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!
The reason they met the Law Minister instead of the Sports Minister is that PCB, I don’t know the reason why, does NOT come under the Ministry of Sports, and one of the concerns that these ex crickters met with the Law Minister was the Sports Minister attending an ICC meeting as the Pakistani delegate, according to BBC they wanted someone who really knows about cricket to be present at such an important meeting.
In my opinion the Dubai deal sounds great, given the current circumstances Pakistan is really not in a position to host international sporting events. I am sure it will not take a very long time for things to be back to normal regarding our economic/sports/law and order situations. In the meanwhile I seriously think Pakistan should have toured the countries who refused to tour Pakistan and share the profits or struck some deals regarding the finances. This year long gap in our cricket is going to hurt us pretty bad, I am sure it could’ve been avoided.
Azhar,
You say ,”How can we win medals when we do not have enough to eat ? A hungry, malnourished, underfed, and physically weak nation cannot produce sports people capable of competing at the highest level.”
I think you are assuming that all of the nations that rank above Pakistan are better fed and economically better of. Just look at the list and you’ll know that your assumption has no basis in fact. Do you think Ethiopia, Togo, Afghanistan and Kenya on the 2008 medals list are better off than Pakistan?
Pakistan boasts a middle class of at least 25-30 million people, far larger than many of the countries that rank well above Pakistan in sports.
Pakistan has a lot of raw talent that can be groomed by a few good coaches and commercial sponsors to improve its sports performance significantly. It’ll take some initiative rather than excuses.
I think Pakistan’s biggest problem is the negative attitude of many of its people. If it can be overcome, Pakistanis can do a lot better in almost every field of endeavor, particularly if the private sector and citizens step forward to make a difference and stop counting on the politicians and the government.
Please read http://www.riazhaq.com/2008/09/light-candle-dont-c urse-darkness-in.html
What can you expect. I can staunchly defend Pakistani cricket but truth is what the reality is.
It is clear that when it comes to the state of security and the state of economy, we are at the level of a poor, wartorn country in backward regions of the World.
Pakistani team has thus been reduced to the same level as Zimbabwe. My take, unless the country improves, expect a mass exodus of top cricketing stars from Pakistan to UK and elsewhere.
Besides, cricketing is the least of our worries. Pakistan is dangerously nearing bankruptcy!
The affairs of Pakistan cricket or hockey or any other sport that Pakistan takes part in is a reflection of the overall situation of the country.Good news coming out of Pakistan is miles away.
A news photo from this meeting of cricketers with Mr Naek