Loud Thinking

Please note the date of 20 February, 2013 (tenure of Zaka Ashraf) when this email was written.

If an inquiry was held at that time in 2013, probably Mr. Ejaz Butt would not have been levelling charges of match fixing (in a recent live TV program) during the World Cup 2015, matches of Pakistani team.

That is the very specific reason I have been crying hoarse to all in the government and the PCB to let us not keep mum over the World Cup match fixing allegations of Mr. Ejaz Butt, so that to make the future of the Pakistan’s cricket bright and clean:

Email of 20 February, 2013.

Subject: Need for an Anti-Corruption Inquiry in PCB

The way our cricket team surrendered both the Test matches in South Africa, without giving a semblance of fight and creating a new record of lowest Test innings score of 49 runs, has created many doubts about the matter, which needs immediate high level inquiry, to clear the image and good name of PCB from any wrong doing, before ICC steps in, to create any unpleasant situation.

As such, this proposal should be taken in a positive manner to clear the name of the country, PCB and all persons connected with it. PCB, which is headed by a very hard working dedicated Pakistani, has no cause to hide any wrong doings of any unscrupulous persons within its folds.

PCB must initiate an anti-corruption inquiry (as it did in the case of Salman Butt, M. Asif & M.Aamir) to probe Misbah ul Haq’s hands & his motives in surrendering series against South Africa, without a fight.

Here, we must remember everybody is innocent till proved guilty. However, although, corrupt people never give receipt of their corruption yet, circumstantial evidences speaks loud and clear about the wrong doings.

Just for a comparison, Aamir bowled a big no ball and was caught. However, Suhail Tanvir (not even military medium in pace) bowled even a bigger no ball. So eye brows are obviously raised, about what the hell all this TAMASHA is going on, in South Africa.

This inquiry should also probe and dig in deep, to bring out the facts, by including all those responsible persons, sitting on the fat salaries of PCB; who in clear violation of the PCB rules, supported Misbah ul Haq, in sending two very ordinary run of the mill bowlers, even before START of the first Test, without any need for the replacement, due to the injury to any of the fast bowlers.

This anti-corruption inquest should also probe the way captain selected his playing eleven and marshalled his team during the currency of both the Tests; reasons & manner in which our batsmen (captain included) got out in casual manner; and the silent spectators role of team management, during this whole drama.

It is also proposed that this inquiry team should include former Test cricketers with impeccable honesty reputation like Mohsin Hassan Khan, Aamir Suhail, Sarfraz Nawaz and Abdul Qadir, the director vigilance & security PCB; and be headed by the Federal Tax Ombudsman Dr. Shoaib Suddle.

Last but not the least, Misbah ul Haq needs immediate sacking along with the entire team management for this inquiry to be fair, free and impartial; and innocents to be fully protected from involvement because of any wrong influence.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

My letter published today by the daily “The News”.
Link:-http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-11-314674-Cricket-plan

Cricket plan

Saturday, April 25, 2015
From Print Edition

New 0 0 0

The biggest positive outcome that emerged from our complete rout at the hands of Bangladesh is that our captain Azhar Ali proved to be a lion-hearted batsman who not only led from the front but also led by example. Unfortunately, he fell into the trap of the head coach in the selection of the final eleven and opted to go on the defensive by playing with only four regular bowlers. The strategy of playing with seven batsmen backfired badly.

Now, Azhar Ali will have to learn that offence is the best defence. In Test matches you can bat for a draw but in ODIs or T20s you live and die for a victory that only comes through a plan and intents of attack and nothing else. To strengthen our batting as per the modern-day requirements of the hard-hitting game where even non-Test playing nations are easily scoring over 300 runs, we need to induct players having potential to tear apart the bowling line of our opponents in the first ten power-play overs when except for two all other fielders are inside the 30-meter circle. Moreover, lack of positive thinking, correct planning (plans never fail, we fail to plan) and a defensive mental demand immediate recall of our head coach to avoid total disaster of the ongoing tour; he should be replaced by either of the two reputed successful coaches: Mohsin Hassan Khan or Kabir Khan.

Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad

Lahore

PCB must invest in future dated 7 January, 2013 repeat 2013.

It is absolutely the right time to fully appreciate PCB and Pakistani cricket team for basically two achievements. Firstly, for winning the ODI series against India 2-1 and secondly, for completing a very sensitive tour, absolutely incident free.

Now, this is also very appropriate time for the PCB, to finalise its short and long term future plans, with regard to the policy of categorising players for the teams for Test’s, ODI’s and T20’s. This is necessary, because Pakistan will be competing for Test Championship, Champion’s Trophy, T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup, all within next 36 months.

So, with an eye on the future, the PCB planning should focus on such potential players, who have the capacity or who can be groomed to have the capacity, to deliver for Pakistan, in the days to come. We should not waste time, energy and money on such players, who are past their prime and per se wants to continue playing, just for selfish reasons; but they are practically blocking the future of up coming and young players, for an indefinite period.
In this connection, PCB recently, took a difficult, bold and wise decision of dropping Shahid Afridi from the ODI version of the game.

While, not taking anything from the past contributions of Shahid Afridi, PCB’s decision was very progressive and forward looking, but in my opinion, was still a bit late. National interests must not be compromised for personal wishes.

Now, again the time has come to select the players for the different versions of the game, on the basis of talent and capacity of the players, with prime objective of INVESTING in future.

PCB should adopt a policy of bearing with the failures of the fresh lot with patience, rather than pursuing with old horses, who have even lost the strength, to easily hit sixes or even boundaries to reasonably good bowlers, or take three or four runs without being exhausted, on a slightly bigger grounds.

According to my observations, PCB must think about the future of the following players in a very rational manner.

1. Misbah ul Haq. He is not at all capable to play till the 2015 ODI World Cup. Even now, he is over age and not capable of steering the team out of a crisis situations, in front of WORLD CLASS bowling, particularly against out of sub-continent teams. So, why not to groom a fresh batsman instead of MUH and on the other hand, give the captaincy to Muhammad Hafeez, for gaining the experience for the coming Champions Trophy and the ensuing ODI World Cup?

2. Younis Khan. Our selectors took a retrogressive action in recalling him from the ODI retirement. Even his presence in the team today in the 3rd ODI, couldn’t save Pakistan from a mere 10 runs defeat against India. His selection for the Indian tour has cost us heavily, in not giving experience to a youngster. He should be decently thanked for his services and let him not block the future of any budding batsman. PCB should not be so callous with the new generation of batsmen, that retired batsmen be made to come in their way. If PCB had recalled Muhammad Yousaf or even Inzamam ul Haq, may be, they would have scored runs more than the newcomers, but then we can’t and must not live in the past, under any circumstances. For that matter, if India lost the ODI series against Pakistan, no heavens have fallen. Similarly, if we had lost to India with fresh legs, it would have been a gain of experience, rather than winning with recall, of retired persons.

3. Kamran Akmal. Just like Shahid Afridi (who can still be selected for few more weeks and months for his bowling abilities) Kamran Akmal is a spent cartridge; and to continue with him is in fact, deceiving ourselves. He may still give some performances against mediocre bowling, but against world class bowlers, his batting is absolutely UN-DEPENDABALE. As far as his wicket keeping is concerned, it is OK. However, there is no shortage of young generation of agile wicket keepers and hence, further continuation with Kamran Akmal, is like living in a fools paradise.

4. Shoaib Malik. There is no doubt that he was past his prime many months ago. He has reached a stage, where its impossible for him to perform against quality bowling, particularly in ODI and T20 versions of the game. If we argue that he performed well in domestic level, then the selectors should be told that domestic level performances are for the new players. International players are judged on their performances against foreign teams. These are two separate criterions for the different levels of players. If the selectors still wants to retain some old horses, for Test matches for some time, then PCB management shall be the better judge. However, these old players must not be used in a way to stop the career of the budding players.

5. Umar Akmal. He was touted in the past to be a player with immense talent. However, he has proved wrong all his fans and well wishers. In fact, he is the most UN-DEPENDABLE batsman in the team. Not to play him is a risk. However, to play him is a bigger risk. While batting, he is a very risky person for the batsman at the other end. Moreover, mostly his shot selections are very poor. He never puts a price on his wicket. Also it looks that in his failures, there is a big hand of his head coach. Somehow, this man looks a fit case for sending him to a psychologist, for making him a person with some sense of responsibilities and strong mental power, who should be able to focus on teams goal achievement. Till such time he is transformed into a mature person, Umar Akmal seems to be an utterly misfit player in the national squad.

Zarb-e-Azb on PCB

Link:-http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/blogs/22-Apr-2015/fix-our-pcb-mr-prime-minister

If AHMAD Shahzad gets out it will be a loss for the BD team.

Poor SHAHZAD is all at sea.
It seems he has forgotten how to face bowling..!