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A VIEW FROM MIDWICKET: The gathering storm

In any event, (life) bans imposed by the PCB could be challenged on the premise that such a ban precludes a cricketer from ‘plying his trade to earn a livelihood. The ban on players is all the more unjustified as the ICL playing programme does not interfere with Pakistan’s domestic cricket schedule and contracted players will be released for national duty in the event of a clash in dates. So why the fuss. If our players are allowed to play county and league cricket in the UK, why the embargo on the ICL?

By MU Haq

The gathering storm over sub-continental cricket is not due to global warming but the launching of the Indian Cricket League (ICL) for the Essel Group, the proprietors of India’s Zee TV channel. In actual fact, the problem is basically between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Zee TV over TV coverage and the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) enthusiastic involvement is confusing.

How BCCI treats its players is none of our business, but why is PCB threatening to impose life bans on those Pakistan players who sign up with ICL? In a Packer-like situation, the BCCI and the ICL will in all probability kiss and make up sooner or later and lifting of bans on Indian players will be a part of the deal. What would be the status of Pakistan players then? In any event, (life) bans imposed by the PCB could be challenged on the premise that such a ban precludes a cricketer from ‘plying his trade to earn a livelihood. The ban on players is all the more unjustified as the ICL playing programme does not interfere with Pakistan’s domestic cricket schedule and contracted players will be released for national duty in the event of a clash in dates. So why the fuss. If our players are allowed to play county and league cricket in the UK, why the embargo on the ICL?

Four of our players have so far signed the ICL contracts and their loss to Pakistan can be attributed to the bunglings of two PCB officials viz: the ham-footed and dithering chief operating officer and the biased and conceited chief selector. Neither man is fit to occupy the august position he holds and if some early remedial action is not forthcoming, the two will be responsible for causing serious damage to the very fabric of Pakistan cricket. Shafqat Naghmi and cricket are strangers to each other and what makes it worse is that he appears to be a poor man-manager and administrator as is apparent from the number of times he has acted (in haste) only to rescind or alter his decisions. As for Salahuddin Ahmad alias Sallu, a complexed character with a very poor international playing record, who has shown little or no respect for our champion cricketers. Collectively, the two have not been convincing in their arguments e.g. after not selecting Mohammad Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq they declared that India too had “laid off” Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman for the Twenty20 World Cup. Absolute nonsense, since the quartet chose to stand down in view of India’s busy schedule in the coming months. In any event, why worry about what the Indians are doing. Do not be influenced by the actions of others. I came across a TV interview of Imran Farhat and he had no compunction in stating that he was harassed by the chief selector and was unhappy with the treatment meted out to him by the PCB. I dread to think how many more cricketers are disgruntled with the PCB but are too frightened to do anything about it. Perhaps it would be to advantage if Nasim Ashraf were to have a good look at some of his minions and weeded out the dead wood. In conclusion, I might add that this business of life bans is likely to have widespread repercussions.

(MU Haq is a life member of PCB, former President of Karachi Cricket Association and a member of MCC)

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