Loud Thinking

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Without any doubt, Vineet Kulkarni, the famous cheating Indian umpire is the worlds most dishonest umpire.

Just read below the comments of the ESPNcricinfo commentators.

“Shillingford to Pujara, no run, is that out? West Indies are celebrating. They seem confident that the catch at short leg has been taken cleanly, but Nigel Llong wants to double check. That one bounced and turned into the batsman, hit the shoulder of the bat as Pujara was looking to defends and popped towards the fielder at short leg. The fielder actually did well to grab that one as it was dipping on him, but the third umpire is taking a look at all the camera angles. It looks fine as the fielder had his fingers underneath that one. Those are some long fingers and they are looking to be comfortably below the ball. What!! It’s not out! Sammy is understandably upset and he has word with the umpire. That looked out from both camera angles they were checking. Pujara is lucky to survive.”

“Vishnu Raj : “Poor decision,that looked out from every angle.”

“Alec: “Awful, awful decision by the 3rd umpire. Camera angles distort the vision, he should know that as a professional. Pujara should also have accepted the fielder’s word.”

“Suhas: “Damn you umpires. You robbed us of watching Sachin in the kolkata test with a wrong decision. And now with another shocker, a probable Sachin innings 2nd time looks gone too.”

It is suggested that PCB must be totally revamped from the top to the bottom, to make it function like a top class world level organisation, with zero tolerance for old amateur and bureaucratic style of working, intellectual, moral and financial corruption, nepotism and favouritism, in each and every sphere of its operations, with its vision statement as “Better than the best”.

If PCB wants to survive in the fast changing world of competition, it must change its old habits and rebuild itself inside out. PCB must know that a professional organisation is “of and for professional people”

For inside out rebuilding, the PCB must come out in a crystal clear manner that “how it want to be thought of” and then consider every thing that PCB “say and do.”

Every PCB department must also be converted into a “Cost center” responsible for its revenues and expenses.

Side by side, PCB must also shun its culture of politics and self serving policies. This is absolutely necessary, because culture of an organisation is the environment under which all it’s employes perform their duties. What is needed by the PCB is to create a culture of team work, which stimulates the employees for working with absolute honesty and recognises and rewards employee efforts and permeates the entire organisation.

While chaos, politics and leg pulling is rampant in the rank and file employees of the PCB, how it can be expected to produce players, who will not be equally, if not more, afflicted by these malaise? As they say in the IT jargon, garbage in garbage out. or output can not be more than the input.

However, the top notches of the government and the PCB, must know very clearly that PCB can not be turned out into a first class world level organisation, by just transfers, postings, change of designations, hiring or firing of employees. In fact, such steps breeds even more discontent and ill will among the employees and general masses. To achieve the desired results, PCB needs a total and complete overhaul, disregarding any political or other pressures for serving any vested interest(s), examples of which (running the organisation on an absolutely 100% merit basis) can be seen in many Pakistani organisations like LUMS, SKMCH & RC, IBA and GIK etc.

Till such time, PCB itself is turned into a center of excellence, it can’t produce a bunch of players, who can be the world beaters, on a consistent level.

In any team game the players do not need champions like Don Bradman or David Beckham to be the world beaters. But greats like Don Bradman and David Beckham in any team, can not excel, without the cooperation of other team members.

For our players to excel at the international arena, on a constant level, PCB coaches need to repeatedly hammer into the minds of the players, the following famous quote of Aristotle.

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.”

Moreover, the PCB think tank must “PLAN FOR SUCCESS” with clear and measurable objectives.

Gone are the old decadent ways of assembling players for a camp, just before the tour to show their fitness and playing abilities. It must be the specified duty of the think tank and the selectors to devise a plan to monitor 24/7 the health, eating habits, general behaviour and performance of the CONTRACTED players in a scientific manner. These contracted players must not be allowed to have a free reign even during the off days, as they are almost like paid employees of the PCB.

Moreover, the FINE TUNING and grooming of the marked pool of all the talented and upcoming players (non-contracted) should be the SPECIFIC responsibility of the NCA staff, who must constantly produce highest calibre five players, for each position of the game, both for the men and the ladies teams.

It will not be out of place to conclude, by mentioning the quotes of the two famous sports coaches, for the motivation of our players, who are under tremendous pressure to perform on a consistent level.

“Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.”
– Quoted from Vince Lombardi

“When you’re playing against a stacked deck, compete even harder. Show the world how much you’ll fight for the winners circle. If you do, someday the cellophane will crackle off a fresh pack, one that belongs to you, and the cards will be stacked in your favor.”
– Famous quote by Pat Riley

An advice to the Pakistani cricket team’s management and players

Rather than going for criticising the players, who are failing in their performances, I want to change the attitude and infuse passion and intensity in the team.

The attitude of the players must be changed, so that each player thinks he is playing for the country; and must display the maturity and responsibility, as if, he was the PM of Pakistan and captain of the team.

According to Nido R. Qubein,
Quote. “Literature and history are full of people who suffered from handicaps, had talents that were inferior to those around them, lived in the worst of circumstances, or faced many defeats. Yet, many of these people are listed among the winners in life’s Hall of Fame.

The secret is this: Whether you reach success or failure in life has little to do with your circumstances; it has much more to do with your attitude…with your faithful courage…with your choices!

You see, non-achievers blame their circumstances; winners rise above their circumstances. Some concentrate on the blank wall that boxes them in; winners always look for a way to get under it, over it, around it, or through it.

Moreover, the tour team management must emphasise to the players that “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”

Surround yourself with positive influences. When you are surrounded by negative thinkers, image, or materials, it is easy to get bogged down in hopelessness.

Read inspiring books and magazines. Listen to motivational recordings and speakers. Attend positive-thinking seminars or programs. Make it a point to read or watch or listen to something positive and inspiring at least once every day.

Associate with positive people. Look for friends who feel good about themselves, people who have the attitude of gratitude. People who need to tear down others are not happy with themselves and are not good for you or your attitude.” Unquote.

Moreover, the tour team management must emphasise to the players that “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”

Players must give their best, forget about the result and leave it to Allah.

Players should and must also support and cover up the weaknesses of each other, so that it becomes the duty of the comrades to convert the failure (s) of a colleague into the success of the team.

My letter published by the daily “Dawn” today on 5 November, 2013.

Link:- http://dawn.com/news/1054254/cricket-rules-some-questions

Cricket rules: some questions

FROM THE NEWSPAPER

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Published

2013-11-05 07:51:35

THE question before everyone, particularly the International Cricket Council (ICC) and match referee David Boon, is that whether the umpires changed the ball and granted five penalty runs to the Pakistani team, under the latest ICC Test match playing conditions coming into effect from Oct, 1, rule 42.1.1 or 42.1.2?

If rule 42.1.1 (quoted as below) was applied, then why didn’t the umpires allow the batsman at the wicket to choose the ball as per clearly specified law (a) and did the bowler’s-end umpire inform formally the captain of the batting side of what did occur as per (d) below?

a) Change the ball forthwith. The batsman at the wicket shall choose the replacement ball from a selection of six other balls of various degrees of usage (including a new ball) and of the same brand as the ball in use prior to the contravention.

Additionally, the bowler’s end umpire shall:

b) Award five penalty runs to the batting side.

c) Inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for the action taken.

d) Inform the captain of the batting side as soon as practicable of what has occurred.

e) Together with the other umpire report the incident to the ICC match referee who shall take action as is appropriate against the player(s) responsible for the conduct under the ICC Code of Conduct.

However, if rule 42.1.2, quoted as follows, was applied:

If it is not possible to identify the player(s) responsible: a) change the ball forthwith. The umpires shall choose the replacement ball for one of similar wear and of the same brand as the ball in use prior to the contravention.

(b) The bowler’s end umpire shall issue the captain with a first and final warning, and (c) advise him that should there be any further incident by that team during the remainder of the match, steps 42.1.1 a to e above will be adopted, with the captain deemed under e) to be the player responsible.Why did the bowler’s end umpire not issue first and final warning as per 42.1.2 (b) to G.C Smith? And if the warning was issued to the South Africa captain, then why after the match AB de Villiers said the following on record, as reported by ESPN cricinfo, quoted as below:

“De Villiers said there was uncertainty as to what they were being penalised for: ‘I don’t even know where the message came from. There were no warnings, no talk of it. I still don’t know the facts’.”

As such, all the above mentioned facts must be cleared by the ICC and the match referee. It should also be explained that whether De Villiers was speaking a white lie, or did the elite ICC umpires, miserably failed in the performance of their duties as per law and gave undue advantages to the South African team at the expense of the Pakistani team?

S. NAYYAR UDDIN AHMAD
Lahore

60 meters boundaries have made the game of international cricket a mockery.

Wake up ICC before people become disenchanted with this glorious game.

An excerpt given below from a news item published by the daily “The Nation”, exposes the worth of cricket records, which are formed on various small and large size unstandardised grounds, having different boundary sizes ranging from 60 to 90 meters.

Here, we must not forget that games like football, hockey, tennis and badminton etc., are not played on different size fields. If the playing areas are not standardised, how can anyone claim that he has created a world record.

It is high time that ICC takes up this important issue of various boundary sizes, used in all forms of cricket and rule that minimum of 80 meters and a maximum of 90 meters boundary sizes are a must, for any match to be recognised as an international game, in all forms of cricket.

Excerpt of the daily “The Nation” published 3 Nobember, 2013 is detailed s belo:-

“India hit 19 sixes in a ground having 60 metre boundaries as they racked up 383; Australia replied with 326, the ninth time in 11 innings that a team passed 300 this series. And though they lost by a sizeable margin in the end, they did not lose the six-hitting contest. Australia’s 19 blows over the Chinnaswamy Stadium’s tiny boundaries helped smash the record for the most sixes in a one-day international. India and New Zealand had hit 31 in Christchurch in 2009; India and Australia hit a numbing 38 today. Vinay Kumar’s 1 for 102 in nine overs were the worst figures by an Indian in an ODI; two Australians were close to owning the record for the quickest 50 by an Australian, and James Faulkner’s 57-ball 100 was his country’s fastest century. It was hard to make sense of it all.”

Rather than going for criticising the players, who are failing in their performances, I want to change the attitude and infuse passion and intensity in the team.

The attitude of the players must be changed, so that each player thinks he is playing for the country; and must display the maturity and responsibility, as if, he was the PM of Pakistan and captain of the team.

According to Nido R. Qubein,
Quote. “Literature and history are full of people who suffered from handicaps, had talents that were inferior to those around them, lived in the worst of circumstances, or faced many defeats.

Yet, many of these people are listed among the winners in life’s Hall of Fame.

The secret is this: Whether you reach success or failure in life has little to do with your circumstances; it has much more to do with your attitude…with your faithful courage…with your choices!

You see, non-achievers blame their circumstances; winners rise above their circumstances. Some concentrate on the blank wall that boxes them in; winners always look for a way to get under it, over it, around it, or through it.

Surround yourself with positive influences. When you are surrounded by negative thinkers, image, or materials, it is easy to get bogged down in hopelessness.

Read inspiring books and magazines. Listen to motivational recordings and speakers. Attend positive-thinking seminars or programs. Make it a point to read or watch or listen to something positive and inspiring at least once every day.

Associate with positive people. Look for friends who feel good about themselves, people who have the attitude of gratitude. People who need to tear down others are not happy with themselves and are not good for you or your attitude.” Unquote.

Players must give their best, forget about the result and leave it to Allah.

Players should and must also support and cover up the weaknesses of each other, so that it becomes the duty of the comrades to convert the failure (s) of a colleague into the success of the team.

PCB must immediately contact ICC, to ban cricketers dress with zippers, in all future matches including the ensuing ODI and T20 matches, scheduled in the next few days between Pakistani and South African teams; and also REPLACE THE BAISED AND APARTHEID MINDED REFEREE FOR THE UPCOMING ODI AND THE T20 SERIES MATCHES, IN THE UAE.

Height of ICC’s double standards… Apartheid is also double standards.

Can Mr. David Boon, the ICC’s match referee for the Pakistan vs South Africa 2nd Test, being played at Dubai, explain his following statement reported today, by the ESPNcricinfo.

“Match referee David Boon said: “After discussions with Mr du Plessis, he has elected not to contest that charge, but I am also satisfied that this was not part of a deliberate and/or prolonged attempt to unfairly manipulate the condition of the ball, and that the imposition of a fine of 50% of his match fee is appropriate considering the circumstances.”

Now following questions must be answered by the ICC.

1. When Du Plessis elected not to contest the charge, what does it mean? Obviously he pleaded guilty and the player himself admits he was NOT innocent.

2. Then why the match referee David Boon declared him innocent and Not guilty by saying the following words “but I am also satisfied that this was not part of a deliberate and/or prolonged attempt to unfairly manipulate the condition of the ball”?

3. If the illegal act of the SA cricketer was NOT DELIBERATE AND THERE WAS NO UNFAIR MANIPULATION, then what for the poor and innocent SA player has been fined and penalised so HEAVILY, with a 50% match fee fine?

4. Here, isn’t it a case of giving the offender a safe passage and letting him scot free, in a most honourable manner?

5. Hope ICC remembers very well that during the Oval Test match, neither the Pakistani denial was accepted (there was also no TV fottage or any other evidence of any Pakistani player’s involvement in the alleged ball tampering) nor later on, when it was officially CONFIRMED that no ball tampering was done, the result of the match was awarded against Pakistan, which in any case was the innocent team.

6. Last but not the least, ICC must also recheck and confirm if the guilty Proteas player was tampering the ball with closed eyes, then please remit his heavy fine, as well, absolutely in line with the treatment meted out to the South African captain GC Smith, when he claimed an unfair catch in 1st Test at Abu Dhabi; and was allowed to go Scott free, on the excuse that his eyes were closed, although, he claimed the catch by raising his both hands and jubilantly ran directly towards the umpire.

The question before everyone particularly the ICC and the match referee David Boon, is that whether the umpires changed the ball and granted 5 penalty runs to the Pakistani team, under the latest ICC Test match playing conditions coming into effect from 1st October, 2013 rule 42.1.1 or 42.1.2 ?

If rule 42.1.1 (quoted as below) was applied, then

why the umpires did not allow the batsman at the wicket to choose the ball as per clearly specified law (a) and did the bowler’s end umpire inform formally the captain of the batting side of what did occur as per (d) below?
a) change the ball forthwith. The batsman at the wicket shall choose the replacement ball from a selection of six other balls of various degrees of usage (including a new ball) and of the same brand as the ball in use prior to the contravention.
Additionally the bowler’s end umpire shall:
b) award 5 penalty runs to the batting side.
c) Inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for the action taken.
d) Inform the captain of the batting side as soon as practicable of what has occurred.
e) Together with the other umpire report the incident to the ICC Match Referee who shall take action as is appropriate against the player(s) responsible for the conduct under the ICC Code of Conduct.

However, if the rule 42.1.2 was applied quoted as below:

42.1.2 If it is not possible to do identify the player(s) responsible:

a) change the ball forthwith. The umpires shall choose the replacement ball for one of similar wear and of the same brand as the ball in use prior to the contravention.
b) the bowler’s end umpire shall issue the captain with a first and final warning, and
c) advise him that should there be any further incident by that team during the remainder of the match, steps 42.1.1 a) to e) above will be adopted, with the captain deemed under e) to be the player responsible.

Why did the bowler’s end umpire, NOT issue first and final warning as per 42.1.2 (b) to GC Smith? And if the warning was issued to the SA Captain, then why after the match AB de Villiers said the following on record, as reported by ESPNcricinfo, quoted as below:

Quote “De Villiers said there was uncertainty as to what they were being penalised for: “I don’t even know where the message came from. There were no warnings, no talk of it. I still don’t know the facts.” Unquote

As such, all the above mentioned facts must be cleared by the ICC and the match referee. It should also be explained that whether De Villiers was speaking a white lie, or did the elite ICC umpires, miserably failed in performance of their duties as per law; and gave undue benefits and advantages to the South African team, at the expense of the Pakistani team?

RJ Tucker didn’t gave out LBW to AB de Villiers, on an appeal from Saeed Ajmal, when the TV footage showed that the ball was really missing the leg stump, but alas..! It was hitting the middle stump.

It looks for ICC, any illegal act done by the foreign players and foreign umpires with CLOSED eyes, are PARDONABLE acts and they can get away, even with murder.

However, the eyes of the umpires are always wide open to warn Pakistani players for overstepping on the pitch, for which even the third umpire, constantly reminds over wireless communication, to the on field umpire.

They say love is blind…. It looks so is the ICC (Indian Cricket Council)… When it comes to dealings with Pakistan.

In this connection, till date, no action has been taken against South African captain GC Smith, for claiming a false catch in the 1st Test played at Abu Dhabi, on the pretext that when he took the catch, his eyes were closed, notwithstanding the fact that after taking the catch he immediately claimed it, by raising his both hands (in hands up position) in the air and jubilantly ran towards the umpire. But then who will dare punish captain of the Proteas team, as both GC Smith and the ICC CEO David Richardson, are from the same country i.e., South Africa.

Under the situation the word “APARTHEID” comes to mind very painfully, which is very appropriately defined as below, by the www.vocabulary.com

Apartheid was a racist political policy in South Africa demanding segregation of the nation’s white and non-white populations. This law requires separation in all forms, reminiscent of parts of the United States before the Equal Rights Amendment.

The law of apartheid came into being with the South African election in 1948. So it makes sense that the word’s history goes back to that date, from the Afrikaans word for “separateness.” It comes from the Dutch, with the “heid” part meaning “hood,” for “apart-hood.” Many people referred to it as “apart-hate,” an apt description for a policy that brutally oppressed an entire people based solely on their skin color. The system was ended in 1993.

Link:- https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/apartheid