Shoaib's Verdict and More
The appellate tribunal has decided, or rather clarified, that the 5-year ban on Shoaib Akhtar will stay. Interestingly, they pointed out that the ban is for his cricket in Pakistan. In other words, he cannot play for/in Pakistan for the next 5 years. The need for this explicit statement may have strong implications.
Playing abroad at this moment certainly means the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL). As a huge fan of the conspiracy theory, I’m tempted to believe that something happened during the hearings that led to this clarification. Some sort of settlements that Shoaib may be given a chance to play in the IPL while keeping him away from the local scene (forever). But if Shoaib accepts this decision, goes to participate in the IPL and doesn’t appeal in the higher courts then all his claims of playing for nation and not for money will be immediately refuted. Whether IPL organizers allow him to participate or not, is a different issue.
The local media however reported conflicting news about Shoaib’s participation at IPL. Some said that IPL organizers have refused while others claimed that the PCB has requested BCCI to allow Akhtar to participate. This point alone will decide what the tribunal’s hearing and decisions were based on and what Shoaib Akhtar really fought for.
Shoaib Akhtar has once again mishandled his case. He was probably inspired by the lawyers’ movement in the country. Getting support of people (with mostly politicians) didn’t help his case either. The chairman of the sports commitee in the Senate, Mr. Anwar Baig and Dr. Nasim Ashram (PCB chairman) have had a sour past and their recent meetings weren’t any better. So trying to get that political support against Dr. Nasim Ashraf wasn’t a good move by any means. Additionally, spilling dirt in public was a foolish act in itself.
I have never defended Shoaib Akhtar’s adventures. What I believe is that he was never punished timely and used whenever needed. This is where I fault the board and disagree with their decision of banning him (almost for life) now. They have collected all his misdeeds from the start of his career and made a decision. But history shows that the acts for which he is being punished, were also performed by some others and they escaped them nicely.
Just as an example, Shoaib Akhtar hitting Mohammad Asif was similar to Inzamam pushing Younis Khan on WC tour, but in the latter case no one was sent back, neither banned nor faced disciplinary action.
Talking of Younis Khan, how many times does he escape?? He got angry at something and pulled himself off the BD tour for two matches. The board hardly complained!! He refused captaincy twice at public events, no complaints there either!
The PCB should use the same yardstick for all its players. While I feel Shoaib Akhtar still deserves to be allowed to play but should be punished harshly in some other way. The man running the board should quit, and the PCB should function under the Sports Ministry and directly under the patronage of the President, who at all times happens to be a guy battling it out at the political front.