Politics, Society and Cricket

Should they not tell us to strive for Mercy and Compassion?

2010-01-14T22:59:00.000-06:00

For the last few days, there has been much sorrow in my heart. There have been the senseless deaths in Pakistan. The earthquake in Haiti. Yet, when I read something like this, my heart breaks a little bit more.

Many could say, how could you ask for anything more from Pat Robertson, who is an evangelist, and a fundamentalist Christian. Yet, it is these agents of intolerance, who in many ways represent our religions. And when, in these moments of human misery, instead of searching out God's grace and encouraging all of us to reach within ourselves for compassion, mercy and charity towards God's creation, these people condemn those who are suffering, how can one not feel heart broken.

This reminds me of when after the earthquakes in Pakistan in 2007, Farhat Hashmi, a Pat Robertson equivalent in Pakistan, made a statement that the people of Northern Pakistan were paying for their sins. When she should have been extolling all of us to reach within our hearts and show mercy and compassion towards those who were suffering, the only comment of hers which reached everyone, was that somehow those who had suffered, had brought it upon themselves. The human condition can be so heart breaking.

آسمان خاموش تھا اس دن

2009-12-31T19:54:00.001-06:00

دن
آسمان نے روز کے ہی ترہان چڑھتے سورج کو خوش آمدید کہا
روز کی ہی ترہان ماؤں نے اپنے بچوں کو صبح نیند سی جگایا
ایک نے دن کی لئے
لیکن آج بھی آسمان خاموش تھا
اس محرم کے دسویں دن کی ترہان
جو گزرا ہے اور ہم بھولے نہیں ہیں
اس باپ کو، جو اپنے بچے کو سینے سے لگایے
حق مانگ رہا تھا
اپنا اور اپنی اولاد کا نہیں
لیکن وہ حق مانگ رہا تھا
جو ہر انسان کا، خدا سے بخشا ہوا حق ہے
اپنے حکمران سے آنکھیں ملا کے ملنے کا
اپنے حکمران سے انصاف کا حق
اپنی زندگی خدا کی راستے پے، اپنے دل کے راستے پی چلنے کا حق
اور وہ باپ. وہ بیتا. وہ نواسہ.
اپنا حق تو نہ پا سکا، لیکن ہم سب کو شہادت کا راستہ دکھا گیا.
بزدلوں کا راستہ نہیں، جو بھیس میں آ کے، معصوموں کی جان لیتے ہیں
شیطانون کا نہیں، جو وسوسے سے دلوں کو بھکیرتے ہیں
اور آج
ووہی، جو اس کی پیروی کرتے ہیں
اسی باپ، بیٹے اور نواسے کو اپنا قطب مانتے ہیں
انہی نے، نہ جانے کتنو کے دل طور ڈالے
انہی نی، نہ جانے کتنو کی گھر جلا ڈالے
انہی نے ہی، اپنے رنج کے بدلے، کتنو کی دل جلا دے
کتنی ماؤں کے دل توڑ ڈالے
اور آسمان آج بھی خاموش تھا
اور شام ڈھلتے، سورج خاموشی سے آسمان کو اور ہمیں خاموشی میں چھوڑ گیا

What about the Pakistani dead?

2009-12-09T00:40:00.000-06:00

So, while we witness further war in Pakistan, Manan Ahmed makes interesting, but slightly sarcastic remarks about the shattering sameness of this approach. My favourite line:

They say more Afghans are needed to fight for the future of Afghanistan. I’d say find more Afghans who are done fighting.

He said, “Since 9/11, al Qaeda’s safe havens have been the source of attacks against London and Amman and Bali.” See, again. There is no Islamabad. No Peshawar. No Lahore. No Lahore. No Lahore. Nor, even Mumbai (though, the Indian PM did get that nice dinner). No matter how much thoughtful and thorough review happens, some things are never questioned, nor changed.

Switzerland's odd decision

2009-12-06T17:13:00.000-06:00

Interesting perspective on the increasingly odd decision of the Swiss. I never really considered this issue from a perspective of state sponsored deprivation of fundamental rights of worship. Juan Cole raises some interesting issues about how Muslims states do grant fundamental rights of worship and representation to religious minorities, while there are significant issues of discrimination in day to day life. While that can highlight a disconnect between reality and ideals, atleast ideals exist which can be striven for. In the Swiss decision, if it is upheld, even those ideals are under question. Please read.

Maulana Azad’s interview given to Shorish Kashmiri, 1946 | Jahane Rumi

2009-12-06T16:40:00.000-06:00

What an amazingly prescient article from Maulana Azad, a muslim leader we hear precious little about in Pakistan.

Art and the poor

2009-11-27T16:09:00.000-06:00

An absolute must-read article about the way the so-called illiterate masses display their aesthetic sense.

Its our Monster

2009-11-15T16:37:00.000-06:00

So, if you continue ot think that this is America's war that Pakistan is fighting, read this. This is a monster that the Pakistani military establishment has created, and it is one that the entire nation is paying a price for. Frankenstein anyone?

Simple Cancer Prevention is not Vitamins

2009-11-15T16:18:00.000-06:00

Yes its true. Vitamins don't help. Don't smoke, don't get fat, and if you are at risk, take the medicines that make a difference.

How long will we justify madness?

2009-11-15T16:10:00.000-06:00

Well written piece about our propensity in Pakistan to try to justify the madness which is afflicting our nation. Nadeem Paracha makes a good point:

Every time the barbarians set themselves off taking innocent men, women, and children with them, these apologists suddenly emerge to write letters to newspapers and try to dominate internet forums explaining the intricate ‘socio-economic problems’ that are turning men into terrorists. Or worse – as is expected from reactionary news reporters like Ansar Abbasi – they will start giving details about the infidel targets that the terrorists were really after at the place of the attack.

Zaka told me that he got letters suggesting that the Taliban attacked the canteen of the Islamic University because ‘women students were not behaving and dressing according to Islam.’ The state under Ziaul Haq had the Hudood Ordinance for such ‘loose women,’ but now the Taliban have bombs for them. And mind you, those who were trying to justify the bombing in this respect at the University were ‘educated’ young men and even women.

Start a war - The National Newspaper

2009-11-08T17:39:00.000-06:00

An interesting read. Raises the continuing incompetence of the Pakistani state and its inability to provide for the needs of its people as the primary reason for the current crises.

ISNA Condemns Attacks on Fort Hood Soldiers & Expresses Condolences to the Victims & Their Families | ISNA

2009-11-06T09:37:00.000-06:00

ISNA Condemns Attacks on Fort Hood Soldiers & Expresses Condolences to the Victims & Their Families | ISNA

Pakistan at war.

2009-11-06T01:30:00.001-06:00

For the past weeks, it is crystal clear to all of us that Pakistan is engaged in a war to define itself. For those of us who are abroad, we have been witness to a Pakistan that has been changing over the past many years, and not always for the better. We have struggled at various periods to convince those around us that the Pakistan we see on CNN and BBC, is not the Pakistan we belong to and love. Whether we choose to accept it or not, it is that Pakistan that this war against extremism is trying to find and protect.

I concur with many of the reports and opinion pieces which fill our newspapers and television screens that war and conquest are not the only way with which we restore the writ of the state, and some semblance of law and order to our largely ungoverned nation. Many of the changes needed will be structural, and will require us to work long and hard to create a nation state which protects and nurtures its population. Yet, those changes cannot occur in a state of fear and oppression from life itself. We have been held hostage as a nation to extremist ideology for long enough. While it is a mind set that has to change, it cannot occur as long as we have two, three or ten thousand hardened militants whose only purpose is to wreak havoc and destruction. Our military is fighting our true enemy. They are fighting those who seek to bring nothing but destruction to our nation. While we can contend and argue about what brought us to this point, can we not all concede that the destruction we have seen in Peshawar and Rawalpindi has to stop? There can be no more room in our national dialogue for those who see destruction as the only way.

Yet, why is it that it is only the military which is at war? Why is the rest of the nation still focused on essential inanities like the NRO? Why are the senior leaders in government planning trips to watch cricket in Dubai and Abu Dhabi? How can it seem that in a time when we are fighting to define what we will stand for, what we will believe in as nation, that its business as usual in the corridors of government? Why are we not seeing our leaders at the front, acknowledging the sacrifices of our soldiers and the sacrifices of those innocents who live in Waziristan? Why is every single death of one of our soldiers not shown for what it is: the ultimate sacrifice of a young life to protect not only our physical bodies, but our identity as a nation and as a people?

May Allah grant us all peace in this world.

Pictures from Waziristan

2009-11-06T01:26:00.000-06:00

May Allah have mercy on us all.

They don't know who to blame??

2009-11-06T01:20:00.001-06:00

What is up with this?? A bomb goes off, 114 die, atleast 20 children, and they don't know who to blame? If there is any failing of this government, and God knows there are many, the fact that "there is still a great reluctance to accept that Pakistanis or fellow Muslims are the ones doing the killing", three weeks into a Civil war for precisely this reason, is its most serious failing. Where is our call to arms, to a casus belli going to come? If Zardari is not man enough, or does not have it in him to do it, and if Gilani can only play Pir to his masses, then why will not someone, anyone step forward to make the case?

The War in Pakistan

2009-11-04T02:19:00.004-06:00

I have spent most of my life watching protests. My first memories were of protests in Pakistan against the Indian atrocities in Kashmir. Then against Salman Rushdie. Then against the American invasion of Iraq in 1991. I have been part of protests against the slaughter of thousands in the Balkans. I have condemned the Israeli occupation and oppression of the lands of my Palestinian brothers. I have opposed the war in Iraq, and railed against every excess of the Americans in their unjust war. I have raged against the deaths of innocents in Afghanistan by drone attacks. Yet, I think the time has now come for me to refocus my protests. While I will not modify my moral and ethical compass, I think the time has now come to change whom I oppose the loudest.

Let me be clear about what I am about to say. My faith as a Muslim, and my conviction in Islam and commitment to seeking justice for humanity and my fellow muslims has not and cannot change. My faith is one which relies on the Beneficent and the Merciful. My faith finds inspiration and grounds itself in he who was sent as a Mercy to the entire Universe. Islam and the Prophet Muhammed (May Allah shower him with blessings) have given me a faith which inspires me to love the people around me, and to see justice for those who are near and far. It is through my faith that I am able to find inner peace and a purpose for this often purpose-less seeming life.

Our true enemies today, are no longer those who attack us from outside. They are no longer the easily categorized infidels. They can no longer be just called the West and the Americans. While our challenges and difficulties as a faith and as muslim political entities are legion, it is what is happening inside our faith which is rendering us weak and catatonic.

Our true enemies are those within, who claim to act in the name of Allah, and in the name of Islam. Our true enemies are those who bring nothing but a message of destruction. What began as a message of destruction of enemies, has now become a message of destroy first and ask later. How else does one explain the savage attacks on civilian populations? At various points there were justifications made for the attacks on civilians in non-Muslim countries. Where has that lead us? It has lead us to the suicide bombings in Peshawar and the streets of Iraq. It has lead us to the savage murders and assassinations of ordinary individuals and mid-level functionaries of the state. It has lead to the destruction of shrines in Iraq, markets in Peshawar and mosques. Imam Zaid Shakir in a recent article said "We are the followers of a merciful Prophet, peace upon him, and not the ideological and philosophical children of those who have introduced the idea that the slaughter of an opponent’s civilian population is an acceptable stratagem or consequence of warfare." Now, instead of slaughtering opponents, they are only slaughtering their own.

Of course, it becomes much easier to slaughter our own, when you label them as apostates. Despite the Amman Declaration, takfir continues as a tool to label fellow muslims as outside the fold and liable for death. Despite a long tradition of advocating for conservative change from within, Islam is being hijacked by those who seek not change but to tear down the world around them. They have no plan for the future, no manifesto, no desire to create structures which can provide for us as people and as members of society. Reza Aslan speaks of much of this in his last book, labelling all of this as a Cosmic War. And while I accept his point that the best way to win a Cosmir War is not to fight it, there are ways in which we can structure the way we respond to those who insist on framing our current conflicts as a Cosmic crisis, in which sides have to be picked.

I have picked my side. My side is one which values human life above all else. My side is one which seeks to bring peace to this world, in the here and now. If I can condemn the Israelis for their oppression of Palestinians, I can condemn those who have terrorized Pakistan even more loudly. If I can condemn the American invasion of Iraq as baseless, I can condemn even more vehemently the extremist assault on the homes and lives of the people of Swat and Waziristan. While I will agree with all of those who blame state actors like the Government of Pakistan for bringing the situation to a head, and also those who find the US complicit in creating a problem like the Mujahideen and the Taliban and even Saddam Hussein, I will not condemn them anymore. Enough are doing it, enough have. The bombings in the markets of Peshawar, and the attacks on the GHQ in Rawalpindi were not by Americans. The suicide bombings in Baghdad and the destruction of the Imam Askari shrine were not by Americans. They were by those who call themselves Muslim. They were by those who insist that their faith is more pure than the rest of us. They were by those for whom peace in this world means nothing. They were by those who do not believe that Islam is a faith of mercy and beneficence. They were by those who do not find solace in the fact that while the Prophet Muhammed (May Allah shower him with blessings), did fight with a sword, he did not come with one. While wars may have been fought, it was not destruction they sought, but peace. This may be a one-sided or idealistic view of history, but it is mine.

So, as always, I will seek to glorify Allah in all I do, and to follow the path of the rightly guided. And that path, like that of Ali (May Allah brighten his countenance) shows that sometimes one has to fight those within. There can be no quarter or space in which such ideologies, which justify senseless murder and oppression, can find a home. And so, I will now protest all such senseless killings, all such senseless murders. Those who perpetrate such crimes are evil. They are not my brothers in faith. Those who do not condemn these crimes like they have condemned the Israelis, the American and the Russians, are not my friends and brothers.

This is not ambiguous for me. It is as real as the tears in the eyes of the women who mourned their daughters lost in Peshawar. It is as real as the prayers and fears of mothers of soliders who wait for their sons to return from the battles in Waziristan. I will no longer hear or tolerate explanations and apologetics regarding this. I will no longer listen to justifications and condemnation of the West as being at fault. If you think that somehow, in any way, the murder of thousands of innocents, or anyone for that matter, is defensible, don't talk to me.

Fawad Alam in preliminary test squad

2009-02-08T12:37:00.000-06:00

Well, it is good to hear that Fawad Alam is being included in the test squad. I hope this translates into a selection. Fawad has played well domestically for the past few years with limited international opportunities. He has also shown a penchant for batting higher up in the order, and with the absence of Mohammad Yousuf, that is an area where help could be needed. It may be worthwhile giving him a try at the 2 or 3 down positions. one wonders if he has been unable to reach his potential as we have been consistently batting him at #7 to 9. Good luck Fawad.

Hear, Hear Afridi

2009-02-08T12:31:00.001-06:00

While we are always quick to criticize, some praise is in order for Shahid Afridi. On a quick sojourn to London, he helped raise about $200,000 US for Gaza. Well done Shahid. Thank you.

More Miandad Analysis

2009-02-08T12:29:00.000-06:00

A reflective essay on Miandad's resignation and what it could mean to Pakistani cricket.

Miandad: In or Out?

2009-02-08T12:26:00.000-06:00

While it is always hard to trust Indian News sources when it comes to Pakistani cricket, nothing can surprise me when it comes to the PCB! It appears that now Javed Miandad may be coming back into the fold, despite the announcement and the press conference. Somehow, Ijaz Butt likes Javed, but no one else does, so Javed said plague on all your houses and ran away, but may be willing to be cajoled back in.

"Miandad is expected to get a call from the PCB headquarters within the next couple of days and a possible meeting is on the cards between the chairman and the batsman."

Is it really too much to ask for a modicum of stability, whether its in resignations or hirings? This cannot be good for cricket.

More on the kidnapping

2009-02-08T01:35:00.000-06:00

I must have been sleeping when these reports came out.

UN HCR Head in Pakistan Kidnapped?

2009-02-08T01:34:00.000-06:00

This is a new story. I wonder why I haven't heard this over the last week. If the issues in FATA were not enough, a burgeoning Baluchi independence/insurgence movement is not going to help Pakistan. I'll post more when I find it.

Its not just FATA anymore

2009-02-08T01:32:00.000-06:00

For the past few years, we just keep saying its a FATA problem. For the rest of the country, its not a big deal, we have our own issues. Lots of people have been on the record as saying that if we left the "crazies" in FATA alone, then all of this would go away. Let them have their Shariat and their Talibanization up there. And of course the inevitable comments that it is America's problem, not ours. Well, it can be anyone's problem, but it is OURS! The Taliban or the TNSM or the tribals or whatever you want to call them, have now attacked a police station in Mianwali, a real city in Punjab. If this doesn't tell us that we can't ignore the problem, or brush it aside as someone else's, God help us, I don't know what will!

Zakaria: The Canadian Solution | Newsweek Voices - Fareed Zakaria | Newsweek.com

2009-02-07T22:43:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it. Fareed Zakaria in praise of Canada and the Canadian approach to the world! Maybe Canadian's shouldn't criticise as much?

Iran and the World

2009-02-03T17:59:00.000-06:00

Interesting Reading.
Quote: Tehran shares many American interests, including a democratic Iraq, because that will be a Shiite-governed Iraq, and a unified Iraq stable enough to ensure access to holy cities like Najaf.

It opposes Taliban redux in Afghanistan and Al Qaeda’s Sunni fanaticism. Its democracy is flawed but by Middle East standards vibrant. Both words in its self-description — Islamic Republic — count

Fareed Zakaria & Pakistan

2009-02-01T22:37:00.002-06:00

Fareed Zakaria in Newsweek on a new strategy to the Afghan war. Refer to page 3 for comments about Pakistan. Obama reads Zakaria. We should pay heed to his words. The next issue of Newsweek makes a lot of interesting comments about Pakistan and the effects that changes in American foreign and military policy will have on Pakistan. Difficult times lie ahead.

Indifferent Cricketing

2009-02-01T21:48:00.004-06:00

Its been an exciting ten days in the world of Pakistani cricket. Sometimes I just hope for a quiet ten days, where all that happens is a few matches, where the performance is at par, we make a few comments about individual players' roles in the team, and then we move on!

First, Pakistan teased us with winning the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The bowlers, and the batsmen, and even Shoaib Malik at that, teased us with what they were capable of. Exciting strokeplay, tight, incisive bowling and swift and deliberate captaincy. Yet, all that only lasted for the first match. Everything quickly devolved into the disaster which was the third ODI in Lahore, where we were suddenly all out in the 70s, one of Pakistan's lowest scores of all time. How fitting that the Prime Minister had to be there to share in the sorrow of the team and its fans.

For most cricketing boards, a tough and difficult loss to another strong team would have been enough to make headlines for the next week. Not for us. We canned Shoaib Malik, three weeks after renewing his captaincy indefinitely. We brought on Younus Khan who can't seem to make up his mind about whether he actually wants to be captain, or just likes playing one in matches (refer to the prolonged stretches where he seems to be directing on-field strategy with Inzamam before, and Shoaib Malik now). I agree with Osman Samiuddin (CricInfo), that while it is by default, Younus Khan is the captain Pakistan needs at the moment. Seasoned in cricket, a dogged competitor and one who's credentials no one can question.

Shoaib Akhtar continues to play his peek-a-boo with international cricket. After dismal and indifferent performances over the first two matches, he pulled out the injury card for the third ODI, and then we were all promptly informed that he will miss the Sri Lanka tests, and hence will be out for another few months. This injury merry-go-round would be fine if everyone could somehow agree that Shoaib Akhtar is committed to cricket, and committed to playing it without the continuous drama that surrounds his every move on and off the cricketing field. No one can agree on that, or even say that its possible in the near term, and given Shoaib's medical problems, there really is no long-term to his cricketing future. Let him go.

What else? The Champion's Trophy has been taken away, Javed Miandad has quit over money or prestige, either which way because of his own vanity, and Asif has been banned yet again. What had begun a few months ago, with a hope that there would be a new direction to cricket in Pakistan, is now a vision which is uncertain again. With no hope of meaningful cricket at home in the near future, and a leadership which does not appear to have a clear strategy for the game or for the team itself, it appears that for the next few months we will just seem to jolt from crisis to crisis, from uncertainty to uncertainty. It appears that we are all in danger to becoming indifferent to the future of cricket in Pakistan.

Torture of Women in Baluchistan

2009-01-23T15:57:00.001-06:00

Hat tip to Teeth Maestro for tracking this report down.

You can question it, you can say its propoganda, you can say what you want. But these allegations need to be investigated thoroughly, and either shown as false or if true, the perpetrators have to be brought to justice. Why won't the same journalists who were willing to go to every length to find the identity of Kasab, now go to every length to verify or refute these allegations? We need answers. As a nation, we need to face the truth, no matter how ugly or horrific.

Asif: Comeback on the cards?

2009-01-23T00:44:00.002-06:00

In Pakistani cricket fortunes rise and fall with the sun. While only a few days ago I wrote about the myriad challenges being faced by Mohammad Asif, it now appears that Ijaz Butt, PCB Chairman, has all but mandated that Asif will be making a comeback and soon.

Suddenly, a drug arrest in Dubai, is a "minor" incident. Only in Pakistan can the Chairman of the PCB wash away a problem like this, with a casual comment. Asif has many problems, and as a young man he needs to sort them out. Give the man some time. Plus, does he just walk back into the squad? Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar seem to be doing pretty well. Sohail Khan and Azhar Ali are knocking on the door. Does an unfit Asif who hasn't played competitive cricket for a year have a place in the squad?

The Shoaib Akhtar Drama

2009-01-23T00:34:00.002-06:00

Well, I hate to say I told you so, but it was in September of 2007, that I said that Shoaib Akhtar had no future in Pakistani cricket. Not because he doesn't have talent, but because he just likes drama too much. No one knows if he is going to play, and if he plays, will he bowl one or twenty overs. No one knows if he will bowl medium pace, or bowl expressly fast like only he can. No one knows if he will field or just watch balls roll by. No one knows anything when it comes to Shoaib Akhtar.

This is the Shoaib Akhtar that after the two ODIs with Sri Lanka has shown up. Crappy performances in two straight games, where it didn't even look like his heart was in it. Granted I didn't see him field, but if Shoaib Malik is choosing to criticise him, then there must have been an issue. As many articles not, Shoaib Malik is not exactly Mr. Eloquence, and there must be cause for his comments.

Ijaz Butt can say that selectors have the final say and Waqar can wonder if Shoaib can only play ODIs, but it is clear. Cricket is not where Shoaib Akhtar's heart is. His heart is clearly in believing himself to be a prima donna, who is the star of his own opus. There is no place for him in a team sport. He needs to be let go.

DAWN - Opinion; January 23, 2009

2009-01-23T00:33:00.002-06:00

Good article by Ayesha Siddiqa.

Key Quote:

So, while it is true that Muslims are no different from the rest of the world in their desire for good governance, improved political structures, which might resemble the democracy of the western world, are missing precisely because of the absence of a structured discourse on a new social contract.

We are more than what we are today.

2009-01-23T00:33:00.000-06:00

Perhaps stories like this will give us a sense of that we are more than the sum of all our todays. The past should humble us.

Roger Cohen on Gaza

2009-01-22T20:00:00.000-06:00

I am liking the New York Review on Books. Well written article on the Gaza crisis.

Pakistan in Peril?

2009-01-22T19:53:00.001-06:00

Must read, eye opening review of a must-read book.

Mullah Omar is holed up in Baluchistan? Pakistan and the ISI have been training the Taliban over the last 5 years? One wonders why all of this doesn't make it into the Pakistani press and television chattering classes. Just more denial isn't it?

Palestinians as Shylock. Brilliance.

2009-01-20T00:54:00.000-06:00

Enjoy this. Well crafted analogy.

Mohammad Asif and the Delhi Daredevils

2009-01-19T01:10:00.003-06:00

Mohammad Asif finds himself in quite a pickle. Since the IPL drugs issue, and the arrest in Dubai, he is really seen the lows of a sporting life. From being one of the most feared bowlers on the world scene, his stock has rapidly fallen.

He finds himself out of a central contract with the PCB, an uncertain cricketing future until the IPL resolves his drugs issue, and no current cricket income. If this article is to be believed, he has lost his home, his car and is currently in dire financial straits.

It appears that the IPL has not paid Asif for his services with the Delhi Daredevils in the first iteration of the IPL. There is much speculation that due to his positive drug test, the Delhi Daredevils will choose not to pay him until the IPL board hears the case and makes a final recommendation.

Asif had a sizable contract with the Delhi team at US$ 650,000 for the season. Having played in eight of fifteen games, and available for all 15, Asif has fulfilled his obligations under the contract. While it is clear in the contract, that Asif can be terminated by the team "if found engaged in acts in any way which damages the image or reputation of BCCI-IPL and/or the League" (Clause 5.9(c)), the termination cannot be linked to his showing up for work. If terminated, they don't have to honour the remaining two years of his contract, but in my humble opinion, are obliged to pay Asif for the year he did play.

US$650,000 is a sizable sum, equal to about 52 million PKR. Regardless of Asif's issues, and how long it takes to sort them out, this sum will provide him with the financial security needed to see him through the tough times. The trouble is, that when it comes to the IPL, the BCCI is judge, jury and executioner. The folks at FICA, should be looking very hard at how the BCCI and the IPL treat Asif, because if they don't pay him, what is there to stop them from doing this to other, less visible and famous players.

Asif is owed his due.

Journalists are Terrorists! HA!

2009-01-19T01:02:00.001-06:00

Ha! Ha! Another Asif Zardari pearl of wisdom! If you don't like what they say about you, call them terrorists! Thats even one-upping George W and Dick!

UAE Pressure on Pakistan

2009-01-19T01:00:00.001-06:00

Interesting story. The UAE, which has always been seen as an ally of Pakistan on many issues, is trying to get a good deal out of the Pakistanis.

Pakistan has always been energy poor, and about a year ago, it was heralded as a major deal when an agreement was made for the UAE to set up a new refinery in Pakistan. Now, it appears that the UAE is linking the new refinery to getting a controlling stake in Pakistan's largest refinery near Multan. It will be important to watch how the government responds both diplomatically and through economic channels to respond to this obvious threat to Pakistan's already tenuous energy situation. All of Pakistan's other service sectors ie. banking and telecommunications are being heavily invested in by Midle Eastern and Chinese companies. Will Pakistan allow a foreign country to even have controlling stakes in its largest oil refineries? Difficult choices.

Peace, Please, Peace.

2009-01-19T00:55:00.001-06:00

And then they say that Muslims don't want peace with Israel. If this man in his grief can ask for peace, then why can't the rest of the Palestinian and Israeli people.

Why can all of this not stop.

Ayaz Amir on the War on Terror & Pakistan

2009-01-18T13:52:00.001-06:00

Ayaz Amir, perhaps Pakistan's finest English columnist today. Quote:

Had he (Zulfikar Bhutto) conducted himself more wisely Pakistan might have been spared Gen Zia-ul-Haq and his hypocritical Islam. What a joke Zia played with Pakistan. There couldn't be a more Islamic country than ours. Yet that wily ruler, for purposes of his own, was bent on converting this country to Islam once more.

So look at the sequence of events. Bhutto gifted us Zia, Zia gave us phoney Islamisation, from the womb of that hypocrisy arose the first Afghan jihad, and the dragon's teeth sprouted by that jihad in time led to Al Qaeda and the rest of the mumbo jumbo we are having to live with today. And let not the Yanks think they had nothing to do with this progression. They scattered the dragon's teeth with us and lauded it as a noble act. As they battle the Taliban, and their satellites futilely try to track down the elusive chief of Al Qaeda, let them show some indulgence for Pakistan's present troubles, for we and they were partners in the same crime.

Imam Zaid Shakir on Gaza

2009-01-18T13:44:00.001-06:00

Money Quote:

We are the followers of a merciful Prophet, peace upon him, and not the ideological and philosophical children of those who have introduced the idea that the slaughter of an opponent’s civilian population is an acceptable stratagem or consequence of warfare.

Can we like sweatshops?

2009-01-17T14:04:00.001-06:00

Nicely written article on the difficulties facing emerging economies and people in these countries. Its very easy to condemn sweatshops after the economic prosperity the West has seen for the past 100 odd years. But it was not very long ago where the scenes we now read about in Oliver Twist and say tsk tsk, were a routine part of everyday life in every major Western metropolitan area. Many industries prospered and developed because of sweatshops and child labour.

It was only after a generation or two of child labourers grew up and achieved prosperity, that a type of not-anymore spirit began to infuse the general population and throughout the West and North America, sweatshops and child labour have become so unacceptable. I for one also cast a vote for sweatshops.

Lawyers a menace?

2009-01-17T13:56:00.001-06:00

Has the lawyer's movement in Pakistan jumped the shark? Seems like criticism is increasing.

After he leaves, Lawson has ideas

2009-01-17T02:28:00.001-06:00

In an older post, I had talked about the importance of taking a professional approach to the training of the squad. It appears that now that Geoff Lawson has some ideas, after being let go as coach.

He speaks the importance of having a team psychologist to help the players. It can't hurt. The shenanigans of Shoaib Akhtar (I'm injured, I'll hit team mates with a bat), the travails of Mohammad Asif (steroids or opium, name your poison), and even the hare brained things Mohammad Yousuf (ICL or IPL? Should I see or should I pee) and Younis Khan (Don't make me captain, PLEASE CAN I BE CAPTAIN!) have been upto all scream for some kind of psychological intervention. Whether its egos run rampant, or just confusion after coming face to face with the trappings of success in sports, the happenings of the last two years speak to the importance of some kind of help for the players. Even after the sudden and shocking death of Bob Woolmer, there was no help for the players. I can see for Geoff Lawson is coming from. Trainers, physios, position specific coaches and team counselors are a must in the modern game.

What a load of ....

2009-01-17T02:13:00.001-06:00

How desperate we are to find a grand narrative. How desperate we are to find some kind of meaning and reason for the turmoil that afflicts us. Let it be because someone tossed pages of the Quran into the sea, not because as Pakistanis we acquiesce to those who are more corrupt than those waters from which the pages were pulled. We respect those who do nothing but steal, and when we condemn, we condemn not from the indignation of the oppressed, but the indignation of those who covet. And so, we sit back and try to find a grand narrative to explain our shortcomings, rather than saying yes, it is I who is to blame.

By the way, it is acceptable to discard pages of the Quran in flowing water. Check with any respectable Faqih. Emphasis on respectable.

Schools for girls closed in Swat

2009-01-16T18:22:00.001-06:00

While we can't keep fighting endless battles in FATA and the NWFP, how do you deal with people who make things like this happen? They seem to live in a parallel universe, where none of the things which matter to the rest of us, seem to carry importance for them. How do you negotiate with people like this, or try to bring about change? If education is the answer, and dialogue the key to success, then how do you engage these people in meaningful dialogue to allow people to be educated?

This is what makes this problem so difficult.

Islamabad stadium screwup

2009-01-16T18:14:00.001-06:00

While no one can say that the new setup for the PCB hasn't had a lot to do, ie. new selectors, assess the captaincy, deal with cancellation of an Indian tour, setup tours with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, try to convince the international world that yes cricketers can be safe in Pakistan. That is a lot to do in a few months, and they have managed some reasonably, and some stupidly.

However, this is just silly! Someone seems to have dropped the ball when it comes to setting up a stadium in Islamabad, the nation's capital! One would have thought that this would have been of reasonable enough urgency that regardless of the administration, someone would have been in charge. Its not easy to reform the game in the entire country, without world-class facilities in the major centres. Hopefully they get this sorted out. Also when money seems to be tight, to forego Rs. 50 million isnt exactly smart!

New Central Contracts

2009-01-16T02:00:00.001-06:00

While I criticized the great Dr. Nasim Ashraf many times, and often incessantly, I am not so sure about the new setup either. While all the usual shenanigans of Pakistani administration are playing out in the PCB, what is really confusing is the way that the whole central contracts debacle is playing out (what else can you call it!) First, the highest level central contract is offered to Shoaib Akhtar, who hasnt played any real cricket the entire year, has just recently come of having assaulted a team mate, and in no way has been a "model citizen" of the Pakistani cricket community.

So while one can seriously wonder what Shoaib Akhtar has done to receive the highest category in the central contracts, what is even more amazing is what happened with Abdur Rauf! After he complained about not getting a contract, it appears that the next day Abdul Qadir and Ijaz Butt decided to say there there little one, and handed him a central contract!

There are many a quibble that can be made with how players have been categorized within the central contract scheme, but it is this adhocism which was and continues to be a problem. I guess it was too much to ask for the current setup to display some degree of professionalism.

Qaeda feels unsafe near Pakistan border: CIA chief | Reuters

2009-01-16T01:51:00.001-06:00

Well while it may be well and good that terrorist elements feel unsafe in the FATA area, at what price has this come? Pakistan has had to declare war on its own, has had to tolerate multiple violations of its borders, has seen upwards of 100 military deaths a month, and even by conservative estimates more than 300 civilian deaths a month either by terror or by the unmanned drones that cross our border more often than grains of sand. To make them feel "unsafe" we have seen our cities become more unsafe, death of our politicians, and myriad other sacrifices. And then they have the audacity to tell us to try harder.

Framework for an agreement?

2009-01-16T01:41:00.002-06:00

When Jimmy Carter said this three years ago, he was an anti-semite. Now it appears this is becoming the conventional wisdom in American Foreign Policy.

George Bush and Cognitive Dissonance

2009-01-16T01:17:00.003-06:00

While no one has ever accused George Bush of making decisions within a strong cognitive framework, his comments in his farewell address were just too much to bear.

He said:

Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time, everywhere. Freeing people from oppression and despair is eternally right. This Nation must continue to speak out for justice and truth. We must always be willing to act in their defense and to advance the cause of peace.

He says this the same day that Israel bombs a UN Humanitarian depot in Gaza, and while the EU and the UN all condemned it, all the United States did was have a chat with the Israelis. What oppression, what despair is anyone being freed from here? The UN is almost the only source for relief aid currently in Gaza. Hundreds of pounds of food and potable water were destroyed in this bombing. Do the Palestinians not count as oppressed people? Do they not feel despair?

Woolmer tournament being scrapped

2008-03-05T21:22:00.000-06:00

So, everyone has time to hang out in India for the IPL draft, everyone has time to fight over IPL or ICL, and to attend all the fun ICC meetings in Dubai. What no one has time for, is to organize a tournament in honour of the one man who has lost his life to cricket in living memory. What does this say about the state of cricket today?

No More Death, please.

2008-02-29T23:00:00.000-06:00

Its becoming harder and harder isn’t it, to contend, that the Muslim body politic iw innocent. It is becoming more onerous by the day to blame all our ills and all our misfortunes on the West, and the United States, and that wonderful scapegoat George W. Bush. Until what time can we continue to blame everyone but ourselves for our misfortunes and the daily calamities that befall our people and our cities? If the forces of history and global political strategies have served as prods to ignite anger and frustration within the masses and society at large, the upheaval that they have wrought on our societies is on no one’s head but ours. It is our people, members of our societies, people who breathe the same air, drink the same water and seek shade from the same sun as us; it is people who have gone to the same schools, walk the same streets, and buy their daily rations from the same stores as us; it is our people who live our lives, who one week suicide bomb a wedding, and then a week later, wreck carnage with the same modus operandi at a funeral. It is our people who wrap psychiatrically ill women in bomb vests, and then send them into markets where mothers are buying milk for their children, and fathers are earning their families’ daily bread.

If the purpose is protest, then what protest is served by the deaths of our brothers and sisters? If the purpose is defending our honour in the face of the West’s power over us, then what honour asks us to kill our own with the utmost of savagery? If it is a desire to fight the armies of occupiers, then what armies were destroyed when the tomb of Imam Hasan Askari was destroyed? If it is a jihad, then what jihad asks us to wreak havoc on those who are not only living life, but celebrating the joining of hearts in marriage? If it is in defense of the sacred, then what sacred will is exhibited in the murder of mourners at a funeral? In our disconnected world, is any moment of greater connection with all that is sacred then the moments we spend in mourning and contemplating death at the funeral of a young man?

We cannot blame anyone else for such depravity and for actions which are nothing short of devilish. We can only blame ourselves for not being able to construct societies which allow for a process of dialogue to deal with differences. We can only blame ourselves for being part of a populace that contains elements and individuals who sympathize not with those who lost their lives in these acts of pure and unadulterated hate and violence, but with those who perpetrated these acts. We can only blame ourselves for the collapse of our families and our societies which has allowed such hatred and disdain for human life to grow.

If we are to work in any meaningful way to change our fates, to change the way our societies function, then we must change the way our societies approach conflict. We must transform in ourselves the automatic blood rage that any real and presumed slight brings, into a force of will which renders us greater than the insult, greater than those who have imposed upon us. We must not let the violation of our basic rights by others lead to a world where we ourselves become our greatest enemies. For in this “Global War on Terror”, we have become the perpetrators, the victim, the enemy and the ally. In this war, we are fighting ourselves and in every single way that is a losing proposition.

Asif: Afridi had nothing to do with Shoaib's madness

2007-09-10T16:13:00.001-06:00

Well, well, well. It really does feel like, and it should happen, the end of the road for Shoaib Akhtar. After a passionate press conference in London where he accused Afridi of taking shots at his family, Shoaib's victim Mohammad Asif has come out with his version of the story. No insults were sent Shoaib's way, in fact it was Shoaib who was supposedly being inappropriate with juniors and when Afridi tried to address it with Asif, Shoaib swung the bat at Asif thus injuring him.

In another sign that everyone is losing patience with Shoaib, it appears that the Government is planning on putting Shoaib Akhtar on an Exit Control List. Looks like Shoaib is going to lose a lot of money over this debacle, because if he can't leave the country he can't play county cricket or in the ICL. But I can't say this is not well deserved.

More Shoaib issues in Kenya

2007-09-09T12:49:00.001-06:00

Wonderful. More of what Pakistani Cricket needed in Kenya.

Nasim Ashraf: Players Shut Up

2007-09-09T09:24:00.001-06:00

So, now that the bull has bolted the barn, Nasim Ashraf now wants the players should shut up to help the image of the game. So once again, Nasim Ashraf is blameless in the repeated hits the image of Pakistani cricket has taken over the past year. Nasim Ashraf is blameless in the creation of an atmosphere where players swing bats at each other, or come to fisticuffs. Yes, when it comes to Pakistani cricket, all are at fault except the Chairman of the PCB, Nasim Ashraf.

Maybe Nasim Ashraf should keep his mouth shut, or better yet, resign from his position for all the humiliation he has brought to Pakistani cricket, or the complete ineptness he has shown in dealing with any of the crises which have come Pakistan cricket way over the last year.

Sohail Tanvir: Some more info

2007-09-09T07:53:00.001-06:00

Well, as always Cricinfo has done it. Some more information on Sohail Tanvir is now available. It appears that Aaqib Javed is very high on the lad, and he may very well have been the pressure which The News spoke about in a previous report. If Aaqib is high on him, can't hurt to give him a shot.

Sohail Tanvir: Selection issues?

2007-09-08T21:28:00.001-06:00

Well, newcomer Sohail Tanvir, who I know nothing about yet, has been selected to replace Shoaib Akhtar at the Twenty20 Cup in South Africa. According to The News, Sohail Tanvir has shown no special aptitude in the Twenty20 form of the game, and while not an automatic selection, someone may have lobbied excessively for his selection to the squad. Knowing nothing about him, I'm not sure what the story is, but he did take 4 wickets against a fairly strong Australia A squad in the recent ODI match for Pakistan A. Best of luck to the young lad, but I hope the selection is based on talent, not on external pressures.

Asif Iqbal: Enough Shoaib Akhtar

2007-09-08T21:24:00.001-06:00

Well, I think the calls for not selecting Shoaib Akhtar again are only just beginning. Like myself, and the folks at ATP, Asif Iqbal now, in his column at The News
calls for an end to Shoaib Akhtar's place in the squad.

Money Quote: "This, of course, is not the first time that a Pakistani cricketer has disgraced himself, his team and his country by resorting to physical violence and unless very stern action is taken, it will not be the last either.

Each time it happens, the international image of Pakistan, especially in the west, takes yet another kick up the backside to confirm the widespread assessment of Pakistani society as a violent, brutal and intolerant people."

Sami faking injury?

2007-09-08T16:37:00.001-06:00

What is going on in and with Pakistani cricket? With the Shoaib Akhtar/Shahid Afridi/Mohammad Asif fiasco going full speed, the ICL debacle still a threat to all Pakistani endeavours on the international circuit, it now appears that while the PCB was trying to give Sami a chance to redeem himself in a series against Australia A, Sami may have been faking injury. According to this report in The News, Sami thought that he was too good to play for an "A" team and so decided to fake injury and a viral illness.

Now, I must say, that such chickens always come too roost, and so with the Shoaib Akhtar debacle, and the selectors looking for another pacer, well Sami, fake injury or not, is no longer eligible to represent Pakistan at the Twenty20 cup. Some kid named Sohail Tanvir is being packaged off to South Africa to represent Pakistan. Anyone know anything about him?

Shoaib Akhtar: Man of Drama!

2007-09-08T16:13:00.000-06:00

So, this is the story that is coming out of Lahore, now that Shoaib Akhtar has returned to Pakistan in disgrace, yet again. Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi were going at it, joking it appears, when things went one "Yo Mama" joke too far, Shoaib Akhtar started swinging a bat, and somehow Asif ended up getting whacked a couple of times. That's Shoaib Akhtar's story anyhow.

Shahid Afridi followed up with a prompt denial, even going so far as calling Shoaib Akhtar "a liar" outright! Who knows what part of the story is true or not, and who is telling the real story, but this has to mean the end of the road here for Shoaib Akhtar. I mean, he is beyond poison in the dressing room, and despite all the positives he brings on the field, and all his currently apparent sincerity, how can he step into a dressing room now, after he has accused one colleague of insulting his family, and taken potshots at the other with a cricket bat? This must be the end of the road for Shoaib Akhtar, and it is here that Geoff Lawson must cement his mark on this squad, and call for an outright exclusion of Shoaib Akhtar from all further contention for selection.

Akhtar Asif dustup!

2007-09-06T16:55:00.001-06:00

Hat tip to Teeth Maestro for this complete and comprehensive story on the new Shoaib/Asif scandal. First got caught doping together, now fighting with bats? What is going on with these guys! And most of all, what the heck is going on with Shoaib! Isn't he supposed to be one of the seniors in this squad?! This is just stupid!

Pakistan's first Twenty20 foray in Kenya

2007-09-05T19:21:00.001-06:00

Oops! I made a mistake. Pakistan's first Twenty20 match was against South Africa in February, which they lost by ten wickets. My apologies.

Intriguing times in the world of Twenty20 cricket for Pakistan. After never having played international Twenty20 cricket, Pakistan entered a "Quadrangular" in Kenya, where they were able to lose their Twenty20 virginity, and for the first time assess Shoaib Malik as captain of Pakistan.

Pakistan's performance was pretty good, even though the opposition was Kenya, Bangladesh and Uganda. As expected, Bangladesh was the only team that gave them strenuous opposition, yet they were able to pull through with a fairly definitive victory in that match.

I have not been able to find any video coverage of the match on the net so far, but I will keep looking. From the Cricinfo bulletins, along with the statistics available, it looks like Salman Butt, Shahid Afridi and Younis Khan acquitted themselves fairly well with the bat, while the spinners did fairly well with the ball. As expected, the pacers came in for a reasonable amount of stick, with Akhtar and Asif being walloped around somewhat. What is even more interesting, is that Younis Khan took 3 wickets against Uganda when he bowled. A budding Sachin?

My favourite prospect Fawad Alam, however, didn't really get a lot of chances, and only seemed to acquit himself with the ball, giving away 15 runs in his four overs in the match against Kenya. I wish he was given more opportunities, but it looks like they want to try Yasir Arafat in the all-rounder position, with Shahid Afridi already in the squad. Lets hope Fawad Alam gets a shot in the upcoming cup.

Hefty bonuses by the PCB, but no response

2007-09-03T10:43:00.001-06:00

So the PCB decided to address the ICL situation, by throwing around a huge chunk of change at the players, in the form of bonuses for those who accepted central contracts. Well, Yousuf was in Dir on a Tableeghi mission, and while Nasim Ashraf went ahead and tried to call Yousuf, Farhat and Razzaq, Inzamam was completely ignored. Razzaq and Farhat, supposedly have turned down the PCB's offer, almost on principle, but also because Inzamam was not consulted about the affair.

It appears NAsim Ashrafi s doing a good job with making a bad situation worse.

The Pakistan A selection drama

2007-09-03T10:22:00.000-06:00

As I had mentioned before, the Pakistan A selection process for the Australia A tour has been full of usual Pakistani cricket ridiculousness. I usually don't talk about A tours etc, but this time the situation has been so hilarious that I just couldn't resist.

After having only 12 players actually show up for the camp in Lahore, the PCB went ahead and announced a 16 member squad for the one day matches against the Australians. Very surprisingly, but perhaps in a weird sort of way, predictably for the PCB, they left out centrally contracted players Hasan Raza and Mohammad Sami, and also Asim Kamal who has been flirting with international selection for the past four years. Interestingly, Asim Kamal was one of the players who actually was at the camp, so this makes one wonder what kind of example the PCB is setting, specially as it relates to the importance of training camps. What I would love to know, is how many of the 12 players who showed up to camp were actually selected for the Australia A squad!

PCB Constitution Approved!

2007-08-30T20:17:00.001-06:00

Woohoo!! The PCB finally has an approved constitution! While I don't know enough about it to offer comment, but a constitution can only be a good thing. What will be more interesting to see in the upcoming months as it goes through the approval process, is if it will be declared null and void due to some emergency like the 1971 Pakistani constitution, on which Zulfiqar Bhutto went medieval within moments of its ratification.

Pakistan A Camp Update

2007-08-30T20:14:00.001-06:00

As I reported here, through the auspices of Dawn yesterday, no one seems to be interested in representing the Pakistan A squad against Australia in the upcoming series. Day 3 is here, and only 12 players are there. Is all the PCB disciplinary action reserved for Shoaib Akhtar?

No one shows up to Pakistan A camp?

2007-08-29T20:28:00.001-06:00

What the heck is going on here? At a training camp for the Pakistan A squad, who are to be trained for selection for the series against Australia 'A', only 12 out of 27 players actually showed up! I'll try to see if I can find out who showed up, and who decided to play hooky.

Canadian Cricket Commentator raises a point for Yousuf

2007-08-29T20:22:00.001-06:00

I must say, I found this surprising when I read htis. It took a Canadian writer, in a Toronto paper, to come up with this. Now, I don't know if its representative of the thought process at the PCB or not, but it is an interesting proposition He proposes that perhaps all is not lost in the world of Pakistani cricket, with Yousuf signing on with the ICL. His technicality point is that Yousuf and Inzamam have made things easy for the PCB, by signing with the ICL, without signing central contracts with the PCB.

Quote: "While the world media has repeatedly presented the PCB position as one where any Pakistani player who signs with the ICL faces a life ban, the actual PCB position is that a life ban will be only be handed out to contracted players who play in the ICL. Yousuf never did sign a PCB contract and technically is eligible for selection.

In fact, when awarding central contracts the PCB has always reiterated that non-contracted players can still be called up for national duty. It is a fortuitous technicality, provided sanity prevails in the often insane world of Pakistani cricket. "

Very intriguing proposition. Will the PCB be smart enough to pick out a technicality of its own making?

PCB Backtracks on Yousuf?

2007-08-25T18:40:00.001-06:00

Well, Osman Samiuddin predicted this earlier on Cricinfo, and it appears to be happening. The PCB is trying to find ways to get Yousuf back on track with the squad. Money, conversations with Geoff Lawson are only the beginning of the discussion. What might very well be needed is a conversation with Shoaib Malik, where he categorically and unequivocally states to Yousuf and to the media at large, that at no point did he ask for Yousuf to be dropped from the Twenty20 World Cup squad.

Shoaib Malik didn't want Yousuf?

2007-08-23T20:32:00.001-06:00

This is the last thing Pakistani cricket needs. If this story in Dawn is indeed true, then there is truly something rotten in the state of the PCB, and Pakistani cricket at large. If a new captain with limited overall experience was allowed to dictate to the national squad to the degree that arguably the greatest batsman in current cricket could be left out of the squad, then that is indeed a problem. One can discuss and raise the issue of whether it was ok or not to leave Yousuf out, when Tendulkar, Dravid, Kallis and Ganguly have all been excluded, but no one can argue that a new captain has the right to unilaterally leave out one of the team's superstars, that too on a whim.

Further, Osman Samiuddin writes a thoughtful and insightful summary on the ICL and Pakistan issue. The Cicero-esque critic in chief of Pakistani cricket?

Opinions on the Pakistani ICL exodus

2007-08-20T17:21:00.001-06:00

More news on the Yousuf, Inzamam and Razzaq bombshell today. Rameez Raja, Intikhab Alam and Javed Miandad offer their perspective on issue, and perhaps not surprisingly, they all seem to hold the yoyos at the PCB responsible for this debacle.

What the heck is going on?!

2007-08-20T08:09:00.000-06:00

On the day Geoff Lawson was supposed to arrive in Pakistan to take over the reins of the team, it seems that the entire enterprise of international Pakistani cricket is threatening to fall apart.

For the last few days, there has been a reasonable amount of drama, with Shoaib Akhtar and his fines, and then the supposed threat by Shoaib Malik and a few other players to not participate in the Twenty20 cup. While these have been fairly concerning, not much has made it into the media since the first rumours came out. Yet, todays news turns all of those shenanigans into minor brew hahas.

First came the news that Razzaq had announced his retirement from international cricket, due to his unhappiness over being dropped for the Twenty20 cup, followed very shortly by his signing a County Cricket contract. Then came the ICL announcement of the players signed to date, and within that list were Razzaq and Farhat, which we knew about before. Yet, the list also included Inzamam and Mohammad Yousuf.

While reactions from various cricketing forums is still awaited, these developments were probably not what Geoff Lawson had in mind for his first day. Yousuf has been the lynch pin of the Pakistani batting lineup, and one must wonder if there is something more deep seated here, than just not being selected for the Twenty20 cup. Rumours have been rampant that the PCB has been trying to rid the team of any links with Inzamam and the overt religiosity on display during his tenure as captain. Yousuf was a large part of that, and Razzaq was also fairly close to Inzamam. Has there been more going on behind the scenes? Only time will tell.

The Razzaq decision to retire, to be honest, smacks a lot of Shahid Afridi's surprise announcement a while ago. Ticked off, and perhaps feeling disrespected, Razzaq has taken the sour grapes approach, and said I didn't want to play anymore anyhow. It will probably get reversed sooner or later by Razzaq. Yet, what will the PCB do with Inzy, Yousuf and Razzaq after they have already said they will ban on all players signing with the ICL? What does it say about theses players' commitment to the Pakistani cricket team, if they were willing to risk their place in the team for the ICL?

The next few days should be interesting, in how the PCB chooses to respond to the newest fiasco in Pakistani cricket. One really gets the feeling that Nasim Ashraf and the PCB will have to do more than fiasco creation to try to fix this situation.

The Soap Opera that is Pakistan Cricket

2007-08-17T22:31:00.000-06:00

It never ceases to amaze me that Pakistani cricket is truly an amazing soap opera. One had thought that with the appointment of Shoaib Malik, and the selection of Geoff Lawson as the coach of the squad, things for at least some time would have atleast a veneer of stability. Yet, all it took was a training camp, a new league, and it seems everything has fallen apart.

First, whether or not its true, Cricinfo and a few Indian papers have been talking over the last few days about a possible rebellion in the squad, lead by no other than Shoaib Malik. It appears that there was some altercation between Shoaib Malik and the management of the team over whether Shoaib Akhtar talked to someone before he left the camp early, leading to his suspension. While Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik have both denied any altercation, the rumours refuse to die down. The reports even point to a potential boycott of the upcoming Twenty20 cup by atleast 6 to 7 players.

While all this drama continues, the ICL has been active through Rashid Latif in trying to recruit Pakistani players. Imran Farhat has signed, Asim Kamal is close to signing, and rumours refuse to die that Inzamam, Yousuf and Razzaq are days away from signing. Asif was also offered an amount reaching USD 600,000 per year to play for two months / year for the ICL. The PCB and Nasim Ashraf in all their wisdom, are choosing to take an ostrich approach to the whole thing, and are threatening to suspend anyone who "dares" to sign with the ICL. Well, I have news for them. Pretty soon, it won't just be Imran Farhat calling their bluff. Imran Farhat they can do without, but Yousuf? Asif? I don't think so.

A few people raise the issue that if the players are patriotic enough, they will not choose the ICL, but play for the PCB regardless of the financial cost. Well, that may be all fine and dandy, but you cannot expect players to simply walk away from the types of figures the ICL is throwing around. If the PCB wants their players to remain under contract to the PCB, and not sign on with the ICL, they are going to have to pony up some serious sums of money to match ICL dollars. Further, what is going on at the PCB? Along with the ICL issue, the issue with the team's potential boycott, even if false, opens up a can of worms which after the World Cup debacle is the last thing the PCB needs.

While there appears to be a serious lack of foresight and leadership in the PCB, what I am starting to wonder about, as is Intikhab Alam, is where is Geoff Lawson? Its been over three weeks since his appointment, and I really haven't heard much from him to date. When is he coming to Pakistan? Who will be on his staff? Will it be an all foreign group, or will there atleast be some Pakistani representation? Serious questions remain.

Huh? Yousuf, Razzaq and Farhat to the ICL?

2007-08-14T17:37:00.001-06:00

In an uncredited story in The News, a Pakistani paper, its being reported that Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq and Imran Farhat have signed contracts with the ICL! If this is indeed true, it will be interesting to see the PCB's response. All the South Asian cricketing boards have vehemently come out in opposition to the ICL, and have said that they would suspend/ban any player who signs with the ICL. If this is true, what will the PCB do?

Asif & Afridi: Facing off to ICC largesse

2007-08-13T11:00:00.001-06:00

Sooner or later we knew that the ICL would start throwing around real money, but this kind of money is gang-busters! If this story is to be believed, Asif and Afridi have turned down offers of Rs. 100 million for three years, which works out to a little more than 500,000 USD per year. The ICL must really be planning on making a whole pile load of dough!

Younis Khan: No to ICL

2007-08-12T16:37:00.001-06:00

Well, atleast Younis Khan has chosen a side.

ICL pull strongest in Pakistan?

2007-08-12T07:33:00.001-06:00

Pakistani cricket continues to be the most enthralling and entertaining. Well, maybe not the cricket, but atleast all the shenanigans of the players and the establishment is enough to keep one tuned in to the world of Pakistani cricket. I think an Entertainment Tonight type show might do very well, specially if it is about Pakistani cricket. Hey, thats an idea. OH, want to do a show like that? Maybe we could quit the day jobs while we're at it!

Anyhow, here is this report in Dawn, which rarely has far-out rumours. According to Mohammad Yaqoob, it appears that Razzaq, Yousuf, Inzamam, Asim Kamal and Imran Farhat are all considering signing up with the ICL. While the paper refers to an anonymous, former Karachi-based international wicketkeeper batsman leading the negotiations, in light of this report, it appears that its probably Rashid Latif.

While it makes sense why someone like Inzamam might consider making the jump with his international career potentially coming to a close, the others might be a little more difficult to sort out. Farhat and Kamal have been on the fringes of the international squad, enjoying short runs here and there, but never really being able to settle themselves into the squad. This might be their opportunity to make some good money, specially when even players like Stephen Fleming are being offered money like 500,000 USD. The story about Razzaq and Yousuf makes a little less sense, but it may very well be hardball on their side to try to push the PCB to bring them back into the squad. Or, it could just be about the money. As one of my mentors used to say, Its never about money, Its ALWAYS about money.

Nice article on Mohammad Asif

2007-08-11T08:54:00.001-06:00

Well written Osman Samiuddin.

Razzaq miffed with the PCB

2007-08-11T08:15:00.001-06:00

I'm not sure how to respond to this. In a media interview, Abdul Razzaq was quiet upset, with the news that he had not been selected for the Twenty20 Cup in South Africa.

While I can understand why Razzaq is upset, and I think we are all entitled to an opinion on how that plays out for Pakistan, I'm not sure if I like a player being so vocal and openly critical of the setup and the selectors. Razzaq is a player in the setup, and has a right to his own opinion, but in a field as competitive as cricket, for a player to see it as a birthright to be selected to the squad is inappropriate. Selection to the squad is a privilege, and a player has a right to be told why they are being dropped and what the rationale is, but to be openly critical of the hand that feeds, is detrimental to the discipline in the squad and the cricketing setup.

I think Razzaq needs to be fined for this.

Shoaib Akhtar: Will Never Change

2007-08-11T07:28:00.001-06:00

Well, it was bound to happen. Despite pretending to be a model citizen for the last little while, and not only offering support for Shoaib Malik and the new PCB setup, Shoaib Akhtar decided to show some of his rebellious stance, and decided to skip out a little early from the training camp. Well, it appears that the new PCB setup didn't like that, and decided to fine Shoaib USD $5000 (around 3 lac Rs.). Shoaib does claim however that he had a stiff neck, which he had complained about before. Lets see if he chooses to appeal this or not. Whether warranted or not, I think it is a good thing that the PCB is trying to impose some discipline.

Update: It appears that Shoaib Akhtar is none too pleased by his fines, and created quiet the scene at the headquarters. He is definitely upset by the fact that he was fined without being given a hearing.

Yousuf and Razzaq Dropped

2007-08-09T09:46:00.000-06:00

Well, what was suspected has indeed come to pass. The PCB announced the selected squad for the upcoming Twenty20 Cup in South Africa, and as reported in various papers both Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq were indeed dropped. If dropping Abdul Razzaq means that Fawad Alam is to be given a try, along with Yasir Arafat then that is not necessarily a bad thing. It may also provide Abdul Razzaq the impetus to approach his cricket with more hunger and desire than he has shown in the past few years.

What is surprising, and what I earlier called lunacy, is the dropping of Yousuf. Kamran Abbasi on Cricinfo says: "His batting powers more than compensate for any fielding shortcomings. I'm baffled, he's shocked, and the selectors already sound confused." Osman Samiuddin likened the whole fiasco to logic having gone for a six. He makes a very valid claim that even the PCB has no clue why they have done what they did. Their claim that they did it to try out new blood falls apart, when they selected a 33 year old, someone who is 2 years older than Yousuf, as his replacement. Their claim falls apart when Yousuf is truly the greatest batsman in Pakistan today.

Omar Haq, on the other hand, makes a valid point that Misbah-ul-Haq has been scoring in Twenty20 at over 50, and given his experience in multiple Twenty20 games in the domestic circuit, it is the perfect venue to let him try to resurrect his international career. As happy as I am to have OH back in the blogging world, I must say I do disagree with him here. I definitely agree with KA that any shortcomings on Yousuf's part can be addressed by his batting prowess. This is yet another shenanigan by Nasim Ashraf and his cronies. I truly had higher hopes from this selection committee.

Kaneria and his strange ideas

2007-08-04T17:26:00.001-06:00

This is clearly a sign of delusional thinking.

Nasim Ashraf and the ICL

2007-08-04T11:15:00.001-06:00

I'm having a hard time figuring this one out. While in the past, I have praised Nasim Ashraf for not letting Pakistani players play willy nilly in County Cricket, when their fitness was at issue, I don't fathom this sense of anxiety and reluctance to letting our players play in the newly minted Indian Cricket League.

It has been a long term feature of Pakistani cricket that our players have played abroad for improving their cricketing skills, but also for the lucrative payouts commonly seen in other domestic forms of cricket, compared to our own. Pakistani players have participated in county cricket in droves, along with various league games all across the world. Further, there was a substantial Pakistani presence in Kerry Packer's league, and no one would say that Pakistani cricket has been ill served by our players participating in county cricket or in Kerry Packer's league in Australia.

It is this positive effect on Pakistani cricket, which makes this comment by Nasim Ashraf hard to understand. I can see that the PCB wants some control over where their players play, specially if they are under contract, but if Pakistan is not involved in international cricket, why not let the players play in a 20/20 league? If Younis Khan can beg out of international cricketing responsibilities or avoid camps being held by the team, then why can't other players play in the ICL, along with their place in the Pakistani cricketing setup? I mean I would quiet seriously contend that Younis Khan missing the recent camps will have a worse effect on the Pakistani team than any players playing in the ICL. Isn't team spirit, and team development more important than the PCB's sense of ownership over its players?

Dropping Yousuf and Razzaq?

2007-08-03T15:53:00.000-06:00

When a new set of selectors were assigned, I thought that there would perhaps be some semblance of sanity to the selection process. First they decide to hold a series of matches in the middle of July in Karachi, Lahore and Abbotabad. Anyone with half a brain can tell you that playing cricket in 40 C + weather is not exactly a bright idea. Yet, that is what the selectors had the squad do.

And now, comes news that Razzaq and Yousuf may be dropped from the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup squad. Now, while I may be equivocal about dropping Razzaq, dropping Yousuf is tantamount to lunacy. Yousuf is to the Pakistani squad what Chanderpaul is to the West Indies or what Ponting (the batsman, not the captain) is to Australia. He is the lynch pin of our batting lineup, and currently the most senior and most experienced batsman in our squad. I hope that all this talk of potentially dropping Yousuf is just a lot of hot air.

Inzamam deserves better than this

2007-08-02T17:57:00.000-06:00

Osman Samiuddin is really turning into quiet the writer. What a line here:

"Nothing is clear save this: the Pakistani cricketer who retires with grace, dignity and at an opportune time has not yet set foot on this earth. He has lingered, he has not been allowed to linger; he is pushed, nudged, intrigued out. Often he is just forgotten."

It appears that the PCB is trying everything they can to push, nudge or even forget Inzamam, but he is determined not to go gently into that good night. Not only given Pakistan's own cricketing history, but also with Nasim Ashraf's many shenanigans, I don't see why everyone is surprised. Ashraf is dishonourable enough that he will never come right out and say that Inzamam is not welcome, and he doesn't have brains enough to know that he can't do without him. The decision to not even give Inzamam a retainer is as preposterous as anything else Ashraf has done, and it is a tragedy of our cricketing establishment that no one is willing to call Ashraf on this.

Samiuddin's point is very well made that even if Inzamam is pushed out at this stage, it is not like he is some lame duck who's skill with the bat will not be missed. Averaging over 60 over the last two years, that is an average that Tendulkar or Lara would die for. Further, has Inzamam not done enough to resuscitate the pride of Pakistani cricket after the many debacles of previous years to atleast deserve the opportunity to play again?

The blog is back

2007-08-02T17:48:00.000-06:00

I hope all of you folks haven't given up hope or given up on my blog, but it is now time to make a comeback. Or like LL Cool J used to say, "Don't call it a comeback, I been doin' this for yeears!"

I need to start blogging again!

2007-07-24T21:07:00.001-06:00

This is getting silly! I need to start blogging again!

My sentiments exactly

2007-07-04T18:03:00.001-06:00

I haven't blogged for the last little while, due to many life changes and things, but this post, completely represents my thoughts on the issues in Pakistani cricket over the past month. I will write more when they actually play a match or appoint a coach, until then check out for the latest in cricket.

Ahmer Azhar Karimuddin, FRCSC

2007-06-21T10:39:00.001-06:00

Assalam Alaikum and Hello to all

Its been a long time coming, and after 13 years
of post-secondary education, 10 years of medical
education, its finally done. Today, at 9:30 AM, I
found out that I have passed my fellowship exams
and am now a Fellow of the Royal College of
Physicians & Surgeons of Canada in General Surgery.

I appreciate all of you, who over the past many years
have put up with an absent or detached friend,
colleague and family member, as many things over
the past ten years have been set aside so I could
achieve this goal. To my friends, thank you for
your understanding and all your kind wishes and
prayers. To my colleagues, thank you for the many
years of intellectual and moral support through out
the residency, because all of you, in your own way,
were part of this process for me. To my teachers,
you are all my role models, and the surgeon I will
become over the next many years, will in every
way be a reflection of your skills and knowledge. I
thank you all for your extraordinary patience with me
over the past many years, as you honed me into
the physician I am today, and the physician I will
become.

It is to my family that I owe the most gratitude. Firstly,
I thank my mother and father, who always pushed me to do
my best and to strive for excellence. Their sacrifices
and vision, above all else has bought me to the point
where I am today. My father has always pushed me
to dream the highest dream, and then refuse to settle
for anything else. Thank you Papa for all your efforts,
sacrifices, support and refusing to let me ever choose
the easier road. This is for you. And Azfar and Sahar
have put up with an absent/detached sibling for way too long.
Bhaijan is back in the house :)

Faiza, my wife, has had to put up with a lot. Two kids,
100 hour work weeks, and then even when I was home,
my head buried in books and journals and deep into the
computer. She has never been anything but understanding
and supportive, and truly over the past year has never
complained. Thank you Faiza for all of your help and
understanding in letting me achieve my goals.

Above all, all thanks and gratitude is to Allah. Truly He is
a merciful God, and no one can achieve anything without
His Divine Grace. Truly, the most thankful of His servants
does not have the capacity to thank Him enough and in
an appropriate manner.

Thanks once again to all of you. I hope you will take a moment
out of your busy days to wish my family and I well.

Your student, friend, brother and son:

Ahmer
--
Ahmer Azhar Karimuddin, BSc, MD, MC Ed(c)
PGY 5, General Surgery
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK
Chief Negotiator, PAIRS, www.usask.ca/pairs
http://ahmerazhar.blogspot.com/

Steve Rixon not to be Pakistan Coach

2007-06-14T23:53:00.001-06:00

Steve Rixon has pulled himself out of contention for the coaching position in Pakistan. It appears that the natural death of Woolmer secondary to high degrees of stress perhaps, may have precipitated it. Seems like Sri Lanka is the only job foreigners want related to cricket in the Sub-continent.

Javed Miandad: You can't coach a Test Cricketer

2007-06-02T23:05:00.000-06:00

I really feel that I have a love-flabbergasted relationship with Javed Miandad. If anyone was ever to ask me, I would say without a shadow of a doubt, that Javed Miandad is Pakistan's greatest cricketer. He is perhaps not our most talented, or our most fluent or our most electrifying player, but he is our greatest cricketer, hands down. I have always loved the fact that with sheer force of will, he would change the entire demeanour of a match.

Yet, almost regularly, Javed Miandad says something which makes me scratch my head and go what the heck! This comment in an interview with The News is one such comment. According to Miandad, it appears that test cricketers cannot be coached! What the heck! Amazing, really amazing.

More Nasim Ashraf shenanigans

2007-06-02T23:02:00.000-06:00

Have things come to this? It appears that none of the players were paid even a stipend for attending a training camp in Lahore. This after a series was played in Abu Dhabi for nothing but money, and another 20-20 series is planned in camp, and its not like the PCB isn't going to make any money off of that! The least Nasim Ashraf and his cronies can do, is make sure that the players are well looked after and provided for, because if not for the players, he would still be doing urine microscopy in Virginia.

Steve Rixon for Coach

2007-05-30T22:05:00.001-06:00

Former New Zealand coach, credited with allowing Stephen Fleming to blossom as a leader and as a batsman, Steven Rixon is being considered for Pakistan's coach.

The Mystery of Shoaib Akhtar

2007-05-27T00:07:00.001-06:00

Yes, we will never know if he is fit or not. Thanks Khalid Hussain for trying though!

Salman Butt acknowledges Coaching

2007-05-26T23:56:00.001-06:00

Listen good Shahid Afridi, Listen Good! Coaching can help!

Shahid, Shahid, Shahid Afridi!

2007-05-26T00:13:00.001-06:00

So, first Ramiz Raja said that Pakistan didn't need a coach. And now, there's Shahid Afridi. Interestingly, the Patakh Pathan didn't say that Pakistan didn't need any coaches. At least he was willing to accept that a fielding coach is needed for the squad! Seriously, Shahid, I think with this attitude I don't see any kind of future in cricket administration or team management for you. For my thoughts on coaching, check out this article, and this one.

Poor planning by the Pakistan Cricket Board... Anyone surprised?

2007-05-26T00:00:00.001-06:00

How can anyone be surprised at all that the training camp planned by the PCB with Wasim Akram, Aaqib Javed and Mudassar Nazar was poorly organized? If you were surprised, I've got some prime beach front property available in New Orleans.

Tim Boon to coach Pakistan?

2007-05-22T23:39:00.001-06:00

Who is Tim Boon? Here is Cricinfo's summary on the man, and to be honest, I don't know enough about him to be able to form any judgement. No promises, but I will try to do my due diligence on the man.

Update: Here is BBC's report on the man, after he was hired as coach for Leicestershire. Sounds promising enough, I guess.

Asif reprimanded

2007-05-22T23:36:00.001-06:00

While still negotiating his way through a doping scandal, and being fortunate enough to be appointed Vice-Captain, Asif was reprimanded for posturing after dismissing the Sri Lankan captain in the second ODI. While this may seem a minor thing, I think the Pakistani squad needs to be definitive with Asif and intimate to him in an effective a manner as possible that he is on a short leash. Its okay to be aggressive, but not when you are on the radar screen for other things as well.

Faisal Iqbal's father passes away.

2007-05-22T23:33:00.001-06:00

My condolences to the family.

Update: Another report from The News, with more information about the deceased.
Inna Lilahi Wa Ina Alaiyhi Rajiyoon.