ONE of the most poignant points of the Pakistani cricket team, throughout the World Cup was their contrasting body language. Be it net practice or an important tie, there just wasn’t a feeling of all for one and one for all.
In the match, when the strategy, whatever it was, began to fall apart, there was no back slapping and encouragement. No huddling together of seniors on a regular basis to discuss a change in plans and no senior player taking the initiative to walk up to the captain.
It all points to a conclusion that the cricketers who went to the World Cup may have been sincere to Pakistani colours, but were clearly not focused on the singular objective of winning the Cup.
There was the same “I-know-what-is-best” attitude. There was a captain and then there were captains-in-waiting. Therefore, purely in that aspect, it has been a good move to wipe the slate clean. In war there are always civilian casualties, and some will classify Saeed Anwar among the innocent who have been harmed.
But now it seems that the PCB management is bent on taking out all those players who can undermine, merely by their smiling presence, the young guys in the dressing room.
But an irritable captain who refuses to call for advice on the field or an invisible vice-captain who thinks of the job as onerous is also as demoralizing for the young men. As well as it is to listen to four senior players of various ages cribbing about the selection and the batting order.
Therefore all the seven had to go. Perhaps time will come when the survivors will move on. Irrespective of who is to blame, it would not be in Pakistan cricket’s interest that with one part of the quarrelling section out of the room the other should exit also.
There are enough problems at the grass roots level. We have no first class structure that promises a consistent evaluation. Pitches and grounds are being maintained by PCB that is running out of money and the organizations have no grounds of their own, which is Imran’s gripe.
The academies are still taking shape but will be useless unless there is quality opposition to test them when they actually go out and play the game on our underdeveloped grounds.
They will be taught motivation but need to know that what they do on the first class circuit counts for something when it comes to selection. Automatic choices have to end; nerves must be controlled when one match goes horribly wrong. Failed fitness tests must not be overruled for prima donnas in the hope they will come through on the tour.
It is clear that if this is to happen, then the selectors have to hold the sway. The selection of Aamir Sohail is the correct choice. He is young and knows the requirements of the modern day game. Either he has been put in by Tauqir Zia, because he now wants to sincerely retreat from the selection influence, or he has been installed as a shield against the senior players.
Similarly, General Tauqir has at last realized that if his idiosyncrasies are put aside there is a depth of knowledge that Miandad can pass to the younger lot who have played alongside no role models over the past five years.
With Haroon, there is a meeting of the minds as there is with Rashid Latif.
They have all been stung and lost their jobs by the past manoeuvrings and the match fixing rebounds. There is a common bond among them and if ever Pybus’s “one for all and all for one” cry was applicable it is with these four.
Haroon Rashid, a calm personality, is an astute reader of the game and understands human nature. His previous assignments have proved he is honest to his job. He has been a good student of the game and enjoys respect.
Miandad is a cricketing genius which we hope will not be sacrificed again in pursuit of political correctness and gentlemanship. He is a magnificent reader of the game and can imbue the spirit of never-say-die attitude in the team.
Aamir Sohail is a no-nonsense character built on the Ian Chappel model. He will not tolerate interference from the management nor any egos of the established players.
Lastly, Rashid is an honest leader, a fighter, has seen all batsmen close-up and an able performer who seemed the only man on the field after Waqar, Saeed Anwar and Taufiq Umer to seem in pursuit of the World Cup.
The General should be warned, however, that the present set up will test the management skills of the most able manager. Aamer is an angry man who stops for no one when he feels he is right. Miandad is determined to follow-up his plans third time around just when he has got the undisturbed ears of the youngsters.
Rashid too is a man after his own mind ever since he was duped into playing Wasim in the third Test in South Africa six years ago. He will no more want to be Mr Nice Guy and follow the preachings of the brotherhood of man.
The unifying voice will probably be Haroon’s as everyone should trust him because of the man that he is. However, hope is that what these three are setting out to prove to the youngsters, that of discipline, is what they practice with Haroon. It would be a good idea to throw him the casting vote whenever there is a deadlock on team strategy.
The last thing they’ll tolerate is interference from anywhere, including the top. This is the classic case for the General. He must manage each set without appearing to. Yet he can’t afford to lose again. Because this time there is no one left to fire from the previous line management.
ONE of the most poignant points of the Pakistani cricket team, throughout the World Cup was their contrasting body language. Be it net practice or an important tie, there just wasn’t a feeling of all for one and one for all.
