I am compelled to write this piece today because I have got absolutely fed up with the so-called ‘cricket experts’ who have sprung up like mushrooms to invade the media overtime in Pakistan.

They are everywhere, out to champion every cause and criticise just about everything relating to our cricket. These ‘experts’ mostly comprise the ex-cricketers who barely have a couple of Tests or just half a dozen ODIs to their name.

However, they see it as their birth right to pass judgments and run down all things good done by either the Pakistan Cricket Board or by any other body or individual for the game.

The worst part is that more often than not, these ‘experts’ are taking jibes at some of the finest and more experienced players and officials who have served Pakistan cricket with their life and blood.

They desperately want to get heard or noticed, no matter how senseless they may sound. I wish a survey of some sort could be conducted to show just how irritating they can be at times for the viewers and the readers.

It is also true that while most of these ex-players have remained under-achievers throughout their careers, they forever long for a position or a lucrative job in the Board or with the team. And when they finally chance upon one, all ills in Pakistan cricket are suddenly behind them. For a majority of these ‘experts’, it takes less than a minute to switch loyalties at such times and there are countless such examples in our cricket.

To all these experts and ex-cricketers, I would like to say that enough is enough. If you have nothing positive to do or say for Pakistan cricket, kindly spare us the rant. You have had your stints and you have not done greatly, I am sorry. So don’t needlessly pick on those who are trying to do some constructive work and making efforts to take Pakistan cricket ahead.

In the end I would like to congratulate PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan and his team for their resolve to set things right.

I wish them all the best and pray for the national team to do well in the upcoming series against Australia.

The writer is a former first-class cricketer and organiser

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...
Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...