Loud Thinking

Archive for the ‘Sports’ Category

Vivian Richards writes in his book “VIV RICHARDS” and gives his opinion on match fixing and its punishment at page 219, quoted as below:

“The problem needs to be taken more seriously and be throughly investigated.
Anyone caught and proved beyond doubt to be involved in match-fixing should be given the maximum punishment, both within the game and under the laws of the country in which it happens.
In my view, it’s a kind of treason, selling your country out.
At one time that would have meant being put in front of a firing squad.
How can anyone sell out his or her country for a few bucks? It is beyond my comprehension.”

All Pakistani cricket teams matches of T20 World Cups of 2014 and 2016 and ODI World Cup matches of 2011 and 2015 must be investigated by a joint investigation team of the ISI and the IB.

 

Pakistani cricketers always bear the burden of representing the image and the hopes of millions of their fans. Their on and off the field behaviours, have a social and political significance, that goes well beyond the field and enters into the homes of all the citizens as well as, into the most powerful institutions. The victory in a world cup ODI or a T20 contest, can move nearly all sections of the Pakistani nation, in an incomparable manner.

Thus, for the ordinary Pakistani cricket fan, PCB is not just an organisation; rather, it is a mini Pakistan (and its chairman a mini Prime Minister) and looked upon like the institution of the Pakistani armed forces, where they can’t imagine, any compromise shall be made, on the image and reputation of the country; and where rather than lowering the national flag and pride, our sons sacrifice their lives.

Hence, the PCB and not the players…. needs a turn around..!

We should not be so naive to expect production of a Mercedes car from the manufacturing plant of a motorcycle.

Moreover, as Albert Einstein defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” As such, we must not expect miracles by sending players to army institutions, for some rigorous training. If that was the case, why armed forces sports teams world over and in Pakistan, are NOT the number one teams, in all the sports they participate?

Nowadays, like the management, sports is a science and the role of the amateur handlers is over. Only QUALIFIED professionals can train sportsmen, for producing world beaters.

Until and unless, PCB itself is turned upside down, our cricketing standards will keep on sliding into the abyss. The culture of taking work from the qualified professionals can NOT be handed over to the existing SENIOR staff of the PCB, who can’t even develop a multi-media presentation. Everyone knows how many managers and above, in the PCB, can truly handle the computers, beyond the emails reading?
It is suggested that PCB must be totally revamped (with a vision statement of BETTER THAN THE BEST) from the top to the bottom, to make it function like a top class world level organisation, with zero tolerance for old amateurish and bureaucratic style of working, which breeds intellectual, moral and financial corruption, nepotism and favouritism, in each and every sphere of its operations. Right now, PCB has become the last and final resting place of the great nincompoops of Pakistan.
However, the greatest harm the PCB is doing to the nation is that it is being run on a system, which is doing double damage; in the shape of production of mediocre run of the mill players; and at the same time, talented players (like Awais Zia) are facing hurdles, in coming into the lime light.

If the 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 the 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 the PCB “say and do.”

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

Side by side, the 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 the 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 the 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, NUST and the GIK etc.

Till such time, the 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, a team 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 consistently excel at the international arena, 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.”

Now, world over competitive sports is not considered just a past time hobby or entertainment and fitness activity. Rather, sports activities are considered and handled as a science. As such, the PCB must shun business as usual, decades old approach.

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

The PCB must also not forget that the world’s best and most expensive coaches are NOT the recipe for the success. If this notion was true, rich countries like the USA and the Saudi Arabia, would have been the world champions, in many sports like football etc.

The recipe for success mostly lies in the smooth working of a well defined system, lead for which must come from none other than the PCB chairman.
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.

As such, rather than hiring a foreign coach for the national team, we need to hire an experienced and QUALIFIED foreign expert, who has the experience of running the sports academy on professional lines, may be from Australia. This expert should be assigned the task to turn NCA, into a center of excellence, second to none in the world.
It will not be out of place to conclude, by mentioning the quotes of the three 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.”
– 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.”
– Pat Riley

I’ve never played for a draw in my life.

Alex Ferguson

In England, it’s a rare thing to see a player smoking but, all in all, I prefer that to an alcoholic. The relationship with alcohol is a real problem in English football and, in the short term, it’s much more harmful to a sportsman. It weakens the body, which becomes more susceptible to injury.

Alex Ferguson

I’m going to tell you the story about the geese which fly 5,000 miles from Canada to France. They fly in V-formation but the second ones don’t fly. They’re the subs for the first ones. And then the second ones take over – so it’s teamwork.

Alex Ferguson

The work of a team should always embrace a great player but the great player must always work.

Alex Ferguson

 

 

1. If we can lose 2 matches with Shahzad and Umar Akmal there is no risk dropping them from the team for match against Australia.

2. We must not only have to win against Australia but badly need to win with a huge margin. As such, there must radical changes in the team selection and batting order.

3. In the match against Australia, we need power hitters and also these power hitters must come higher in the order to bat fearlessly; not like the timid way Ahmad Shahzad & Umar Akmal batted vs NZ.

4. As a changed tactic, one regular power hitter batsman must also come low down the order, to score maximum possible runs during the last five 16-20 overs.

Proposed team with batting order against the match vs the Australian team:
1) Sharjeel Khan
2) M Hafeez
3) S Afridi
4) Sarfraz Ahmad
5) Shoaib Malik
6) Khalid Latif (power hitter)
7) Imad Waseem
8) Nawaz
9) M Sami
10) Wahab Riaz
11) M Amir

---

Ahmad Shahzad scored 30 runs in 32 balls (full 5 overs & 2 balls) with 3 fours and 14 dot balls.

Umar Akmal scored 24 runs in 26 balls (full 4 overs & 2 balls) with NO boundary and 7 dot balls.

Both of them consumed almost half of the innings (58 balls or 9 overs 4 balls) and ensured our team stood no chance of victory vs the NZ’s team.

Earnestly and sincerely, it is hoped that it was not the case of sabotaging the game and Ahmad Shahzad ensuring that Waqar Younis is sacked as a revenge, because Ahmad Shahzad was dropped from the Asia Cup’s team, reportedly on the demand of Waqar Younus: and Umer Akmal taking his sweet revenge for the snub he got from Shahid Afridi, on his approaching IK, for promotion in his batting order.

Few mistakes of Shahid Afridi and PCB which brought disgrace to the nation..!

1. Awfully misread the Eden gardens pitch.

2. Wrong selection of playing eleven, which was packed with pacers.

3. Wrong batting order allowed Sarfraz (4 down) only 6 balls and Hafeez (5 down) 5 balls to play.

4. Afridi (8 runs in 14 balls) who came 1 down played with the lowest SR of 57.14

5. Although, M Amir who bowled with the best economy rate (3.66) among the 12 bowlers of both the sides, yet he was not allowed to bowl his full quota of 4 overs.

6. Afridi with economy rate of 6.25 bowled his full quota of 4 overs.

7. Sami who took maximum 50% (2 out of 4) wickets was taken off & only bowled 2 overs.

8. When off spinner Shoaib Malik was called for bowling he was not given a slip fielder, particularly for the left handed batsman Yuvraj Singh.

9. Umar Akmal was not sent 1 down.

10. When Sharjeel (70.83) and Shahzad (89.28) were batting slowly, no instructions sent to push the accelerator.

11. Shahid Afridi’s refusal to include Salam Butt proved dearly to the Pakistani team (as our openers failed to perform as per the expectations) reportedly on personal reasons.

12. The chairman PCB’s decision to appoint Shahid Afridi captain in advance for two years also proved highly faulty and damaging for the team.

13. The chairman PCB also made an extremely poor decision of making two serving and contracted players as advisors on the BOG, which caused more chaos in the PCB.
14. In order to save his own skin, the worthy chairman PCB, started blaming the coach and captain, even during the period our team’s matches are being played, in the on going tournament.

In view of the foregoing, the Patron in Chief PCB, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, must immediately dissolve the entire PCB set up and give a chance to the head of the new PCB, to take all hiring and firing decisions, rather than the old PCB management taking any further steps, which turned everything to dust, it touched.

Respected Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Sahab,

اسلام و علیکم

Sir,

I invite your kind attention towards the fact that not the troops (players) but the generals (our cricket team’s leadership & PCB management) let the Pakistani nation down, in the worst possible manner, in the cricket match played last night in Kolkatta.

This disaster has not happened overnight, it is the culmination of many years incompetencies of the PCB’s nincompoop leadership.

Sir, now the time for inquiries and commissions is over. Otherwise also, to expect from the PCB, to inform about its own failures, is like asking an accused to be its own judge.

The Pakistani nation can not further bear unending and continuous humiliations and insults, in cricketing arena, especially from the Indians, who are our arch rivals, in every field.

Sir, as such, you are requested to immediately repeat immediately, dissolve the entire PCB set up, for the sake of your own and your government’s image and prestige.

It is also suggested that a reputed and highly successful person, who also possesses a great passion and understanding of the glorious game of cricket, may be assigned the task of raising the cricket of Pakistan, from its ashes.

With kind regards and best wishes for your upcoming visit to the United States, where you may kindly ask President Obama, to fulfil the American promise of allowing direct PIA flights to to their country; and also to visit Pakistan with his family.

Yours truly,

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

My observations dated 2 March, 2014.

Victory in the Mother of all matches..!

Allah Blessed Pakistan with a miraculous victory over India at FatehAllah, Bangladesh.

Heartiest congratulations to the entire Pakistani nation and all the cricket lovers world over, on winning a cliff hanger of a match against India.

Ultimately this match turned into an Afridi Vs India affair.

The last six of Afridi reminds us of Javed Miandad’s last ball six many decades ago at Sharjah Vs India.

Nothing unites our nation like sports.

Sports has the power to change Pakistan…it has the power to inspire.

It has the power to unite Pakistani people in a way that little else does.

It speaks to the Pakistani youth in a language they understand. Sports can create hope for the entire Pakistani nation, where once there was only despair, lawlessness, hunger, poverty, drugs, suicide bombings and alarming increase of suicides, due to the economic hardships.

It is more powerful than government in breaking down the menace of terrorism which has blown the country to the smithereens.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad.
2 March, 2014.

When a team has entered the arena, fear is its biggest enemy; and positivity, its biggest weapon.

We should remember that plans never fail, we fail to plan.

Players have to be told that “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”

If Pakistan bats first, target for 1st 6 power play overs must not be less than 80 runs, for which out of the any two batsmen on the pitch, one must be given the license for brutally going after the bowling, in a sensible manner and style of Chris Gayle, which he displayed last night during the match vs England.

The analysis of West Indian innings reveal (as detailed below) that even if very high total is not accumulated in the first 6 overs of power play, a big target can be comfortably chased, after the first 6 overs, if there is no panic, due to fall of wickets; and the accelerator is further pressed, with absolute calmness in mind.

The more you are calm and composed, the chances get better, for achieving seemingly impossible targets.

1 – 6 (PP6 Overs) 55/1 Average 9.16
7-11 (5 Overs) 48/1 Average 9.60
12-16 (5 Overs) 66/2 Average 13.20

The above statistics also defeats the myth that if only 2 fielders are out in the circle, only that is the period, to score maximum runs.

The strategy for bowling should be simple; analyse the areas of weak points of the batsmen where he normally gets out, or plays dot balls; and keep line and length in those areas.

Moreover, the fielding should also be placed where batsmen plays his maximum shots.

Any target in the T20 second innings can be achieved on the philosophy that, if they can do it, we can do it.

So, the secret of success is the self belief imbibed in the minds of the players, which removes every other thought from their brains, except that I CAN DO IT.

 

Heartiest congratulations to the Pakistani players and its management, for a resounding victory over the Bangladeshi cricket team, in the 1st group match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 tournament.

Nothing succeeds like success, but champions never remain satisfied over their performances; and always strive to take their game to the next higher level.

Pakistani batting must not become complacent over today’s performance, as they will be facing at least 10 times more lethal bowlers during the next 3 games of the group matches.

Pakistani players must pull up their socks, improve over their weak points like reducing the dot balls (35 dot balls or almost 6 overs were played by our batsmen, which must be brought down to 20 or less dot balls, if our team has to be the world champion); if openers get out in less than 4 overs, Shahid Afridi must come one down, Sarfraz & Imad Wasim should come above Shoaib Malik.

Moreover, our team needs enhanced intensity in bowling: and fielding also needs increased commitment, in view of the different level of competition expected in the ensuing matches.

We also bowled 4 wide balls as against only one wide ball received from the BD bowlers.

In a nut shell, for winning the remaining matches of the tournament, we have to play more efficient, smart and intense cricket in all the four areas of planning & strategy, batting, bowling and fielding.

Good luck for the green shirts..!

---

1. @SAfridiOfficial
Entire nation is behind u and Pak team. It is nation’s wish, desire, prayer & gut feeling that our team will b victorious.

2. @SAfridiOfficial
u will have to lead with example & himself bat with responsibility.

3. @SAfridiOfficial
No bowler can get u out if u ONLY play grounded shots.

4. @SAfridiOfficial
U can only demand with your batsmen to play with responsibility if u yourself don’t get out on irresponsible shots.

5. @SAfridiOfficial
Control your urge for airy shots and show your aggression on grounded shot boundaries.

6. @SAfridiOfficial
If u can’t control your urge for airy shots then open the innings 2 have minimum chances of getting caught in power play.

7. @SAfridiOfficial
Remember you must retire on a high & U must hate the stigma of retiring as a failed captain & player.

8. @SAfridiOfficial
For u 2 give memorable performance u will have to CHANGE your style of airy shots.

9. @SAfridiOfficial
Einstein says definition of INSANITY is doing an action again & again without change & expecting a different result.

10. @SAfridiOfficial
Pl restore some sanity & lead fm the front & by example. Entire & total responsibility rests on u & your batting NOT bowling.

11. @SAfridiOfficial
If u return as a victorious captain generations of your generations will live with their heads held high.

12. Finally, please inform your players that cricket is not base ball, where you hit in the air; every ball; but the biggest cause of our defeats in ODI and T20 matches are the world record maximum number of DOT balls. Moreover, there is a big difference between batting madly and batting aggressively, like there is a vast difference, in driving rashly and driving fast. Aggressive batting means NOT playing more than 20 DOT balls in an innings. Further, our team’s motto should be “All for one, one for all”.