My worst fears have materialized. Some sort of understanding (DEAL!) have been reached between PCB and someone which has resulted in a very unusual decision. A decision by which a banned player has been un-banned for a month and will again be banned after a month. Is it a joke?!! No folks, its Pakistan Cricket!
Obviously the IPL organizers wouldn’t force the PCB to allow this relief for Shoaib mainly because their already successful event doesn’t need a new controversial figure in an unusual way. The KKR team requesting PCB is another unlikely case because they do have Umar Gul in their side. And in any case they can only play 4 international players. With Umar Gul, David Hussey, Hafeez/Butt and Brad Hodge in their line up, it is going to be tough for Shoaib to find a place. Their fast bowling department is good with Ishant Sharma and Umar Gul so it’s interesting to see who’ll miss out.
The PCB earlier requested BCCI to allow Shoaib to participate in IPL (according to media reports). This leads us to believe that the PCB, on one hand is determined to finish off Shoaib, while on the other hand they are keen to avoid a financial loss for him. Contradictory display of behavior, nothing unusual!
So it’s probably the pressure on PCB to release Shoaib Akhtar for IPL. The pressure of public or some political interference for sure, and the uncertainty in handling the case has lead to this decision.
What remains to be seen is how Shoaib Akhtar reacts to the imminent ban. Will he be content to play IPL and serve the ban? Or, will he continue to fight his case with the same vigor? I hope it’s the latter.
Sports
cricket, IPL, pcb, shoaib akhtar
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.
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Sports
ban, cricket, IPL, shoaib akhtar
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.
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Sports
cricket, naseem ashraf, pcb, shoaib akhtar
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