Its only been a week or so, but it appears that the status quo might be changing. Its really funny how quickly people want to get off a sinking ship. For the past two years everyone has almost always praised the Pakistani players for their discipline and team loyalty. Everyone knew and realized that this loyalty and discipline came from an increasing sense of religiosity about the team. While this issue came to the fore front when Yousuf accepted Islam, the team's faith was rarely seen as a negative but almost always by most, including Bob Woolmer, as a positive influence on the side.
Now, after the major disappointment at the World Cup, it appears that even the players can see the shifting sands and are beginning to bail on Inzamam. Dawn today, is reporting without any sources, that a number of unnamed players were getting all uppity about being asked to pray, and somehow the prayers were causing them to be distracted from the task at hand.
Quote: "At times some of us questioned ourselves whether we have come here to play cricket or on a religious mission. We were not really focused. Just before the parade during the opening ceremony, our assistant coach asked us to line-up for prayers while other teams participated in the official turnout," narrated one of younger players in the side.
"Before taking the flight to London the assistant coach once again asked us to congregate at the Kingston Airport lounge for prayers and during the flight to London, despite objections from the cabin staff, a number of us were asked to offer prayer in the aircraft gallery as the rest of the passengers watched in bewilderment."
If our players are so unprofessional, that their focus is swayed by events such as this, they should just quit the game of cricket which is chock-full of constant distractions. While I concur, that perhaps having a big show and tell at the mosque in Kingston where a large donation was made, was probably not the wisest thing to do the day before the Ireland game, the rest of it just sounds like hooey to me.
Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, world cup
Now, after the major disappointment at the World Cup, it appears that even the players can see the shifting sands and are beginning to bail on Inzamam. Dawn today, is reporting without any sources, that a number of unnamed players were getting all uppity about being asked to pray, and somehow the prayers were causing them to be distracted from the task at hand.
Quote: "At times some of us questioned ourselves whether we have come here to play cricket or on a religious mission. We were not really focused. Just before the parade during the opening ceremony, our assistant coach asked us to line-up for prayers while other teams participated in the official turnout," narrated one of younger players in the side.
"Before taking the flight to London the assistant coach once again asked us to congregate at the Kingston Airport lounge for prayers and during the flight to London, despite objections from the cabin staff, a number of us were asked to offer prayer in the aircraft gallery as the rest of the passengers watched in bewilderment."
If our players are so unprofessional, that their focus is swayed by events such as this, they should just quit the game of cricket which is chock-full of constant distractions. While I concur, that perhaps having a big show and tell at the mosque in Kingston where a large donation was made, was probably not the wisest thing to do the day before the Ireland game, the rest of it just sounds like hooey to me.
Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, world cup
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