In 1996 after the Bangalore tragedy Pakistan toured to England under Wasim Akram and since that tour the whole year for Pakistan had been brilliant. Records were made; trophies were won in plenty and as time marched on the Pakistani fans began to forget the Bangalore tragedy. Pakistan ended the 1996-97 seasons as the best team both in Test and ODI cricket. Wasim was walking through path of Imran. In 1997, under him Pakistan digested the West Indies a 3-0 whitewash and the then rankings put Pakistan ahead of Australia and South Africa. They were the best side in the World. Wasim was rocking as a captain.But the next year on the basis of some false allegations claimed by some hypocrites of Pakistan cricket Wasim was removed from captaincy. And the so called honest characters of Pakistan cricket were given the chance to lead. But what they did was nothing but destroyed the number one ranking and took Pakistan cricket to the doldrums. The false claims are more important than the most wanted leader.
Wasim came back, removed again, again came back and removed again. The circus show continued. And since 1992 the PCB has some somewhat been a total joke. There had been no cricketing sense and sensibility, no logical views and no long term stability. The world moves on but Pakistan cricket moves backward. The best suitable persons are overlooked and from no where the ability less characters are made to sit on the chair of captaincy and thus made the cricket look a complete mockery.
Last week, for criticizing Waqar’s interference on team selection, Shahid Afridi has been axed from the ODI captaincy. Afridi’s was on the knife’s edge during the New Zealand tour but he showed ample character and skill to help Pakistan win an ODI series since 2008. And during the tumultuous period of spot-fixing Afridi kept the unity intact and it reflected in the recently concluded World Cup where to the surprise of all, Pakistan played in the semifinals.
Pakistan gelled well against Afridi but in Pakistan they just hate good things. They love to spoil things. Remember how Younis Khan was giving Pakistan stability in 2009? He was being regarded as the leader of men. But sadly on the basis of false claims Younis had to be removed and the person who pointed finger towards Younis later on proved to be the biggest crook. How important these personalities are in Pakistan! How badly the best characters are harassed in Pakistan cricket!
Since 1992 chopping and changing captains has been a culture in Pakistan cricket. And more importantly, the captain who takes Pakistan cricket to the helm of glories meets a sorry end. Wasim Akram, Younis Khan, Javed Miandad, Younis khan and now Shahid Afridi all had made Pakistan look better from ugly. But their rewards had been pathetic.
Ijaz Butt’s useless egos certainly have to be blamed but Ijaz Butt is a product of a rotten Pakistani cricket culture which is simply been necrosed and infracted by filthy politics. Time and again good works are washed down the drains and the worst players are vested on the job.
Though Misbah-ul-Haq has been good in test cricket but at 37 he is not the long term solution. As Osman Samiuddin says, “Misbah might be a decent captain. His form since his return to all formats last year has been outstanding, even if it takes in the much-pilloried World Cup semi-final half-century against India. But turning to a man who turns 37 on the day he leads Pakistan against Ireland in the first ODI isn't a long-term solution.”
Airing private matters in public had been the reason of Afridi’s sacking and that came through the growth of differences with the coach Waqar Younis. But it can happen and for which sacking the best man for the job is an unprofessional act and none better than the PCB bosses can do better in exhibiting unprofessional acts. In the past captains were changed like toilet tissue papers without even a second thought.
Writers and fans all over the world are tired and exhausted with the stupidity of the PCB. The moment they began to dream a settled Pakistan unit and the next day they discover their dreams being shattered by the idiotic PCB bosses.
19 years have passed since Imran have retired, two decades has gone and sadly those stupidi
