Dazed PCB select Rehman

The omnipresent confusion in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rose to new heights yesterday as, barely 24 hours after including Mohammad Irfan in the 15-man squad for the World Twenty20, the board decided to omit the tall fast-bowler and include left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman in his place.

Irfan, who is reportedly seven feet tall, has only played ten first-class matches and three Twenty20s but was surprisingly ‘selected’ by chief selector Mohsin Khan, coach Waqar Younis and captain Shahid Afridi following injuries to Umer Gul and Yasir Arafat. The PCB media spokesperson Nadeem Sarwar was also present at the occasion but later produced a press release saying Irfan’s inclusion was not confirmed since the decision was not authorised by the chairman.

Rehman’s inclusion means Pakistan will now go into the tournament with four spinners – Saeed Ajmal, Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez and Rehman. Another member of the squad, Fawad Alam, too, bowls left-arm spin and Rehman’s inclusion – over-ruling the team management’s request in the form of Shahzaib Hasan – means that the entire squad now comprises players selected without the consent of the captain and the coach with neither happy over the snub.

However, according to the PCB Chairman, the decision was not taken to over-rule Afridi and Younis but was forced due to ICC’s rules and regulations.

“It wasn’t to hurt anyone’s egos or self-esteem,” Butt told The Express Tribune. “The decision was taken while considering ICC’s rule that no player outside of the initial 30-man squad could be selected for the tournament. “The change wasn’t made because it was assumed that Irfan was chosen without my permission. The ICC is very strict with its rule and it was essential to make the necessary replacement.”

In a similar circumstance last year, Abdul Razzaq was sent to England after Arafat’s injury in Pakistan’s first match of the tournament. Razzaq, who had severed ties with the unofficial Indian Cricket League (ICL) then, was fast-tracked into the national side without having being named in the 30-man squad.

The chief selector, too, backed Butt’s decision, saying Rehman was a good choice considering the type of pitches in the West Indies, while forgetting the moment of madness that he went through a day earlier.

“Rehman has been selected with the chairman’s approval,” said Khan. “Irfan was not selected by me but by the coach and the captain. I wanted to select Rehman in the first place considering how spinnerfriendly the pitches are in the West Indies and how successful he can be.”

According to sources in the PCB, Younis called up the chairman apologising for the act that led to the confusing scenario, citing unawareness of the ICC rules about replacing an injured player.

Khan also lauded Gul’s honesty and how the fast-bowler came out with the injury without hiding it and heading to the tournament half-fit. Gul, whose absence will be a massive blow for the defending champions, is the highest wicket-taker in Twenty20 internationals as well as being the top wicket-taker in the World Twenty20s in 2007 and 2009.

His accuracy and speed with the ball was a major component in Pakistan’s success at last year’s event. The services of Arafat, too, will be missed by Pakistan as he is the country’s most experienced Twenty20 international following his country and county commitments. Pakistan are due to launch their title-defence on May 1 against Bangladesh.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, Apr 19, 2010

Pakistan cricket in familiar territory

Inadequate and rocky preparation for a major tournament, a cliché when it comes to the Pakistan cricket team and its ‘tried and tested’ method of going into yet another global event with the run-in marred by injuries, controversies and surprise inclusions.

Prior to the 2009 World Twenty20, Pakistan were termed mere participant, courtesy humiliation against an under-strength Australia, a new captain and an unwilling chief selector.

New faces were included for the gruelling trip and as the warm-ups were conceded without even a whimper, it all seemed dusted in still air. What followed, however, was a case of captivating resurgence and all was forgotten amid the hurrah.

Despite the promises and the omnipresent assurances, the boat rocks again for Pakistan cricket, weeks before their title defence. Eyebrows were raised when the newly-appointed selector gave his verdict early.

Salman Butt, awful with the bat and even worse in the field last year, keeps his place. Misbahul Haq, out of form and out of favour lately should have been out of reckoning.

Changes are likely only days prior to the team’s departure. Injuries have rocked Pakistan’s training camp as Umar Gul and Yasir Arafat look set to miss out. And if that was not enough to shake the camp, off-field worries have played a vital role in diverting undue attention from the preparations.

Shoaib Malik has been utilising his ‘time off’ aptly by claiming headlines while Mohammad Asif’s self inflicted headache, and a legal case against him, has given the team management an unwanted dilemma as the training camp gathers momentum.

Seven players from the squad that toured Australia were recently fined and banned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The board, in a move that defies logic, also put an appeal process in place and as a consequence, the players – who alongwith their captain are currently involved in preparation for the World Twenty20 – are now also engulfed in an off-the-field battle with their own board.

Punishments, weddings, appeals, injuries and legal cases – Pakistan cricket sits in familiar territory.

There have been calls of using a psychologist to prepare the players mentally – a successful ploy introduced by former captain Younus Khan prior to the team’s departure last year.

The focus and the level of concentration needed for a global event is surely missing. And with the path the individuals have been taking lately, it seems that the dismal performance the team will take into the tournament in April is what they will be coming out with in May.

© Faras Ghani 2010

Published in The Express Tribune, Apr 14, 2010

ICC yet to receive PCB request about replacement

While the Pakistan team management in London confirmed that a replacement for the injured Yasir Arafat has been sought in the form of Abdul Razzaq, the ICC technical committee has yet to receive any formal requests from the PCB.

“There have been reports of the PCB seeking a replacement for the injured Arafat but we’ve had no official word from them as yet,” Steve Elworthy, the ICC World Twenty20 tournament director and member of the ICC technical committee, confirmed to Dawn.

“The process can be started as soon as a request is received and, if done electronically, can take up to 12 hours.”

Considering Pakistan play their first Super Eights match on Friday, the delay comes as a surprise, puzzling especially given that Pakistan’s coach Intikhab Alam confirmed that a request has already been sent to the PCB.

“Arafat is definitely out of the tournament and we have asked the PCB to send Razzaq as replacement,” Intikhab had told Dawn.

“Losing Arafat is obviously a big blow to us as his attitude towards training and performing for Pakistan was terrific but it’s an unfortunate thing that can happen to anyone, and at any time.”

Arafat will be leaving the squad today and will rejoin his county Sussex that he is representing in the on-going county season as their overseas player.

Razzaq, an ex-ICL player, was originally named by the PCB in the 30-man squad for the tournament in May but his name was quickly scratched off due to ICC’s objections to ICL-linked players at that time.

Given the fact that he terminated his contract with the ICL recently, and was part of the recently-concluded domestic Twenty20 tournament in Pakistan, Razzaq seemed an obvious like-for-like replacement given Arafat’s withdrawal despite having not played international cricket for just over two years.

“Razzaq is a talented and professional cricketer who shone in ICL as well as Pakistan’s domestic Twenty20,” Intikhab said.

“I’m sure his performance will not be hampered by the fact that he hasn’t played international cricket for a long time and we look forward to having him in the squad.”

Razzaq, given the PCB sends in the replacement request in time, can feature for Pakistan against Sri Lanka as early as Friday, and can become the first ex-ICL player to return to international cricket.”

© Faras Ghani 2009.
Published in DAWN newspaper June 11, 2009

Afridi, Gul Pakistan's trump cards

Yasir Arafat, the Pakistan and Sussex all-rounder, has labelled Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul as Pakistan’s trump cards for next month’s World Twenty20.

Speaking after a match-winning performance with the ball for Sussex at The Oval, Yasir termed the presence of all-rounders and quality death bowlers as Pakistan’s strong point and predicted the team going one better this time.

“This [the Twenty20 format] is about all-rounders, attacking with the bat and performing with the ball and since we possess the likes of Afridi, Shoaib Malik and myself as well as the young Fawad Alam, I’d rate our chances of lifting the trophy are very high,’ Yasir told Dawn. “However, with the form Gul and Afridi have been in, I’d say we would rely heavily on them to take us to that trophy.”

Pakistan arrive in London on Saturday and will be take on South Africa at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Monday in the first of the two warm-up matches before taking on arch-rivals India at The Oval next Wednesday. While Yasir, who will miss the first warm-up due to his county commitments, has had enough time to get acclimatized to the conditions, the rest of the squad will have a week, and the two warm-ups, to get used to the conditions.

“I think a week will be enough, especially since the weather has improved considerably here in England. The fact that the squad has had a camp in Bhurban and that they are involved in the domestic twenty20 tournament right now will help them hit the ground running.”

Yasir, who took 2 for 26 in the win against Surrey, is quite pleased with his own performance leading up to the tournament. Following his switch from Kent this year, Yasir has taken 12 wickets in six one-day matches while guiding Sussex to the semi-finals of the Friends Provident Trophy and hopes the lack of fast-bowling all-rounders in the side will allow him to replicate his form for Pakistan as well.

“This is ideal preparation for me prior to the Twenty 20 tournament and I’m glad the PCB approved my request of spending the days leading up to it here in England. My job is to perform whenever given the chance and I hope I get the selectors’ nod since I’m a fast-bowling all-rounder who has experienced the conditions.”

Yasir made his Test debut against India in December 2007, taking seven wickets and scoring 44. However, he only managed two wickets in his next two Tests, the home series against Sri Lanka, but is hoping for a good performance in the tournament and be named in the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka that takes place in July and August.

© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper May 29, 2009.