Adil Najam
This news item in The News intrigued me:
A galaxy of former cricket stars on Sunday stepped forward and offered a helping hand in a bid to lift Pakistan cricket out of the prevailing crisis. Ex-Pakistan captains Rameez Raja, Wasim Akram, Inzamam ul Haq, Saeed Anwar and Mushtaq Ahmad met Law Minister Farooq H Naek in Lahore and offered to put in a team effort aimed at improving Pakistan cricket. Naek welcomed their suggestions and later floated the idea of setting up of a high-powered committee formed by ex-Test stars that will help in ensuring a smooth functioning of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
He said that by garnering the support of former greats, Pakistan cricket can regain its rightful place on the world stage. “It would be great to have our cricket legends backing efforts for the betterment of cricket,” said Naek. The minister said a five-men committee, comprising former stars, should be formed to ensure that cricket was run in a professional manner in Pakistan. Pakistan cricket is facing hard times as top teams are refusing to tour the country because of security fears. World champions Australia scrapped a Test tour of Pakistan earlier this year while September’s ICC Champions Trophy which was to be held here was postponed after five of the eight competing teams raised safety concerns. Pakistani cricketers are now starved of international cricket while the PCB is facing a financial crunch because of major losses due to the postponement of the Australia series and the Champions Trophy.
It is because of the grim situation that the ex-Test stars have decided to campaign for Pakistan cricket. They are suggesting that a World XI should be invited to Pakistan to play a series, saying that such an exercise would help restore the country’s image in the cricket world. They gave this suggestion during an hour-long meeting with Naek. “We had a useful meeting in which the former Test cricketers expressed their concern over the downfall of the game and the situation we are facing in which foreign teams are not visiting Pakistan,” said the minister. Naek said that these cricketers should be given a wider role by including them in a committee that could help curtail the powers of the PCB chairman. Raja said he and his fellow players had no hidden agendas. “We are just here to help Pakistan cricket,” he stressed.
I read this, and was at first intrigued, then momentarily amused, and then left with a rather disturbed.
What does this say about the state of Pakistan cricket? What does this say about the state of Pakistan? Is this a reflection of where our society stands today, or where our cricket stands today? Maybe, it reflects both. Both our society and our cricket is reflecting that sense of helplessness and near hopelessness that wants us all to do something, but leaves us unsure about what needs to be done.
I do not know the answers to any of the above. But this I know. Reading this odd news item left me hoping that Pakistan cricket would be revived, whether by these former stalwarts or by someone else. I desperately need to hear good news about Pakistan. Not made up good news. But real and really good news.
Where better to look for it than on the cricket field!
why did the meet the law minister. Why mor the sports minister?
I think you are on to something about this level of hopelessness and sadness that has captured the whole nation. With bombings, and killings, and military dictators, and corrupt politicians, and kicked out judiciaries, and energy crisis and food shortage and everything it seems like nothing is going right and everything is falling apart.
Cricket was one thing we could usually count on and now even that is down the drain and full of corruption and politics. That only makes you even more depressed.
Like you, I also want them to success in somehow reviving cricket. That will give people a reason to cheer and the reassurance that not all is lost. Otherwise depression kills.
I, for one, do not find anything amusing in this story. We’re in very distressing state, but what would you rather have them do, try nothing and close shop? At least they’re trying to throw some darts, and hoping some will stick.
It does speak volumes about the security situation in Pakistan that we are probably going to play all our home games in Dubai for the next three years. But really, we can’t blame the government for everything.
Many Pakistanis (watch any current affairs program on GEO, for instance) refuse to acknowledge that the Taliban/Al Qaeda pose a threat to the very existence of our country.
As long as the Taliban continue their bombings, and the Pakistani people continue to turn a blind eye, Pakistan won’t be safe enough to host any international sport, let alone cricket.
adil:
wish the former cricketers all the best in their endeavours
the same Board that seeks their help is also venturing to sign a US 9 million contract with Dubai Sports City to play all their matches there….LINK