Loud Thinking March 27, 2014 at 10:13AM
March 27th, 2014 | 
Author: My letter published today by the daily “The Frontier Post”.
Street child football WC
Posted on 2014-03-27 05:35:36
If Brazil can hold street child foot ball World Cup, why can’t any Pakistani organisation go a step forward and hold a “Street Child Tape Ball Cricket World Cup?” for which we don’t need any approval from ICC or any other such body.
Believe me, if we can hold this innovative World Cup not only it will be a smashing success but the whole world will come to know about the soft image of Pakistan, as well; and Pakistan will emerge as a world sports power on the map of the Earth.
If we can hold different provincial sports and cultural festivals, by spending billions and billions of Rupees, what is the harm in spending a few billion Rupees, for marketing brand “Pakistan”?
One never knows this tape ball cricket may soon get such a large world following that it becomes an Olympic recognised sport, even before the T20 cricket, for which ICC is struggling for many decades.
Come on Pakistan….together we can do it..!
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore
Loud Thinking March 26, 2014 at 07:35PM
“There is nothing more wonderful in life than seeing life as an adventure. We should all try things that we’re afraid of. We should all look very clearly into the unknown and enjoy it. Because when you come in contact with things that you really don’t know, that’s when you’re truly living.”
— Brian Molko
Loud Thinking March 26, 2014 at 04:53PM
“You must bring every particle of your energy, unanswerable resolution, your best efforts, your persistent industry to your task or the best will not come out of you. You must back up your ambition by your whole nature, by unbounded enthusiasm and a determination to win which knows no failure. ”
Orison Swett Marden (1850-1924);
author, publisher
Loud Thinking March 26, 2014 at 03:19PM
Sometimes You Have to Be the “Bad Guy”
The best way for mangers to be successful is to build a top-notch team. But when taking on new positions, they often hesitate to replace poorly performing incumbents. New team leaders don’t want to seem harsh, and they’re weary of offending key stakeholders who may have relationships with individuals on their team. In these situations, remember why you were given the reins – to lead your department to a higher level of performance. Assembling the strongest team as quickly as possible is the way to do that. If you have doubts about employees, test them quickly with an assignment, or do a rapid performance assessment by talking with their subordinates, peers, and partners. If you’re still not convinced that you have the best team, it may be time to make some tough calls.
Adapted by HBR from “If You’ve Just Taken Over a Team, Quickly Let Underperformers Go” by Ron Ashkenas.
Loud Thinking March 26, 2014 at 11:15AM
Why can’t Pakistan hold the “Street Child Tape Ball Cricket World Cup?” : From the mean streets of Karachi to the Brazil World Cup
If Brazil can hold street child foot ball World Cup, why can’t any Pakistani organisation go a step forward and hold a “Street Child Tape Ball Cricket World Cup?” for which we don’t need any approval from ICC or any other such body.
Believe me, if we can hold this innovative World Cup not only it will be a smashing success but the whole world will come to know about the soft image of Pakistan, as well; and Pakistan will emerge as a world sports power on the map of the Earth.
If we can hold different provincial sports and cultural festivals, by spending billions and billions of Rupees, what is the harm in spending a few billion Rupees, for marketing brand “Pakistan”?
One never knows this tape ball cricket may soon get such a large world following that it becomes an Olympic recognised sport, even before the T20 cricket, for which ICC is struggling for many decades.
Come on Pakistan….together we can do it..!
From the mean streets of Karachi to the Brazil World Cup
KARACHI: Sixteen-year-old Mohammad Salman thought he was destined to live his life on the mean streets of Karachi, addicted to drugs, begging for survival and with no prospects for a better future.
Now he is set to represent Pakistan in the second edition of the Street Child World Cup which starts in Brazil this week.
“In my past life I was like a street urchin, using drugs, running away from school and studies. I was an addict,” said Salman, who left home at age 13 after fighting with his parents.
“We didn’t know what we were doing and what we should do. I was staying away from home.”
This photograph taken on March 17, 2014, shows Pakistani street children taking part in a football training camp in Karachi. -Photo by AFP
Salman’s salvation came after he was spotted by the non-profit Azad Foundation that rehabilitates street children in the sprawling Pakistani metropolis of 18 million.
“They helped develop my interest in football,” he said. “I’m excited to be part of the Street Child World Cup.”
The Amos Trust, a British non-profit organisation, convinced football’s governing body FIFA to initiate the Street Child World Cup in 2010.
The first edition was held in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup and featured Brazil, South Africa, Nicaragua, Ukraine, India, the Philippines, Tanzania and a team from England.
India won the inaugural event, which proved so successful that it was decided to hold it ahead of every football World Cup.
The second edition will be hosted by Rio de Janeiro from Friday until April 6.
Rocks for goalposts
Owais Ali, another former street child, said football has earned him respect.
“When I was living in the street, no one treated me with respect; I did not know anything as I was illiterate,” said Owais, who like Salman comes from Karachi’s troubled Orangi town, a shanty settlement.
“I was confused once I left home and the city was full of problems for me. Then I found a way through Azad Foundation who supported me and helped me in studies.
“Now I am in the ninth grade. After I started football I found new friends and now people respect me.”The seven-a-side Street Child World Cup, to be held in football’s spiritual heartland, represents a far cry from roadside matches in Karachi with rocks used for goal posts.
Away from the pitch, organisers plan to host celebrity guests, a youth participation conference and exhibits featuring Brazilian artists.
Getting Pakistan a place in the tournament gave the children a tangible goal to work toward, said Iftan Maqbool of the Azad Foundation.
“It has turned out to a worthwhile exercise and now our goal is to earn recognition for Pakistan,” he said. According to the Foundation, Karachi is home to roughly 200,000 street children, many of whom fall into gangs linked to political parties engaged in a bloody battle for control over the city.
Coach Abdul Rasheed admitted the task of motivating children from such troubled backgrounds was sometimes challenging.
“It was tough when we first threw a football at them,” said Rasheed. “They were not consistent in their efforts but we kept our mission and regrouped these kids into a team,” he said.
“We have worked hard on these kids as others before going to Brazil and the aim is to fight for the trophy as well as for recognition.”
Loud Thinking March 25, 2014 at 05:43PM
Nauseating that N. Srinivasan continued as BCCI chief:
Supreme Court
Soumitra Bose | Updated: March 25, 2014 16:44 IST
The Supreme Court has asked N. Srinivasan to step down as BCCI president to ensure a fair probe of the Indian Premier League fixing and betting scandal. Srinivasan’s son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, who was a team official of Chennai Super Kings, has been indicted by a Supreme Court appointed inquiry committee of betting and sharing team information. (Top-10 developments in the case)
“In our opinion, Srinivasan has to step down for a fair investigation into the allegation of betting,” said Justice A.K. Patnaik in the course of the hearing the Justice Mukul Mudgal report that went into the allegations of betting and spot fixing in the IPL. “It’s nauseating that N. Srinivasan continued as BCCI chief, he should go if cricket has to be cleaned,” the court said. Meanwhile, Srinivasan has refused to comment on the issue, saying he will “study the court observations”. The case will come up for hearing again on March 27. (Pressure on Srinivasan mounts as three vice presidents ask him to resign)
As senior counsel C.A. Sundaram sought to defend BCCI, Justice Patnaik said: “We will show the papers. You see it and tell us as a counsel about your opinion and not as a paid counsel for Srinivasan.”
At one stage, comparing the two reports – one by an earlier inquiry committee comprising two retired judges of the Madras High Court and the other by Justice Mudgal appointed by the apex court, Justice Patnaik asked: “Can we say that the probe report was managed and if we say so, then what will be the consequences.” The apex court added: “Why is Srinivasan sticking to his chair? If you don’t step down, then we will pass the order.”
The Mudgal committee submitted two reports to the Supreme Court on February 10. The first, signed by retired judge Justice Mudgal and Additional Solicitor General of India L. Nageswara Rao, asked the court to “decide the further course of action” because the probe committee did not have the power to impose punishment. Another supplementary report, signed by Nilay Dutta, a vice-president of Assam Cricket Association and a member of the IPL Governing Council, said: “This should not be misinterpreted to mean that the report suggests that the Hon’ble Court would decide on the punishment or penalty to be imposed.”
The BCCI, which is backing Dutta’s comments, wanted the Supreme Court to let it start fresh disciplinary proceedings against Gurunath and Chennai Super Kings under the IPL franchise rules. The Supreme Court is not willing to do and has instead asked Srinivasan to step down. (BCCI requests top court not to divulge the contents of the envelope)
Last July, a two-member BCCI-appointed panel comprising a pair of retired judges (T Jayaram Chouta and R Balasubramanian) had found “no evidence of any wrongdoing” on the part of Gurunath and Rajasthan royals co-owner Raj Kundra. However, the Mudgal panel pointed out that the question of whether or not Gurunath had been involved in match-fixing and spot-fixing “not been investigated thoroughly” by the anti-corruption units of the ICC and the BCCI or the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department of the Chennai police, “even though some information was available for such an investigation to be conducted.”
Story first published: March 25, 2014 11:09 IST
