In this post, Teeth Maestro refutes my (and to some extent, Omar’s) argument that Shoaib Akhtar should play on the Pakistan team based on performance and not personality. His point is that Shoaib’s unruliness and disregard for authority splinters the Pakistan team, generating a lack of discipline and unity.
As usual, I have something to say about this.
First, I agree completely that a side needs to be, as Mr. Maestro puts it, a “coherent organization”. But one rogue character does not an incoherent organization make. There are far worse things for our team’s collective coherence than Shoaib. Nasim Ashraf is one of these things. His shady dealings with Waqar and the doping scandal, for example, must surely have divided opinion among the players, and can hardly be considered good for team spirit or morale. Why blame Shoaib for the team’s lack of discipline as a unit, when the management’s divisiveness is so painfully blatant?
Mr. Maestro also argues that Inzi and Woolmer should have all the power to administer the team. I agree, but implicit in his statement is an assumption that without Shoaib’s antics, they would have this power. This is naïve. It is a well-known fact that the PCB clings firmly to the reigns of power in Pakistan cricket. Removing Shoaib is not going to change that.
On another note, perhaps there is another side to the Shoaib story that we are not seeing. Why is Shoaib so frustrated as to be perpetually fighting with Woolmer? It seems nobody is sparing a thought for the way the management may have been treating him. Sure, he is aggressive by nature, but at least some of his actions must be provoked. Quiet provocation by Woolmer and/or the PCB may be less obvious to the naked eye, but isn’t it possible there may be something in it that is going unnoticed?
Shoaib is our best bowler, and every effort should be made to accommodate him in every game we play. Does nobody find it at all surprising that this is not happening? That he is, in fact, being discouraged from playing, through a combination of childish he-said-she-saids? These shady reports about how he is “also carrying a knee injury” and is therefore “not guaranteed” to play in the World Cup are suspicious and need to be investigated, instead of just saying: “Well, he was an arrogant prick anyway, so good riddance.”
The PCB exists to protect the players’ interests, not undermine them, and certainly not to conduct personal feuds with them. When the latter starts to happen, it is time for us to demand an explanation. We should support our players, rather than the crooks that run their careers into the ground.
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cross-posted at billu.net
This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by Billu.net .
Last few posts by billu
- a tale of two pities - March 5th, 2007
- Shoaib, Asif to Get Complete Transfusion from Razzaq's Blood - February 28th, 2007
- michael holding is a choot - February 23rd, 2007
- Can you be the next Pakistani opener? - February 20th, 2007
- in most awesome fashion - February 8th, 2007
I am sorry for being so late in responding to this post but it seems the theme we had installed suddenly started acting up, finally we have sorted out all the issues.
I feel Shoaib is a nuisance in a well disciplined team, its like a classroom, when a teacher has everyone under control to the extent of doing progress but when a rouge student joins the pack it sends things into pure disarray, even if he happens to be the brightest of the lot but it surely hinders the performance of others. So its a toss up to either have a fully committed and fully concentrated team fighting for each run during the world cup OR have a distracted team worrying about internal rifts and back biting throughout the series. Id take an organised unit anytime.
Teeth, thanks for the comment.
I agree that it is very likely that Shoaib plays the part of the unruly kid in the class. But, ttaking your analogy forward, I believe it takes a good teacher to control an unruly child. I’d rather the teacher improved than remove the brightest kid in school.
But I feel our opinion may remain divided on this…
Teeth, why are we in a constant quest for well-disciplined team? A team that behaves itself is not really in our best interests.
We are geting too swayed by Shoaib’s personal rollercoaster life. Why does he need to conform to ideals set by others?
Cricket may be a ‘team sport’, but is it really? When Shoaib is charging down the pitch, does the ’support’ of his team enable him to reverse the ball quicker? I’ve always had an issue with cricket being called a team sport, because its really not.
When Shoaib or anyone, has the ball in their hands, its their ability versus the guy holding the bat. The rest of the ‘team’ just need to catch the ball. Farhat, however, is excused from this requirement…
A cricket team, unlike some other team sports, is judged by the sum of the players individual talents….The most cohesive unit is not necessarily the best
damn i noticed these comments quite late. It makes me look like as if i stole something from your comments
.
this was what i wrote earlier.
Hmm i dont agree with you over here. People tend to let success go over their head at times. They tend to act arrogant and that affects morale. Cricket is a team sport and not an individualistic (is that even a word?)sport such as tennis or golf. The morale of the team should be high and everyone should work together. Shoaib’s attitude does not reflect well on the team. If he is allowed to act like his arrogant self then he turns into a monster. An effort has to made on both sides but then i guess its impossible to deal with difficult people. Shoaib should get a reality check. He should remember that his cricket career will be over in a few years and that he needs to tone down his behavior or life post-cricket wont be a bed of roses. He will be best known as a has-been.
Mr. President PCB:-
You had already seen the bad performance of Pakistani team against a weak batting side South African team. This is all because of poor coaching, poor captaincy and poor temperament of all players.
Sir I have some suggestions for our team to do better in ODI series and World Cup.
1. Coaching:-
This is the right time to good bye Woolmer, give him coaching in club cricket until his contract ends. Intihab Alam is right choice for coaching. I have already asked in my previous letter about him. Sir, he will improve the standard of batting till World Cup.
2. Bowling Coach:-
Sir Sarfraz Nawaz will be right choice for bowling coach at that time because he will improve the standard of fast bowling and he already improved the bowling action of some players.
3. Assistant Coach:-
Sir Abdul Qadir a great leg spinner, should be the bowling coach because he will improve the standard of spin bowling and he is more experience than Mustaq Ahmed. He is also a good student of game.
4. Team Selection for ODI series:-
Sir, our openers totally failed in test series their technique of batting is not up to the mark. Sir, they should be given rest. Salman Butt who has 4 centuries in ODIs and he also score a big hundard against West Indies in side match should be given chance for at least two matches. If Imran Nazir, Sohaib Malik and Yasir Hameed are totally fit then give rest to Hafiz to improve his batting technique and give them chance according to merit of pitch.
Sir in bowling we need Mohammad Irshad, Samiullah Niazi and Rana Naveed Asif.
Sir Mohammad Irshad is much better than Sami. Samiullah Niazi is better than Rao Iftihar who is medium pacer. If Sohaib and Gul are not fully fit then these bowlers should be given chance.
I am saying again Sami,s bowling technique is not up to the mark that’s why he is so inconsistent bowler.
Sir I am writing the possible best Squad, Please took your serious attention on it.
1. Salman Butt with backup Imran Nazir
2. Sohaib Malik with backup Yasir Hameed
3. Younis Khan
4. Mohammad Yousaf.
5. Inzmam-ul-Haq
6. Kamran Akmal
7. Abdul Razzaq with backup Shahid Afridi.
8. Abdul Rehman
9. Mohammad Irshad with backup Sohaib(if he is fit)
10. Rana Naveed with backup Umar Gul(if he is fit)
11. Mohammad Asif with backup Shabir Ahmed.
Sir this is the best possible 17 player’s squad. I am taking the name of Irshad because his bowling pace is almost equal to Bratt Lee and he will useful in South Africa. Sir, Misbah-ul-Haq from A team can be send if you want to give rest to any of senior Player like Inzi.
Sir this is the improrant thing, please forward it to Inzi and Yousaf.
Their batting technique is totally judge by South African bowlers and that’s why they bowl them in swinger or in dipper. The best way to survive this ball is that stand 5 or 6 inches away from crease to minimize the swing and then they will easily defend the ball. Yasir Hameed have problem when he play drive in off side. It is better to leave the ball. If you want to play drive then play it near to your body not away from your body with good footwork. This is actually a technique for every batsman.
Sir, only new coach can improve the basic technique of some players. Woolmer is not faithful to his job. That’s why we lost test series.
Sir for world cup we need some more players in squad.
Mohammad Rauf bowler
Samiullah Bowler
Riffatullah Batsman
Shahid Yousaf Batsman
Azhar Mehmood Batsman
Mohammad Fayaz Batsman
Hassan Raza Batsman
Sir I hope you will take my suggestions seriously.
With Regards!
Adeel Qayyum.