with but after midnight I had to encounter very rough seas towards the end, which robbed me of the chances of setting up a new world record.

"I was very tired after swimming for 11 hours and 48 minutes. It was my best ever timing yet I regarded it as a failure since my goal was setting a new record. And the feeling of failure didn't let me fall asleep. I decided to try again -- for the sixth time. at the next 'Neap Tide'."

Lasting for four to five days -- between full moon and new moon, the Neap Tide period comes once a fortnight. And it was generally thought that only during this period the current of the Channel behaved rationally. The next was due in about 10 to 12 days.

"On September 21, within 12 days of my fifth swim, a record in itself, I plunged again. Nearly the whole of Cape Gris-Nez village had turned out to wish me luck and see me enter the water for the sixth time.

"In 1958, before competing in the Butlin's Race, I had told Mr Mohammad Ikramullah, the then Pakistan High Commissioner in the UK, that if I did not come out successful, he will have to drag out a dead Brojen Das from the Channel. This resolve was also true during this sixth swim of mine."

And the sheer determination and single mindedness paid off as Brojen Das made it. He hit the shore after 10 hours and 35 minutes, thus breaking the 11 years old record by a good 15 minutes.

That day Brojen created two records in Channel swimming which were recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Not only did he cross the English Channel in record time, he crossed it for the sixth time -- another record.

Not blessed with the ideal physique normally associated with long distance swimmers, Brojen had a short stature with a height of 5'5". It was sheer hard work, courage, perseverance and the will that helped him accomplish the goal.

Having achieved every possible distinction, Brojen bid the competitive arena adieu in 1961. Thereafter he coached and trained swimmers both at home and abroad. Many aspiring channel swimmers, in particular, benefited from Brojen's experience.

He visited the USA in 1964 as advisor to the U.S. Olympic swimming team for the Olympics in Tokyo and during his one month stay he visited different training centres in various states and lectured the prospective swimmers of America for the Tokyo Olympics. He also had the privilege to meet the President of USA, Lyndon Johnson.

Brojen Das also served as the General Secretary of the Bangladesh Swimming Federation. The Bangladesh government conferred on him the national award in 1976 for his valuable contribution in the field of sports and games.

A great admirer of art and music, his greatest passion after swimming was movies be it Bangla, Hindi or English and he had many friends and admirers from the film world. Later in his life he was indirectly associated with the production and distribution of many Bangla movies and even acted in one of them.

He was detected to have cancer in 1997 and survived for about a year passing away on June 1, 1998 at the age of 71. His death sent shock waves throughout the country and the President and the Prime Minister also sent condolence messages.

Easily the greatest sportsman in the history of Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan), Brojen Das is very much revered in the country and his biography is taught in the 8th standard in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was part of Pakistan until 1971 and Brojen was honoured by the Government of Pakistan with the Pride of Performance award in 1959.

Though later East Pakistan became Bangladesh yet Pakistanis still acknowledge the feats of Brojen Das as of their own. After all he had achieved the distinctions when he was a 'Pakistani'. Many sports books and websites still give his nationality as Pakistan. When the South Asian Games were held in Pakistan for the first time in 1989, Brojen Das was invited as an official guest. And he presented medals to the position winners in some of the swimming competitions.

Some of the notable awards and recognitions bestowed on the great man:

King of the Channel from the Channel Swimming Association of the United Kingdom in 1986.

His name was enlisted in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame in 1965; the first Asian.

Life Member, Channel Swimming Association, 1958, UK.

Vice President, World Long Distance Swimming Association, Atlanta, USA, 1964.

Brojen Das received many tributes in his lifetime from dignitaries including the heads of states of Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, USA, UK, among others. Perhaps the finest compliment came from the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali, the sportsman of the millennium.

Muhammad Ali met Brojen Das during the second SAF (South Asian Federation) Games in Dhaka in 1985. The great man said, "You are the 'King of the Channel' and I am the 'King of the Ring', but I think your achievement is even greater than mine."

The Brojen Das saga is an inspiration to all the young and aspiring sportspersons especially from developing nations; how a person from a poor country with no resources attained eternal fame in a sport as gruelling as open water swimming.