24hrs-live-sports events: Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan

Posted: 10 Mar 2010 12:48 PM PST

In a very bold move by the PCB, Younis Khan and Mohd Yousuf have been suspended from the team while Rana Naveed and Shoaib Malik given a one year ban each from cricket. Shahid Afridi and the Akmal brothers were fined Rs2-3 million for various misdemeanors and put on six-month probation. That is a whopping verdict against SEVEN top players of the present Pakistan cricket team.

“Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, keeping in view their infighting which resulted in bringing down the whole team, their attitude has a trickledown effect which is a bad influence for the whole team should not be part of national team in any format,” Typically there was confusion and the board later appeared to climb down by clarifying that this was not the end of their careers. In a statement released at least six hours after the original release, the board said, “that the recommendation of the Committee is not a life ban on these cricketers. There is no specified term in the recommendation for these two players. As and when the PCB deems appropriate, these players will be considered for selection for the national team.”

“Rana Naved ul Hasan and Shoaib Malik be fined Rupees Two million. They should not be part of national team in any format for a period of one year.” Malik’s name has figured persistently at the centre of speculation over the last year in inciting player unrest within the team, though nothing substantial has appeared in public to back that up.

In contrast, the cases of Akmal brothers and Shahid Afridi are straightforward. The brothers were fined for their behavior in the aftermath of the Sydney Test; Kamran was dropped by the board but insisted publicly he would be selected in the run-up to the third Test. Younger brother Umar was alleged to have feigned an injury to not play the Test in protest, though he did eventually play. Kamran has been fined Rs 3 million, Umar Rs 2 million and the pair are on probation.

Afridi was punished for the ball-biting incident in the Perth ODI, where he was captain. He has already been punished by the ICC, who immediately gave him a two-match ban. “For the shameful act of Shahid Khan Afridi, which has brought the game and country into disrepute, he be fined Rupees 3 million,”

Personally I believe this is a very strong decision and fully support the PCB for making a stand against indiscipline. What only concerns me is it is the same board that tip-toed around Mohd Asif Dubai drug issue, he should have been let to rot in prison in the UAE as he had wholeheartedly disgraced the nation – yet he was released from Dubai and allowed to play in the team, then how can we forget the favoritism for Shoaib Akhtar. Both also need to be ushered out of cricket along with these seven disciplined players.

I am ready to guess counter law suits to come flying in left right and center from the players, im also ready to bet concessions will be made to face-save the situation and then I think I would go against the PCB. Indiscipline is a very eroding issue for a sporting team and it must and should be dealt sternly to prevent future issues, it has been left unchecked which has turned the Pakistan team into a roving team of lunatics. Time to hunt for new talent and time to make sure they know the rule book and simply concentrate on cricket and cricket alone. Till then we shall be found to rot at the bottom of the ICC rankings table