MUCH has happened off the field in the last few days and much is expected in the coming days, but at least on the pitch, Pakistan showed no ill effects in the match against Bangladesh yesterday.
After four successive World Cup defeats, the cobwebs were finally dusted off — even as pressure mounted on other fronts, including in the form of some distasteful manoeuvres by the Pakistan Cricket Board.
A convincing seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Kolkata has kept alive Pakistan’s faint hopes of reaching the semi-finals. And yet, while the team turned a corner, it would be unrealistic not to expect it to be affected by the events back home.
Pakistan cricket has been nothing short of a circus, with information and disinformation spreading like wildfire, thanks to a plethora of live transmissions. Given the team’s earlier losses in the contest, criticism had been fierce.
The PCB decided to act — issuing a statement to clarify that it had merely supported captain Babar Azam and chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, enabling them to pick the team of their choice. It was the sort of statement which exposed the Zaka Ashraf-led cricket board as averse to taking any responsibility.
Public sentiment seems to matter a great deal to Mr Ashraf, who is nearing the end of his term as interim management committee chief. Whether or not he remains PCB chief, depends on the result of the election his committee has to hold.
A good run for Pakistan at the World Cup would have tipped the scales in his favour. Instead, the team’s performances have given rise to claims of a rift between the chairman and captain, with former skipper Rashid Latif alleging that Mr Ashraf was not taking Babar’s calls.
An attempt to refute that went horribly wrong, with Mr Ashraf forwarding a screenshot of a conversation between Babar and PCB chief operating officer Salman Naseer, which was leaked on a private news channel. It raised questions about consent.
These incidents are made particularly cringe-worthy by the fact that the entire drama played out in front of the cricketing world during the sport’s most high-profile event. They raise serious questions about the PCB leadership.
An issue over central contracts, which saw players unpaid for five months due to disagreements, was resolved only a few days ago. The PCB also acted on reports from certain quarters claiming favouritism in team selection, with an alleged link uncovered between Inzamam and an agency representing most of the players.
On the eve of the Bangladesh match, Inzamam resigned from his position but vowed to return if cleared of wrongdoing in an investigation initiated by the PCB. There is a time for everything, but this was certainly not the time for domestic theatre in the midst of the World Cup.
Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2023
