The Soap Opera that is Pakistan Cricket

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.

ICL pull strongest in Pakistan?

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.

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Imran Farhat: poking outside off stump again?

Imran Farhat, what a guy. Perpetually known as the one player on the Pakistani side who could be counted on swinging outside off-stump, even when the ball is outside leg (I jest), he decided to go seriously off-side after he was left out of the squad going to South Africa. Along with his father-in-law, Mohammad Ilyas, he decided to get all uppity with Chief Selector Sallahuddin. It appears that Imran and Ilyas, not very politely, decided to ask why they were left out of the squad.

Now, Imran has to realize that no one is born with an automatic right to selection, and beyond that, its not like he has performed in anyway consistently enough to have an absolute right to be selected. Imran Farhat, Salman Butt, Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez are all in the same boat with about equal rights to the opening spot, with the versatile Kamran Akmal and Fawad Alam also pushing for selection and potentially being able to fill the opening slot. Further, its not like Shoaib Malik has a set spot in the lineup, and for all we know he may very well be playing at the #1/2 position.

Its not like Imran Farhat has helped his cause any at this stage, with the personality politics that play a significant role in all Pakistani cricket matters. The young man just let a few things get to his head, and now hopefully he will get a second chance at some stage.

Is this the squad?

Five changes to the Test squad. Danish Kaneria, Shahid Nazir, Faisal Iqbal and Asim Kamal are definitely coming back, while it appears that patience has run out with Imran Farhat as well, or as according to this report, Kamran Akmal might be coming back from South Africa. Wasim Bari has brought back Abdul Razzaq, Shabbir Ahmed and Abdur Rehman as expected, but the recall of Shahid Afridi is a positive step and hopefully it will pay dividends. What I find intriguing, is the selection of Imran Nazir to the squad.

For the last four months, Pakistan has been remarkably patient with the opening combination of Imran Farhat and Mohammad Hafeez, albeit with limited success in South Africa. Given this situation, one would have thought that there might be thought to either returning to Salman Butt, who has been performing well in domestic cricket, or perhaps going a different route altogether. Imran Nazir has been burning up domestic cricket for the past few seasons, scoring at around 45 a click, and I have no beef with him. It would have been interesting to see Fawad Alam being given a shot, specially given his performances this past while. Well, I hope Imran Nazir does well, we need a young batsman to finally come through.

Probable XI (or Ahmer's XI!): Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir or Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Inzamam, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Rana Naved, Mohammad Asif, Abdur Rehman

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, imran nazir, fawad alam, shahid afridi, salman butt

Farhat cleared of misconduct

In a hearing with the match referee, Imran Farhat was cleared of any charges related to misconduct. It appears that he claimed a catch of Ashwell Prince, when the ball had touched the ground. Chris Broad thinks it was an honest mistake.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, imran farhat

Pakistan lose to South Africa

Just after lunch on the fifth day, South Africa completed their win over Pakistan. Winning by seven wickets, South Africa's performance was built upon careful, meticulous batting and incisive bowling, neither of which Pakistan was able to display.

The inability of the bowlers, apart from Kaneria and Asif, to display any penetrative ability on a wicket which was obviously swinging and giving good bounce, is somewhat concerning. Neither of Shahid Nazir or Rana Naved were able to do anything substantial, and who knows, a couple of wickets here and there, and perhaps Pakistan may have had a shot to win this match. The batting was solid, without that added edge to take the team to another level. In both innings, multiple batsmen got good starts but no one was able to convert it into a match winning performance. Pakistan should be pleased with Imran Farhat and Yasir Hameed who had good innings and hopefully will be able to parlay that into a solid tour. Pakistan's man of the match was clearly Mohammad Asif, who took seven wickets in the match and showed that he hadn't missed a beat despite being away for the last few months. Yet one feels, that for Pakistan Yousuf, Shoaib and Umar could not possibly return sooner!

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, mohammad asif, imran farhat, yasir hameed

Imran Farhat thinks he's a star!

Imran Farhat may think otherwise, but isn't this the guy who averages 27.61 while away from Pakistan, and further, if one only looks at the "bouncier" wickets in NZ, Australia, England and South Africa, his innings in Australia and England, barring one innings score of 91, his average is only around 15! Stop talking a big game if you can't deliver.

Imran Farhat injured too

There must be something in the water in England. Now, Imran Farhat is also injured, further decimating the Pakistani squad. The opening conundrum is truly a conundrum now, as Kamran Akmal didn't work out at the top of the order, and neither has Salman Butt. I don't envy Woolmer and Inzamam's positions at this time.

Its all over already?!

Sitting in Quebec city today, one could not feel more disconnected from international cricket, and after seeing this result I continue to wonder if I am in a state of disbelief. Pakistan folded like a stack of cheap cards, due to some fine work from Panesar and Harmison. Who would have thought that with all the bowling injuries, it would be the batting that would fail. It is perhaps the mercurial nature of Pakistani cricket that such outcomes somehow surprise and not surprise one.

Younis Khan played well in both innings, but apart from that there is no batsman who can claim any honours in this match. Imran Farhat may get some kudos for a lucky, crafty unassured 34, but apart from that Yousuf, Inzamam, Faisal Iqbal, Razzaq and Afridi all did not play their part. The psychological impact of this match, for the long term series may in fact be even greater than just the magnitude of the loss. Woolmer and Inzy will have some work to do.

4 Openers?

Looks like there really is a lot of thought about the opening situation for England. It appears that they will also be considering Taufiq Umar and Muhammad Hafeez for the opening slots. What I am unclear about, is that are the other two Imran Farhat and Salman Butt, or is Shoaib Malik in the mix also as one of the openers.

Another promising note by Wasim Bari is asking for Asim Kamal to be brought back into the squad. If that is indeed the case, this will be a promising return for a promising player.

Malik or Farhat? Afridi or Razzaq?

Its going to be a tough one to pick. Pakistan has 2 major dilemmas here. While everyone is focused on the Ganguly debate for India, Pakistan has trouble at the #2 and #6 spots. Shoaib Malik and Imran Farhat are both strong claimants to the #2 spot, and reasonable arguments can be made for either of them to start. I would think Imran Farhat needs the start here as the inform batsman. There has been some commentary that Shoaib may get the edge as he is a proven off-spinner, but Imran Farhat can also bowl some leg-spin, and has done so well at the first class level.

The Afridi/Razzaq controversy is more difficult to sort out. Both are key members of the squad, and are major contributors to any success Pakistan has had in the last little while. Afridi has recently been in trouble for "dancing" during the English series, but he is also the one who possesses almost a talismanic quality about him for many Pakistani fans. His batting may be hit and miss, but he has shown himself to be an effective bowler and he is one of the better fielders in the side. Razzaq on the other hand has shown himself to be far more consistent than Afridi, yet it is Afridi who has the higher test batting average and the higher average at Qaddafi stadium as well. Also given the fact that the pacers are likely to be Shoaib, Sami, Rana +/- Asif, Afridi may offer a good spinning option as well. My personal bias takes me to Afridi for the #6 position.

Hameed out, but is Farhat in?

Imran Farhat has made a resounding point in his favour to be selected for the first test against India. After India had a highly satisfying innings with 6 of their batsmen scoring 50s, and Dhoni doing some entertaining, Imran Farhat sprayed an aggressive and dominating 107 against a strong and representative Indian attack. Accompanied by Hasan Raza's dominating 75, a stand of 160 revealed Imran's confidence and return to form.

Hot on the presses though, is Yasir Hameed's illness. Felt by many as being the most likely person to accompany Salman Butt at the #1/#2 position, Yasir has come down with typhoid, and is likely going to miss the entire series. Tough luck for him.

For those who might not know, Imran Farhat has played in 15 tests for Pakistan, with an average of around 30. If one removes the series in New Zealand and Australia, where he struggled, his average is sitting around 36, which is not something to laugh at. Further, at the domestic level, he has been prolific, with an average of over 80 so far this season. With Yasir Hameed out, this may represent the best opportunity Imran Farhat has had in some time to cement himself with a good performance at home.