Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan

“Afridi’s ball biting instincts have given the cricket world lots to talk and think about in recent times. That is exactly what you want from a Pakistan captain. His predecessors had their own way of grabbing attention but he came up with this unique thing no one could have ever wondered about.

He certainly is a strong candidate for Pakistan captaincy since he beats both Shoaib and Younis in creating controversy. Controversy is the hall mark of Pakistan cricket. Once cannot really blame the Pakistanis. They have been deprived of international cricket; IPL franchises don’t want their cricketers. Their domestic is a mess with all guns blazing at the cricket board. Someone needed to do something different and Afridi perhaps did it in his very own way.”

These were the remarks of one of our fans on the recent Afridi debacle. However, I feel we need to look at the bigger picture since the issue really is the future of Pakistan Cricket team. There have been so many views from all corners including past players, politicians, general public regarding what needs to be done to change the course of cricket in Pakistan. The solutions ranging from changing of captain to dropping players to changing the cricket board chairman. Some would go as far as saying that cricket shall be banned from Pakistan. Frankly speaking, every such thing has been tried. The results are always on the negative side. It is also notable that every former cricketer believes there is lot of talent in Pakistan; only the problem that the system needs better organizers. I believe there is one aspect that everyone is missing out in all this discussion. There seems to be a wide spread lack of discipline amongst the current cricketing lot. To me, this lack of discipline is something that needs to be taken seriously and dealt with.

This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by .

Its been an exciting ten days in the world of Pakistani cricket. Sometimes I just hope for a quiet ten days, where all that happens is a few matches, where the performance is at par, we make a few comments about individual players’ roles in the team, and then we move on!

First, Pakistan teased us with winning the first ODI against Sri Lanka. The bowlers, and the batsmen, and even Shoaib Malik at that, teased us with what they were capable of. Exciting strokeplay, tight, incisive bowling and swift and deliberate captaincy. Yet, all that only lasted for the first match. Everything quickly devolved into the disaster which was the third ODI in Lahore, where we were suddenly all out in the 70s, one of Pakistan’s lowest scores of all time. How fitting that the Prime Minister had to be there to share in the sorrow of the team and its fans.

In Pakistani cricket fortunes rise and fall with the sun. While only a few days ago I wrote about the myriad challenges being faced by Mohammad Asif, it now appears that Ijaz Butt, PCB Chairman, has all but mandated that Asif will be making a comeback and soon.

Suddenly, a drug arrest in Dubai, is a “minor” incident. Only in Pakistan can the Chairman of the PCB wash away a problem like this, with a casual comment. Asif has many problems, and as a young man he needs to sort them out. Give the man some time. Plus, does he just walk back into the squad? Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul and Rao Iftikhar seem to be doing pretty well. Sohail Khan and Azhar Ali are knocking on the door. Does an unfit Asif who hasn’t played competitive cricket for a year have a place in the squad?

This article at Cricket Bloggers of Pakistan has been composed by Ahmer Karimuddin.

Mohammad Asif finds himself in quite a pickle. Since the IPL drugs issue, and the arrest in Dubai, he is really seen the lows of a sporting life. From being one of the most feared bowlers on the world scene, his stock has rapidly fallen.

Crossposted to ahmerazhar.blogspot.com
He finds himself out of a central contract with the PCB, an uncertain cricketing future until the IPL resolves his drugs issue, and no current cricket income. If this article is to be believed, he has lost his home, his car and is currently in dire financial straits.

It appears that the IPL has not paid Asif for his services with the Delhi Daredevils in the first iteration of the IPL. There is much speculation that due to his positive drug test, the Delhi Daredevils will choose not to pay him until the IPL board hears the case and makes a final recommendation.