This picture, proudly displayed on the PCB webpage and in many Pakistani newspapers, is from the President of Pakistan’s reception for the cricket team shows Mr President 
handing a check of Rs 5 million (50 lakhs) to Mohammad Yousuf, the stylish batsman who recently broke the world record for runs and centuries scored in a year.
While every Pakistani is proud of Yousuf’s achievements and his incredible form over the past year, does it behoove the President of the Republic to award him with a substantial amount of money from public funds when the PCB has already announced an award of Rs 1 million through their official sponsor?
This award is over and above the Rs 1 million that the Prime Minister awarded, and another benovolent Governor of Sindh awarding him Rs 0.5 million. Hence, by the last count, Mohammad Yousuf has been awarded Rs 6.5 million from public funds and Rs 1 million from the PCB (another public institution).
While no one should begrudge what Mr Yousuf receives from private parties for his magnificent achievements, is it the official business of governmental figures to reward cricketers or any other sportsperson with such substantial funds from the public exchequer? Is this some kind of auction or race to achieve superiority over who gives more for this cause? First it was the PCB, then the Governor of Sindh, then the Prime Minister, and now the President. The irony is that Musharraf, in full military attire, is awarding a cricketer the equivalent of 120 years of the average annual income in Pakistan!
Wouldn’t an offical civilian award or the Pride of Performance along with a token monetary award been more appropriate?
This may be in line with the ill-advised image-building program of both the Prime Minister and the President or it may have something to do with Yousuf’s recent conversion, but to me it is akin to some gross colonial practice of rewarding the locals who help the master’s image rather than using their official power and office to help the desperately poor and the ones in dire need. Such practice has been a favorite of our rulers; including, for example, the money that poured to Javed Miandad after his famous ‘Sharjah sixer.’
Is it just me or does no one else see the inappropriateness of the President’s actions?
First and foremost Congratulations to Yousuf on his personal glory and making us proud.
The Cricket team are very well rewarded for doing their jobs – to perform well. They would be history, if they did not do their job. We all have worked in our careers by the same rule. There is a difference between Recognition and Reward. We do Recognise his great performance, as was SIR Viv Richards by granting him Knighthood and THAT has no monetary price. Give him the high honor.
This is not the first time that the President/Prime Minister etc. have showered money when the team plays well. Would they also be penalised when they (often) perform badly? This reminds me of the MADARI KA TAMASHA, wherein the audience were told that TOTA TOUP CHALAYEGA, and whenever the Parrot fired the gun, it would get the seed, otherwise……..
ATurab: I guess this pic is from Poly Clinic islamabad … !
well OK great records are broken here – he played well – he is playing well – But 5 million is heck of an amount … we pay huge amounts of taxes – I guess just so that our hukmaraans can distribute them just like that … I totally agree with zamanov’s point here …!
The whole point of this post is not about the magnificent success of Mohammad Yousuf or what he does with his money. Like I said, what the PCB gave him was a substantial amount from their corporate funds and that is all well and good. The issue is with the President, Prime Minister, and Governor of Sindh giving him PUBLIC money. Unless they gave those checks from their own personal salary!
Every nation salutes their heroes in sport, and Musharraf did the right thing by inviting them and commending their performance. I repeat, the issue here is that in his military uniform, he gives away an incredible amount of money (again PUBLIC money) to a single cricketer when that person has already been amply rewarded for his performance by the PCB.
I believe a high civilian award with a token monetary prize would have been much more appropriate and in line with the prestige of the President’s office. This just shows the hubris of these leaders: they own OUR money, they can give it to whomever they please and in whatever amount they please. If the National Assembly as the representatives of the people awarded this 6.5 million to Yousuf I would have no qualms, but if you still don’t see the point about public money being squandered for vanity then you deserve the present lot of leadership.
Turab, I believe most of the present lot of cricketers are decent folk and I am sure they give a lot to charity. I don’t care what Yousuf or any other sportsman does with his money. That’s their private matter. The focus is on the President and his actions. And for the record, I had already criticized the PM for dishing out plots to senior burueacrats like they were his personal jageer.
We must encourage and reward excellence however not in a disproportionate manner.
A great header image, Adil. While hockey may be the official national game, cricket is the sport that rules the galian and the maidaans of Pakistan. Muhamad Yusuf’s record is a testimony to the sheer talent that abounds the streets of Pakistan, and monies he may receive in gifts (gov’t or private) are a tribute to those children playing in shalwar Kameez with zero or single pads on.
It remains to be seen how he may use that money. I remember the days when cricket bats signed by players would be donated to charities and would raise many more lakhs than these gifts. Would Muhammad Yusuf do something similar? I really hope so. He now has an image with Pakistanis that should be cultivated (and then harvested) for the public good. Any motivated philanthropic fundrasiers on this list?