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Pakistan cricket team always had the potential and talent to win any and all of the past cricket ODI world cup tournaments. As such, there should be no doubt about its chances of winning the next cricket ODI world CUP scheduled in 2015, to be played in the down under.
In this regard, PCB must prepare a plan named ”Vision 2015″. This plan should be a fool proof strategy with specific focus on winning the 2015 tournament, considering all risk factors, like sudden unavailability of any player due to various reasons, at least five umpiring decisions going against us (two in batting & three in bowling innings), dropped catches/missed run outs and failure of main bowlers and batsmen etc. We should remember that plans never fail, we fail to plan. Moreover, the PCB “Vision 2015″ must state that “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”
The broad outlines of the “Vision 2015″ are defined as below.
1. A visionary person of a ultra high calibre, should be appointed the coach of Pakistan cricket team. We should also set a new trend and hire a full time mentor, for which I recommend Sir Alexander Chapman “Alex” Ferguson, CBE who is a former Scottish football manager and player who managedManchester United from 1986 to 2013. His time at the club has led to Ferguson being regarded as one of the most successful, admired and respected managers in the history of the game. PCB must ensure that in the hiring of Sir Alex Ferguson, money should not be a barrier, notwithstanding any amount demanded by him. PCB should consider this expense as an investment in 24K gold. The mentor should be specifically responsible for making our players mentally the strongest in the world, along with his other defined duties.
2. A young person should be appointed captain to lead the team for the next 5-7 years.
3. All cricket playing centers of PCB in Pakistan, should remodel the boundary distances to 90 meters (matching the size of Australian grounds) and batsmen should practise taking 5 runs, in case, ball is fielded before it reaches the rope.
4. Any player who is not of age and fitness to serve the country for next 5 years, should be discarded now, for ODI and T20 games.
5. A world class fielding coach of the calibre of Jonty Rhodes, be appointed for the team, alongwith the head coach.
6. We must find more than five bowlers from the tribal belt or any rugged area of the country, who should be able to bowl at 100 MPH speed. To attract the country talent of fast bowling, a handsome prize should be annouced, as an incentive for this speed bowling.
7. Cricket academy at PCB HQ Lahore, must be headed by a world renowned batsman.
8. The team of selectors should be tasked to locate 50 talented players, with potential to deliver at international level.
9. PCB should take on the challenge of round the year cricket (in summers, games starting at 5 PM) playing arrangements of local and foreign teams in Pakistan. And in summer 2011, PCB should pioneer night Test/ODI/T20 matches in Pakistan.
10. All PCB grounds in the country (even in smaller cities/towns), should be provided with lights for night games.
11. In order to prepare fast and bouncy tracks on all PCB grounds, suitable soil and if possible prefabricated pitches may be imported from abroad.

Heartiest congratulations to India on a well deserved and well earned cricket ODI world cup 2011 victory achieved for the 1st time by any nation on its own soil.

The Pakistani cricket team’s Madness in Mohali Semi Final world cup 2011 match has shell shocked the nation. Reason being that every body could see that the situation was under control and target very achieveable. By snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, captain Shahid Afridi and other team management members proved, how badly they lacked management abilities of a thinking mind and leadership qualities.

Management is doing  things right; Leadership is doing right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; Leadership determines whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

Now, if we analyse the management and leadership of Pakistani cricket team, during the semi final match of 30 March 2011, the following glaring examples, speak out for themselves.

1. Shahid Afridi kept on giving overs after overs to Omar Gul, even when he was the most expensive bowler of the team, without utilizing the most economical bowler Abdul Razzaq. This was the master stroke of genius Afridi, who was also not given any advice by the other senior members of the team or the more genius members of the management team, sitting in the pavilion.

2. Genius Afridi, removed Wahab Riaz from bowling, precisely at the time, when he was about to run through the Indian batsmen.

3. At a time when Pakistani openers gave a very positive start to the innings & then got out, Abdul Razzaq, Afridi or Omar Akmal should have been sent in, to maintain pressure of runs in the 1st power play of ten overs, when only two fielders are out side the circle. But what happened was, that Younis came in and later on Misbah. Both batted so lazely that it dragged the momentum of runs created by the openers, to such an abyss, from where the innings never recovered.

4. It looks that the entire team and its management, forgot to take the last batting power play, till the time the sand had slipped from the hand. This is an un pardonable blunder. The best time to take the 3rd PP was, when Afridi and Misbah were togather at the crease.

5. Nobody advised the batsmen to keep on taking singles, rather than blocking exceptionally high percentage of balls for no run.

The nation is shaken not by the defeat but the way our team management snatched defeat from the jaws of the victory. Now the way forward for the PCB is to either its chairman, take the full responsibility and resign or take the following steps.

a) Dismiss M/S. Intikhab Alam, Waqar Younus and Aaquib Javed from their respective positions.

b) Sack Afridi from the captainship of the national team.

c) Younis, Misbah and Abdul Razzaq should never again be considered for ODI or T20 teams and Kamran Akmal should also be sacked from any version of the national team. He is not an ordinary player rather, a below ordinary level player. 

d) Hafeez should be appointed the future captain of ODI & T20 Pakistan teams, with Wahab Riaz as his deputy.

e) Youngsters like Sarfraz Ahmad, Naveed, Shoaib Khan etc should be inducted in the ODI and T20 teams.

f) A full time fielding coach must be appointed for Pakistan team, without any further delay.   

Honourable Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.

A.O.A.

The whole Pakistani nation salutes you for sacrificing fatherly love over your duty to the national cause, by deciding to visit India on the invitation of Dr. Manmohan Singh, to meet him at Mohali, on the occasion of semi final ICC Cricket ODI World cup 2011 match.

Mr. Prime Minister, this decision will always  be remembered in the annals of history as a monumental choice of duty above parental love.

Here I am reminded a very famous quote whose first part aptly applies on you, ” A statesman is a politician who places himself at the service of the nation. A politician is a statesman who places the nation at his service “

While thanking you for this high act of patriotism, we pray for an early recovery of your son from his illness as well as, total success in your voyage of peace to India.

 
A vast majority of the peace loving people have  welcomed the news of Indian Prime Minister’s invitation to the Pakistani leadership  to visit India, on the occasion of cricket world cup semi final match, between Pakistan and India, to be played at Mohali on 30 March, 2011. It is earnestly hoped that this meeting will not only be a harbinger of peace between the two neighboring nations, but will also be a huge performance incentive for both the cricket teams, playing what is being billed as ‘Mother of all matches’.
 
Moreover, it is hoped that this historic opportunity of meeting, between the two democratically elected prime ministers, will also be utilized as a turning point, for genuine and authentic progress towards peace and harmony, between 1.5 billion human beings of two nuclear armed neighbors. It must be absolutely clear to every person that both of us have no choice except peace, whether we accept this fact today or 100 years hence. However, movement towards peace needs taking small but meaningful steps.
 
In this regards, besides other major issues of Kashmir, water, Siachin, Sir-Creek and anti-terrorism cooperation, the following smaller issues may also be given due importance, to show tangible progress in relations between the two neighbors.
 
1. Visa regulations to be changed to allow visit of people to any city, without restrictions, in both the countries.
 
2. Trade between both the nations should be given top most priority.
 
3. Relatives of prisoners should be given preferential visas.
 
4. Exchange of cultural, educational, trade/business and sports teams should be accorded top priority, for strengthening the people to people bonds.
 
5. Indian cricket team must visit Pakistan immediately after the world cup, to play a series of T20 matches.
 
6. As promised earlier,  BCCI must use its influence on ICC, to restore visits of foreign teams to Pakistan. And to show its resolve, a T20 tournament should be held ASAP in Pakistan, to be played amongst Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka national or A teams.
 
7. Direct air, rail & road traffic to more Indian and Pakistani cities should be opened without delay. Moreover, people wanting to visit both the countries by car, may also be allowed to travel by own transport.
 
8. Telephone rates are very high between the two countries, which should be rationalized according to the international tariff.

9. All television channels news papers & magazines should be freely available in both the countries, without any restrictions. 

Wishing & praying for a historic success to peace and cricket,  on the occasion of this highly awaited sports event of the century, which demands declaring of a holiday in both the countries, for its people to enjoy the witnessing of this mega event, in company of  their near and dear ones. 

Thank you Pakistani cricket team, for giving so much joy and happiness to the terror stricken Pakistani nation, through a fabulous cricket match victory, in the ICC ODI World Cup 2011 Quarter Finals Vs West Indies.

In fact, this is a sort of victory which will strike terror into the hearts of the opponent teams, for the remaining world cup 2011 matches. 

We Pakistanis, firmly believe that today our cricket team has laid the foundation of the final match victory, to be played on 2 April 2011.  

May Allah also Grace you with roaring victories in Semi-Final and Final matches,  as well. Pakistan Zindabad.

The following poem written by my late father, Syed Shahab Uddin Ahmad (1919-2000) former Lecturer of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University,  Principal, Charmical Degree College Rangpur (East Pakistan), Academic Registrar, Rajshahi University (East Pakistan), G.M. Lyallpur Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited (PIDC & NFC) Jaranwala & General Manager, National Fertilizers Corporation of Pakistan,  was originally published in the DAWN in early 40’s. Later on, this poem was also published by Syed Sharif Uddin Peerzada,  in a book titled ” UNPARDONABLE CRIME OF JINNAH ” in October 1942. One of the rarest copies of this book is with me.

” P A K I S T A N “

They say  ’tis  “vivisection”

Of the Indian nation

In an unknown fashion.

It is an idler’s dream,

A confused scream

For a selfish scheme.

‘Impracticable’

‘Unimaginable’,

Is how they babble.

And when meet their seers,

With crocodile tears

They expose their fears.

But these are morbid libels

From sworn but feigned infidels,

Wearing varied labels.

Preposterous, pretentious,

Hypocritical notions.

Disguised resolutions.

Phantastic desire.

To be India’s sire.

Is what they aspire.

In the name of democracy,

With numerical supremacy,

Is their game of diplomacy.

But we can’t be daunted

By sarcasms taunted.

Or vain fears haunted.

We want India’s deliverance,

To save it from decadence.

And without a vengeance.

A home for us secure.

Also for them quite sure.

Without a basely lure.

On justice, fairplay, equity

Behold Pakistan’s quality

Won’t it stand till eternity?

These days, anybody not in the facebook and twitter, is not in this world.