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?
Only 5 million paltry rupees? Yousuf should have been awarded a plot in Islamabad, and the National Stadium should be renamed after him. The world record – you cant touch that…
[quote comment=”15114″]I have not seen any evidence at all that he was forced to leave his religion adn from his acctions on adn off the field he does not indicate that it was in any way forced. It is not very becoming to insuate otherwise without evidence.[/quote]
…successful people tend not to give up their religion willingly. Either circumstances or people force them to. Think what it would take for you to give up yours.
this is just so typical of our rulers, whether in the shape of the military or the bureaucracy, to consider money as the only reward for appreciation, no matter where that money comes from and what our debt ratio is. It just goes to show how they weigh in their rewards for doing us the favour of running our country!!! I fully agree that some sort of a medal of honour and recognition along with some token money would have been more than sufficient. But who will make the leaders appreciate such subtle methods of respect and honour.
I have not seen any evidence at all that he was forced to leave his religion adn from his acctions on adn off the field he does not indicate that it was in any way forced. It is not very becoming to insuate otherwise without evidence.
hey, if I am forced to give up my religion, the least I would expect is to be made rich.