Loud Thinking

Archive for March, 2012

In order to neutralize Indian double game, Pakistan must emphasize that ICP (integrated check post) working at Wagah border can’t be allowed (for which India & USA are dying to start its working to allow flow of 2000 trucks per day movement from present rate of 200 trucks per day movement) till such time India restores full fledged cricketing ties with Pakistan (as per the commitment of MMS) and must first send Indian cricket team to Pakistan, for a full fledged tour of 3 Tests, 5 ODI’s & 3 T20 matches series.

We must understand that why even after the commitment of MM Singh with our PM last year in Mohali, for the restoration of cricketing ties between the two countries, what are the Indian motives to back out on their commitment? If they can back out, we can also do the same and this must be very clearly told by our PM to Barack Obama (who has a big stake in restoration of India -Afghanistan trade link through Pakistan, in facilitating India as per the US end game plan of Afghan war), when he meets him in the next few days.

First, they sent terrorists to attack Srilankan team players and then blame us on security issues. Enough is enough. If security for players is an issue, then let it be an issue also for the Indian goods and transports going to and fro to Afghanistan.

Now it’s high time this joke with Pakistan, is stopped forthwith.

Today is the day when millions of Pakistani and Bangladeshi cricket lovers are very excited and tense about the match result of the Asia cup ODI cricket final, being played between the two brotherly nations.

My advice to the cricket fans of both the brotherly nation is, that rather than being focussed on the result of the match, the game itself should be enjoyed, for the entire 100 overs of this historic moment.

When two brothers or sisters play the final, it’s always a moment of pride for the parents and the family, because, in any case, the victory of either player, the cup remains within the family.

Here it’s the same case, no matter Pakistan wins the final or Bangladesh, we should celebrate the joy of trophy being retained in the family.

Let us cheer the players of both the teams, so that the team playing better, comes out winner on the day.

In all sports, the spirit of the game lies in the Victory of achieving the highest standards of the game.

Good luck to Bangladesh, Good luck to Pakistan.

International Women’s Day – A Proposal for Emancipation of Pakistani Women.

It is proposed that a resolution may be moved in ALL Provincial Assemblies and a legislation in National Assembly be enacted to ensure that Pakistani women are not dis-enfranchised in any constituency of general, bye-elections and local body polls by a pact between all the candidates that they will not allow their women to cast votes.

A law can be passed that if women votes are not cast in any election, that candidate will not be declared a winner. In other words, no election will be valid without women votes.

The news published at ESPNcricinfo.com quoted as below, that ICC is not willing to send its officials for supervising the planned cricket matches to be played between Pakistan and Bangladesh, scheduled in April 2012, is really disappointing to say the least. Rather than ICC helping revive international cricket in Pakistan, by sending a world XI, it is relegating the BD cricket teams tour to Pakistan, almost to a nonevent, as if it was hockey or rugby and does not pertains under the ambit of ICC. This is NOT Cricket.

Quote. “ICC news

ICC frames plan for ‘unsafe’ series
Nagraj Gollapudi
March 7, 2012

The ICC has introduced a “special dispensation” to be made only in “exceptional circumstances” in order to ensure that bilateral series take place even if the ruling body has determined it “unsafe” to appoint its officials for such series. This would allow such series to be manned by “non-neutral match officials”, a departure from the ICC’s Standard Playing Conditions, pending permission from the ICC’s Executive Board.

The dispensation, announced at the end of the ICC’s Chief Executive Committee (CEC)’s two-day meeting in Dubai, will have special significance for the proposed tour of Pakistan by Bangladesh, the planning for which is at an advanced stage.

The CEC stated that it had limited powers to take a decision over safety issues as to whether tours should take place or not. It reiterated that the ICC’s role in bilateral series was “limited to considering the safety and security of the match officials after a tour had been confirmed and a security plan produced.” The decision as to whether a particular tour should take place or not was, the CEC stated, “one for the participating countries.”

The CEC statement has ensured that the ICC’s own officials need not be appointed for Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan. That could be seen by Pakistan as a stumbling block towards hosting top-level international cricket; other nations would be wary of touring if the ICC deemed the situation was not safe for their officials.

For Bangladesh, the seal of ICC’s approval would have ensured greater vigilance around security issues. Last week, a nine-member Bangladesh delegation, led by their cricket board president Mustafa Kamal, gave a nod to the security arrangements at various venues after a two-day visit. Both Kamal, and Zaka Ashraf, the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman, had said that they would approach the ICC to approve the tour.

It is understood that the ICC dispatched individual letters to both the PCB and BCB on Monday, saying that it could not give the tour a go-ahead. The CEC’s introduction of this special dispensation around “non-neutral match officials” did not make a specific reference to the ICC’s disapproval of the series or that the tour had been deemed “unsafe” for its match officials to stand in. The dispensation however, creates the opportunity for the series to go ahead with Pakistani or Bangladeshi umpires and match-referees.

There had been two itineraries proposed for the tour, one of which includes a three-match ODI series, and the other a series of two ODIs and one Twenty20 international, to be completed in one week in April. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium and Karachi’s National Stadium are the venues expected to host the matches.

ESPNcricinfo understands that Bangladesh’s security team had expressed its reservations in playing in Karachi, and instead hope to play all the proposed matches in Lahore. Earlier, Rawalpindi was dropped as a venue from the plan.

“It is important the tour goes ahead for Pakistan cricket to show the country can host games again,” Subhan Ahmad, the PCB’s chief operating officer, told Reuters. “We will have the highest level of security possible.”

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, pointed out that special dispensations however should not become a norm. “Bearing in mind that safety and security is the sole responsibility of individual member boards for bilateral matches, the CEC regarded this as an exceptional circumstance in which the appointment of non-neutral match officials could be justified but stated clearly that it should not to be regarded as a preferred option or precedent if the dispensation were to be granted,” Lorgat said.

There has been no international cricket in Pakistan for exactly three years now after masked terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus and the van carrying ICC match officials, who were on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on March 3, 2009, on what was the third day of the second Test.” Un-quote.

The above mentioned decision of ICC means that they want to inflict upon Pakistan, a perpetual punishment of banning genuine and authentic International cricket from this cricket loving country forever. And too, by ignoring all the huge human and material sacrifices Pakistan gave as a front line state, in the war against terror, while standing with the world community to make this planet a secure and safe place of freedom, peace and liberty.

This is called playing into the hands of terrorists. In fact, this gives a clear cut signal that terrorism pays.

But remember, what happened at Munich Olympics where so much blood was shed? IOC did not succumb to the unbearable pressures of security concerns and the majestic Olympics flame and its movement goes on, despite severe security threats all over the world.

ICC must know that the way it is approaching security issues in Pakistan, it is not only retrogressive but discriminatory, as well. However, leaving aside the negative effects on Pakistan cricket, the biggest sufferer will be the game of cricket, for which ICC will rue for a long time to come, when posterity will give its verdict that not terrorism, but ICC, with its myopic policies, destroyed growth & development of the glorious game of cricket.

If nations and organizations start succumbing to the threats of black mail or security concerns, then nothing will stop their decay into wilderness. Look how serious security threats were posed by the Mumbai 26/11 attack, but English cricketers continued their tour of India, sending a clear message of solidarity and steadfastness with freedom, peace and liberty.

Timidity, only gives longevity to the nefarious designs of the evil. And this was the reason England never surrendered in the Second World War to the mighty German onslaught, despite unbearable sufferings sustained for many years. Similarly, Pakistan as a front line state in war on terror is standing for more than a decade, like a rock of Gibraltar, to protect world from the spread of terrorism. As such, Pakistan deserves more than any other country in the world to be supported, even out of the way, for its sacrifices for the peace of the entire world.

So come on ICC, show some true spirit of cricket, as it is not the game for timid perons, stand up and be counted for freedom, peace and liberty.

The planned tour of Bangladesh cricket team to Pakistan in April 2012, will be a great opportunity to promote peace through sports/cricket.

However, as reported on TV last night that Bangladesh cricket team’s coach Stuart Law, who is of Australian origin, has declined to tour Pakistan with the Bangladesh cricket team, for it’s impending tour being scheduled next month in April. This news if correct, raises many questions with serious ramifications for the cricketing world.

Nevertheless, before dwelling with the consequences of the above mentioned news, the following facts should also be kept in mind, to have a better prospect of the whole issue.

1. Newly appointed coach of Pakistan cricket team Dev Whatmore, is also a former Australian Test and international cricket player, who had no qualms ever for staying in Pakistan. In fact, he was one of the coaching candidates for the Pakistani cricket team, when another very famous former Australian international cricketer Lawson, was selected as coach for Pakistan. We understand that when he was removed to appoint Waqar Younis, Lawson never himself wanted to quit the job. And Lawson stayed in Pakistan (and also wanted to stay further) during much worse war conditions in Afghanistan and it’s spill over impact of very serious law and order conditions, then prevailing in Pakistan.

2. To say that Stuart Law is taking refuge under travel advisory of Australian government, is also a very weak argument, which does not hold water, as many Australian professionals are continuing to visit Pakistan and they even stay here for longer durations, without any fear of violence. As compared to this situation, we hear very regular news of violence against Asian migrants in Australia, but then again no body stays away from traveling there.

3. One isolated incidence against the SriLankan cricket team, can’t be made an excuse to stop international cricket in Pakistan forever. No foreign team ever stopped visiting SriLanka during it’s 25 years civil war, where matches continued even during bombings and explosions. Also no one stopped visiting New York or USA after 9/11. Pakistani players were once mugged in South Africa. One off incidents or accidents happen everywhere, so why to single out only Pakistan. People don’t stop air travels, just because airplanes do meet accidents every now and then.

4. Now, if today Bangladesh cricket board succumbs to the blackmail tactics of their coach or support staff, this matter will not stop here. Indiscipline and black mail if not nibbed in the bud, spreads like cancer. Tomorrow, other boards should be ready to face much worse pressures for even more ridiculous demands. This situation may even force the boards to consider putting new clauses of conditions in the agreements, to safe guard their national interests with iron clad wordings.

5. Above all, the planned tour of the Bangladesh cricket team shall be arranged after clearance of double security checks by the BD government and the the ICC, with security cover equal to the head of the state. Believe me, this security may not even be available to Stuart Law, neither in BD nor any where else in the world. And the planned tour is going to be over in just few days with only three matches, it will not last even few weeks.

5. Last but not the least, this tour will tremendously help the cause of cricket in this part of the world. It will also prove the resolve of the world that terrorism threat can’t hold for ransom, the game of international cricket in Pakistan. In fact, this epoch making tour will highly contribute to the cause of peace in the world. These people must not forget that Pakistan stood like a rock before the terrorists, for more than a decade, so that this menace does
not spread to any other parts of the world. And many
Australian troops also gave their lives in Afghanistan, for the same cause. So, today if with the decision of an ill informed Australian, the terrorists gains strength, it will be a great betrayal with the cause, for which the Australian troops shed their blood.

6. So come on Bangladesh, let us give peace a chance through cricket and let the posterity record that Bangladesh was the first great nation which revived international cricket in Pakistan.