Moving in circles

The surprising appointment of Misbah-ul-Haq as captain of the national cricket team appears to have more symbolic value than anything else. Apparently, the Pakistan Cricket Board management wants the world to believe that it has moved on after the disastrous England tour.

The appointment of Shahid Afridi, as was being suggested in official loud-thinking sessions, would have negated that impression. Many may ask if Afridi has merit-based claims to the title, but once Salman Butt was out of the picture, there had to be someone else in the hot seat. From that perspective — though a narrow one — the PCB decision makes some sense. Beyond that, however, it is a continuation of what the board has been doing over the last couple of years: lurching from crisis to crisis and managing the team in a style that involves moving in circles. The return to the fold of Intikhab Alam as manager and the constant denial of access to Younis Khan are just two examples that suffice to prove the point. The man who should have led the side even on the English tour is forced to play first-class cricket because he is not in the good books of the PCB supremo.

Intriguingly, the latter has adopted different methods to deal with various individuals who have been slapped with fines and bans in the same case. This is hardly the stuff one would find being taught in a human resource management class, but the PCB chief has gotten away with much more. In the interest of Pakistan cricket, one would like to hope for the best and see the team doing well in the matches ahead. But under a captain who has been plucked out of the wilderness to fill the gap this may well prove to be a tough task

Sohail calls on government to revive Pakistan cricket

Aamer Sohail, the former Pakistan captain, has criticised the nation's government for failing to put a check on the various crises affecting cricket in the country. Several Pakistan cricketers were punished in the aftermath of a winless tour of Australia in 2009-10 and, most recently, Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were provisionally suspended by the ICC over suspicion of being involved in the spot-fixing controversy during the tour of England. Sohail called on the patron-in-chief of the PCB, the Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari, to step in.

"The government must realise it [cricket] is not just a sport in Pakistan, a country where there are so many religious, political and other divisions," Sohail told Geo TV. "In a country where people are facing so many crises and problems, the government must realise cricket has always served as a unifying factor.

"The chief patron must wake up to the reality and the seriousness of the crisis. Good governance is all about recognising the potential of cricket to unify the people and give them happiness and joy in their lives."

Sohail, not for the first time, was critical of Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, over the current state of affairs. Sohail had served as the director of Pakistan's National Cricket Academy, before quitting in July 2009, because of differences with Butt.

"I am really surprised that a seasoned political party like the Pakistan Peoples Party has still not realised that things are not moving forward with this present set-up and chairman," Sohail said.

Pakistan recently announced their team for the tour of the UAE, where they will face South Africa in each of the three formats. Misbah-ul-Haq was included in the team and, in a surprising move, made captain for the Test series. Younis Khan, whose ban after the Australia series was overturned, wasn't picked. "For no rhyme or reason Ijaz Butt refuses to give clearance for Younis to be in the Pakistan team. If Younis has committed a major crime or indiscipline then it is the duty of the board to let the people know so that this chapter is closed once for all," Sohail said.

"Enough is enough and I don't think any former chairman of the board has faced so much criticism and opposition for his manner of running cricket affairs. Yet the government appears to be blind to popular public opinion even though it preaches democracy."

Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab out of IPL, Kochi spared

 

MUMBAI: In a drastic step, the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) on Sunday unanimously decided to "terminate" the franchise agreements of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, while sparing the newly-inducted Kochi team.
The Kochi franchisee has been issued a notice, asking them to resolve all their disputes.
The decision means that the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League will feature eight teams for the time being despite the addition of two new teams in Kochi and Pune.
The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the IPL Governing council at MCA Recreation Centre here.
"It was unanimously decided that the franchise agreements with K P H Dream Cricket Pvt Ltd (Kings XI) and Jaipur IPL Cricket Pvt Ltd (Rajasthan Royals) be terminated forthwith based on the Legal opinions obtained by BCCI in the matters," the BCCI said in a release.
"It was further unanimously decided to issue a notice to the unincorporated joint venture holding the Kochi franchise calling upon them to resolve all their disputes and form a company which will hold the IPL franchise rights."
"Accordingly, P R Raman, advocate for BCCI has been given instructions to issue all the three notices," BCCI said.
The three franchise teams -- Rajasthan Royals, Kings Eleven Punjab and newly-bought Kochi -- were given show cause notices by BCCI on September 29 as they had not complied with the rules governing the franchisers.

Misbah vows to 'lift Pak team on and off the field' following turbulent period

In the wake of numerous controversies engulfing the Pakistan cricket team, newly inducted Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has expressed the hope of resurrecting it, and added that the off-field problems would end if the players focused on on-field performances.
"I will try to lift the team on and off the field with the help of the management," The News quoted Misbah, as saying to a news agency.
"I think if all the players focus on performance on the ground, then all the off-field things which are disturbing us will be solved," he added.
Talking about the upcoming series against South Africa, the batsman noted that conditions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai would favour Pakistan.
"South Africa is one of the top sides in Test cricket, so we need to be at our best to compete with them. I am confident that conditions in UAE will suit us," he said.
Though he said his vast experience captaining domestic teams would come in handy, he acknowledged that "captaining a national team is different, and is a great challenge."
"Our bowling is exceptionally good and will be able to hold all challenges," he noted, adding, "We need to lift our batting, which has been a big problem."
"As far as my own performance (is concened), I will try my best to make lead contributions, and want to play as long as I am performing well. That has always been my goal," he said.
Misbah, who has never before captained Pakistan in Test matches, has been recalled to the national team for the one-dayers and Twenty20s against South Africa after a gap of six months.
The 36-year-old has so far played 19 Tests, 56 one-day and 29 Twenty20 for Pakistan since his debut in 2001

The grim tale of Pakistan cricket

It's often said that things get worse before they get better. In recent years one has been hoping that things will, somehow, start getting better for Pakistan cricket.

There's been no such luck and our national pastime remains mired in this seemingly endless things-getting-worse phase as people at the helm of Pakistan's cricket affairs continue committing the same mistakes again and again.
I won't even talk about the so-called 'spot fixing' scandal, which was a direct result of what is a weak and incompetent Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Instead, let's talk about PCB's decision to recall Misbah-ul-Haq out of nowhere and then to install him as Pakistan's Test captain for the series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates next month.
Let's talk about what's happening to our World Cup 2011 plans. More importantly, let's also talk about PCB's decision to snub Younis Khan once again even though almost everybody I know agrees that Pakistan desperately need a batsman like him.
Misbah is already 36, which means that age is definitely not on his side. His last Test appearance came more than eight months ago in Sydney where he flopped in both the innings, falling for 11 and 0. He hasn't featured in any One-day International after playing a Champions Trophy match against Australia at Centurion in September 2009. His last four Twenty20 International outings have fetched him just 19 runs.
Yet Misbah was picked to represent Pakistan in all three formats of the game against South Africa. More importantly, PCB has decided to appoint the middle-order batsman as Pakistan's Test captain, replacing Salman Butt who is currently under suspension for his alleged role in a corruption scandal.
Can a captain with such credentials and a question mark over his form inspire a team like Pakistan, which is still reeling after an acrimonious tour of England? A quick look at his recent stats makes it quite obvious that Misbah is just a shadow of his previous self. His last eight Test scores are: 21, 33, 0, 7, 65, 0,11 and 0 - a total of 137 runs at 19.57. He was a controversial choice even when Pakistan picked him for the ICC World Twenty20 this year and was dumped after he flopped miserably in the Caribbean. His last seven T20I scores are: 0, 3, 3, 13, 41, 8 and 5. Misbah has a good T20 career record with 577 runs from 29 matches at 36.06 but he has just scored 85 runs in his last ten matches.
Misbah was touted as a future captain after scoring prolifically on the 2007 tour of India but is yet to prove his leadership ability.
In contrast, Younis Khan inspires a lot more trust. The 32-year-old may not have played for Pakistan since the catastrophic tour of Australia but nobody can argue the fact that he is one of Pakistan's most prolific Test batsmen. Younis has a career average of over 50 in Test cricket and is a part of an elite group of players, who have scored a Test triple century.
But people at the helm of Pakistan's cricket affairs will tell you that Younis needs a 'clearance' to get selected for national duty.
What clearance? Has he been accused of fixing matches? Has he used or carried illegal drugs? Has he beaten up a teammate? No, he hasn't committed any of those crimes. Had he been involved in such practices, probably the PCB would have taken him in the team because, after all, the Board has been backing players with poor track records. Most of the players, who have been involved in serious breaches of discipline are either in the team or will be picked for it once cleared by higher authorities. You know what I mean.
What Younis has done is much worse, at least in the eyes of the PCB chiefs. He has defied them and their tendency to take whimsical decisions. Younis has dared to question their decision to ban him after the tour of Australia. He has asked for reasons that forced the PCB to ban him indefinitely after the tour. And he refused to say sorry, insisting that he won't apologize for something he didn't do in the first place.
It's actually absurd. Because the fate of a cricketer with over 5000 Test runs and a World Cup triumph under his belt is in the hands of a man who has done more harm to our cricket than anybody else, at least in recent times.
Ijaz Butt, the PCB chairman, is the man who has refused to clear Younis for Pakistan duty. Why are we still allowing such a character to dictate terms is beyond my comprehension.
Pakistan were crushed by England in the previous series and it doesn't seem that things would get any better for them when they face South Africa in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in two T20s, five ODIs and two Tests.
Even more alarming is the fact that Pakistan have once again put themselves on the wrong track in the lead up to the World Cup. The much-awaited event is just a few months away but sadly Pakistan are only messing up things, which could lead to yet another World Cup disaster. The 1992 champions flopped miserably in the 2003 and 2007 editions and might once again disappoint millions of their fans both at home and abroad in World Cup 2011 to be played in Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.
A whispering campaign has been going on in our cricketing circles about a rift between Pakistan coach Waqar Younis and his senior players. By delaying naming a captain for the limited overs series against South Africa, the PCB has only added weight to all such rumors.
Earlier this year, the Board has hinted that Shahid Afridi will continue as Pakistan's captain till World Cup 2011 but it had a few second thoughts before retaining the all-rounder as skipper for the UAE tour.
It's an open secret that Pakistan's team is far from united right now.
There was similar acrimony among team members before the 2003 World Cup in South Africa and four years later Inzamam-ul-Haq failed to unite the team and Pakistan crashed out of the first round following a shocking defeat against Ireland. Unless, Pakistan miraculously overcome the problems in their dressing room, there seems little hope for them to regain the World Cup next year

Former Pakistan players protest

Former players and selectors have criticised ex-captain Younis Khan's continued omission from Pakistan squads, terming it an "injustice" and "loss" to the national team.

The 32-year-old was omitted from both the limited overs and Test squads against South Africa announced in the past two days, despite the lifting in June of an indefinite ban imposed on him.

Younis was among seven players banned and fined following Pakistan's winless tour of Australia, which was marred by disciplinary problems.

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Pakistan's chief selector Mohsin Khan said Younis had not been given clearance by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt, who wanted the player to contact him.
Former chief selector Iqbal Qasim criticised the PCB for targeting Younis.
"Younis' omission is a case of ego problem," Qasim told AFP. "Not selecting him despite his ban (being) overturned is (an) injustice and is definitely a loss to the team."
Younis relinquished the captaincy in November last year after falling out with some team-mates. He was recalled for the one-day series in Australia earlier this year before being banned.
He was also overlooked for the tour of England, where Pakistan levelled a two-Test series against Australia 1-1 but went down 3-1 against England in Tests and 2-3 in one-day internationals.
Qasim lashed out at recalled batsman Misbah-ul-Haq's appointment as Test captain.
"This can only happen in Pakistan that a player who was not in the team is given the captaincy besides being recalled after a gap," said Qasim of Misbah, who was dropped from the Test team following the tour of Australia.
Another former chief selector, Abdul Qadir, urged the PCB and Younis to resolve their differences.
"I hope... the two parties, PCB or Younis, show flexibility and solve their differences, which will help the player to stage a comeback and help the team which needs him," Qadir told AFP.
Qadir questioned Misbah's recall and appointment as captain.
"Why did they drop Misbah if he was able enough to lead the team," said Qadir, a master leg-spinner in his day. "But since there are previous examples of players appointed captains from nowhere, we will have to accept it."
Qadir termed the limited overs squad a "veteran eleven."
Former captain Aamir Sohail said Younis's omission was a loss.
"I think Younis has some issues with PCB chairman and that's been a problem in his selection and it's harming the team's cause," said Sohail, also a former chief selector

Pak replaces fitness coach David Dwyer with Saboor Ahmad

Pakistan's cricket team manager Intikhab Alam has confirmed that fitness coach David Dwyer has been replaced by Saboor Ahmad.
Dwyer had joined the Pakistani setup in 2007 under former coach Geoff Lawson.
"Saboor Ahmad will be replacing Dwyer as Pakistan's fitness coach. Saboor has been working very closely with Dwyer and is the fitness coach at Pakistan's National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore," Cricistan.com quoted Alam, as saying.
"Saboor is a home grown talent from Pakistan who is well known by the players and has already been the fitness coach during U-19 tours, Pakistan-A tours and Pakistan Academy tours too."
"He has a lot of experience and has already worked with current and future Pakistan cricketers," he added.
Although Saboor's first official assignment would be the series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he has already stood in as fitness coach for the national team during the ODI series against England held in Dubai earlier this year.
Alam further said that Dwyer was replaced because he was continuing with the team on a series by series basis.
"Players need continuity when it comes to training, we couldn't continue to appoint Dwyer on a series by series basis. We needed a long term solution," Alam said