To have some, you've to lose some

The cricketing career for Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif has got an end, and similarly it won't be easy for Muhammad Amir to have a comeback after 5 years By the time I'm writing all this, since my last post, things still messed up for EG, Kolkata and their first match of the cricket world cup is shifted to Chinaswammy Stadium, Bangalore, but a similar sorta debacle came for Pakistan yesterday when the suspended Pakistani trio, Salman Butt, Muhammad Asif and Muhammad Amir were penalized for 10, 7 and 5 years suspension respectively, which means that Salman Butt and Muhammad Asif's career has got an end, because a 10 year and 7 year suspension sentence means they can't participate in any kind of registered cricketing event for that time period. On a personal note, I favour this suspension, because literally as I conveyed the same message to my fellow colleagues in my working place and in my university that at least it showed us the points and aspects where we lagging, like disciplinary, managerial, controlling, planning etc (it seems I am studying the basis of managerial studies once), and the result of which is the Doha Verdict in which the trio was suspended. Although according to my standards, they were penalized leniently, else i was expecting and wanting them to be suspended for life including Muhammad Amir else it'll convey a negative message to the youngsters that they can get the benefit of doubt every time they commit something stupid. Secondly it also exposed our Cricket Board which wasn't supporting them at all. It meant that the board was also involved in it or at least knew about all this fishy stuff. Why am I saying like that? Flashbacking to Pakistan's tour to England where all this thing erupted, in the second test where Zulqarnain Haider saved Pakistan from a humiliating Inning Defeat margin, they (the PCB Management) couldn't control them and Haider was able to gather information about staying in London while having immunity, now he's utilizing those information and now blackmailing the PCB and Pakistani Government in security threats, as if he is a super star in Pakistan. I don't think he even close to Kamran Akmal's stature to be having life-threats. Blah Blah Blah Everyone knows the educational standard here in Pakistan, where Karachi and Lahore are having SOME educational institutes where emphasis on personal grooming is given, but those who belong to rural localities of Pakistan, don't have such privileges, minus Zulqarnain Haider from it, like we say in Urdu دیڑھ ہوشیار بننا. So its useless to even brag about it. What I feel? What I personally feel when you wear a green shirt with the word Pakistan embossed alongwith the PCB emblem, we should respect that instead of playing personal sinister games. Before having a comeback into Pakistan National Side, Muhammad Asif was already penalized for having drugs and had lifetime ban of entering into UAE because of it. No player is indispensable, at that time we should have start looking for young slot instead of having such a monopolistical influence of these players, if we had moved that way, things must have been on a track. Following are some of the extracts from the former Pakistani players on eve of this controversy. What they said? Iqbal Qasim believes the investigation has shown up the inefficiency in the Pakistan board. "To gain an honest system, and have unquestionable integrity, you have to lose something and players come and go - this will be a momentary loss for Pakistan cricket." Rashid Latif is confident that the verdict will be to the benefit of Pakistan cricket in the long run. "The ICC had decided to give punishments to the players because there was too much pressure on them to curb fixing. It's an important day for world cricket and very sad for Pakistan. Amir and Asif are a huge loss." Former PCB chief Arif Abbasi supports the tribunal's verdict. "Amir can still make a comeback because he has age on his side, but it is good for him to learn his lesson at this stage." Former ICC president Ehsan Mani believes Amir can serve his ban and return to the highest level. "The important things with any punishment for those sorts of things is that it sends a very strong message to people that might be tempted to do it in the future... that if you do it then your career is going to be substantially reduced if not completely destroyed." England captain Andrew Strauss agrees the punishments can serve as a deterrent

We arent to blame for Kolkata debacle - BCCI

We arent to blame for Kolkata debacle - BCCI

Indian board blames ICC for Kolkata debacle

Indian board blames ICC for Kolkata debacle

A new captaincy roes about to errupt

By the time I am writing all this after a long time, I remember my last post on the new years eve and since than like all MBA students, I've been busy making assignments and creating presentations and so had to take a break from blogging for time being. But the current issue which is raising itself from the ashes is Pakistan's captaincy roes which is already at its peak when less than mere 30 days remaining for the prestigious trophy tournament to be held in the South Asia, which as you all know gonna be shared by India, Sri Lanka and for the first time, Bangladesh.As we all know, Kiwis were successful in breaking the flock of 11 scalps against the Bangladeshis and later India, by beating Pakistan with the heavy and comprehensive margin of 9 wickets in the opening of the six match series, giving Kiwis an increment in ICC ODI points table as well as Kiwis won the match in extraordinary time, with majority balls to spare and with losing only one wicket, and this series is also be the penultimate tournament just before the Cricket World Cup, and before the start of the second ODI to be played on Wednesday the 26th, Kiwis have the added advantage over Pakistan, who literally bulldozed the hosts in the two match test series, were looking in pathetic position, Whatever I saw in the yesterday match Misbah ul-Haq was looking more interactive with the players compared to Afridi who was boasting a new hairstyle but it was of no use, as I feel he slept at the wrong end of the bed a night before the first ODI, else pitch looked like a South Asian bread coloured belter, but Kiwi medium pacers were too much for the men in parrot green jerseys. What's and Where's the Problem all lies??? What I feel, the problem lies with many problems making their way by swiveling with each other, which is halting their progress to the Cricket World Cup. The Captain for the CWC isn't announced yet along-with the announcement made for players who're supposed to be playing for CWC. If reports are to believed true, than Mr. Butt already have decided the player who'll be skippering the side for the prestigious tournament but only trying to keep the suspense and interest of the newsmen to get the share of theirs from all this. I am not taking side of anyone but whatever I saw on ground yesterday, and as I mentioned above, interaction of Misbah with players more than Afridi was a big suspicion, as his (Misbah) gestures clearly showed that he was well confident of whatever happening all around him, and so most likely he's gonna be the best contender to be announced as the person who'll be captaining the side. Because of the Musical Chair Game, which we used to play when we were in Kindergartens, similar sorta game is being played by Uncle with a big Butt with Pakistani Cricket Team, and so when Afridi's position isn't safe as captain so why his fellow team members will be following his command? Unlike Cricket Australia who's pretty constant with their decisions, they had refused Steve Waugh's request to have Nathan Hauritz's debut against Pakistanis in Pakistan's Home-Test-Series played at PSS Oval, Colombo, Sri Lanka, saying it's our job to select who to play and who to not, else Hauritz who was a youngster that time according to Aussie standards, but still centralization and unity of command can be seen there not here. Commonly we also don't follow the commands of those whose position himself not permanent. So when all these things are going on with Pakistan Cricket, so how and where in the world are we expecting Pakistan Cricket Team to revert the past 2 outings in the Cricket World Cups where they didn't cross the preliminary round of their group? In my language, its a sick man's old joke to even think that Pakistan will cross the preliminary round barrier. A group which is possessed by Australia, Sri Lanka and Kiwis as some of the mainstream teams in Pakistan's group. I am seeing the similar sorta situation with Pakistan which hailed on the eve of 2003 Cricket World Cup in African continent where Pakistan was lucky enough to enter the CWC while playing in Africa already, plus having the services of two W's, a great opener in Saeed Anwar, Shoaib Akhtar who was in great form and pace that time, but still Pakistan wasn't able to cross the preliminary round barrier that time as the similar sorta confusion was hailed as its right now as at the last moment the crown of skippering the side was honoured to Waqar Younis ignoring Wasim Akram who was initially rated as the person who'd be skippering the side, and what happened? We all know and no need to get ourselves remembering the pain we already beared, and now 8 years later, this nation is still hopeful for the guys in parrot green to do the same what these guys did under the captaincy of Imran Khan, 19 years ago. But like its said, everyday is not a Sunday, I am not expected greats from this team. It'll be a win for these guys if they cross the barrier they aren't able to cross in their last outings in the ICC Cricket World Cup. Who're having more chances to win this tournament? This time I feel its Even Stevens for all full fledged ICC Member Teams participating. We might have a new winner in this tournament, but still we can't sideline the hosts of this tournament, Sri Lanka and India to be more precise, but one can't underestimate Australia and England as well. The way Aussies are playing their post-ashes ODI series against the Ashes 2010-11 winners, who already have almost a win-win series against English by having a 3-0 series advantage, is threatening for other teams playing in this tournament, as Aussies are the only team in South Asia who have a good track-record in South Asian tracks when it comes to Non-Asian Teams. South Africa would love to shred the label of chokers by doing good in an ICC tournament, the only far they went in an ICC headed tournament is when they won ICC Knock Out tournament in Bangladesh back in 1998 [citation required] and than in 1999 Cricket World Cup where because of Klusener's heroics they managed to cement their place in the semis not further that. But my probable for this time who've a better chance to be part of Quarter Finals: India Sri Lanka England South Africa Australia Kiwis might able to go further into Quarter-Finals as they've much better track record against Pakistan in ICC hosted tournaments, we can't forget the wounds of 2010 ICC World T20, 2009 ICC CT Semi Finals and than in 2006 ICC CT group match between both teams. So Kiwis have far better chance to crawl into Quarters. Foot-note Being a Pakistani I'd loved to like the Pakistani Nation, would like Pakistan to gain some respect in this tournament but its not possible, when the team, and team's head isn't stable yet. I can't do anything except keeping my fingers crossed. Peace!