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.

The Pakistan A selection drama

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 Backtracks on Yousuf?

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.

Powered by ScribeFire.

Razzaq miffed with the PCB

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.

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.

Pakistan in Abu Dhabi: An auspicious start

All in all, not too bad. Pakistan played 3 matches, tried out around 16 players and had an overall positive experience. Shoaib Malik, if not spectacular, showed himself to be capable to the task of being captain. Fielding changes, using the power play and bowling changes were all appropriate and lived up to his promise of being aggressive and looking for the win. He also seemed to be well settled at the number 5 position, and interestingly enough only gave himself a bowl in the second match.

I think this does speak to the overwhelming concern many have had about the large number of all-rounders in the squad. How many will get a bowl, and how will circumstances allow everyone to get overs in. I mean it is kinda silly when the only people who didn't get a bowl in the series were Yousuf, Kamran Akmal, Imran Nazir, Salman Butt and Yasir Hameed. Fawad Alam didn't impress with the bat, but a young all-rounder could have been given a shot if it wasn't for the presence in the squad in the third ODI of no less than SEVEN effective bowlers.

Shahid Afridi can be welcomed back to the squad, and this time not just as an aggressive batsman, but as a truly modern, effective all-rounder. Salman Butt scored the most runs for Pakistan after Shoaib Malik, in a welcome return to form. Akmal also batted well when given an opportunity, while Sami, Umar Gul and Asif, although not spectacular, were effective and showed an ability to make a dead wicket work for them. Abdul Razzaq also suffered from the surplus of bowlers, and only got one match where he bowled at all. Abdur Rehman continued to impress in his one outing, bowling economically and threateningly ala a Pakistani Panesar.

This young squad, if Younis Khan and Shoaib Akhtar are able to make a return, will continue to demonstrate all the talent that every one is sure that they possess. All was not lost in the World Cup loss, and Inzamam and Woolmer's legacy is not all religiosity and indiscipline.

Vice-Captain Mohammad Asif: Huh?

Huh? Kamran Abbasi summarizes my feelings well. While in the long run Mohammad Asif may have been a good option for an appointment as a Vice Captain, this very well may not have been the time. As Kamran Abbasi says, "Mohammad Asif might well be a judicious choice as vice captain but it is injudicious to appoint him before the WADA business is done."

Further, at a time of major turmoil in Pakistani cricket, perhaps Mohammad Yousuf and/or Shahid Afridi may have been more astute choices to help temper a young and inexperienced Shoaib Malik for the upcoming year. I'm just not sure about this.

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.

Fawad Alam! Welcome to the Squad!

Its been about a week since the news broke, but I couldn't resist saying I told you so, specially after Omar, all but ordered that I write a post about Fawad Alam's selection to the upcoming series with Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi.

For my previous posts, click on the link. In short, Fawad Alam is an off-spinning, opening all-rounder who has done exceedingly well in all forms of cricket he has participated in over the last few years. U-17, U-19 and even on the domestic circuit. Given his electrifying performances over the past year, and in the Twenty20 Cup recently held domestically, it was high team he was given a shot. I hope that his selection won't be cosmetic only, but will result in him being given a start on the squad.

I can see Omar's consternation at the selection of an umpteen number of all-rounders to the squad, but I hope that Fawad Alam is given a shot as an opener, more along the line of a Chris Gayle who bats high in the order, and bowls as a spinner. I would perhaps liken Fawad Alam more to Shoaib Malik than to Abdul Razzaq, as they appear to be almost the identical player. Good fielder, off-spinning batsmen with an unlimited future. Lets see how things work out. For now, all congrats to Fawad Alam!

Iqbal Qasim: A man of honour

Truly, Iqbal Qasim is a man of honour. Even though he was not chair of the selection committee, and in fact has been recovering from a heart attack just a few months ago, he has resigned. He hasn't made his resignation contingent on anyone accepting or refusing it. He has just gone ahead and done it, as any one with any sense of propriety would do in a situation like this. Dr. Ashraf and PJ Mir could do a lot to learn from his actions.

Do you want to play for Pakistan?

If you do, then here is your chance. As long as you meet the selection criteria!

Well written guys!

Pakistan's reserves for the World Cup

So, the reserves have also been named. Salman Butt, Azhar Mahmood, Mohammad Sami, Shahid Nazir and Zulqarnain Haider (wk) round out the reserves. I've just got to wonder, wouldn't Yasir Hameed been better suited for this than Salman Butt? He can open, bat lower down the order and in fact has shown reasonable facility in both those tasks. Salman Butt can only open, and its not like his batting performances have set the international cricket circuit on fire. Another questionable decision by our wonderful selectors.

Sleazy Moin wants a comeback?

No more than one day after the court had dismissed wife-battery charges against Moin Khan, at the request of his wife, Moin Khan decided to play the knight in shining armour (maybe he should do that with his wife first). It was a day before the PCB selected their squad for the World Cup, but Moin Khan came forward and offered his services to replace Kamran Akmal for the upcoming World Cup. Thanks, but no thanks Mr. Khan. Maybe you should spend the next month making amends with your wife, rather than running away from her.

Pakistan's World Cup Squad - Woes

Here's Osman Saimuddin's fairly accurate and amusing analysis of the Pakistani World Cup squad.

Quote: "Forget the plans and long-term vision, say selectors. We're winging it now, hoping and praying. At least we're used to it." Hardy Har Har.

Plus, another funny news report about Pakistan's selections for the World Cup. I'm becoming a bigger fan of Geo TV every day.



Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, selectors, world cup, pakistan cricket board

The Absence of Professionalism

It was a good week away for me, but not one it appears for Pakistani Cricket. The two losses to South Africa, more like capitulations or decimations rather than losses, the continuing saga of Shoaib Akhtar's injury or recovery along with the ever present drama of our medical board, the consistently inconsistent selection policy and then there is Shahid Afridi. Each of these four distinct soap operas on their own may be enough to break down a team's resolve, and if recovered from would have spoken highly of a team's mental strength. Yet, on the eve of the World Cup, all four of these crises coming together is truly no more than a catastrophe for the squad.

Kamran Abbasi at PakSpin (with far greater authority than I) and I, in previous posts, have spoken about the shenanigans which are continuing at the Medical Board of the PCB, and it really doesn't seem that these shenanigans are threatening to stop at any point soon. Shoaib Akhtar, was first judged almost fit upon return from South Africa, and then we were all informed, not by the PCB, but by Shoaib himself, that his knee is injured. Next thing we know, without any work or due diligence by the PCB, Shoaib Akhtar is on a plane to London to get his knee examined. We have the selectors hoping to pick a squad for the World Cup, which is less than a month away, and yet, there is no sense of whether Umar Gul, Shabbir Ahmed or Shoaib Akhtar are going to be ready or able to participate in the World Cup which lasts almost 6 weeks. You would have thought that some lessons would have learnt from the five week tour of South Africa, where at various points, Shoaib Malik, Abdul Razzaq, Inzamam, Umar Gul, Shoaib Akhtar, Shabbir Ahmed, Umar Gul and Mohammad Sami were all injured. Yet, it appears that the selectors have learnt none of these lessons in the squad that they've picked for the World Cup.

The selectors seem to have been smoking something really good. OH, a fellow blogger, has responded quiet vehemently to the selections for the World Cup, and truly rightfully so. The selection of Danish Kaneria just does not make sense. For the past two years he has been kept out of the squad, and even Abdur Rehman, a talented young spinner, has repeatedly been preferred to him. Now, when it comes to the greatest stage of cricket, suddenly here is Kaneria to bowl at this level. With what preparation, what track record has he been brought back? If he was going to play, or if the thought was he could, why wasn't he trialled in the ODI series against South Africa? On top of that, the selectors have chosen to persist with Shoaib Akhtar and Umar Gul despite no certainty that they will even be able to play even one game. Plus, why take Abdur Rehman to South Africa, if he had no chance to play in the World Cup, and for that matter why have Azhar Mahmood show up, if he wasn't going to play in South Africa. Wonderfully consistent inconsistency.

Given that talking about Shahid Afridi almost always makes me laugh, I'll talk about the ridiculous losses to South Africa over the past week. Surely, even an U-19 squad or a B team squad could have played at almost the same calibre as Pakistan did in the last two ODIs. This is not the way one of the top squads in cricket is supposed to play in the last two matches before the World Cup. If these is any kind of precursor to the performance in the World Cup, I may as well cancel my plans to watch any of Pakistan's matches because I sure as heck won't be laughing or happy about any of their performances. There was no batting, bowling or fielding performance worth getting excited about or even to be content with. There was just nothing.

And, as always, there is Shahid Afridi. There was the stunning performance in the second ODI (video here),



which truly served notice to all that yes, Shahid is back. I must say, I felt a little proud of myself for wanting Afridi back in the squad. But alas.

Afridi's decision to try to use his bat on a fan (video here) after being dismissed in the first ODI, resulted in him getting a four match suspension from the ICC.



So, not only was he gone from the last two matches of the series against South Africa, but also for the first two matches in the World Cup. Afridi's comments on landing in Karachi (video here), were ALMOST comical, specially given the fact that this is the guy who just a year ago was trying to destroy a pitch, and almost didn't even get recalled for this series or the World Cup. Shahid is truly a heartbreaker.



All in all, nothing has happened in the past two weeks which raises any optimism for the upcoming World Cup. This squad really has to try to come together and find some inner resolve to be able to get through the next two months, as the World Cup in the West Indies is truly going to test this squad's resolve. One can only hope that any failure by this squad, will not be laid squarely on Woolmer and Inzamam, but the PCB's higher ups are also held responsible in some way for this. Each and every one of these problems isn't necessarily related to the team or to individual players, but speaks to an overall absence of professionalism in the entire setup, which leeches down to individual players and interferes with their performances and how they conduct themselves on the field. This is not professional cricket we are seeing, this is gilli danda.

Wasim Akram on Wasim Bari

Well, Wasim Akram has never been known to keep his feelings under wraps, and he doesn't do that here. He lets loose about his feelings on Wasim Bari, who through all the ups and downs at the PCB, has remained as chair of the selectors committee for the past 15 years. While I'm sure some portions of the coments may be appropriate, lets not forget that Wasim Akram is probably not the world's biggest PCB or Wasim Bari fan after being nudged or shall I say shoved out of the game after the 2003 World Cup.

Shoaib Akhtar has to be fit?!?!

Gee whiz. Wasim Bari says that Shoaib Akhtar has to be 100% fit, before they select him for the World Cup. Really? I thought they were going to take along a limping, half injured Shoaib Akhtar. I think Wasim Bari is getting way too much mic time these days, that he is beginning to make even more mundane and routine statements. That being said, could this be taken as a negative comment on Shoaib, or some kind of a warning? I say we hedge our bets and not even take Shoaib along.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, wasim bari, shoaib akhtar, world cup

Kamran Akmal to be rested?

So, after three years of relative stability behind the stumps, it appears that if Wasim Bari has his way, Kamran Akmal will be rested for the series against South Africa. Being a wicket keeper himself, it appears that Bari feels that if Kamran Akmal gets a break, he might help him out a little bit. I'm not sure how I feel about this. He is in a rough patch, and he will sort himself out, but does it help Pakistan to return to a wicket keeping controversy that lasted for ten years prior to Kamran Akmal taking the job? Not sure about this.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, wasim bari, selectors, kamran akmal,

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

Signal from headquarters? Bari for keeping Gul out?

Wasim Bari, chief selector, has almost unequivocally stated that Pakistan would be better served by leaving Umar Gul out for the next test. His concerns are valid, specially for a young player who has already missed a year due to a stress fracture. Bringing him back sooner may provide the team with a psychological boost, but it may hamper Umar Gul's immediate, if not long-term, future. With Shoaib Akhtar ready to go, that might be all the boost the team needs for the second test. The final decision is of course Bob Woolmer and Inzamam's to make.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, pakistan cricket board, wasim bari, selectors, umar gul