Shame on you, Dr. Naseem Ashraf!
Perhaps not a surprise, but definitely a disappointing and disturbing decision by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made it to the News Alerts and Breaking News of all TV channels today when the PCB chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf announced that Shoaib Akhtar (along with some others) will not be offered the central contracts. He tried to pacify some feelings by adding that “the players not given central contracts have been given special retainers and if they show commitment and form they can come back into the team after a year.” This probably marks the end of Shoaib Akhtar’s shadowy career who is struggling with fitness issues at the age of 32. And the end for him isn’t different from the treatment that most of the other superstars of Pakistan have received (recently, and in the past) from a board packed with a bunch of non-cricketing toons handed over the job for their managerial skills.
The decision wasn’t a surprise because Dr. Ashraf has never kept his dislike for Akhtar in secrecy. He has always come out openly in public and press against Akhtar’s disciplinary and personal issues, and barring all other players of the team even to talk to the media without prior permission. He has always been critical of Shoaib Akhtar’s fitness issues, commitment and performances.
It is perhaps a shame, that a person of such high esteem in the field of medicine criticizes Akhtar for congenital fitness issues that have haunted him throughout his turbulent career, despite being well-versed in medical sciences.
Doubting the commitment of the Rawalpindi Express has been one of Dr. Ashraf’s incessant press activities. During and after the recent tour of India he has been vocal on this on numerous occasions overlooking the fact that in the test matches it was only Shoaib Akhtar who looked like a bowler, a professional and a wicket-taker for Pakistan, a fact that all cricket fans can testify. Not only that, Shoaib continued to play in the test matches despite carrying injuries. There were other bowlers who couldn’t even take a part on the tour due to injuries such as Umar Gul, no one criticized him (and rightly so). There seems to be some personal dislike involved in the case of Shoaib Akhtar.
With 178 test wickets and 219 ODI wickets with low economy, average and strike rates no one in the cricketing world (who understands cricket) can ever doubt his performances. The ability to turn matches single-handedly, as possessed by Akhtar, can hardly be seen in any of bowlers in the present lot.
Its time that Dr. Ashraf should concentrate on his own job rather than making derisive comments against others and eventually making a mockery out of Pakistan cricket. Dr. Ashraf’s cricketing experience is only 3 first-class matches with a duck on debut. Riding on his close friendship with the most powerful man in Pakistan, President Musharraf, he continues to mould Pakistan cricket to his liking and ability. Instead of doubting someone’s commitment and ability to deliver, perhaps Dr. Ashraf should ponder upon his decisions and ability to lead the PCB, which the whole nation doubts.
Another decision that came in as a surprise was the promotion of Misbah-ul-Haq to the vice-captaincy. He has made a mockery of the vice-captaincy position as well, first handing it over to Mohammad Asif for a series, followed by Salman Butt, Younis Khan and now Misbah. This is an outrageous decision for another reason. The objective and wisdom of this decision cannot be understood. Vice-captains are supposed to be those guys who can nourish their leadership skills and take over when the captain steps aside. Misbah, who is young in the team but the eldest by age, isn’t likely to stay for long. And even if age is not taken into consideration, what has Mohammad Yousuf done that he doesn’t even deserve a say despite being the best player in the team? Again, personal issues taking preference.
The categorization in the new central contracts is also leaves some questions and doubts. Salman Butt, who was suddenly made the vice-captain earlier, has retained a category B contract despite proving himself to be inept to take the top slot. He has failed to impress and deliver and still keeps his place intact. Mohammad Asif retains category A contract having been injured last year, are these really based on performances? If so, past or current? This is again in contrast to Shoaib Akhtar’s case who has been thrown out of the scene even after taking part in cricket. Fast bowlers are prone to injuries when it comes to Umar Gul and Mohd. Asif, but for Akhtar there is a different scale. Being a doctor himself, Dr. Ashraf should have done something about that, given the issue relates to his profession. Having not dont anything about it, atleast have the courage to accept responsibilty.
Earlier in his tenure, he was also the centre of dispute with the former bowling coach Waqar Younis whose abilities were finally being used for the betterment of Pakistani bowlers. He ended that stint in his particular style as well by laying the blame on Waqar Younis.
The issue of Indian Cricket League isn’t old yet. The way Inzamam-ul-Haq was treated, how Abdul Razzaq was forced to leave and the current legal tangle of Mohd. Yousuf are all the the gifts of Dr. Ashraf.
Retaining Shoaib Malik as the captain for the test team as well is yet another decision that shows his disability and inability to understand cricket. Making someone captain of the test team where his place in the team is a question mark therefore keeps someone more deserving out of the team.
Despite all these and more, the ouster of Shoaib Akhtar has hurt me the most. I don’t know for how many more years will he continue to ruin the cricket on the back of friendship with the President. It’s time to be quiet and quit doc! We don’t need your services and skills in cricket. Thank you for destroying the already fragile structure of Pakistan cricket.