Pakistan’s Humiliating Cricket Debacle
By Perwaiz Ahmad
Fullerton , CA
Cricket is not all about winning: it’s the attitude, teamwork and the spirit displayed by the team on and off the field that count. All these attributes were sadly missing throughout the last series in Australia despite the presence of world-class batsmen and bowlers in our team. A few newcomers, like Umar, Ameer and Ajmal, however, performed beyond expectations.
By losing all the 9 games in the last series in Australia - Tests (3-0), ODI (5-0), T20(1-0 ) - when we could have easily won at least 1 Test, 1 ODI and the only T20 , we seemed to tell the world that just like politics in Pakistan, everything else is negotiable if the price is right.
After the cricket team’s dismal performance in the last series in Australia, it appears as if the word ‘teamwork’ has been plucked out of professional sports in Pakistan. Cricket, in particular, has been indoctrinated into the World Class Manufacturing Circles of Toyota and others to make world class cars and other products. It is quite obvious that the word “teamwork” in Pakistan has been replaced with greed, nepotism, parochialism, politics, couldn’t care less attitude and sweetheart deals. Time and time again the top performers are bypassed and mediocre players take their place because they have the push of bureaucrats and high officials.
Rather than becoming formidable on the crease when the going got tough, our players let their guards down, in particular, Younus, Yousuf, Afridi, Malik and Faisal who were supposed to be the backbone of our batting lineup. On the contrary, Umar, Faisal, Fawad, Kamran took the entire brunt of the Aussies attack almost all the time. It is sad that Kamran was penalized when he stood like a rock on the crease. The Australians at times lost their wickets early in the game too because of our superb bowling but their middle order took charge and fought back. Ponting failed as a batsman, scored in single digits in almost every innings, but he remained in command, making strategic decisions by winning two games which were clearly in the hands of Pakistan. On the other hand our team was in total disarray from the word go, making the job of Captain Yousuf extremely difficult because apparently there were divisions among the team.
From the Chairman Ijaz Butt down to the Coach, the Manager and the players, the entire organization needs a total revamping with the formation of a permanent Advisory Board (five or seven members) consisting of former cricketers. Ijaz Butt seems to be clueless about the debacle and setback and has been giving contradictory statements to save his own neck. With millions at stake, the PCB has become a joke with continuous ad hoc management of the affairs of cricket for several decades.
We can regain our past glory if we start thinking as a nation, rather than as individuals out to make millions with handsome salaries, Rs 300, 000-400, 000. Pakistan cricket was in its infancy when A. H. Kardar led Pakistan to victory against all odds at the Oval in 1954. Imran Khan led the team admirably to win the World Cup in 1992. More recently, we won the T20 championship. Both Kardar and Imran were strong-willed skippers and could make tough decisions at critical junctures to boost the morale of the team. Those golden days could return if the Board creates a permanent Advisory Committee consisting of former cricketers, not bureaucrats, who have made major contributions, like Hanif Mohammed, Imtiaz Ahmad, Mushtaq Mohammad, Nasim ul Ghani, Haseeb Ahsan, Jawaid Miandad , Wasim Akram, Waqar Yunus, Imran Khan, etc, who can provide valuable guidance in picking the Board President/Chairman through consensus rather than the President of the country handpicking him.
The PCB could succeed if it: a) commits to providing a level playing field to all cricketers regardless of ethnicity, b) ensures total transparency in the decision-making process of the Board, c) takes strict disciplinary action against cricketers who indulge in acts of in-subordination with the captain or the team manager. Last, but not the least, formation of multiple clubs in every region to provide a chance to all youngsters who have the talent and the will to excel.
