The Pakistani Spectator

It was the only title in my mind while I was linking all the moments and incidents that took place in Pakistani cricket team and PCB during, and after T20 world cup. During the T20 world cup or even before the world cup the captain was good and quite acceptable to everyone; players were willing to play with him. What happened after the world cup than, how a conqueror eventually got to face the fate such as final days of Alexander.

In 2007, “after the world cup team needed a surgeon but board appointed a dispenser to do the surgeon’s job” these were the words of great Muhammad Yusuf who was angry and sad over being dropped from T20 squad. When the dispenser Shoaib Malik started performing the job one after the other, some “big names” quit the national team and embraced ICL “Illegal Cricket League”.

Now in 2009, when ICL is a gone story now due to being victim of “global economic crises”, many of the Buddhus (fools) are getting back home (lot k budhu ghar ko aye). No doubt our EX-Captain Younas Khan has done a lot to bring them back not only in the team but also making them part of playing 11. To me it was the beginning of Cricket Politics that used to be a famous flavor during 90s when about 7-8 out of playing 11 used to be captain, ex-captain, or expected captains. After the T20 victory Younas Khan became a power house and he started to demand the powers as a captain used to have long back in Pakistan e.g. Imran Khan and Wasim Akram. That was quite unacceptable to the board and corrupt authorities of the board. Administration, Coach, Selectors, and Manager Yawar Saeed are against Younas Khan From day one of Younas Khan’s Captaincy.

They kept no stone unturned to make YK out of the Captain Coat. The Sri-Lankan tour was totally a choreographed defeat. The attitude of the players like Selman Butt can easily be noticed while watching the Test Series, and we lost one day series since Mr. Ejaz Butt made the presence to the scene. There is an old saying that during bad time dog can bite you even if you are mounting on a camel; that’s what happened to YK as during ICC Champions trophy his Bad Patch begun. Even after trying hard he was unable to score, he kept getting out while playing his expert shots. But the writer of the script got the real plot when YK dropped a catch at a crucial situation in Semi Final of Champions’ Trophy.

The story of his resignation and revival is almost known to everyone. While this all drama was being performed, backstage a new script was written. Many players were part of the star cast of this story and doubtlessly ICL guys are the soul of this star cast. A team member who is famous for his Blackmailing Skills, he demanded to become a captain every time when his ICL contract came into the scene, board supported him a lot during his legal fight with ICL. This pious man is the leading actor of this drama eventually he has got the “Best Actor Award”.

Another ICL guy who used to be the star All Rounder till 2007; he missed 2007 Cricket World Cup being injured and never been able to make a comeback. He joined ICL and kept blaming PCB for ignoring him; even after becoming man of the series in an edition of ICL he scored another mark in blame game. YK brought him back in the team but still I am unable to understand why he became part of the cast. His getting run out while he could easily make it in last ODI against New Zealand give life to the doubts.

Another main role is our Ex Captain who got victim of star power and was forced to surrender the captaincy in January 2009. He became quite famous for sidelining many big names during his god old days. He wanted to make YK out which he never been able to do. He got this chance again and this time he was backed by the PCB FILM PRODUCTION HOUSE. His statement of being confident over opening the innings at airport suddenly changed after reaching South Africa, and after performing he got the reason to prove his point.

How can I forget the 5 weeks old teenager; who become an over night star after scoring a centaury and being relied by the captain. He got this fame to his head met the PCB authorities in order to disclose his differences with YK. Recently he had some argument with Captain over his batting position as this kid wanted to play on position of his own will.

Mr. Boom Boom is part of the cast but like a Puppet, he never wanted to be against YK but YK himself make him to do so. The statement about wiliness to play T20 by YK created a disturbance to the Captaincy of his. Later the rule, said to be implemented on the request of YK, which excluded Vice Captain from playing 11 selection committee, proved to be helpful to create differences between YK and Afridi.

For the first time chief selector was present at the playing venue to check the performance and it was part of the script. Chief Selector ordered YK to make sure the presence of regular openers in playing 11. Later on Wicket Keeper Akmal, who is leading scorer of the year, refused to open the innings due to the requirement of the script. This situation led YK to make such decisions which creating a bad impressions of him. The middle order become out of balance he was forced to make decisions dropping either one among Malik, Yusuf or Umer Akmal.

The statement of Selector which says that if one is not performing will be out regardless the position he holds. According to the Xpert who game me all this information this statement was also written in the script knowing the fact of YK’s bad patch. When I was listening to the Xpert; Michael Atherton the Ex- Captain of England came in my mind. He was not even part of team due to his bad performance but he was brought back into the team as a Captain because at that time there was no one else to lead England. If an out of form and almost forgotten player can lead the team than, why not YK still be the captain. YK called Mr. Ejaz Butt and let him knew the idea of taking rest and Mr. Butt took long four minuets to make this Big Decision. Still I will say it was written in the script how as he took only few minutes to decide the fate of captain and team.

During the first ODI of recent series Geoffrey Boycott said that YK must perform if he can perform with the bat it will be lethal for his captaincy as well as career. So many pressures and bat patch made YK totally mad and the result was total of 21 runs in 3 games. Now the whole story, plat and drama has been performed the actors have got there awards and rewards, board is happy and lucky 7 are happy. But according to a pole 85% of the people are ageist the decision of board which resulted of 4 long minutes, but who knows how long they took to write the award winning script, how much they had to wait to say three magic words: Lights, Camera, and Action.