A tale of two cities

Although Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) and Maheen Kardar Ali’s (of Karma) much-awaited return to London came a month after the London Fashion Week, it not only brought about a change in the local weather but also served as a healthy reminder of what the duo is capable of delivering. Fresh off soaking in the Dubai Fashion Week applause, HSY, together with Karma, became part of a London fundraising event held at the Royal Court of Justice.

The event was held by Developments in Literacy (DIL) Trust UK as a launching pad of their vocational training aspect, – having been incharge of a girls’ school in Karachi. It consisted of various auctions before the studded models paraded in the sparkle that was A Tale of Two Cities (Karma’s collection) followed by HSY’s.

“For the event to be a huge success and for us to put our organisation on the map, we had to ensure a well-recognised presence from Pakistan, hence the choice of HSY and Karma,” Rubina Riaz, vice-president DIL Trust UK, said. “Also, since our motives are to promote education in women and to feature how a woman can equally be successful in the world, we had no better choice than inviting Maheen Kardar to display her work.”

The old-fashioned, high ceiling interior that is the Court and the imaginative mix of colour and shine that was A Tale of Two Cities blended majestically as the models ‘mingled’ with the seated guests, thus making for a more interesting evening, with HSY not too far behind.

And after the attendees parted generously with cash while bidding on the auctioned paintings – majority were by female artists thus adding to DIL’s aims of promoting female contribution to the world – it was left to HSY and Karma to remind one and all of their presence, attained via the selected group of Pakistani models – including the duo of Tooba Siddiqui and Zainab Qayoom – complemented by a group of local models.

An auction on a donated pair by the designers rounded off a classy evening – attended by former prime ministers and media tycoons – with much applause for the showcasing group as well as DIL members for a well-organised and unique fundraiser.

© Faras Ghani 2008
Published in Daily Times Oct 26, 2008

HSY, Karma in London

Londonwallas caught a glimpse of what Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) had on offer during the recently-concluded Dubai Fashion Week at a glittery fundraising event, with Karma presenting as well, inside the Royal Courts of Justice.

The event was held by Developments in Literacy (Dil) Trust, UK and consisted of various auctions before the models paraded in the sparkle that was titled A Tale of Two Cities. “For the event to be a success we had to ensure a well-recognised presence from Pakistan, hence the choice of HSY and Karma,” Rubina Riaz of the Trust said. “Since our motives are to promote education in women and to feature how a woman can equally be successful in the world, we had no better choice than inviting Maheen Kardar to display her work.”

The imaginative mix of old-fashioned grandeur and colourful art was aptly exposed in the courtyard where the old-age, high-ceiling interior complemented the duo’s collection while the models ‘mingled’ with the seated guests. After the attendees parted generously with cash while bidding on the auctioned paintings — a majority of which were by female artists — it was left to HSY and Karma to remind one and all of their presence. An auction on a donated pair by the designers rounded off the event.

© Faras Ghani 2008.
Published in Images (DAWN newspaper) Oct 19, 2008

Taking off the gloves

Rashid Latif chalks down the cricket team’s recent failures to inconsistency.

While most people remember the Pakistan versus Bangladesh Test match at Multan in 2003 by Inzamam’s dogged 138 that saved Pakistan from a humiliating defeat, the fixture also connoted a premature farewell to the Test career of Rashid Latif, one of the most efficient wicketkeeper-batsmen Pakistan ever produced.

Following a disastrous World Cup in 2003 the PCB had appointed Rashid captain of the national side. Banned for five ODIs after he claimed a dropped catch in the Multan Test, Rashid was subsequently replaced temporarily as captain — he went on to resign from the position — and finally dropped from the team altogether as the board opted for younger legs in the form of Kamran Akmal. While Akmal has failed to match the intensity his predecessors had behind the stumps, Rashid has continued to stay attached and make his mark on cricket instead of parting ways with the game.

He formed the Port Qasim cricket squad from scratch, was appointed the coach and led them to an unbeaten maiden Grade II season, including a victory in the final that saw his return to playing ways. He has also been involved in a successfully running cricket academy in Karachi that has witnessed the presence of Mohammad Sami, Danish Kaneria, Asim Kamal, Younis Khan and Shadab Kabir. Rashid acted as PCB’s wicketkeeping coach for talent-hunt schemes and short camps prior to tournaments and has been representing the Kent-based club Lashing’s XI annually.“It’s true that I have a lot on my plate but I’m enjoying it,” Rashid said after scoring a quick-fire 34 for Lashing’s XI in a Twenty20 match. “I miss playing cricket and it’s a hunger I will never be able to bury, but I’ve realised coaching youngsters and preparing them to represent their country bears more fruit.”

Grateful to his involvement with Lashing’s XI — in its fifth year — for precisely that reason, Rashid is involved at playing level while he learnt from the greats what he can pass on to others. “Playing alongside Richie Richardson, Sachin Tendulkar and Marvan Attapattu is not just good for my ego but also aids my coaching techniques as whatever I learn is then passed onto the juniors in the academy which will hopefully benefit Pakistan in the future.”

It wasn’t all an easy ride when the Allied Bank Limited cricket team was dismantled in 2003 due to management problems. “We had a decent squad that was suddenly told to find alternatives as they couldn’t play anymore. Although Port Qasim stood out among the offers I had, creating a new squad in a government organisation is not easy. I approached, and convinced, a few international players to join but upon hearing this their departments not only doubled their salaries in order to retain them, but also offered them extra incentives. With that, I decided to work with the players I had done in the past and hoped that they perform well.”

And even though Port Qasim isn’t guaranteed a promotion despite running away with the trophy, Rashid hopes it is the case, for the sake of young and talented players in his squad and because a return to first-class cricket may also see Rashid’s return to the middle with the bat after an absence of four years.

Never shying away from criticising board policies or selection mishaps, Rashid blamed Pakistan’s recent failures against better teams on inconsistency and the board’s failure to think of the future. “Perhaps the PCB was scared of losing or maybe it lacked confidence in youngsters, but we wasted a glorious opportunity against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh to test our bench-strength fully. The team now suffers when replacements fail to perform against quality opposition after being in the wilderness for months.

“Take the case of Akmal: he dropped catches consistently and instead of lining up a suitable replacement while giving Akmal a break, they opted to persist with him leaving Pakistan with either an under-performed Akmal or a relative newcomer (Sarfraz Ahmed) for the Champions Trophy.

“Asim (Kamal) performed exceptionally in domestic cricket and proved his worth in the international arena but is still being ignored and by that the selectors aren’t just letting him but the whole nation down.

“Danish Kaneria, too, deserves an extended run in ODI and Twenty20 squad and by opting to play part-time spinners and ignoring a quality spinner like him the selectors can never hope to build a consistent winning combination. Preferring Mansoor Amjad — a batsman who can bowl leg-spin — was a baffling one by the selectors.”

Before the phenomenal rise of Adam Gilchrist — who re-wrote the definition of wicketkeeper-batsman — it was more the act behind the stumps that the individual was judged upon, rather than in front. And Rashid shone brightly at that. Although clutching onto the unimaginable became his forte, it was his failure with the bat that sparked a healthy competition with Moin. And as fate would have it, his last Test match brought him only 10 runs but seven catches, and a victory.

But as he nears his 40th birthday — having spent years scouting for talent and nourishing it — Rashid is well aware of its abundance that lies in the domestic pool. “There is no dearth of talent in the country in any department of the game. We have the youth waiting to be molded into the world-class cricketers of tomorrow but it is our (his and the national selectors) duty to acknowledge their existence.”

© Faras Ghani 2008.
Published in DAWN Magazine Oct 12, 2008