Photo: GETTY IMAGES
Pakistan cricket and the Pakistan cricket team: Pain, elation, excitement, disappointment, cry, wonder, bemusement, anger, anger, anger, laughter, despair, oh my gosh what next …
At the appointment of Shahid Afridi as Test Captain I despaired, proposing Salman Butt as an alternative and suggesting he may be the right man for the job.
Here is a quote from a previous article I wrote,
” Take a deep breath and appoint Salman Butt as Captain, a Captain for a long term view, who is growing series by series and mandate him with full authority to take the side forward. Give Waqar Younis a three year contract to take the side through the next World Cup and back him up with excellent support staff … and let him get on with the job. Fasten your seat belt Waqar, its going to be a bumpy ride.’
Shortly afterward I felt justifiably self righteous when Shahid Afridi stepped down as Test Captain saying he wasn’t up to it … and Butt came in.
Since then anything and everything that could happen to rubbish Pakistan cricket’s name, has happened. … and after my best wishes and hopes have been dashed on the rocks of a match fixing scandal …. who should be implicated but the Captain himself, Salman Butt with Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Asif. The most exciting young quick bowler in the world and the highly skilled and perpetually dodgy Mr Asif.
Through all of this, the Chairman of the PCB, another Butt, this time Ijaz, has dragged Pakistan down further. Was this possible after all the allegations and match fixing emerged? Well yes, he has accused England, their host for the home-away-from-home test series in England, sponsored by the MCC, of corruption !
What next … he hasn’t acted swiftly to protect Pakistan cricket’s name when these allegations emerged and now the official position seems to be that it is a witch hunt against Pakistan cricket and the Pakistan cricket board !
The sad thing is that I think, (I have to be careful of mind reading here), that world cricket is endlessly fascinated by Pakistan cricket. Admiring the unbelievable talent and occasional passages of consistent team brilliance.
Unfortunately the perception is clouded with match fixing scandal, not that Pakistan was alone here, but most recently it is they who have come up on the cricket radar again.
To make matters worse, an article appeared in the news recently saying that the PCB constitution didn’t require that the selection panel, headed by the Convenor, needed to consult the coach or captain on squad selection.
If there isn’t transparency and consultation with the very people who work with the players on a daily basis then how on earth do you find out what mental, physical and technical space the players are in?
Selection at every level, never mind international, is based on set criteria and good communication. To top this off, the Chairman of the PCB, Mr Butt is quoted as saying he didn’t feel that international batters needed specialist coaching! But bowlers and fielders did. Logic please ?
After all of this, after all the anguish and embarrasment for the team and Pakistan Cricket, the side find themselves with some of their best players back in the fold. Mohammed Yousuf and Younis Khan are back after being ridiculously banished to the wilderness.
Then sublimely, the old warhorse, Abdul Razzaq in the ODI against South Africa the other day comes with a passage of hitting which is as clean and powerful as anythng that has preceeded it in the last 10 years of one day batting.
The last match, yesterday, saw a nailbiter with Shoaib Akhtar bowling with speed and guile and the imagination starts to tick over … is it just possible that Pakistan can bring it together to get the side focused and ready for the world cup?
And if they do, what then?
Watch this space.
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About Richard Pybus
I'm Richard Pybus, I've coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Middlesex, Titans and the Cape Cobras in South Africa and the goal of this site is to help you to play winning cricket.