dead legacy...?

shared by straight point on Friday, September 19, 2008

time to take fresh stance after labored century...

i read this news that pcb now has decided to include shoaib akhtar in domestic t20 tournament backtracking after issuing warning that he can not play without paying fine...

we have been hearing it since pcb slept fine on him...that he will have to pay...failing which he wont be selected...then somehow he gets selected...then again comes the news that he will have to...then something happens...he gets selected again...on...off...on...like a loop...

bored already? not if you are pcb...its their favorite time pass...

like first they issued threats that they will go for legal opinion against ca only to back track day later and then issued like...aussies are 'lily-livered cowards'...

go it?

then i read this

"I think it [India v Australia] has become bigger [than India v Pakistan] largely because of the competitiveness. All the series, from 2001 onwards, have been keenly fought and have been very close ones."

- Tendulkar

but what is the relation between these two news...you may ask...?

give me some time...

we all have been discussing this for some time now that india-pak series which had the potential of being the mother or father of all series (depending upon which way you look at it) is reduced to like any other series...

some say because of frequency of it happening some argue about lack of quality in competition and intensity...

but if frequency is the reason...then we have been playing with oz almost non stop lately...still its getting intense series by series...the hype can not be without substance...

coming to pak...countries don't think twice before rejecting series with them...

coz they don't fear backlash....
coz cricketing stature of pak is reduced to minnow status now...well almost...
coz pcb is not strong enough...
coz 'right kind of moolah' is not associated with it...

otherwise how can one explain oz playing in england while bomb exploded not too far from stadium...oz coming to india despite recent delhi bombing...(though i must say that am happy)...india can go to pak and play cricket effortlessly...without any fear...despite some of our cricketers been declared openly by terrorists in their hit list...

did i said 'right kind of moolah'...?

but ultimately the crux of the problem lies at pcb door...specially recent regime...

nobody takes them seriously now...infact they have successfully reduced pak cricket to laughing stock around world...they have damaged pak cricket totally and i am afraid...permanently...

i have followed pak cricket quite closely...and i feel that since inzamam took over as captain...pak cricket has gone downhill...and current regime only fueled the regression...

pak needed a strong captain but instead they chose inzamam...they mistook his cricketing powers as his leadership qualities...and result were there for all to see...

without invoking religion sentiments here...i would say he brought the dangerous mix of religion and cricket into scheme of things...those who were flexible to the routines were preferred more and those who were not almost left to fend for themselves...

when the circumstances demanded strong decisions...easy ways were found to sweep discontent under the carpet...failing to realize they were setting the time into a time bomb...

the handling of shoaib akhtar...yunis khan...are case in point...infact pcb still don't know how to deal with them...

this lead to insecurities in the team and when you are not confident...not secure about you future...the sport you play suffers...and suffered it did...which led to panic and in one of that weak moment yusuf decided to join hands with icl...

when the term of inzamam was coming near after disastrous world cup...pcb had the chance to reshape pak cricket...

but then another mistake was made and they chose malik as captain...

the discontent started to become more visible and loud...and malik inefficiencies...as batsmen...as bowler...and more importantly as captain..his refusal to assert himself...reluctance to lead from front....started to reflect on team...and its performances...

rest was taken care of by pcb...

now pak has not played test cricket since ages...will be lucky to see some odi action...and sincerely its not funny at all to see one major test playing nation getting reduced to this...

call me out dated...old fashioned...out of sink...but my cricketing life is being brought up on staple diet of india pak matches...the wait for series to start...the tension around it...the passion of encounters...the boiling of blood inside...the choking of throat...the skipping of heart beat...the mourning...the joy...the ecstasy...the same roller coaster ride of emotions...

i miss all of it...

but i am still not ready to handover that legacy to aussies...

i want to feel tension the same way...i want to see that sight again when lights of street were on but cricket in the stadium was played...without light...when javed miandad hit that last ball six...when shivlal yadav returned the favor by doing the same...and so many never fading memories...

i want all that and more...

but it will take lot of doing to put life back in ailing pak cricket...the mindset...the approach...the goals...the leadership...just about everything needs to change...

is still time left to salvage pride...can it happen...will we again see same old strong pak team the world feared? the same pak cricket who gave ball the art of swinging in reverse?

will i or rather we...be lucky again...?

or you have already moved on...without waiting...like many...

tell me...



update:
after going trough initial comments one thing which is coming out commonly is that i have pronounced pak as minnows of cricket world...

i never meant to say pak is reduced to minnow coz of their performances on field...

if you read the post again you will notice that i used word minnow attributed to the current stature of pcb...not performance of pak team...

anybody can have his say and get away with it...without caring a hoot...kinda sentiment that i used to depict pak cricket is reduced to almost minnow status...

i love pak cricket...they have given us wonderful talent and moments and i didn't meant it that way...and i believe that my current post reflects that...

i am sorry on my part for the lack of clarity in comment...

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well I agree to most of what you have written but the facts are not that simple, The western block led by Australia has played a major role in the attempted murder of Pakistan cricket, I would not say that their status have been reduced to a minnow in recent years rarely they fielded a full strength team for one reason or another even then the results were not as bad as to declare them as minnows, their ranking dropped because they are not playing any cricket and obviously it also affects the match fitness of players.

There was absolutely no reason for some countries to pull out of the champions trophy especially after Pakistan safely hosted the Asia cup and several other countries,the decision is just politically motivated and there is nothing much PCB administration can do about it,Pakistan team is still better than the Windies, England and Newzealand and we can still be competitive with India and Srilanka the game can go either way Asia cup and Kitply cup were recent examples. Only Australia and SA have definite edge over Pakistan, BTW We were runners up in the T20 cup.

Shoaib Akhtar should have never been fined, and Shoaib Malik should have been removed from captaincy, PCB has been adding to their own problems by severely punishing their own players over small issues, I think Pakistan will have to quickly increase its domestic activities to keep the players busy and match fit because this boycott by some countries will continue for some time to come.

They will have to lift ban on players playing for ICL to increase their talent pool and to make their domestic competitions more attractive.

Cricket can never die in Pakistan whether we play International cricket or not, we will be a force to be reckoned with, the current situation can not continue indefinitely otherwise ICC itself will disintegrate.

Soulberry said...

Nice article SP. I miss that tension of Indo-Pak matches too.

I tend to also agree with what Wasim says...Pakistan cricket has been "trivialized" by the repeated boycotts and as also by some of the factors you mentioned.

I'm with you on Inzi's methods...but where was the alternative? He was inspirational, he instituted a method, which his mates cared to understand thanks to the respect they had for him...but there was a sudden vacuum of sorts after him. Those conditioned to certain atmosphere had to adjust to another and those who were trying to adjust then felt they could expand - Shoaib and Asif particularly.

The greatest damage in recent times have been done by these two. All Pakistan wanted of them was them to be ok for a few seasons while they were playing and they supported both through thick and thin, but the two were selfish to an extent. Sometimes one feels maybe a single harsh sentence at the beginning might have worked rather than the revolving door...but the players abused the forgiveness PCB gave them, even if it was because the board had no alternative. The forgave and gave them a chance which the two repeatedly spurned. That set off a kind of discontent within the team...and attracted all neagativity and harsh demeanour towards the team from interantional sources, which in turn only made the internal frustration within the team worse.

See, players were feeling, "here I am giving my butt for the team and Pakistan wants them in the team and when they come into the team they misuse their position, and we get the flak while they are out of the team for errors."

The playing players are forever uncertain and feel unwanted and unappreciated. That hurts and brings down efforts, whatever one might say.

I don't think Pakistan is a minnow or anywhere near minnow status...what is clear through all the boycott issues is that the so-called "power" of the Asian block...that fearful block is severely overhyped.

They could never book (or have them booked) the errant teams.

Anonymous said...

Yes its sick to see flip n flop of PCB on Shoaib. Either you are here or there, not in the mid way. PCB is like that hanging monkey on the wall who cant climb neither go down.

The way Pakistan's senior cricketers behave is yet another issue. Look at Younis Khan, when he got captaincy he rejected. now he wants it when Malik is settlin to ODI job at least.

Malik bowls 10 overs in ODIs against minnows, doesnt bowl against strong teams. He is forever injured yet plays well against India yet he is forever put on notice by PCB.

Yousuf is like the wild cat who wanted to be here, then there (ICL and IPL) and finally nowhere (none of the 2 leagues).

Akhtar and Asif are well documented. Yousuf is being threatened to banned if he goes back to ICL, but then question is why does he need to go to ICl when he is their only world class batsman left after Inzamam.

Razzaq was never droppe givin him a hint that he is above team and when he was dropped he rebelled and went to ICL. today they dont have a Razzaq like alrounder.

Shabbir, Rana, Sami, Gul, Arafat and Rao Ifti are many such bowlers who have got ill treatment from PCB...

And thats why Pakistan are at best a minnows today. India should fancy a whitewash in Tests next year when they visit Pakistan.

Wasim, why they have not been able to field full strength team ? Who has stopped them ? Idiocrasies of players and officials dont stop and then you say australia murders Pak cricket.

Tell me one thing will a team like Australia wish to play a team like Pakistan who has lost last 10 consecutive Tests to them without a fight ?

This year Pak were proud of winning 12 ODIs in row but against whom? BD and Zim. Does that count ?

SRT is right in saying that India - Pakistan series has lost its zing cos India is 2nd best test team in world and Pakistan are 2nd worst team in world just above BD. if they continue their performances like this, i am sure the calls to declare them minnows would be on ri se.

Anonymous said...

BUZZ

So if India were recently defeated by a minnow Pakistan(AS YOU SUGGESTED) in Kitlpy cup and Asia cup despite playing no cricket where does it leave almighty BCCI and the Indian team.The last three test series between India and Pakistan both teams have an even record.
India also lost to SL and Australia while drawing with SA so where is the huge difference which made us minnows and you are a super power in cricket.

If Pakistan had played the amount of cricket India has played I am sure they still would have retained #3 slot in ICC rankings.

Anonymous said...

SB

I agree with you, shoaib and Asif fiasco damaged Pakistan cricket mre than anything,but currently Pakistan has been marginalized by these unnecessary boycotts, Australia were keen to declare us minnows when we were #2 in ICC rankings. I think Shoaib was completely mishandled by PCB, about Inzi I think he should have retired after the England series his career was over extended by at least two years.

Regardless of what PCB has been doing Pakistan team is still strong enough to beat any team so this minnow talk is all BS and I don't buy it.

The western block by marginalizing Pakistan has weakened the Asian block and it will affect the other Asian teams in future, right now the Aisan block is on the verge of disintegrating if the ICL problem and Pakistan's issue is not resolved. If Bangladesh and Pakistan somehow are marginalized BCCI will also lose its power in ICC despite all its financial might.

Trideep said...

SP.. You are right in saying that Indo-Pak series have lost their intensity. Its more nowadays in an Indo-Australia series. I guess the main reason are the non-cricketing things that happen in an Indo-Australian series. For eg, the sydney episode, the racism row, the sledging that goes on, etc,etc. All these things are missing from the current Indo-Pak encounters. Most of the games have been usually one sided.. with both teams having an even record. Somehow India also plays well against Australia. That too has made Indo-Australia series more interesting.

I dont agree that Pakistan has become minnows. On their day they can still beat the best team. The problem lies in the politics in their board. They cannot handle players. So how will their players last. They still have lot of talent.

If PCB tries then surely Pakistan will again become a force to reckon with.

straight point said...

i agree with you wholeheartedly wasim bhai...that facts can not be explained in one post and are not simple...

i know cricket is next to religion in pak as well and coz of unwavering love towards game is still alive and kicking...

i also agree that pak team is still better than many...but its the aimless manner in which pak cricket going is hurting...

straight point said...

thanks SB!!

couldn't agree more on akhtar, asif and the fact that they misused it...but this is also fact that they were allowed to...

pak cricket didn't die when they were out of team for whatever reasons...

pcb failed to inculcate the environment of trust, discipline and growth for players...they failed to convert these occasional match winners into consistent force...coz they were involved in their own muddle...

its pity to see the talent gong down drain...specially asif...

there is lot which remains uncovered...unearthed...thats why i feel pak cricket needs a strong leadership...

imarn khan are you listening...?

straight point said...

some strong words buzzz...

although they are in doldrums at the moment but pak cricket is at its dangerous best when down and even experts fear them to declare they are out...

but for the trivialization due to pcb's inapt handling...they are still force to reckon with in terms of talent...

what they need is strong leader both on and off field...

straight point said...

i fully agree with yo tri that given the right leadership they will become a force to reckon with in no time...but where is that leader?

straight point said...

Wasim, SB, Buzzz and TRI...

i never meant to say pak is reduced to minnow coz of their performances on field...

if you read the post again you will notice that i used word minnow attributed to the current stature of pcb...not performance of pak team...

anybody can have his say and get away with it...without caring a hoot...kinda sentiment that i used to depict pak cricket is reduced to almost minnow status...

like "gareeb ki joru sabki bhabhi" kinda way...

i love pak cricket...they have given us wonderful talent and moments and i didn't meant it that way...and i believe that my current post reflects that...

sorry on my part for the lack of clarity in comment...if it has caused hurt to pak fans...

Gaurav Sethi said...

SP - when it was clear that oz was not gonna play in Pak, i would have liked India to at least offer and host that series and try recreate a home series environment for pak. Games in Mohali and Delhi - can you imagine the numbers that would've flocked from Pak?

straight point said...

pcb was adamant on hosting it as if to prove point...gaurav as far as i remember...they have played once at sharjah and i dont see why they could not now...not at sharjah but at some neutral grounds...

the clear headed approach is clearing missing in their actions...

Anonymous said...

Ya SP, good point.
I think, for this whole scenario, pak players are responsible by themselves.
Few senior players are not serious about their duty, resulting dropped ranking.
On the other hand, pcb is playing partial by excluding some important players.

I think, for the current status of Pak cricket, players and pcs are mutually responsible.

John said...

Gaurav,
That's a wonderful scenario you ve painted. But with the current mood of terror everywhere, do you think welcoming arms are politically feasible?

straight point said...

john

i think its high time that icc introduce neutral venues as an alternate to the countries who find it bit iffy to tour for whatever reasons...at least suffering country will see some action and game will spread to new place...a win win situation to all...

Q said...

Buzzz - u make me sick!

I have a lot to say on this whole Pakistan vs India lack of excitement issue but I dont know where to start. I think I will do it in the form of a post because I majorly disagree with the fact that Pakistan vs India is not as exciting anymore.

For me it still is.

There's nothing bigger than Pakistan vs India and there probably never will be.

Sure India vs Australia is the mother of all test series - any contest involving the top 2 sides in the world would be HOT!

But does it bring about the same emotions as an India vs Pakistan series?

It never can.

Look at Buzzz - can he go on and on against Australia like this?

I doubt it cos Australia doesnt stir the emotions of the Indians, Pakistan does.

Anil Singh said...

Good post SP.

BTW I've written a new post at BCC! on the trivia you put to me. As I'm still clueless. Will you mind answering the comments on that post. I'll be grateful.

Anonymous said...

BUZZ

Players come and go, pretty soon when the Big three will retire the same can be said about India, the younger players do not have the same class,but you didn't answered my question if we have an even record in the last three test series, we recently defeated India in Kitply and Asia cup, India won T20Cup and we were runners up, look at IPL the best bowler was from Pakistan, look at ICL the man of the tournament was from Pakistan, the man of the tournament in T20 cup was also from Pakistan so how did you categorized us as minnows?

Is it a fact or just wishful thinking?

straight point said...

i agree wholeheartedly with you Q...that no other team ignites the same passion as pak does...and vice versa...

oz series is competitive no doubt about it...but india-pak matches takes you to different level...

and no monkey-gate...no sydney...is required for it...

cheers!!

straight point said...

AB

i have commented there...pls take a look and comment...

Anil Singh said...

You're not getting SP; actually I wanted you to respond to the reader comments; but as it was getting late; I've to reluctantly fill the shoes.
I lacked the necessary repertoire to respond you know :|

straight point said...

sorry AB, for coming in the scene late...but this worked better coz we would have never known your opinion on debate... cheers!!

Anonymous said...

SP... the reason maybe because the last few series against Pakistan was a borefest with dull cricket played all round. An India-Pakistan match will still be the eyeball of their respective countries. So I think this frenzied love for an India-pakistan game has traditional been because of the quality and closeness of the encounters. So many nail biting finishes. I guess when competitiveness improves, the frenzy will begin.

Apart from the PCB's flip-flops, I remember shoaib when he got banned, telling the media around the time of the IPL, that he will sacrifice anything for playing in the national team and also something to effect of playing for free and money is not his interest. So it looks like the PCB gave a beautiful halwa to him by asking him to pay up a hefty sum and voila shoaib is dead quiet about it! So money matters!

Yousuf is extremely disappointing. He is repeatedly blackmailing them.

The bottom line is the board should take harsh decisions on these posers if at all they want to arrest a 20 plus year trend of constant infighting.

straight point said...

yes scorpy...one cant discard tradition just like that...

i hope the next series with pak wipes out all doubts for once and all...pitches permitting...

about me...

BCC!straight point (sp) is restless... relentless... but a fun loving guy... likes to live life to fullest... trying to discover himself through cricket... welcome to this little world of his...

sp is also a bored member at BCC!

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