Trust of a nation and its fans let down

The cricket that brought respite to millions of Pakistanis — from the suicide bombs, the floods and the atrocities within — has now left them distraught. The expression, the ebullience and the sweet smell of determination and audacity that belied his age — 18, as reported by the officials — now reeked of betrayal. An act menial, but with repercussions grand.

Mohammad Aamir is a smart cricketer. Too smart for his age. He talks of his bowling with a doctorate in his hand, knowing precisely how to act his trade with the accuracy, ability and the arm. At 15 he was prodigy-turned-casualty courtesy dengue fever, stress fracture and the stern demands of international cricket. Three years on, he was Pakistan cricket’s biggest thing, still just a teenager from a small village.

Bigger than that then, perhaps, was the temptation.

Over-stepping is a norm in cricket. Umar Gul has mastered the art. Suraj Randiv enacted it with perfection in Sri Lanka barely days ago. So why would a slight stretch — a vociferous extension in this case — be met with a raised eyebrow or question one’s conscientiousness. Because it negated all the preceding effort, the haul of wickets, the prize money, the heroics and the wide beam of a child gaining recognition, fame and applaud. And the trust of a nation, of its mad fans.

Money is no foreigner to Pakistan cricket. Allegations are, and have been, omnipresent. Verdicts, decisions, recommendations have been passed. Bans have been placed. Worlds have been shattered as a result. So the tangibility of the scenario was never in question. It was the innocence of those blamed, especially Aamir.

Last time Pakistan visited England they forfeited a Test match after ball-tampering accusations and subsequent on-field penalty. This year, following the thrashing — the absolute battering — it has received intermittently, it has been forced to forfeit its self-respect and dignity. And because of reasons that lay beyond the results.

It’s premature to pass a verdict while the investigations are ongoing, especially considering the U-turn following Bob Woolmer’s death and the guilt cloud that was floated over the Pakistan team. However, the dropped heads, the visible capitulation and the management’s failure to defend the individuals after Pakistan’s on-field disaster at Lord’s, have effectively told us what the verdict will be. A massive shock and a swift fold of events that not only dampened England’s almost-miraculous fightback from the depths of despair but also sunk Pakistan cricket further in the doldrums, an inconceivable thought given the tumultuous year that it has had so far.

In an interview last year, Aamir told me he wanted to “have a bit in my wallet”. Perhaps, a better lifestyle to what he had witnessed up till then was what he meant. But the words still come back to haunt.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, August 31, 2010

Shamed

The spot-fixing scandal that had rocked Pakistan cricket late Saturday evening was further fuelled by revelations that the team management had warned players not to interact with Mazhar Majeed, the London-based bookmaker arrested by London police.

On Saturday, a London-based tabloid News of the World published a report which showed Mazhar accepting money from undercover reporters posing as Arab businessmen. In this, Mazhar had promised certain players performing as per prior arrangement against payment. The paper alleges that certain members of the Pakistan team performed as per this arrangement.

This scandal has not only rocked Pakistan cricket but also put into doubt the future of the tour.

Investigations by The Express Tribune reveal that a London-based source close to the Pakistan team shared his earlier worries with regards to the Majeed brothers, Mazhar and Azhar.

He told The Express Tribune about how he, and Pakistan’s One-Day International and Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi, had barred the players from interacting with the duo.

“It’s a shame to see this happening to Pakistan cricket but I could see it coming for a long time,” said the entrepreneur. “I have known the duo for a very long time and Mazhar in fact had an argument with the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt prior to Pakistan’s first Test of the tour at Lord’s. But it’s a shame how, despite my and Afridi’s constant reminders, the players still chose to entertain the brothers and I see no way out for them from this.”

Azhar, Mazhar’s brother who was arrested late Saturday evening for ‘conspiring to defraud bookmakers’, pleaded innocent while speaking to The Express Tribune and confirmed that he was oblivious of his brother’s illegal activities.

“I don’t understand what has happened,” said the London-based Azhar, who has been involved with the players and often acted as their agent in England. “Until last night, I didn’t even know what spot-fixing was. It’s a complete shock for me and I’ve never indulged in such activities despite being involved with the players for a long time.”

Meanwhile, in the shocking aftermath of the spot-fixing scandal – and the crushing defeat in the fourth and final Test at Lord’s – captain Salman Butt and manager Yawar Saeed failed to defend the accused players in front of the media.

Salman, who had remained composed since taking over the captaincy last month despite heavy losses, looked downright distraught in the post-match press conference, accompanied by Saeed, and his assertive remarks gave way to meek muttering as the cricket world awaits the Scotland Yard inquiry.

“At this point in time, they’re just allegations and obviously we’re sad to hear those,” said Saeed while at no point claiming that Pakistan players were innocent. “Aamir is a young bowler who’s done very well so far in his career all over the world. He’s down because his name has come through but if he comes through clean, then there’s nothing to worry about.”

Salman, who led Pakistan to a Test win over Australia after a gap of 15 years and beat England for the first time in England since 2001, did speak of his team’s innocence but for the troubled look on his face, a first, despite losses to the magnitude of 150 runs, 354 runs and nine wickets on the tour.

“Every member in the team has given his one hundred per cent,” said Salman. “You don’t achieve what you want every time you go out but all you can do is try your best and the rest is out of your control.”

The PCB late on Sunday said it has submitted a report on the issue to the president of Pakistan. It said that it also wanted access to the accused persons alleged to have been involved in the spot-fixing. Interior minister Rehman Malik also stated that an FIA team is proceeding to London for further investigations.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune, Aug 30, 2010

Amir finds his feet in England

Mohammad Aamer returned to the venue of his first-over burst against Sri Lanka last year which ignited Pakistan’s spirited performance in the final of the 2009 World Twenty20 and continued from where he left off.

Then, with a white ball in front of a capacity crowd on a sunny solstice afternoon, Aamer jolted the opposition with a inspired barrage of short balls resulting in Tillekaratne Dilshan’s prized scalp. On Tuesday, with drizzle, dampness and a stack of empty seats at Lord’s, Aamer dictated proceedings yet again.

Denied a wicket in the third over of the day, Aamer, mostly operating with four slips and effectively implementing the newly-acquired skill of bringing the ball back into the right-hander, finished with his second-best figures in a Test innings, four for 72.

However, Simon Katich, the Australian opener who benefited from the umpire’s decision early on in the innings, remained confident his bowlers can replicate the swing and movement Aamer and Mohammad Asif used for Pakistan’s benefit.

“It was a tough day throughout but if the conditions stay put, as they were while we were batting, Pakistan will certainly find it difficult,” said Katich following close of play on Tuesday. “Credit to Aamer as well who’s an outstanding young bowler. We were impressed with him when he played in Australia on those flat pitches as he bowled with good pace. He’s certainly a good prospect for Pakistan.”

Pakistan vice-captain Salman Butt echoed Katich’s view on Pakistan’s bowling but reminded his batsmen of the hard work ahead of they were to end their 15-year losing streak against Australia.

“Bowling first, we wanted to dismiss them for under 200 given the conditions,” said Butt. “They got a couple of good partnerships going but out third session comeback got things under control for us. We now need to ensure we bat sensibly.”

Unfortunately for Pakistan, their batsmen failed to take cue from their bowlers and finished 105 runs short of Australia’s first-innings total to hand the initiative back to the ‘tourists’.

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 15, 2010

Pakistan look for change in fortunes

For a team that has been completely mauled against Australia in the last 12 months, Pakistan, unsurprisingly, look confident as they take on their nemesis in the first of the back-to-back Twenty20 internationals at Edgbaston today.

The whitewash and its repercussions, on and off the field, are still etched onto the players’ and the fans’ minds but captain Shahid Afridi, who has recovered from the minor muscle strain suffered in a tour match, knows fully well what his team is capable of.

“It’s a pressure game against Australia but I’m confident as we have always given them a tough time,” said Afridi on the eve of the match. “We’ve been playing well and with the combination that we have, I’m confident of defeating Australia. Even they’re aware of the fact that we’ve given them some difficult times and that’s why it’ll be an interesting series.”

With a 50 per cent winning ratio in Twenty20 internationals, following their 2009 World Twenty20 triumph – six wins and six losses – Pakistan will look to welcome back Umar Gul, the highest wicket-taker in the format. With Gul, Afridi will have a star-studded bowling lineup comprising Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Aamer and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.

“Bowling is definitely our main weapon. Akhtar’s here to play Twenty20 so he’s always going to play but with Gul’s return, our bowling has become stronger. We have young batsmen though but I feel we can overcome that soon.”

Pakistan has started the tour well – T20 wins against MCC XI and Essex aptly complemented by a commendable three-day outing against Northamptonshire. The batsmen, including opener Shahzaib Hasan – confined to international wilderness following a successful debut last year – have adapted to conditions quickly and Afridi’s quick-fire 13-ball 42 against Northamptonshire reminded everyone of his exploits in England last year.

However, memories of Michael Hussey effortlessly depositing Saeed Ajmal into the stands will still be fresh with both sides and Pakistan would want to take a leaf out of England’s book if they want to make an impression against the reigning One-Day International (ODI) World Champions. England, after a stuttering start to the 2010 World Twenty20, went on to beat Australia in the final and registered a 3-2 ODI series-win against the same opposition.

Despite the series-loss, Australia, courtesy its fast-bowlers, remain a potent force. And Afridi made it clear what is required of his team.

“Winning or losing is part of the game but what I want from my team is performance. If they deliver a good show and even then we lose, I’ll be satisfied despite the loss. It’s the performance that matters.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 5, 2010