New Central Contracts

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.

Hefty bonuses by the PCB, but no response

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.

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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.

Yousuf and Razzaq Dropped

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.

Nasim Ashraf and the ICL

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?

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Inzamam deserves better than this

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?

More Nasim Ashraf shenanigans

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.

Compulsively incapable of keeping promises

In Urdu they say "Shehmurgh kai pair bhaday kai bhaday" (The peacock's feet will always be ugly), and how well does our wonderful Nasim Ashraf typify this. Put him in a suit, let him fly first class to have pictures taken with the players, he's game. Have him preen in front of the National Assembly or Senate, he's game. Give press conferences, where all he accepts is applause? Sure he'll do it. But actually carry through with a promise or a statement? God forbid somehow that happens! Sach hai, Khuda woh din na dikhaye jub Nasim Ashraf kuch kar dikhaye.

Pensions for ex-players? He'll take the applause for making the announcement. But actually implement it? Too much work and responsibility. Take the plaudits for handing out cheques to 5 players? Sure he'll take them. But too actually do the work to make sure those cheques can be honoured? No way. Isn't giving someone cheques which cannot be cashed, actually cheque fraud? Isn't that a crime? I think I will have to ask my brother the banker that.

Shoaib Malik emulates Wasim Akram

What a difference it is, to see a young, cheerful, smiling face at the helm of Pakistani cricket. In an interview, Shoaib Malik spoke of his desire to emulate Wasim Akram as a cricket captain, and follow his aggressive approach to cricket.

Shoaib could do far worse than follow Wasim, who had a 60% winning percentage in ODIs, and won more test matches than he lost or drew. It probably speaks to Shoaib's appreciation of Wasim's cricketing skills that Mr. Grand Poobah himself, Nasim Ashraf if you didn't know, has asked Wasim Akram to help out the Pakistani fast bowling ranks with a few coaching sessions. Here is to hoping that Wasim gets treated better than Waqar. And for all of those upset with Wasim for helping out the Indian bowlers before he helped out the Pakistani bowlers, well all you had to do was ask.

Yes Shoaib, its the Kneeandralone

Yes, Shoaib. We know that it was the knee injury not the nandrolone coursing through your veins that kept you out of the World Cup. Lets wonder why no one has repeated the test, despite the last six months. Hmm. Didn't our Mr. Nasim Ashraf, president of PCB, say that it was going to happen "within the month"? Well, he being a nephrologist, should know about the excretion patterns and timings of steroids, and that is probably why the testing hasn't been done. Someone want to correct me here?

PJ Mir gone!

Celebrate good times!! Come ON!!!! Ooooh YAAAH!!! PJ Mir (on the left) is gone as media manager!! While the rest of this report is filled with Nasim Ashraf's gobleydook, at the end of it Nasim Ashraf says something which truly makes my heart glad! PJ Mir is no longer affiliated with the Pakistan Cricket Board! After his own resignation, this is the best news Nasim Ashraf could give me.

Nasim just having a ball!

Looks like Nasim Ashraf is having so much fun giving his daily press conferences, now he's going to have one after every series. At yet another press conference, he announced that a coach and captain would be announced on May 7th. Further, the coach will be on a two year leash, while the captain will be only appointed on a series by series basis. That is exactly the fresh start we need in Pakistan cricket, where the start will be more of a stop and start process. (sarcasm here folks).

Perhaps Nasim Ashraf could have held this many press conferences when the players were languishing with no assistance in the West Indies after Woolmer's death.

Nasim Ashraf's New Plan

Thank you, Zainub at Sundries for such a complete summary of our dear Nasim Ashraf's pile of crap.

You should read it. Here is also, Osman Samiuddin's reflections on the piece from CricInfo.

In summary, all central contracts to be replaced by performance-based contracts, a Pakistani coach, a baseball playing fielding coach, a paid selection committee, establishment of a national academy sort of like the Australian model, and other cosmetic changes. Interestingly, no captain or coach is being appointed for a month, so maybe Younis Khan's hesitancy is more than just rumour.

Arrogance even in humiliation

Truly arrogance will be our undoing far before our actions will come back to haunt us. Arrogance is what relegated Pakistan to humiliation in the World Cup, and having to leave even before Ireland! Arrogance is what made us think we could beat the WI with only 3 to 4 batsmen. And now, arrogance on Musharraf's part keeps Ashraf in his job. The completely incompetent Nasim Ashraf who has been on this "ad-hoc" committee running the PCB for three years, and Chairman for six months, offered a sham resignation after the humiliating losses. We were all sure then that this was just an exercise in playing a political game, but yet we hoped, how we hoped, that this man would have some honour, that Musharraf would not treat cricket like he treats parliament and the supreme court. But we were just wrong. And now we will have to watch this man's dramas over the next upcoming years. It will be fun won't it.

Nasim Ashraf's new pile of crap.

Here is a summary of Nasim Ashraf's testimony to the Pakistan Senate regarding the team's performance at the World Cup.

I'm happy to hear that he feels that everyone else was to blame except him, but he did make his political, cover his own ass statement of responsibility without actually saying what his own errors were. He also made the comment that I've sent my resignation, and my buddy wuddy Musharraf ain't gonna fire me, nah nah nah boo boo! What a bum.

Ashraf: RESIGN!!

How I hoped it wasn't a drama. How I hoped that this man, this so-called colleague of mine, a man of medicine, would have some degree of honour, some degree of responsibility. As a physician, the worst crime you could be implicated for, is the crime of pride, the crime of taking yourself so seriously that you are never willing to admit your errors, and in consequence accept responsibility. Every step, every day, every moment of a physician's job is accepting responsibility for one's actions, and sometimes even for other's actions, and holding oneself accountable to others.

Nasim Ashraf, now has had his "resignation not accepted" by the President, remains in charge of the PCB. He now has the audacity, the gall, the moronicity to say that he has no lust for the job, and doesn't want others to criticise him. Well, I will continue to criticise him for every breath the man takes in the role of Chair of PCB. His prior idiocies not withstanding, this is the same man who ran away to the Interior of Sindh, leaving the players alone in their time of need. When senior leadership was needed to navigate through legal and public relations problems, he ran away. When it came time to take responsibility in a time of crisis, he ran away. He was there to share in the glory. He was there to have his pictures taken with the stars of the game. Nasim Ashraf just doesn't want to work for it. Leave now Ashraf. You have even lost the right to be addressed as Doctor.