The way we dumped Waqar only goes to show how much we value our heroes
After seeing the fate of Pakistan’s strike bowler, Waqar Younis, the billion dollar question that agitated my mind was: Are we butchers?
As true Pakistanis our first and foremost duty should be towards our nation and the country. However, we have been acting against the basic principle as we hardy care about our nation.
The national cricket selectors had been ruthless to Waqar Younis. Discarding all norms of honesty and fair-play, they completely ignored him. Resultantly, the Pakistani cricket team confronted the Indians without a ‘strike bowler’ and lost both the One-Day (3-2) as well as the Test (2-1) series.
The fate speaks about the merit in selection as Pakistan had been lacking the vital slot of the ‘strike bowler’. There had been too much dependence on Shoaib Akhtar as it was repeatedly stressed during the previous World Cup. The results of such a one-sided policy have been “shocking”.
In the just concluded cricket series, none of the Pakistani bowlers came upto the mark and the Indians scored freely at their own sweet will. Their tall scores totally exposed the so-called merit in our selection. We had been ‘experimenting’ since the World Cup. However, according to the ground reality, the ‘experiments’ started much earlier and continuing to date.
Waqar Younis, who was termed by legendary Imran Khan as the “most destructive bowler”, has been completely ignored since the World Cup. The Cup proved disastrous to a number of countries, including the host — South Africa, but none reacted the way we did.
For arriving at correct conclusions after the World Cup, first we need to glance over the performance of the participating teams. South Africa replaced skipper Pollock with Smith but the former captain continues to be an important team member. He was not thrown away as we pushed our skipper to the sidelines. Australia’s McGrath is 34 but is still playing and continues to be an important member of the team. Shane Warne resumed playing cricket after a year’s suspension after his withdrawal from the world squad. The West Indies Cricket Board never forced their strike bowlers -- Walsh and Ambrose, to quit and they continued playing cricket as long as they wished and found themselves fit.
In Pakistan, Wasim Akram announced his ‘retirement’ from cricket at the age of 37 while legendary Imran Khan played till 36.
However, at 32 it was shocking to see the Pakistani bosses forcing Waqar Younis to quit. He had been trying hard to regain his place and showed his keenness to play against the Indians. But the Pakistani selectors did not give any credence to his experience; his technique of reverse swing and fitness was thought of unimportant.
Waqar Younis has the ‘honour’ of being the second bowler of Pakistan in the world to have captured 400 wickets both in Test and One-Day cricket, after Wasim Akram. After the World Cup, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand and now the Indians toured Pakistan and if Waqar Younis had not been ignored, he would have certianly made the difference. The ‘honour’ would have gone to Pakistan. But of course, the selectors know better.
When, some time back, Waqar addressed a press conference in Lahore, he spoke of the step motherly treatment being meted out to him by the PCB. He complained of not being allowed to play for Pakistan. Subsequently the Board changed its mind and included him in the Pakistani squad bound for England. A wise decision as he proved to be the most successful bowler in the Karachi Test when England scored a win.
Later, Waqar Younis was appointed Captain of the Pakistani team. While leading Pakistan he won nine and lost seven in 16 Tests. During his illustrious career Waqar played 87 Tests for Pakistan and captured 373 wickets, taking 415 wickets in One-Dayers. His strike rate had been 43.4 balls per wicket and was the best amongst the world’s Test bowlers.
Waqar had wanted to play for Pakistan for some more years. But the indifferent attitude of Pakistan Cricket Board forced him to quit. It was ill-timed and the results of the Indo-Pak Test and One-Day series amply proved it.
The Pakistani cricket bosses and the selectors have failed so far to discover any ‘strike bowler’. Waqar Younis should have been allowed to continue his career for some more years and the young ones like Shoaib, Sami and others should have been given more time to learn from Waqar as there is no substitute to ‘experience’.
Pakistani cricket bosses should be practical and recall Waqar Younis till Pakistan could find a real ‘strike bowler’. He is fully fit and surely could serve Pakistan for some more years. Shoaib simply concentrates on his ‘speed’ and badly lacks line and length. Sami and others still need time to mature.
The other important thing is, the so called TV experts should be barred as one such expert was found indulging in undesirable activity and keen to see Wasim Akram installed while the World Cup was still on. It was a deep-rooted conspiracy to divide the divided Pakistani squad and Waqar Younis was not allowed to lead the side independently. In fact, according to the then PCB Chief, five senior cricketers were assisting Waqar during the Cup. There had been too much interference and the results were before every body.
Imran Khan ruled single-handedly and was fully empowered to make his own decisions. How long will we play with the fate of Pakistani cricketers, ignoring merit altogether?
So, after seeing the fate of Waqar Younis, the billion dollar question is, are we butchers? We have never cared for Pakistan and slaughtered ‘merit’ in the name of merit.
For sound and positive results we have to set in union and stop imposing our foolish and ill-advised decisions. If there had been merit and merit alone, as we claimed, the results during the World Cup and later against the touring teams, including the Indians would have been totally different.
The forced press conference on April 12 amounts to be a cold-blooded murder of Waqar Younis and the fate of other cricketers is also not safe.
Should we not be punished for being ‘selfish’? The need of the hour is that we should demolish this slaughter house. Because if we don’t, then we are butchers, who believe in slaughtering every thing coming our their way?
