Bangladesh Must Not Neglect Pakistan

By Faisal Caesar

In 2009, a group of terrorists attacked on the Sri Lankan cricket team’s bus at Lahore who were touring Pakistan to play Test and ODI series. And that incident had a seismic effect on Pakistan cricket. Pakistan lost its claim to host the last year’s ICC World Cup and it had become a virtual no-go zone for the international teams. And for which the cricket fans suffered terribly.

The stands at Lahore, Karachi and so on were found empty while the men in green battled home series after home series off-shore. The men in green were devoid of cheers from the home crowd and the Pakistani die hard cricket fans were left in the wilderness off not watching their heroes in action on their home soil.

For three long years Pakistani soil didn’t host a home series.

But suddenly there raised a hope.

Bangladesh wished to break the jinx by visiting Pakistan this year. A security mission led by the Bangladesh cricket board (BCB) chief Mustafa Kamal visited Pakistan, observed the match venues and other security issues and expressed his complete satisfaction. The team also met Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rahman Malik who gave them full assurance regarding security. Fully satisfied with security measures and other arrangements Bangladesh agreed to play matches at Lahore and Karachi.

But suddenly there was a twist in the tale.

According to The Nation, ‘The BCB later proposed to play the series on a neutral venue which the PCB ruled out for not being cost effective. The BCB thus deferred their decision of sending team to Pakistan until the ICC board meeting scheduled to take place in Dubai on 14-16 April.’

I am quite astonished by the attitude of our cricket board. But before this I was taken aback by another immature act of our board.  BCB of appealed for a 5-run penalty against Pakistan in the final of the Asia Cup held in Dhaka where Aizaz Cheema was claimed to obstruct the field off our batsman Mahmudullah Riad. Bangladesh lost the final by 2 runs but in fact we won the hearts of the cricket lovers all around the world. Bangladesh wants to win games through playing matches and not by such dumb approaches. And off-course such an immature act met a justified result - The appeal was rejected by the ACC.

Let me discuss about the tour now. Still the fate of the tour has not been decided and certainly the Pakistani fans out there, hungry for cricket, are heavily disappointed with such a sudden twisted attitude of Mustafa Kamal. If Mustafa Kamal didn’t wish to tour Pakistan then he shouldn’t have given such assurances early on. As a chief of a cricket board one must have that sense of dignity and loyalty – he must be a man of words. And due to his sudden twisted attitude the relationship between the two countries is at bay.

Suddenly cricket fans from both the countries are involved in a war of words in the social networking sites and all these things are happening due to Mustafa Kamal’s twisted attitude.

Also, I came around with much fake news published in Pakistani print and electronic media which simply made things worse to worst. Zaka Ashraf continued to heat up the media rather than applying a composed measure. While at the other end our Mustafa Kamal’s colour continued to change everyday like a Chameleon.

But who are suffering the most?

It’s none but the cricket fans. The acts of the board chiefs have dragged the fans amidst of war of words which is absolutely unexpected. In my opinion the cricket fans must not suffer. I think Bangladesh must tour Pakistan.

Bangladesh must respond to those fans who are deprived of cricket for the last three years. We mustn’t forget Pakistan’s help in building our cricket when we had no hope. We were provided coaches from them, they had provided us ample support in the ICC regarding our Test status, they had supplied us players for our Dhaka League in the 90’s when cricket was still not popular and in the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) it had been their players who were instrumental in making the mega event a great hit.

So far Pakistan’s act has been like a true brother and by talking with many of them I can realize their immense love towards our people, their sad feeling for us regarding 1971. But such an act by the BCB chief has been a bolt from the blue forms them.

The BCB is trying to take refuge behind the ICC’s inability to provide neutral umpires, match referees and other officials for the series. But the ICC has ensured in applying special rules regarding those matters. And I don’t see any problems in playing with umpires like Alim Daar and Asad Rauf who are world’s best umpires in true sense of terms.

You might ask me why the Pakistanis aren’t hosting the Australians in their own country with whom they’ll play in Sri Lanka this June. The answer is Australians didn’t give assurance like our BCB chief gave to PCB.

We can’t afford to hear words like ‘Traitors’ due to Mustafa Kamal’s acts. I don’t wish any bitterness between the two nations who enjoys a wonderful brother-hood. Mustafa Kamal must act according to his given assurances. Bangladesh should tour Pakistan in the name of brother-hood. Bangladesh must tour Pakistan to help their brothers resume international cricket. Bangladesh should tour Pakistan so that there lays more options of exchanging tours when Bangladesh will have no matches against the top teams. And surely playing against Pakistan’s quality attack will improve us more and more.

The tour’s fate is yet to be decided. But as an optimist I’m quite sure that Bangladesh will not neglect Pakistan.

Courtesy: www.sportpulse.net

Appointment of Ijaz Ahmed as Bating Coach

PCB has appointed Ijaz Ahmed as batting consultant / batting coach for the tour of Zimbabwe. He has performed the same duties in recent past but was failed to provide positive results. Experts are agreed that Ijaz Ahmed’s own technique of batting is not correct. This is a serious question that if his own technique is not correct, how he can correct the youngsters.  Here another question arise that, is there no other Pakistani former player to be appointed as Coach. What has happened to Inzamam, Basit Ali, Asif Mujtabah and other legends like Saeed Anwer and Javed Miadad. We can found the answer in one of the interview of Shahid Afridi which he recorded for a TV Channel. He said that Waqar Younis became against me because I suggested the name of Javed Miadad as Batting Coach.

Infact in Pakistan every one wants authority. Every politician, every officer and even every supper star wants authority instead of only performing his duties. The only reason because of PCB is not appointing a capable and responsible supper star as batting coach is that Waqar Younis does not want another support star to share authority with him. Even PCB chairman also not wants to appoint a person as batting coach who can interfere in team matters and can challenge his wishes. Otherwise there is no other hurdle in appointment of batting coach for the team.

To me the appointment of Ijaz Ahmed as batting coach will produce no positive results and it is just a tactic to reduce the pressure of cricket fans for appointment of batting coach.

Shahid Afridi Vs PCB – Drop Scene

Disciplinary committee has find Shahid Afridi for Rs. 4.5 millions and the NoC of Shahid Afridi will be restored so that he can play County cricket. After this decision Shahid Afridi said that he is not presently in mode to play international cricket for Pakistan. He said that he is satisfied the way the matters preceded.

The question is for what he has been punished? What is his crime? Is it Kingdom of Ijaz Butt or PCB? What happened if Afridi disclosed a group which is working against him. This is not the first time when a Hero from Pakistan has been humiliated. This is our tradition to humiliate our heroes and the same we did with Afridi. All these happened against the desires of Pakistani people. The question is why all these happened if Pakistani people are against? And the answer is that there is no real democracy in Pakistan, infact this is a worst dictatorship in shape of civilian face.   

Is Sri Lanka Tour to Pakistan Possible?

Sri Lankan Player Mahela Jayawardene. has stated that he and other Sri Lankan players have not forgotten Lahore attack on Sri Lankan team.  Officials of Sri Lankan board are also showing their concerns on the due tour of Sri Lankan team to Pakistan.

Sri Lankan players and board are very right, because the current worst seucity situation of Pakistan is not suitable for any international activity. In a situation where the security forces are not safe in their own home, how can they provide security to others?  We Pakistan cricket fans should realize this fact that we are facing worst security situation, therefore, we should not desire any team to visit Pakistan in current situation.

The stance of PCB is stupid as it remains always on other issues. They are stressing Sri Lankan board for tour without realizing the sensitivity of security issue. Pakistan can not afford more security laps for any visiting team. Therefore, inspite stressing Sri Lankan for tour, PCB should start work on plan ‘B’ of a neutral venue. This will be in favour of both the nation. 

PCB – Dog's Tail

After the establishment of current government, unfortunately Pakistan is facing bad news from every field of life.  Suicide attacks on innocent people of Pakistan are a matter of routine. Drone attacks are addition to these suicide attacks. 20 hours so called load shading in 42+⁰ temperature is another disaster. Cricket is such an activity which Pakistani people can use to forget these problems for some time and can divert their attention towards normal life by watching good cricket matches.  But unfortunately this government destroyed the whole structure of Pakistan cricket also as it did with other organizations. President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari gifted the chairmanship of PCB to one of the relative of his Jailmate Ahmed Mukhtair.  This is fact that Ijaz Butt is enjoying this appointment because of his relationship with Ahmed Mukhtair, otherwise a wise man will not allowed him to enter in the premises of PCB office.

The tragedy of Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Aamir and attack on Sri Lankan players is on the credit of this management. This management destroyed Younis Khan by mentally torching and promoting grouping against him. Younis Khan is a player who is capable of leading Pakistan and is also capable to groom the upcoming batting talent of Pakistan. But this management has nothing to do with the success of Pakistan cricket. It has its own mysterious agenda.

After Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi gave some good hopes to Pakistan cricket. But again this management started conspiracies against him. Before the world cup it tried to remove Shahid Afridi from captaincy but because of immense pressure from Pakistan cricket fans this management avoid to do so at that time. But now as all the nation is focused on the dangerous situation of the country because of some differences with USA, this management shamelessly act upon its plan and appointed Misbah as captain. What is the justification for appointment of Misbah as captain? What agenda this board want to complete through the captaincy of Misbah? You can’t consider it future planning because he cannot play for long time because of his age factor.

The conclusion for the current PCB board is “Dog Tail will remain tilted for ever” 

Indian Team Tour to Pakistan – What is The Real Plan

According to media reports, Indian cricket team tour to Pakistan is under consideration but no final decision has been taken yet. Permission from the two governments has given a hope to cricket fans for this tour.

In current worst security situation of Pakistan even players from any country will have concerns regarding tour to Pakistan.  Therefore, the tour of Indian team to Pakistan in recent future is out of question. So PCB needs to understand the planning of Indian government behind this permission. This permission from Indian government has provided chances to Indian media to speak against security problems of Pakistan loudly. Indian government will tell the world that we want to resume cricket ties with Pakistan but security problem does not allow us.  Because Indian government is under pressure from the world community for resumption of cricket diplomacy with Pakistan. Resultantly if the team of other friendly country want to visit Pakistan will also became impossible. Because their players will also set example of Indian cricketers and will follow them in avoiding visit to Pakistan.

Therefore, to counter this plan from Indian government PCB should offer neutral venue very quickly. And this will be a testing time for BCCI. If they are sincere in doing so, they will accept it and if they are working on another plan, they will make excuse for neutral venue also. After once playing on neutral venue, both the boards can plan for playing in India or Pakistan some other times.

PCB and The Dilemma of Batting Coach

The requirements of modern cricket are completely different from those of 1990s. In those days only one coach was good enough for the coaching of the players. Now-a-days different cricket boards are appointing different coaches for different fields according to their weakness.  But the planning of Pakistan cricket boards is different from all other boards. This is an obvious fact that Pakistani batting line is not reliable. There are talented batsmen in Pakistan cricket team but they required grooming. So, therefore, a batting coach is compulsion of Pakistan cricket team, but inspite appointment of one enthusiastic batting coach, PCB had appointed two bowling coaches in the shape of Waqar Younis and Aqib Javed. Although the responsibilities of Waqar Younis are of head coach but as we know that he was pure bowler, therefore, one cannot expect from him that he will coach the team in batting field.  The only perplexing question is, what are the hurdles in appointment of Batting Coach for Pakistan Cricket Team.  Demand for batting coach was there before the world cup but PCB ignored it.  Pakistan cricket fans were expecting that PCB will realize the importance of batting coach after World cup and will appoint a batting coach, but amazingly PCB is still not interesting. It adopted the same stupid method, that we are trying to make agree Javed Miandad, and as often Javed Miandad is not agree. Shahid Afridi has very rightly said that If Javed is not agree then appoint some one else.

Pakistan has potential players of the past whom can meet the responsibilities. Players like Saeed Anwar, Basit Ali, Rameez Raja and Mohsin Hassan Khan can contribute positively. So, this is not a hard task for PCB, PCB can meet this responsibility easily by appointing one of the above legends as batting coach.

When Waqar Younis was performing the duties of Bowling Coach and Aqib Javed was out of the team management during tour to Sri Lanka of Pakistan cricket team few years ago, I heard him so many times, that If I am on the place of Waaqr Younis, I will not travel with the team and will prefer to perform my duties in academies, but now when Waqar Younis is there with the team, Aqib has forgotten his words and is traveling with the team regularly. So, in the best interest of team he should perform his duties in the academies and should empty his seat for batting coach in the best interest of Pakistan cricket team.

New Talent in Pakistan Cricket Team – Who Will Groom Them?

PCB has announced team for the Tour of West Indies 2011. Some senior players have been dropped and new talent has been inducted. The induction of new talent is good step. Now these new players have to be groomed by the seniors, but unfortunately there is no senior like Javed Miadad and Imran Khan in the current team who can aware them regarding importance of  singles and doubles. Younis Khan has been dropped and Misbah has no potential to groom this talent. Asad Shafiq and Umer Akmal are young and they required grooming themselves.  So, this is huge disadvantage for this young talent. Kamran Akmal has been also dropped because of his bad wicket keeping, no one can support him as wicketkeeper, but he was the only batsman who was able to play drives like Saeed Anwar and Inzamam. If PCB gave him a chance as batsman and released the pressure of wicket keeping from him he has the potential to become a useful part of batting line.

Now, how can PCB meet the problem of grooming the new talent? Only an enthusiastic coach can dot it off the field. Therefore, an enthusiastic coach is required. Although Javed Miadad is legend, but he is aged and had been unsuccessful in making his relationship with the players in past, therefore, PCB should think for some one else. Saeed Anwer and Basit Ali can perform the duties. Both were attacking players and were gifted to adjust themselves with situation occasionally as well.

So PCB should take bold step for appointment of one of them as coach quickly for the upcoming tour of West Indies. 

Shoaib Kamran Ki Petai Karkay Hero Bun Saktata

Shoaib Akhtar is famous for his aggression in dressing room with his colleague players and team management.

Muhammad Asif and Shoaib Akhtar controversy is famous. According to media reports in South Africa Shoaib Akhtar hammer Muhammad Asif when Asif disagree with some views of Shoaib Akhtar. Thanks to Shahid Afridi who save Asif at that moment.

Another controversy is also famous when Shoaib Akhtar push (Late) Bob Wolmer and in result he was send back home by the team management.

Besides the above controversies he has been awarded punishments so many times for his aggressive behavior. But   amazingly he just scream when Kamran Akmal dropped couple of catches on his bowling. People of Pakistan did not like his reaction in this manner.

Infact Shoaib Akhtar missed a very golden chance to become the hero of Pakistan’s cricket fan. Pakistan’s fans were desiring that he should take bat from Ross Tailyer and hammer Karman Akmal on the spot. By this way he was in the position to become a real hero of Pakistan cricket fans. Because the career of Shoiab Akhtar is also at end, and there was no problem for him from ICC. Because ICC was just able to ban him and after this world cup Shoaib has no chance to play for Pakistan again. But by retiring on this style to take Kamaran Akmal with himself, he was set to become the real Hero of Pakistan Cricket Fans.

Its look like Kamran Akmal has read the same “DUM” (Magic) on Shoiab Akhtar which he has read on PCB. No doubt that the “DUM” which Akmal has is a real magic. 

Shahid Alam (Nowshera)

Trio Should Show Moral Courage Like Hansie Cronje

   

After punished by ICC Trio are criticizing ICC and PCB through Media regularly.  The question is, for what they are criticizing ICC and PCB as they have admitted their spot fixing crime in front of tribunal. In on of his statement Muhammad Amir said that 5 years ban punishment for just 2 no balls is too much. Imagine what is thinking of this young man. Has he not known the importance of these two no balls for bookies?  

Amazingly these players have not been apologized for their actions yet.  Which is a matter of concern for the supporters of these players? It means that they are not ashamed for their actions.

At least they should accept the crime openly and apologies from the whole nation. Because all evidence on ground are against them. They should show courage and moral like Hansie Cronje and should apologize for their crimes openly.

Only after making their characters clean and transparent they can think for playing again. And it is very important for the people of Pakistan to not support trio baselessly, because it will encourage other youngsters for negative thinking, which is not in favour of cricket and especially Pakistan cricket. 

Win Against Host New Zeland - Rise of Falling Sun Again

Pakistan cricket team has won  ODIs series 2011 against New Zealand in New Zealand. It is all because of hard work by our players. Although there were concerns in the mind of Pakistan cricket fans because of captaincy controversy, which is created by PCB itself, but players concentrated only on game and avoid to become part of this controversy, which is a positive sing for Pakistan cricket.

Most of the Pakistan cricket experts say that this is not a big win, because New Zealand was beaten by Bangladesh, but these experts forgot this fact that New Zealand is a different team at their home ground. These experts should not forget 1992 world cup. Besides this, Pakistan team is also surrounding by controversies. In this difficult time, this win is a very positive sign for upcoming world for Pakistan cricket fans. 

Combination of senior and junior players showed the world that Pakistan cricket is not over.  A very positive sign of this team is that almost all batsmen are in form. Every one has contributed in different matches. Hafiz, Ahmed Shezad, Shahid Afrid, Misbah Ul Haq, Umer Akmal and Younis Khan reminded the world that  they have the capability to give tough time to any team in upcoming world cup.

Only dedication is required, if every player applied himself and concentrated only on game, no reason that Pakistan can perform well against Australia, India, South Africa and England also  in world cup 2011. 

Shocking Defeat in Ist ODI – A Terrible Trailer of Performance of Pakistan Cricket Team in Upcoming World Cup 2011

The way Pakistan loss first ODI to New Zealand may be trailer of performance of Pakistan team in upcoming world cup 2011. Success and defeat is part of the game but the story of the defeat of Pakistan is looking different. Every player was under pressure and was trying to safe his place in the team; due to this pressure players were unable to present their natural game. The reason of Pressure was stupid attitude of PCB. As we know that PCB has delayed announcement of Captain for World Cup 2011 for unknown reasons. Therefore, a rivalry has come into existence between Shahid Khan Afridi and Misbah Ul Haq. Because due to Misbah’s some fifties in Test Matches nonsense Ijaz Butt want him as captain. How short of performance is our team, 2 or 3 fifties are enough for captaincy.

Now some players may like Shahid Afridi and some may like Mishab, because demanding change is habit of our nation from beginning in Politics and other field of life also. So, therefore, the focus of the players is not on the game but on other matters. Cricket is a game of concentration, but unfortunately our players are not able to do so under these circumstance. It is clear by the performance of some players that they are underperforming by advice of some high profile person of PCB to demote Shahid Afridi. As Shahid is aware of the situation, therefore, he is also in immense pressure.  His inning was complete failure, after getting chances he was still not able to apply himself. This is the result of the pressure of PCB which he is feeling on himself for survive as captain. He knows that PCB is going to disgrace him by removing him from captaincy in this important time of his career when all the stage is set for world cup 2011.

It will be better for Shahid Afridi to withdraw himself not even from captaincy but from world cup team also. Because in this situation when on the advice of Chairman PCB players are not with him he cannot perform well as captain and as batsman also.