Pakistani batsman Shoaib Malik sends a delivery towards the boundary during the Canada Cup 20/20 game between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in King City, Ontario, on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Chris Young)
Despite individual brilliance, Pakistan has not reached its full potential in Test cricket. They have made headlines of the wrong sort in their 57 years as a Test nation. Internal dissensions, captaincy disputes and accusations of ball-tampering, bribery, and match-throwing are often associated with their national teams.
One might say, when Pakistanis play a match, can controversy be far behind?
Javed Miandad, Salim Malik, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, and Shahid Afridi have all been involved with controversies of various hues and shades.
Not that all of them have been associated in drug scandals or match-fixing.
Nor are the Pakistanis the only ones involved.
But anything Pakistan does is viewed with suspicion. Look at the just-concluded Champions Trophy. They lost to Australia off the final ball of the match and an India newspaper smelt a rat.
They lost deliberately so that India won’t make it to the semis. No proof, no evidence, just a hunch. And it made headlines.
Then the Pakistanis lost to New Zealand in the semi-final, and out came allegations that skipper Younis Khan had dropped a catch on purpose.
I am not a great supporter of the Pakistani cricket team. And in the past some of the allegations have been proven correct.
But why blame them for everything just because they are Pakistanis? And without any tangible proof?
“If it is shady, Pakistani’s are guilty” is the catch phrase. And it’s said with a nudge and a wink.
If a Pakistani fielder were to chew gum in the slips and spit on his palm, there would be questions suggesting that this was a trick to take fabulous catches.
As a country, Pakistan is passing through a massive crisis. No cricket team wants to visit them. And not without justification.
But rather than giving up cricket and lamenting, “Why keep playing, what’s the point?”, they continue producing high-caliber cricketers.
Against all odds they won the ICC World Twenty20 Trophy a few months ago.
And they defeated the highly fancied India convincingly in the ICC Champions Trophy last week and lost to world champs Australia only off the last ball of the match.
Although some of their cricketers deserve condemnation, they are not the only ones who are guilty.
Their players have to be pitied rather than censored for the faults of their politicians and for the insufferable political climate they manage to survive in. And still they come close to dominating international cricket.
I won’t be surprised if they create a shock or two Down Under in December–January, unless Ricky Ponting’s Australians take them seriously.
Here is my plea to international journalists: if they lose to Australia – on paper a stronger team – praise Australia and do not suggest that Pakistan threw it.
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Freud of Football said | October 8th 2009 @ 4:46am | Report comment
Firstly you mention “match-throwing”. Well as far as I know most of the accusations leveled against Pakistani cricketers have been much less severe than this, “match-throwing” would require a number of players to organise to lose a game, Hansie Cronje accepting money the way he did wasn’t match throwing, he did it alone or with one or two others and IF Younus Kahn did get paid to drop that catch, you still can’t deem it match throwing unless others were in on it, a match isn’t won or lost by an individual.
Further, more Indians and South African’s have been banned from matching fixing than Pakistani’s: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cricketers_banned_for_match_fixing
The problem is the amount of issues which has earned them their reputation.
Most however are not exclusive to Pakistani players. Drugs for example (Wasim, Waqar & Mushtaq Ahmed) is something that has happened to cricketers from other countries (Herschelle Gibbs, Andre Nel, Justin Kemp, Paul Adams and Roger Telemachus got caught smoking dope, Keith Piper was caught twice and two former cricketers have been caught with cocaine).
Accusations of rape were made against an unnamed Pakistan player but they’ve also been made against South Africa’s Makhaya Ntini & the Windies Narsingh Deonarine.
Ball-tampering (which is where this all began for Pakistan) has not only been disproved but cost Beefy Botham 400k when Imran Kahn sued him for slander and people accused Wasim & Waqar for a long time when reverse swing wasn’t known to the rest of the world but they were also cleared (Waqar was later suspended). Atherton & Dravid have both been fined for ball tampering and english players eat mints religously to get the ball shining so we can’t just level this at the Pakistani’s, the problem is, the most famous example involved them.
All-in-all Pakistan are harshly dealt with in the media. I don’t want to say it’s got to do with religion but I get the distinct feeling that many of the Aussie players in particular, having grown up isolated from such cultural and religious differences don’t fully understand and accept them. India hates them of course, England see them as inferior and South Africa sees anyone other than South African’s as inferior, as such they aren’t going to get much of a fair go when the top 4 nations are against them.
mushi said | October 23rd 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
So your saying in a game which is usually decided by very few runs a single individual can’t alter the outcome?
Alec Swann said | October 8th 2009 @ 4:58am | Report comment
Unfortunately, the Pakistanis are caught in the position where mud sticks.
There are myriad factors for this, but the controversies of the past will inevitably conspire against them when another incident surfaces. Sometimes they don’t help themselves, other times they are convenient targets.
As for the latest claims, they were made by an MP. Need I say any more?
If this quote from the aforementioned parliamentarian doesn’t sum up the ridiculousness of his claims then nothing will.
“The way we lost in the semi-final, it has left the whole nation disappointed and the PCB has to give answers.”
You were outplayed.
If droppng the odd catch or playing a poor shot is throwing a game then all cricketers should be worried.
Freud of Football said | October 8th 2009 @ 5:07am | Report comment
Secondly (sorry I can’t keep this short but you’ve some important info) you mentioned “they continue producing high-caliber cricketers.”
What many people don’t realise that domestic cricket in Pakistan is COMPLETELY different to other countries. There is no real comparative county or state setup. The biggest teams are run by businesses (mainly banks) who don’t invest heavily in grass-roots cricket but can afford to pay the best players. The infrastructure is highly underdeveloped even though the passion for cricket is enormous.
College students organise games literally every day after their lectures finish, 20-30 over games but interestingly (part of the reason they are so good at 20-20 is because this is what they have played for years at a regional and local level) and normally with a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape.
This I find extremely interesting as you can see the influence it has had on their players. It’s part of the reason why so many Pakistani cricketers are excellent hitters of the ball, they are used to very bouncy bowling and it’s also the primary reason they have developed so many good fast bowlers, they all grow up playing every day and learned to swing it with tape balls.
For that they have such an under-developed domestic game they are incredibly good and keep churning out high quality players (Mohammad Aamer for example will be a gun) but we shouldn’t “pity” them, that’s not what they’d want, they’d want acceptance.
It’s understandable people don’t want to go there when the Sri Lankan tour bus gets attacked by terrorists but the country isn’t full of terrorists and people in Aus who still have problems with Moslems who sport beards (believe there are still a LOT) should remember Indonesia – Australia’s favourite holiday destination – is home to the fourth biggest population on earth and the most followers of Islam anwhere in the world and it was HERE that 91 Australian’s were killed by moslem extremists, not Pakistan.
We really need to stop bashing Pakistan.
Dave said | October 8th 2009 @ 5:46am | Report comment
Lets just deal with this now, and let it be over with. So what? We should not be called Aussies? I am sick to death of these do-gooders rapidly increasing bag of delusional ideologies. I don’t care if I offend some poor little political correct soft on. They can suck my Aussie $%^&!!!
Australian=Aussie
English = Pom
Pakistani = Paki
There is nothing racist about this. I Can’t wait to watch the Pakis here this summer. It’s going to be bloody fantastic! For all you Poms that think this is racist, just because you colonised us doesn’t mean we need to colonised by your modern political correctness today. Get over it and find a real issue to worry about, and bring on the Pakis this summer!!!!
PS. What do you call a person from Afghanistan?
Jeff Baxter said | October 8th 2009 @ 8:06am | Report comment
whatever dude im sure you’re a tough guy. i was just shocked to see something in print that i would never see published in the uk, which has something to do with the fact that word in the last 40 years has been mainly used 30 seconds before someone gets their fucking head smashed in.
im glad thats different in aussie land – good on yer but my reaction has nothing to do with political correctness or whatever.
vinay verma said | October 8th 2009 @ 6:41am | Report comment
Kersi..you are a brave man and you have touched on issues that need to be debated. International Cricket needs Pakistan and the West Indies to prosper.
I find Freud’s statements flippant and throwaway lines like “..England sees them as inferior” and “..Of course India hates them” as propogating the stereotypes he himself is critical of.
You are correct that Pakistan’s politicians need to lift their game. Alec Swann has made a perceptive comment about the MP.. Cricketers like Imran Khan and Wasim Akram know too well the divisive nature of Pakistan politics.
India still maintains a dialogue with Pakistan. The dialogue is strained and fragile and there needs to be a strong statement from Pakistan’s cricketers that they are tired of the politics that sees their country marginalised and in many ways isolated.
There is also the vexatious issue of China and their overt and covert support of divisive elements in the subcontinent.
This is the backdrop against which the Pakistan cricketer plys his trade. There is a siege within and siege without. Throw in the USA’s involvement and the picture becomes even more clouded.
Kersi,the fact remains that Pakistan Cricket has given us many wonderful players..Majid, Zaheer,Qadir,Imran and Wasim to name a few. Who can forget Majid saying to Lillee I will give you my sun hat if you can knock it off..that Lillee has the sunhat is part of cricket folklore.
I am looking forward to Pakistan’s visit this summer and hope that cricket is the conversation and not off field issues.
Freud of Football said | October 8th 2009 @ 7:59am | Report comment
Vinay, my comments are far from flippant, look at the history of England as a country – colonisation – need I say more? England hold little regard for Pakistani’s and they are amongst the worst treated minorities in the country. Of the 61 foreign born players that have represented England, 2 are from Pakistan – that is quite damning.
There are supposedly more than 1,000,000 Pakistani’s living in England and they managed to find two out of this demographic to play for England? Even though Pakistan has a production line of talent that you yourself mention is excellent the english can only find 2 players good enough for them?
And my comment regarding India. This isn’t true? I play cricket with a mixture of Pakistani’s and Indians and they get along fine but I’ve raised the issue a couple of times and they all say that the generalisation that the two countries hate each other is true. This isn’t individuals I’m talking about here, as human beings they can co-exist quite well as neither is a particularly confrontational people but the media isn’t individuals, it’s writing as a collective and that is what will see Indians take pot-shots at Pakistani’s.
vinay verma said | October 8th 2009 @ 8:12am | Report comment
FOF..for many Indian and Pakistani families in England or in Australia cricket is not a priority. Making a living and educating their children comes first. This is the main reason for the low percentage of subcontinental cricketers in the England team. The very fact that they are coming through speaks more about the equitable system and not some conspiracy theory.
I disagree with your comments about India..your sampling is hardly conclusive. I also discount a lot of what is written in the media.
Freud of Football said | October 8th 2009 @ 5:19pm | Report comment
Yes Vinay my sampling may not be conclusive but these are for the most part educated types, engineers and students, one who is even studying philosophy and they talk about the issue as it is, not from their own personal point of view but from a cultural and media standpoint.
“This is the main reason for the low percentage of subcontinental cricketers in the England team” – 16/61 of england’s foreign born test players are from India – Two from Pakistan.
It’s got nothing to do with the social situation of the families, on the contrary, if you are poor and your kid is good at sport (We’re talking good enough to play for England for example) you would encourage it as you know this can lead to a very wealthy life, especially immigrants, many feel like this is a way of paying back the country.
Kostya Tszyu was extremely proud to fight for Australia, I remember watching an interview with him and you could tell it wasn’t the drivel of an air-headed sports star, he felt like he was giving back for the opportunity afforded to him.
dasilva said | October 8th 2009 @ 6:20pm | Report comment
“if you are poor and your kid is good at sport (We’re talking good enough to play for England for example) you would encourage it as you know this can lead to a very wealthy life,”
eh..
I’m not too sure if that works that way.
People move from developing countries to developed countries mainly for a better opportunity to life. That they have access to education for their child.
If you are poor family education is the most basic way to move up your socioeconomic status. Now in the developing countries, the poorest don’t have the education infrustructure and opportunities that we do. That’s why you hear about people escaping poverty due to being good at sports in those countries. However when they moved to countries like Australia and England etc, even the poorest hae access to reasonably good schools where opportunities is given to people to exceed academically and become professionals.
To most asian families. Education is the cornerstone of success. Getting high marks at school, going to university and become a professional is the number one aim of most asian migrant family I know. Now if someone has the potential to be good at sports, music, arts etc. It would not be encourage to pursue it as a professional career as they are considered low percentage and risky employment option where many try and only few succeed in that career.
However saying that, I do think that in the next generation or so when they become more assimilated to the culture of the country that you will see more people with asian descent taking up sports as a career option.
Dave1 said | October 8th 2009 @ 5:41pm | Report comment
According to wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_England
Pakistanis make up 825,000 of England’s population that’s only 1.64% of the population That would equal about 1 or 2 players every hundred players.
Therefore, you wouldn’t think they are underrepresented in the English cricket team. In fact they punch above their weight.
Brett McKay said | October 8th 2009 @ 7:35am | Report comment
Kersi the sad reality behind this is that the Pakistan board will have to address the unsubstantiated claims of an MP of it’s own Government. The Govt won’t make the MP back up his claims with some sort of evidence, but the cricket board will be required to investigate the claims. That Younis Khan was very embarrassed about it at the press conference post-match will count for nothing – apparently, he dropped it deliberately.
Perhaps there is something to said about Government control and influence over the cricket board too. I mean, this is hardly the first time politics has had a say on cricket in Pakistan.
We perhaps don’t relaise how good we’ve got it sometimes. I can’t imagine what the outcry would be like in Australia or England if some random poloitician came out with a claim like this…
vinay verma said | October 8th 2009 @ 8:04am | Report comment
Brett..you are correct we dont realise how good we’ve got it here. The closest we had in Australia was when John Howard questioned Murali’s action…hardly diplomatic..irrespective of personal opinions. Younus Khan appears as a forthright individual and is working hard to mould a team in the best spirit of Cricket. He needs to be encouraged.
Brett McKay said | October 8th 2009 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
But Vinay, even in that case, John Howard was just expressing his opinion (and whether diplomatic or not, it would still generate plenty of agreement to this day). He certainly wasn’t demanding Cricket Australia investigate Murali’s action. (Anyway, I say this only as a point of difference – we don’t need to debate Howard’s diplomacy or Murali’s action here. We’ll save that for another day over a glass of red!!)
I heard Younis Khan speaking during his stint last year with SA, and even then he was constantly on about “adding experience” or “helping the young guys”. You’re quite right, he does need to be encouraged, because he’s obviously well aware of his senior role in the game, and how that spirit and experience is passed on. His comments were very impressive..
Hammer said | October 8th 2009 @ 8:19am | Report comment
.. and lets not forget the world press and many commentators and “fans” were very quick to cast suspicion of involvement of the team and more particularly their captain in the death of Woolmer at the Caribbean W/Cup ….
Brian said | October 8th 2009 @ 8:52am | Report comment
Why the assumption they have under-performed? They’ve won a World ODI Cup and World T20 Cup. England and South Africa havn’t won one between them. Name an all-time Pakistani XI and you’ll get a great side.
Kersi Meher-Homji said | October 8th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
I take your challenge, Brian. It’s daunting but here it is, the Best Pakistan team from 1952 to now (in batting order):
Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Mohammad Yousuf, Imtiaz Ahmed (wk), Imran Khan (capt), Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Abdul Qadir.
I know, I know. There are notable omissions: Younis Khan, Khan Mohammad (a fast bowler of 1950s), classy bats Maqsood Ahmed, Mushtaq Mohammad, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Saeed Ahmed, doosra inventer Saqlain Mushtaq, Wasim Bari (wk), Sarfraz Nawaz (a quickie), Shahid Afridi — a certainty for ODIs.
In sheer individual talent, Pakistan could beat any one on their day. Unfortunately, they had many off days. Only Imran Khan could unite them. Too much brilliance, too little grit and glu.
spiro said | October 8th 2009 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
Part of me wants to believe Kersi and the belief that the many incidents that just happen to lose matches for Pakistan are just the ordinary incidents that happen on the cricket field. But … The incidents seem too often to be timely, if a Pakistan defeat is the object of the exercise. The pity of it is, as Kersi’s Best Pakistan team from 1952 demonstrates, some of te greatest cricketers of the modern era have worn the Pakistan colours.
There are two things I’d like to have examined, bearing in mind Alec Swann’s and Freud of Football’s extremely perceptive comments: a detailed, forensic examination of all the ‘incidents’ and their affect on the outcome of the particular match. Second, an explanation for the Pakistan Board of Control getting rid of Geoff Lawson.
The laws of defamation, unfortunately, preclude a deeply-sourced investigation into the ‘incidents’ and until there is a fully documented, no-holds barred investigation, there will always be suspicions about ‘suspicious’ incidents. This is unfortunate as mistakes like dropped catches are part of fabric of cricket. Just ask Herschelle Gibbs (on second thoughts, perhaps we shouldn’t ask him about the dropped catch that lost a World Cup!).