PAKISTAN's cricket lovers are basking in captain Younis Khan's glorious and record-breaking knock which saved Pakistan from a big defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka in the first Test at the National Stadium, Karachi.

However, here I would like to draw the attention of the Pakistan cricket authorities concerned towards negligence concerning national identity.

For every sportsperson, their country's name (imprinted on clothing) is a fundamental, undeniable and inspiring symbol while performing at any international contest anywhere in the world. Furthermore, major sports are followed my tens of millions of people across the world. And cricket is a major sport in Pakistan, as well as in several parts of the world, no doubt.

However, it has been noticed that Pakistan cricketers, while representing their country at the international level, have been featuring in different limited overs (50 overs a side and Twenty20) competitions with a prominent 'Pakistan' nowhere to be seen on their coloured outfits.

While not going into very distant past and only recalling the international (limited-overs) events Pakistan cricketers have participated in since 2007 to date - from the one-day series in South Africa in February 2007 to the February 2009 home one-day series against Sri Lanka, one notices the emblem 'Pakistan' was not used in all of those contests, with only the PCB sign and sponsors' logos occupying the space on the players' outfits.

The 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa the same year are exceptions here.

On reminiscing the 1992 World Cup which we clinched in Australia, we can recollect that our players' kits were clearly adorned with 'Pakistan'. The same was the case in the World Cups held in 1996 and 2003.

However, the vital questions are Do our cricketers represent Pakistan only in World Cups? Do they, ultimately, represent the country named 'Pakistan' or a sponsor?

Being a Pakistani, I urge the Pakistan Cricket Board authorities concerned to look into this matter seriously and make sure 'Pakistan' is imprinted clearly on the players' outfits every time they are engaged in any international competition.

Marketing hindrances, one reckons, should not be a big concern here, as other cricket boards like that of India always take care of this thing, while adjusting to commercial requirements accordingly.

The PCB and players must remember it is Pakistan for which they enter any contest. How can they overlook 'Pakistan' when it's the matter of representing their national identity and dignity?

S.M. IBRAHIM FAROOQI

Karachi