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

Small steps contributed to a big win

The journey of a thousand steps begins with a single step. Upon completion, comprising mediocrity and exhilaration, the thousand little steps each complement its predecessor and pave way for the one to follow, with smoothness in a gentle procession and not a squalling.

Pakistan came out brimming with confidence at The Oval amid the gloom, forgetting the past annihilation and blocking out the verdicts condemning them as spectators. A show of apprehension, given Mohammad Yousuf’s return and memories of 2006, but the self-assurance, the authority and the euphonic act that is playing without fear against a team far superior and heads far experienced allowed Pakistan that bit of abatement it badly needed following scores of 80 and 72.

The small steps – contributing in every department in every session on every day – made for a changed viewing. Losing the toss after the nine-wicket humiliation meant Pakistan in the firing line first up with the morale of the individuals to be heavily tested. The flurry of wickets and the surprise package that was holding onto catches meant that England, given Pakistan’s penchant for self-destruction, would need to work extra hard for their seventh consecutive Test win.

Salman Butt put the nervy win down to a team effort. It was anything but. Newcomers shone. Old faces dazzled. Perhaps it was the fatherly figure of Yousuf (taking over Inzamam’s mantle) or perhaps it was the fear of a whitewash and the resulting clear-out that follows such calamities in Pakistan, the batsmen played for a cause.

The unprecedented sorcery with the ball had shocked and bewildered the opposition throughout the tour but the prowess with the bat, one that Yousuf effortlessly creamed into play, remained a spectator’s delight. His ill-advised moves off the field aside, Yousuf brought the visual appeal to Pakistan that the dead bats in the preceding Tests had robbed its fans of.

What he needs now, is for his side to carry on. Pakistan’s record following a Test win remains worrying. Since 2007, in 23 Tests, it has failed to win back-to-back Tests, or even two in close proximity, which shows frailty in the minds and of the body. They beat South Africa in 2007 but lost three of the next four (in three different countries). They beat New Zealand in 2009 only to lose four of the next five. After winning against Australia in Leeds, Pakistan twice came crashing down to earth.

Regardless of what happens in the final Test, with the grit, the determination and the ability to fight shown on the tour – a Twenty20 whitewash and Test win against Australia as well as the hunger that marked its riposte against England – it is not just the doubters proven wrong. It’s Pakistan’s own fears as well.

© Faras Ghani 2010

Published in The Express Tribune, Aug 23, 2010

Afridi retires from Test cricket

Barely over a year after Younus Khan announced his retirement from Twenty20 internationals following Pakistan’s triumphant 2009 World Twenty20 campaign at Lord’s, Pakistan’s Test captain Shahid Afridi announced that the second Test against Australia next week will be his last.

The decision to end his short-lived return to the longest format of the game – after a four-year self-exile – came in the wake of Pakistan’s 13th consecutive Test defeat against Australia – a 150-run loss on the fourth day of the first Test at Lord’s.

“A captain should set an example for the youngsters and for his team and I didn’t show any of that in the Test,” said Afridi, who was dismissed for a four-ball two slogging Marcus North to midwicket. “I’m not capable of playing Test cricket and if I play cricket like this, then it’s better to leave.

“I don’t have Test temperament and you can’t play without that. It’s better to have young players, a genuine batsman or a genuine bowler to lead the team.”

Afridi also blamed a side injury, picked up during the Asia Cup last month, as another reason to walk away from Test cricket. While refusing to confirm his fitness level, it will not be surprising if Afridi is unable to take on the field at Headingley in the Test that starts on Wednesday.

“Unless you’re 100 per cent fit, you can’t perform in Test matches. I’m not 100% right now and things may become clearer in a day or two.”

Afridi was appointed captain of all three formats of the game by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) just before naming the team for the 2010 World Twenty20, Pakistan’s title-defence in the West Indies. Then, reluctant to make a Test comeback, Afridi refused to commit his long-term future to Test cricket but opting to take up the captaincy due to the lack of options the PCB had.

In the wake of the Australian whitewash earlier in the year, former captains Mohammad Yousuf, Younus Khan and Shoaib Malik were banned by the PCB and although Malik made his comeback courtesy a change-of-heart at the board, Yousuf and Younus are still in the wilderness due to various reasons.

“I took up the captaincy because the PCB told me to go have a look and see if I still enjoy Test cricket. At that time, they had no other choice so I took the responsibility. But it’s difficult to get back into it after such a long absence. My temperament is not good enough for five-day cricket and I’m struggling with injury as well so it’s best if I step down.”

However, PCB officials have confirmed that PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt has spoken to Yousuf and requested the former captain to reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket. While Yousuf may join the team as early as the first Test against England in Nottingham, Younus, currently playing for Surrey, confirmed to The Express Tribune that he has no such plans as things stand.

According to Afridi, however, Salman Butt, who scored 63 and 92 in the match, seems a natural successor to lead the young squad.

“Butt is showing maturity, he’s batting well and playing good cricket and I think he’s good enough to lead the team but the final decision will have to be made by the board.”

© Faras Ghani 2010
Published in The Express Tribune July 17, 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 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