Look who’s talking! The most corrupt people of the world, as we all know, are the politicians and Pakistan can easily be the epitome of corruption, mismanagement, misappropriation, irresponsibility et al. Sindh Province’s Sports Minister Muhammad Ali Shah did prove his eligibility.
Blaming the National team of something most gruesome of crimes for any sportsperson -- match fixing -- he, knowingly or unknowingly, did what a politician could do best to cash on the public sentiments.
Cricket, being a kind-of-religion in the Sub-continent, and cricketers often find themselves vulnerable and a soft target for the cheap politics, cunning politicians and overtly sentimental public attacks.
This wasn’t the first time when Pakistan lost its match in an ICC tournament. In fact it did perform far too badly on many other occasions but this was the first time when it was probed by any committee (National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports) and for that matter it never happened in any cricket playing nation. Establishing a committee of Assembly members to probe a match or two is something new and shocking for all of us cricket lovers I guess.
Pakistan has a very modest record as far as ICC tournaments are concerned. It won ICC T20 World Cup earlier this year despite so much of tension at home, disturbing incidents like militant attack on Sri Lankan team, lack of match practice due to cancellation of home series’ etc.
The probe into the media reports of match fixing and deliberately loosing the match to Australia is a huge set back to the teams morale, confidence and player’s urge to fight for the honour of his country. More than the probe, the manner in which it was conducted hurt the teams captain Younis Khan as he along with teams coach and manager was treated as culprit and called to testify and explain their defeat in the Champions Trophy match against Australia and New Zealand.
Moreover, if we look at the consequences of this politically motivated tirade, Pakistan lost a motivating and hardworking captain. He helped it winning T20 World Cup. He was the motivating force behind their victorious tourney in England. He was in a process of rebuilding the team, its morale and confidence. Besides, he is a very good performer with the willow often contributing good runs for the team.
Though, some reports doing rounds in media that some of the members, juniors as well as seniors, do not want Younis as a captain. Whatever facts or sources are quoted in these reports seems to be a propaganda against Younis because divided teams do not perform well and Pakistan did remarkably well considering the circumstances they have been facing.
The probe and allegations and more than that the response of the board angered former cricketers in Pakistan. Ex-captain Ramiz Raja said, “Politicians have no need to interfere in cricket and they have not only snatched our captain but have damaged the game badly. Our honourable captain was insulted by the investigation and we acted on baseless allegations.”
Whereas former Pakistan captain and wicket keeper Rashid Latif accused the media of irresponsible behaviour and said, “I think the media was irresponsible by relaying an inauthentic statement by someone.”
Did anybody ask these politicians to explain their intentions, resolve and sincerity in helping out Pakistan from this turmoil, it is in for the decades? Isn’t it the pot calling the kettle black?
Pakistan is rattling on every front be it economy, defence, terrorism or human rights. Inflation is at its peak, fundamentalism destroying the freedom and basic rights of a Pakistanis, politically it is one of the most unstable and vulnerable countries, a worst neighbour. According to a report, it is one of the most dangerous places for children on this planet. Considering their own performance, does it make sense that they summon an honourable captain to justify the performance of his team? Do they morally qualify?
