September 29, 2002	Sunday	Rajab 21, 1423

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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is caught up in two minds. On the one hand it believes in birth and rebirth and on the other it has a complex for foreign mercenaries and is averse to ‘Made in Pakistan’.

As far the birth and rebirth is concerned, PCB’s track record proves that everyone who has been sacked by the present board is rehired in one capacity or the other.

Take the case of Mudassar Nazar who was appointed coach of the National Academy and then made coach of the national team. Now after failing to prove his calibre he has been relieved of his duties and once again sent back to the Academy.

Similarly, it has re-hired out of job Richard Pybus for the third term with no track record on a salary reported to be staggering Ł1500/- which comes to roughly 1,40,000/- per day for almost six months.

The total sum which will be paid to him till the World Cup will come about Rupees two and a half crores and that too in precious foreign exchange which is a substantial sum for a third world country living on borrowed money.

Why thus huge sum is being spent on the cricket team which in it’s 50-year history has won the World Cup in 1992 under Imran Khan with hundred percent “Made in Pakistan” label.

The PCB it is reported has decided to relieve it’s media manager Khalid Butt, for his unsatisfactory performance but he has been retained by the board for some other assignment despite the fact that the PCB Chief, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, himself acknowledged his inefficiency at a Press conference in Lahore.

Similarly Sikander Bakht, is appointed one day as an analyst and then sacked and then again re-appointed Assistant Coach and Analyst.

Pybus in a press statement, has categorically said that Pakistan should not set it’s eyes only on the World Cup. His statement reads “Pakistan must not make any knee jerk decision so close to the World Cup. Any issues must be worked through and resolved, keeping in mind that the central goal isn’t just to win the World cup, but to be the best side in the world.”

Pybus’s intentions are clear. He has come with a long term plan as he has summarily put off the World Cup whereas the fact is that PCB has hired him exclusively for winning the World Cup.

One hopes that the PCB has not given Pybus any wrong impression as the country just cannot afford to engage anyone specially a non-qualified man on such a fabulous salary.

The selection of the Pakistan team for the three Test series against Australia has shocked the followers of the form when some astonishing omissions and inclusions were made by the PCB.

In the absence of seasoned campaigners Saeed Anwar, Inzamamul Haq, Yousuf Youhana and Waseem Akram the selection committee discarded Shahid Afridi, one of the brightest stars of the modern era and sent in totally new faces against Australians the most professional team in the cricketing world.

Twenty-two year old Shahid Afridi made his Test debut in 1998 against Australia in Karachi and played his last Test against New Zealand in May 2002. In his 14 Test appearances he scored 780 runs with an average of 32.50 with two centuries and four 50’s. He said taken 21 wickets at an average of 31.4 runs per wicket. In his maiden Test appearance he also had the distinction of taking five wickets for 52 runs.

Over and above that he is a better fielder than any of the new selectees. In addition, Shahid has the experience of playing 164 one-days since 1996. He has so far accumulated 3783 runs in instant cricket and has taken 118 wickets at an average of 39.02.

How come, he was not selected. The only thing which goes against Shahid Afridi is that he did not have the support of the team captain who one really does not know whether was consulted or not.

If fairness is anything, Bazid Khan, son of Majid Khan, former Pakistan captain, should also have been sent to Colombo as he scored 59 runs against Sri Lanka ‘A’ in the second Test which was a better score than all those who have been sent to Colombo.

And the best thing is that Bazid who is a middle order batsman was sent at No 8, which was just shocking and questioned the credibility of the team management.

Some people may have some problem with Majid but it does not mean that his son should be made the target. It is against the national interest and those who are involved in such acts keep their interest first and national interest secondary.

Another player who has been ignored is Azhar Mahmood who should have been picked keeping the World cup in mind and his experience of playing both the versions of the game with creditable performance. If he has been struggling it was the best time to induct him in the Test team so that he could regain his confidence.

The selectors have no idea or one can say that they have no say whatsoever in the selection of the team. Suppose any newcomer performs well in Test cricket will it qualify him for automatic selection in the World Cup squad. Both the games are different, and the PCB should know that Steve Waugh has come back to lead the Australian Test side and he is not yet sure of earning a berth in the World Cup team.

One can only draw the conclusion that in the present PCB setup only ‘Yes Men’ can survive and if anybody talks of principles, practices and traditions he is shown the door.

Never before has there been so much interference in team selection and it is only because, the Chairman of the Selection Committee, Waseem Bari has failed and has compromised for reasons best known to him. It is only his weakness which is harming the country’s cricket. Can Bari justify selection of paceman Mohammad Zahid who is still not hundred per cent fit.