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cricket Rehan
Butt was again outstanding in the year 2008 Pakistan
achieve best ODI winning ratio during 2008 cricket Tough
decisions now need to be taken Sri Lanka's tour is helping fill the void By Gul Nasreen A friend in need is a friend indeed! This age-old adage aptly applies to the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, which very gracefully did opt to stand by Pakistan in these testing times, when our next door neighbors 'conveniently' cancelled their cricket tour of Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks in November last.
cricket By the end of the year South Africa added a nail to the coffin of Australian dominance by winning their first ever Test series in Australia. It's a sign that the balance of power is shifting away from Ponting's men By Khurram Mahmood The year 2008 has
ended without a single Test for the national cricket team. Pakistan has
gone Pakistan, once rated as one of the best cricket playing nations in all types of cricket, are now struggling to get enough international matches. Making an issue of the law and order situation in the region, big teams have avoided to visit Pakistan especially Australia who have cancelled its tour twice. During 2008 Pakistan played 21 One-day Internationals and won 18 while losing only three. Pakistan improved their consecutive ODI win sequence of 11 matches, but mostly played against week teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Last year Pakistan also played five Twenty20 matches, won four and lost only one. Pakistan started the year 2008 with a five-match ODI home series with Zimbabwe that convincingly won by the hosts by 5-0. The much-awaited home series against Australia was postponed due to suicide bombings in different parts of the country. Australia agreed to come in March 2009 to play the series. To provide international cricket to its players, the PCB management had no other option to request Bangladesh cricket board to send their team for five One-day Internationals. BD agreed to send their team with the condition that in reply Pakistan will also play a ODI series in Bangladesh in March 2009. All five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match won by Pakistan without facing any resistance. Pakistan also took part in a triangular one-day series in Bangladesh, India were the third team. Pakistan won the final against India in spite of losing the round game against the same opponents. After a long time, a mega event the Asia Cup was staged in Pakistan. UAE and Hong Kong were the other teams apart from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Pakistan failed to avail the home advantage and didn't qualify for the final. Sri Lanka lifted the cup beating India in the final. New spin sensation Ajantha Mendis stole the show with figures of 6-13. Once again Pakistan faced an awkward situation when New Zealand refused to tour for a scheduled one-day series. After the refusal to play in Pakistan from all major teams the ICC also postponed the Champions Trophy until October 2009. Pakistan participated in the quadrangular twenty20 tournament in Canada with Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, but once again they choked in the final against Sri Lanka. In Abu Dhabi, Pakistan played a three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Shoaib Malik's men performed outstandingly and won all the three matches. Lahore Badshahs under the leadership of former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq won the rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) Twenty20 Championship in November. In the best of three final beating Hyderabad Heroes by 2-1. Outside the ground Pakistani players also remained in the headlines. Fast bowler Mohammad Asif tested positive for a drug test during IPL. He was also detained in Dubai for more than two weeks after recovery of some items as he was found in possession of illegal medicines. Speedstar Shoaib Akhtar also remained out the game mostly on disciplinary grounds. He was initially banned for five years with around a seven million rupees fine, that was later reduced to 18 months, but the fine's amount remained unchanged. After the change in the PCB management Shoaib Akhtar was selected for the Abu Dhabi ODI series, but he was again unfit and failed to play in any game. Pakistan's most dependable middle order batsman Mohammad Yousuf finally rejoined the unauthorised ICL after misunderstanding with the Pakistan management especially with skipper Shoaib Malik. After the resignation of President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, PCB Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf also stepped down from his post. Ijaz Butt, a former Test opener, was appointed the new chairman of the PCB. Ijaz Butt sacked Geoff Lawson and appointed Intikhab Alam as national coach. After the resignation of chief selector Salahuddin, former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir took over as chief selector while the other two selectors Saleem Jaffer and Shoaib Mohammad remained unchanged. Internationally, India proved to be the best Test team in 2008 while the world champion Australia lost their supremacy. First India shattered the Aussies' world-beating reputation after defeating the in the home Test series by 2-0. By the end of the year South Africa added a nail to the coffin of Australian dominance by winning their first ever Test series in Australia. It's a sign that the balance of power is shifting away from Ponting's men. After the retirements of Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist, the world's premier cricket nation was showing its first signs of decline. During the last year, India also won the Test series against South Africa and England. Former Indian captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble announced their retirement from international cricket in 2008. Apart from their brilliant performances in the field, the Indian players involved in various controversies especially with the Australians. Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australian all-rounder Andrew Symonds's verbal clashes in the Sydney Test prompted Harbhajan to received a three-Test ban, which was overturned on appeal. But the off-spinner was again given a ban after he slapped national team-mate Sreesanth in an IPL match against the Punjab XI. The Twenty20 league with the name of Indian Premier League (IPL) was the most exciting development in cricket during 2008 as an over $43 million auction attracted all the cricketers worldwide. Sachin Tendulkar confirmed his status as one of the all-time greats when he overtook Brian Lara to become the greatest Test scorer in the history of the game. His match-winning century against England in Chennai, his 41st in Test cricket, was emotionally charged and he dedicated it to the victims of the Mumbai tragedy. Virender Sehwag became the third player after Sir Donald Bradman and Brian Lara who scored two triple centuries when he scored 319 against South Africa at home. West Indian batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul was awarded the ICC player of the year and Wisden player of the year after yielding over 909 runs in nine Tests (including three centuries) at a remarkable average of 101.0. In the new year of 2009 Pakistan has much busy schedule including home series against Sri Lanka and Australia. Except the bilateral series the ICC Champions Trophy is also schedule in Pakistan in October this year. Now the PCB new management should take a firm stand against teams who don't want to play in Pakistan. The
writer works in the art department at 'The News' in Karachi khurrams87@yahoo.com
Rehan Butt was again outstanding in the year 2008 Buoyed by their third equaliser, the green shirts went on to win the final 4-3. For many, the lifting of the Rabo Cup was Pakistan hockey's finest moment since winning the 1994 World Cup By Dr Ijaz Chaudhry The year 2008 was one
of the darkest for Pakistan hockey. The green shirts were already out of
the The only news which provided any sense of pride to the Pakistani hockey fraternity in the entire year came through the excellence of one individual. Rehan Butt was the lone Pakistani named in the All-Star World Squad announced a few weeks back. The Lahore boy added another feather in his cap when he was named Asia's 2008 Player of the Year by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) in Kuala Lumpur on the 20th of this month. Many connoisseurs regard the right-out as the only forward in the current national squad anywhere near the class of the Pakistani stick wizards of the bygone days. A regular since his debut in 2002, Rehan personifies the ideal modern day forward. He has speed, penetration, passing, positioning sense and ability to score from any angle in every conceivable manner: hit, push, flick, reverse sweep (epitomised by his 84 goals, an astonishing figure for a winger). In fact, it is his uncanny knack of netting goals in crucial stages of vital games that really propelled him into stardom. He has displayed this amazing ability on many occasions especially against Pakistan's traditional rivals, India. In his very first international tournament, the Champions Trophy of 2002, in the third position tie, Pakistan was trailing 2-3 with just five minutes to go. The newcomer showed remarkable temperament and scored a brace in those dying moments to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat. That feat catapulted him to star status from virtual obscurity in his country. Since then there has been no looking back. In the very next Champions Trophy in 2003, Rehan did almost an encore. Again it was the bronze medal tie and again the opponents were India (who had beaten Pakistan 7-4 in the league game). With two minutes to go and the match tied 3-3, Rehan diverted a diagonal cross from the left wing into the net with a diving effort thus he once again enabled his side to grab the bronze medal. One of his most valuable goals came in the final of the Rabo cup in 2005. Dubbed as the Mini World Cup, Pakistan faced Australia in the final. In the second half, with Pakistan trailing 2-3, Rehan received a ball at the centre forward position with his back towards the goal. And with goal out of sight, he netted with a backhander that flabbergasted the Aussie net minder. Buoyed by their third equaliser, the green shirts went on to win the final 4-3. For many, the lifting of the Rabo Cup was Pakistan hockey's finest moment since winning the 1994 World Cup. In the 2007 World Cup, Pak failed to climb the podium but Rehan's goal against New Zealand was rated as one of the best goals of the tourney. He sped through half the length of the pitch hoodwinking a number of defenders and scored with his patent reverse shot. Whether his team is doing well or not, Rehan puts every ounce of energy in his efforts. This year despite Pakistan's pathetic showing, Rehan shone brightly. With 15 international goals he was easily Pakistan's top scorer for 2008. Moreover he twice picked up the Player of Tournament award, in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup as well as the Setanta 4-Nation tournament in Dublin. Rehan also had the honour to lead the national team in 2006-07 including the 2006 Asiad. An alumnus of the famous Government College of Lahore, alma mater of many hockey greats, Rehan was the 11th Ravian (as the students of Government College are called) to skipper the national team. The roll of honour includes illustrious names like A I S Dara, M H Atif, Munir Dar, Akhtar Rasool, Manzoorul Hassan and Tahir Zaman among others. Rehan has had good offers from quite a few European clubs to play for them all these years. Until now due to the national team's engagements he had not been committing himself though he has figured in the Premier Hockey League of India as an overseas professional. After the Olympics 2008, the erstwhile president PHF, Mir Zafarullah Jamali declared that the federation would go for new blood. Hence Rehan along with his fellow national teammate, goalkeeper Salman Akbar, joined the Laren hockey club in the Dutch league. "Everything is superb here. I have a contract of 20,000 Euro for the season. which runs from September to May with three months break starting from the first week of December. We are provided with free family accommodation, food, car, fuel and return family air fare for Pakistan. You can't ask for more! "The man mainly responsible for our move to Laren is the legendary Dutch coach, Ronald Oeltmans, who is the head coach here at Larens. He also coached Pakistan's national team for a few months including the 2004 Olympics." And Oeltmans's move has paid off. With Rehan up front and Salman manning the goal cage, Laren at the halfway stage is occupying the sixth position, they had finished 11th in the 12 team league last season. Rehan with nine goals currently tops his team's scoring chart. "We are not the only stars in the side. The team also boasts the Australian Olympians Luke Doerner and Eddie Ockenden (world young player of the year 2008). Then we have the Canadian national captain Rob Short. In fact, all the sides in the Dutch league are studded with international stars. The atmosphere is electrifying with thousands of spectators at every contest. Hockey as a sport is second only to soccer in Holland with large fan following and we get recognised in streets and markets." Rehan is an evergreen player and the year 2008 was a great personal success for him. Unlike its predecessor, the new president of PHF, Qasim Zia has decided to open the door of national selection for players plying their trade in the foreign leagues. Very pragmatically these players have been asked to make themselves available at least for the title tournaments like World Cup, Olympics, Asian games, Commonwealth games etc. and not for every event like invitational tournaments, Test series etc. At the same time it must be stressed that apart from earning money, players gain valuable experience by appearing in leagues abroad. Especially in one as competitive as the Dutch league where stars from about a dozen top ranked hockey nations take part; easily the best domestic competition in the world. Rehan is still only 27 and definitely has a few more years of international hockey left in him. Pakistan can ill afford to lose such an exceptional talent, a rare commodity in these difficult times for the national game. The
writer is a freelance contributor ijaz62@hotmail.com
Pakistan achieve best ODI winning ratio during 2008 Kumar Sangakkara could not complete his 1000 runs during the calendar year, he remained the top century maker with four 100-plus knocks. Pakistan's Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Gautum Gambhir struck three tons each By Ghalib Mehmood Bajwa Though India topped the One-day Internationals table during the year 2008 with most number of matches (29), Pakistan managed to make their presence felt by achieving the best winning percentage leaving behind all others in this competition. Pakistan, who spent a very wretched year with no Test match appearances, got an 85.71 winning percentage, more than the rest of the ICC member countries. World champions Australia remained runners-up in this race with a 76.47 winning ratio. South Africa and New Zealand both won their matches with identical percentage of 75.00. Pakistan played three bilateral ODI series and two multinational tournaments during the just-ending year. Overall 26 bilateral ODI rubbers and six multinational events were competed among different countries during 2008. Pakistan won 18 out of the 21 ODI matches played during the last 12 months. The highlight of the season for Pakistan was winning the Kitply Cup by beating arch rivals India in the final. However, Pakistan could not maintain their winning sequence in the six-nation Asia Cup at home. They reached the last-four stage before being beaten by India. Pakistan launched their year with two five-match ODI series against low-ranked teams Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. They swept aside both the teams with convincing 5-0 margins. In the batting department, Indian batsmen stamped their superiority taking four top positions out of five. Opener Gautum Gambhir and his skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni gathered over 1000 runs in the calendar year. Though Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara could not complete his 1000 runs during the calendar year, he remained the top century maker with four 100-plus knocks. Pakistan's Salman Butt, Younis Khan and Gautum Gambhir struck three tons each. Indian skipper MS Dhoni and Virender Sehwag shared the top position as far as 50s were concerned. Both the batsmen hit eight 50 plus scores each. Lefty Yuvraj Singh and Sehwag, who both gathered 893 runs each, struck 31 and 22 sixes respectively to top this particular table. New Zealand capped the year 2008 as the only team surpassing the barrier of 400 runs in a One-day International innings. They got this distinction against minnows Ireland when they piled up 402 at Aberdeen in July and became the fifth team after Sri Lanka (443), South Africa (438, 418), Australia (434) and India (413) to achieve this rare feat. As far as partnerships were concerned, four 200-plus scores were registered during the year with 266 being the biggest one by a Kiwi pair. New Zealanders James Marshall (161) and Brendon McCullum (166) created a world record of two 150 plus scores by openers in a One-day International during their massive stand. Their partnership was also second all-time biggest for first wicket after 286 by Sri Lankan pair Sanath Jayasuriya and Uppal Tharanga against England at Leeds two years ago. Pakistan's pair Salman Butt and Younis Khan scored the largest partnership (205) for the second wicket during 2008. Similarly, Sohail Tanvir and Fawad Alam also produced the biggest stand (100) for the eighth wicket against minnows Hong Kong at Karachi during the Asia Cup tournament. The aggregate of 600 or more runs was recorded in seven ODIs including 680, the fifth highest aggregate of ODI history between England and New Zealand at Napier in February. Interestingly, India remained a partner in six such encounters which shows their excellent batting form in 2008. Pakistan featured in three high-scoring ODIs, all against India. In the bowling segment, new Sri Lankan bowling sensation Ajantha Mendis stole the show but missed his half century of wickets by only two scalps. Mendis also recorded the only six-wicket haul of the year when he destroyed the Indian batting in the final of Asia Cup in July. He grabbed six wickets for just 13 runs at Karachi. The new bowling sensation also captured three five-wicket hauls, more than any other bowler, during the 12 months time. Peter Connell of Ireland produced the most expensive figures of the year. He conceded 95 runs in nine overs against New Zealand at Aberdeen. Pakistan's Sohail Tanveer and Wahab Riaz also wrote their names among expensive bowlers when they conceded 87 and 86 runs against India at Karachi and Dhaka, respectively. In the fielding department, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene did extraordinarily well grabbing 22 catches in 27 matches, 10 more than the next best fielder. The trio of Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan and Mike Hussey held the second position jointly with 12 catches each. Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik also took 10 catches in 20 one-day games. The
writer is a staffer at 'The
News' Lahore ghalibmbajwa@hotmail.com
cricket The contrived ending was duly arrived at with India, on the pretext of the deteriorating geo-political situation and Pakistan's alleged hand in the Mumbai carnage, refused to tour By Dr Nauman Niaz Pakistan cricket is
what it is because its administrators were not what they should have
been. After There were suggestions, that PCB could ask their counterparts to play a series on an off-shore venue; all sorts of negotiations and plans were contemplated.People were optimistic since PCB had helped India during their early Indian Premier League (IPL) jitters. Regrettably, like in a hackneyed movie script, the contrived ending was duly arrived at with India, on the pretext of the deteriorating geo-political situation and Pakistan's alleged hand in the Mumbai carnage, refused to tour. Mistrust and disillusionment went hand in hand and it seems that the cricketing ties between the two countries have yet again been severed. There have been discussions about Pakistan keeping in mind the terrorism and its sequel in the country. India, emboldened from allegations by their Government, wanted to make sure Pakistan wouldn't be party poopers anymore. With World Cup 2011 jointly to be staged in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and the competition being cricket's future leitmotif, there is more than pride at stake. If it comes to the World Cup 2011, almost every match is a guaranteed sell-out and the television revenue alone will swell board(s) coffers by millions. And even as they watch from hundreds of miles away, Pakistan's cricket would also rake in the dollars, a fact that may well be unacceptable to India at the moment since the relationship between the two countries haven't been harmonious and only political cosmetology has mostly tried to make them look pretty decent. The enmity, mistrust and finger-pointing have always been the case on political fronts. We must understand, for India it is about maintaining its power base at the ICC. India, as a country very recently, being supported by the US, has been having a certain degree of delusions such as thinking that it has hit the jackpot in the region and due to its enormous economic growth it has started to behave as a superpower, presumably a mirage or a bubble that would soon burst. And in this race, with their body dynamics changing fast, rampantly and one too quickly, they have tried to stir the cricket market and successfully so. The IPL has managed to tame almost all the top international players and for them India has become their Nirvana. As India has grown as cricket's major power they have in the process, whether deliberately or unknowingly tried to thump Pakistan down. And, whether acceptable or unacceptable we have been on the receiving end. India, however should realise that after all, Pakistan is their major vote, the buffer against cricket's old powers when Asia wants to get its way. The latest crises came at a good time for the BCCI. With the second edition of the Indian Premier League and the Indian Champions League, an off-shoot of the IPL scheduled for the coming year, the issue of the ICL players needs to be sorted out. Last year, effectively Dr Nasim Ashraf and the PCB became convenient pawns in the pursuit of that agenda. This year, IPL is well-established and they may well not need Pakistan's participation. Cricket's realpolitik aside, though, it's important to understand why the Pakistan issue is viewed differently in the West. India not coming to Pakistan should have evoked moral outrage in England and Australia and in the ICC board rooms. This is because, apart from the fact that atrocities within India don't occupy column inches in the Indian media, there is a deep-rooted suspicion about Western double standards. Practically every cricket-playing country has blood on its hands. No one refused to play in Guyana during the 20 years Forbes Burnham ruled, nor did they refuse to tour Pakistan during all the years that the country was under military rule. In Sri Lanka a violent conflict that has its roots in ethnic differences is now into its third decade. And England and Australia were staunch backers of the George Bush administration that went to war in Iraq over weapons of mass destruction that only Donald Rumsfeld and his spy satellites could see. Zimbabwe is filled to their necks with civil uproar, corruption and political upheaval still Robert Mugabe was an honoured guest at the African Union Summit in Egypt recently, and his host was Hosni Mubarak, who won the last election in 2005 with 88.6% of the vote after the main opposition was banned from taking part. England and the US continue to trade and do business with Mubarak privately and Egypt as a whole. Human rights violations worse than those committed by Zanu-PF's thugs have been reported from Darfur, Tibet and Guantanamo Bay, yet Gordon Brown and other custodians of humanity are hardly likely to start a campaign against the US or China. Parallels have been drawn with South Africa in the 1960s, and India's role at the vanguard of the anti-Apartheid movement. Why the apathy now, some ask. The situation is entirely different. The struggle that Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Oliver Tambo led was for the huge majority that had been reduced to secondary-citizen status ever since Daniel Malan and the National Party came to power in 1948. The introduction of identity cards based on race in the 1950s made it worse, and Hendrik Verwoerd's apartheid state was an international pariah in the next ten years. Thrown out of the Olympic movement just before the Tokyo games in 1964, South Africa's subsequent sporting ties tended to be with the cricket and rugby teams of the Commonwealth -- England, Australia and New Zealand in particular. In apartheid South Africa, racial discrimination was a state policy. Nothing similar existed in Zimbabwe, where the story was of an ageing dictator and his apparent determination to run the country into the ground before he interred in it. With only a few thousand whites left, it's the black majority that has suffered most at the hands of a man who was once seen as their saviour. As of now, despite Mugabe's increasingly desperate and brutal methods to cling on to power, Zimbabwe has yet to be recognised as a rogue state by the international community. They went to the Olympics in Beijing and were given the red-carpet treatment by another totalitarian regime that is one of its biggest backers. They were likely to play their part in the qualifying rounds for the football World Cup. Pakistan has a democracy and them being subject to terrorism is not their own doing; it's a global wave that has sunk many developed countries including US and now India. Why should Pakistan be isolated? And why should the Western powers not stand up to their ally in war against terrorism. Why should India get away with everything; why did England tour India after the Mumbai havoc? Despite all of this, as the trend-setters in the modern game, the BCCI could have led by example and heeded the words of their pro-Hindu leaders, who believe that isolating Pakistan might at least initiate the movement towards normalcy. But there is no Nelson Mandela in the BCCI. India should have toured Pakistan. What happened recently was little more than a charade, an elaborately contrived game of cricket politics that ended with England (World Twenty20 championships), India (more leverage to twist ECB arms on the ICL-player situation), Pakistan (Postponement of the ICC Champions Trophy, Australia and India deciding not to tour the country) and Zimbabwe (money and ban) all getting their way. But Pakistan has been singled out by the western countries as uniquely obnoxious. This has led to some heated argument about western and Indian hypocrisy, shored up by familiar accusations of inconsistency and partiality. Why hasn't ECB restricted England from touring India despite Mumbai being ruined? Why isn't Israel sanctioned for brutalising the West Bank and relentlessly stealing Palestinian land? Why didn't Burnham instruct the British Olympic Association to boycott the Games in the context of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and its moral indifference to genocide in Africa?Interestingly, India voted for Zimbabwe when the ICC looked set to strip them of full membership. The thinking behind the BCCI's stand was straightforward: Zimbabwe had been a reliable supporter of the BCCI's South Asian bloc in the conclaves of the ICC and one vote in ten wasn't to be sneezed at; now they have left Pakistan brazenly unattended. In truer perspectives, it should be said that sports and politics shouldn't be intermingled. Philosophically, it shan't happen; it is like punishing sportsmen for the sins and inadequacies of politicians, an argument that didn't shore up the BCCI's position. It should be argued that isolating Pakistan is a low-cost way of feeling self-righteous, but one that will do nothing to hasten the end of terrorism in the region or help India proving its punch as a regional superpower. The fact that main critics of Pakistan tend to be Western and Indian politicians and some, notable for their selectively sensitive consciences hasn't helped cricket's cause either. At this juncture, Mr Ijaz Butt, the PCB's most elegant chairman, should take a word from Achebe who once said: "one of the truest tests of integrity is its blunt refusal to be compromised". If India's present stance is any indicator, then I'm afraid cricket has failed miserably. Tough decisions now need to be taken How many aggressive captains have we had? We can easily count them on finger tips, Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. One more thing, apart from Javed Miandad and Saleem Malik, the fast bowlers have been very good as captains By Muhammad Asif Khan The Test-less year of 2008 for Pakistan cricket has ended on a festive note as the Sri Lanka government assured Pakistan of their support to end the cricket-drought in Pakistan. With this announcement one of the many issues ahead has been somehow resolved but the new management no doubt is eyeing the future and the issue of the next national team captain would be the talk of the town, as the tenure of the present skipper Shoaib Malik has ended along with the year 2008. Malik was appointed captain on 19 April 2007 and criticism followed the appointment, however, I feel he was the best available option at that time as Younis Khan had refused to take charge. Now, after going through the performance of the team one can only describe it as satisfactory. Although the winning percentage of Malik is 69 in ODIs, as he won 23 ODIs out of 33 he played as captain most of these matches were against weaker outfits. In the Test arena he has not had a win under his belt yet as he only played three Test matches and lost two while one ended in a draw. Now the million dollar question is that should Shoaib Malik be given another stint as the skipper. To me historically the Pakistan team has done well under an aggressive captain which Shoaib Malik is not, and by going through the available lot, only one name comes to mind of Shoaib Akhtar who can be put in the "aggressive" mode. I can imagine that many eyebrows have been raised already but I just want to make myself a bit unambiguous. How many aggressive captains have we had? We can easily count them on finger tips, Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. One more thing, apart from Javed Miandad and Saleem Malik, the fast bowlers have been very good as captains. Starting from Imran Khan who captained the side in 48 Test matches out of which Pakistan won 14 (29.17%) and lost eight, while in his 139 One-day Internationals as captain, Pakistan emerged as victorious in 75 matches (53.96%). Wasim Akram the other aggressive captain led the side in 25 test matches and won 12 (48%) while lost 8. In the ODI circuit under Wasim Akram Pakistan won 66 matches (60.55%) out of the total of 109 matches. Both Imran Khan and Wasim Akram were not only aggressive in their decision making but also used to physically show the aggression on the field which kept the team-mates on their toes as they knew that upon committing a mistake they would not be spared. This aggressive nature is a part of our culture too, for example a strict teacher in a school is considered more able to extract good performance rather then a lenient one. Yes the issues of discipline and fitness have been a problem with Shoaib Akhtar, and the PCB managements have done everything but did not impose responsibility on the "wayward" speedster. Since he does not have much time left in him therefore, he could be tried and he could be given the responsibility for a short period. With the year-end, another event would be in focus soon, since the central contacts of the players have been expired, therefore the board will have to draft new contracts for them. I urge the management to shun the practice of the last time which instigated rifts amongst management and a few players. Just to remind you all that after the previously awarded contacts Shoaib Akhtar and leg-spinner Danish Kaneria showed a bit of resentment and subsequently the axe of disciplinary action fell on them big time. Both were demoted from their former categories. (Shoaib was in category "A", while Danish was in "B"). On the other hand, in spite of their not-so-satisfactory performances a few players were either retained or promoted such as wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, whose form behind the wickets was not even close to a satisfactory one, yet he was retained in Category "B". Another fellow was fast bowler Mohammad Asif whose performance in the last six months of 2007 was ordinary but he was retained in category "A". On the other hand, the people who were demoted (Danish Kaneria and Shoaib Akhtar) had a reasonably good last six months of the year 2007. The leg-spinner played five Test matches and claimed 22 wickets while the Rawalpindi Express took nine wickets in four Test matches he played. In Shoaib Akhtar's case his indisciplinary acts were a hindrance but Kaneria was wrongly treated for sure as he has claimed 220 Test wickets and is only behind Abdul Qadir who has the highest tally of wickets by any spinner in Pakistan cricket history. Therefore this time around a more transparent method should be followed to award the contacts to the players to avoid ambiguities and controversies. The
writer is a freelance contributor mak374@hotmail.com
Sri Lanka's tour is helping fill the void Sri Lanka's gesture to visit will really save cricket-starved Pakistan from being pushed to the brink of isolation in the international cricket arena and let cricket go on By Gul Nasreen A friend in need is a friend indeed! This age-old adage aptly applies to the Sri Lankan Cricket Board, which very gracefully did opt to stand by Pakistan in these testing times, when our next door neighbors 'conveniently' cancelled their cricket tour of Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks in November last.
The way the Lankan board and their individual players as well as the
masses have shown eagerness The fact is that the Sri Lankan tour is important in many ways. A number of foreign countries including Australia declined to tour Pakistan last year for security reasons. Pakistan had not played a single Test during the entire last year and is definitely short of staging international series at home. Sri Lanka's gesture to visit will really save cricket-starved Pakistan from being pushed to the brink of isolation in the international cricket arena and let cricket go on. Thank God, the Sri Lanka Government has also given the go ahead to the tour and now the tour is likely to take place though with a bit of changed itinerary as the tourists want lesser matches in Pakistan. Sri Lanka had informed PCB that they would like to tour the country from February 15 for a series featuring two Tests, three ODIs and a Twenty20 match. It means that Sri Lanka's proposed itinerary for the Pakistan tour will clash with the Pakistanis' tour to Bangladesh in March. One hopes the issue with Sri Lanka will be resolved soon. In case it is not settled with the SL board, then the Bangladesh Board should cooperate with Pakistan for the latter's visit to Bangladesh and should sort things accordingly with the view to let the game of cricket go on unhindered in the region. It may be mentioned here that the Sri Lankans had earlier agreed to play three Tests and five One-day Internationals from January 20. One definitely wonders as to what went wrong with them. The situation is a bit tricky, yet one hopes everything will be settled in a way to benefit both the parties. Pakistan Cricket Board director general Javed Miandad said he was hopeful the issue with Sri Lanka will be resolved soon. As for the game of cricket, the series will definitely produce good cricket despite the fact that Pakistan is out of practice for quite sometime because Pakistan wants to capitulate on this series. Pakistan badly needs to play international cricket at home and the PCB should ensure the Sri Lankans are provided with state level security, as the successful tour will pave way for international teams visits to Pakistan in future and prove as a prologue to more international cricket in Pakistan. Sri Lanka is a force to reckon with in international cricket and it will definitely help minimise the concerns expressed by western teams regarding visits to Pakistan. It will definitely send positive signals to the world and would be in the interest of the game in the entire South Asian region. It may be mentioned here that contrary to SL's sports-friendly gestures, it's unfortunate that the Indian authorities thoroughly exhibited an 'unsporting' attitude on sports ties with Pakistan. They not only cancelled their scheduled tour of Pakistan but have also shown their displeasure over Sri Lanka's cricket tour to Pakistan It may be mentioned here that the tour was hastily arranged by Pakistan after India refused to go ahead with the scheduled visit following the terror attacks in Mumbai. The then interim committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) headed by Arjuna Ranatunga, which was later dismissed by the government, accepted the invitation to fill in for India. What the Indian authorities have failed to understand is that Indo-Pak cricket is a must for the cause of sports in the region. World cricket is said to be "incomplete without Indo-Pak contests as the clash between the two cricketing giants have always produced superb cricket. There is nothing like an Indo-Pak clash in cricket." On the contrary, it is heartening to note that like our Government, our individual players have also called for keeping politics apart from sports while on the contrary the Indian sporting greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have supported their Government for cancelling the cricket tour of India. Instead of advocating the cause of sports, the Indian sportsmen are coming forth with anti-sports stuff that does not suit the players of the calibre of world class sporting maestros. To put it rightly, one will definitely agree with PCB Director General Javed Miandad, who was quoted to have said: "We will remember this gesture for a long time to come and let me assure you that Pakistan will be pleased to return the favour whenever Sri Lanka needed us in the future." Sri Lanka has definitely stood by Pakistan in time of need, and the latter will definitely remember this goodwill gesture of this great sporting nation and would definitely urge cricket fans to welcome the Sri Lankan players and fill the stadiums to capacity to show to the world that cricket and Pakistan go together and no measures whatsoever can isolate the cricket loving nation and deprive it of its right to see their beloved players in action at their home grounds. Pakistan is also due to host Australia from April 23 for five One-day Internationals and according to PCB sources, it has been agreed in principle that the series could be moved to a neutral venue if the Australians are not given security clearance by their government to play in Pakistan. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia is likely to host that series. But that series has lost charm from the viewers' point of view as a home series basically aims at providing entertainment to the home crowd. Playing a series away from home at a neutral venue is a nice idea but to shift scheduled home tours to neutral venues for security reasons is a saddening move and against the cause of cricket. One would advise the PCB should not give a serious thought to this practice of playing at neutral venues. This is not a permanent solution to touring teams' refusal to visit Pakistan. It is tantamount to isolating Pakistan and depriving its people of entertaining activities. The PCB should go ahead with its internationally-agreed schedules and press for enforcing those schedules and not go begging in front of teams that are adamant not to step in this country. |
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without Test cricket for more than a year now and fans are desperate to
have international cricket at home especially Test matches.
mainstream of the international hockey having been dumped out of the
Champions Trophy. Then they had their worst ever showing at the Olympics
finishing eighth at Beijing.
India's decision about not touring the country and the PCB wafting to
Sri Lanka for a momentary reprieve, anyone who is passionate about the
game could be entitled to a similar view. Long before India's refusal to
tour Pakistan, rumours had been rife that a compromise would be brokered
and everyone would be happy.
to let cricket go at home grounds in Pakistan in spite of the adverse
political situation in the region when the two neighbours (India and
Pakistan) are at loggerheads, is something to cheer about. This sporting
gesture by the Sri Lankan will really go a long way in enhancing the
overall ties between the two nations, who have enjoyed cordial relations
for long.
