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The year 2008 will be one of the busiest in the history of Pakistan cricket, with three major events — Asia Cup, ICC Champions Trophy and the India home series — set to be staged on home turf.

Our Test and One-day International records in recent years are fairly unimpressive and, in fact, need some solid, swift measures to bring them at par with the top sides.

Pakistan have not really fired against teams like Australia and South Africa and India, even England, in recent years which is a shame given the potential of our teams and players.

An in-dept analysis into the chequered performances of the Pakistan cricket team brings forth one distinct factor that has been hugely responsible for the inconsistent displays at international level. It seems that far too many off-field incidents have afflicted Pakistan cricket and the controversies and setbacks have seldom allowed the game to take centre stage in recent years.

The latest row to rock the game in the country is the five-year ban imposed on maverick pacer Shoaib Akhtar by the Pakistan Cricket Board. It has not just sent the tongues wagging but is likely to dent the Pakistan preparations for the tough year ahead.

But if the temperamental paceman, now 32, has jeopardised his international career by being a brash, loud-mouthed, undisciplined cricketer in all these years, the unwanted string of incidents following the PCB disciplinary committee’s ban verdict has also divided the opinions of the game’s admirers. An ardent but confused Pakistan fan has the right to ask who is right; the board’s disciplinary committee for imposing the lengthy ban or the Rawalpindi Express who is blaming the PCB officials of settling personal scores against him?

However, based upon Shoaib’s typically chequered profile, one feels that time might be running out fast for him. After being banned, the enigmatic express bowler has further spoiled his case by making allegedly defamatory comments about the PCB chief, prompting Dr Nasim Ashraf to file a Rs200 million damages claim against the speedster.

Shoaib also erred badly when he declared that he was offered money to throw matches in South Africa and India, inviting the wrath of the ICC’s Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) which is expected to grill him over the sensitive matter. His IPL contract too it appears, is in the doldrums after the ban.

One feels that even if the appellate tribunal overturns the ban, Shoaib will not be feeling comfortable if he returns to the team since the 46-Test veteran has reopened the highly contentious chapter of match-fixing once again.

Regardless of one’s genuineness in the case, the prudence demands precise verbal expressions and had Shoaib not made match-fixing offers public, he could expect some respite from the board and his team-mates later on. But now, in case of his comeback, the situation may lead to further chaos as some of his teammates may question his integrity and motives.

Handling of the affair hitherto by the PCB top brass, who should have nipped Shoaib’s wayward attitude in the bud much earlier, can be termed acceptable while looking at the entire scenario.

The former players, cricket administrators and fans, however, have shown mixed reactions over Shoaib’s ban which is understandable given some silly mistakes committed by the PCB in the past over disciplinary issues.

International stars like Dennis Lillee and Sarfraz Nawaz had attitude problems too but their captains and boards handled them astutely and appropriately. Also, less strict ICC regulations and limited media coverage at that point of time might kept several things under the wraps. Several current players have attitude problems and a few drawbacks as well, but Shoaib’s ‘uncontrollable’ run of offences is unprecedented in the cricketing annals and is certainly no secret in this age of information.

When the country’s dignity is at risk, some tough decisions need to be taken. Pakistan cricket needs to set a good example for the sake of lifting the game and morality — for the contemporary players and for the generations to follow.

For this, a huge responsibility lies on the PCB and on Shoaib himself, although it’s probably a bit late for him to realize that. But all said and done, both must decide to opt for the right path, once and for all, to rid Pakistan cricket of the damaging rows and to ensure the bright future ahead.