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For many, the reel diversion from the real task of taking wickets, meant the Rawalpindi Express was probably asking to be jettisoned
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Finally, Pakistan Cricket Board has embarked on a progressive future plan where central contracts are concerned even though any claims to transparency would be an exaggeration.
Among its salient features, two have made headlines: the exclusion of Shoaib Akhtar, about which there already was speculation, and the elevation of Misbahul Haq to vice-captaincy.
On the surface, the demotion of demon pacer Akhtar would manifest itself as a step backwards for purely cricketing reasons but unfortunately with Shoaib, it is rarely only about his prowess on the field.
A magnificent sight at full throttle, Shoaib has generally, over his career and particularly, the last couple of years, only created huge negative vibes both about himself and the team.
The ‘Rawalpindi Express’ has often derailed the best intentions of his captains with his fragile temperament and attitude, which borders on condescension of his teammates.
The PCB and successive touring managements can be excused for losing count of the number of times they had to deal with the mood swings of otherwise, arguably, the game’s most exciting bowler, who despite being prone to injuries - and therefore, remaining in and out of Pakistan colours - took his place for granted, even demanding special treatment.
One would probably have to run a timeline to recount the number of times Akhtar was embroiled in a controversy, mostly over ill-discipline, but even in purely cricketing terms, his fitness has been suspect as is evident from the fact that he has skipped more Tests than Pakistan has played since he emerged in spectacular fashion by replacing his ideal, Waqar Younis, in the 1996 Kolkota Test.
After the 2006 doping scandal, it was expected - in hindsight, quite foolishly - that he would mend his ways but last year’s incredulous incident in South Africa, in which he struck fellow pacer Muhammad Asif with a bat over perceived insult, put paid to any hopes his fans had, by way of redemption.
The PCB imposed a hefty penalty amounting to Rs34 lakhs and ban stretching to 13 ODIs, which after initial braggadocio in which Akhtar contemplated going to the court, was grudgingly accepted by the Rawalpindi Express as penance to get back on track.
By now, PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf, who has often been accused of having a soft corner for the pacer, too had lost patience with him though typical of the officialdom’s knee jerk reaction, it chose to pamper Akhtar for the India tour once a home Test and ODI rubber was lost to South Africa in his absence, save for the last ODI.
Akhtar has always relished such treatment, probably because he feels it sets him apart from other players in the team. To his credit, he showed bursts of kinetic energy with some penetration in the opening Test in Delhi but before long he was responding to his vain self — apart of course, from yet again breaking down.
Down with a virus and confined to the hospital bed, no-one in his or her wild imagination would have thought Akhtar would drop on to the Eden Gardens, the venue of the second Test in Kolkota on the morning of the contest.
But invoking the ‘interest of Pakistan’ — that beaten-to-death mantra of all dictators and politicians — he limped out in the green.
Later, Akhtar admitted he couldn’t even see the batsmen for the first two hours, his vision blurred not by smog but myopic thinking about his importance.
Shoaib Malik was ruled out thanks to injury and, in his stead, Younis Khan reluctantly led the side but the management could not stop Akhtar from forcibly taking the field. It led a bitter Younis to make public his disengagement in the selection process in a column he wrote for an Indian paper.
With the decider coming up in Bangalore, Akhtar seemed to have lost interest or stomach for a fight when reports began to emerge of his keenness to indulge the silver screen. By the end of the Test, Akhtar had clearly lost steam but reportedly signed on a Bollywood script for Rs8 crore.
For many, the reel diversion from the real task of taking wickets, meant Akhtar was probably asking to be jettisoned. The PCB appears to have struck back with a vengeance — a claim which gains credibility following cricket legend Imran Khan’s assertion that traditionally, a scapegoat is always sought for losing to India and Akhtar fit in the scheme of things. Khan however, concluded that it was unfair.
The denial of a central contract and relegation to the fringes as a player with just a retainer will hurt Akhtar no end. He might claw his way back for a tilt against top dogs Australia this summer — if the series goes ahead — or he may decide that he’s had his day in the sun.
He will turn 33 this August, and that, for a genuinely fast bowler, is nearing the swansong. However, with plenty of greenbacks available in the realm of Twenty20 cricket, you can half bet he wouldn’t actually lose sleep over what happens next in the kingdom of PCB.
For starters, he has the potential of becoming the highest paid star for either of the two money-spinning Indian leagues rearing to set the stage of the shortest range of the game on fire should he choose to unleash himself.
…and prize for honest toil
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Misbah’s appointment caps a meteoric rise, in which many could justifiably,
find hope and reason to emulate. Nice guys need not finish last.
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On the other hand, no one will grudge the elevation of Misbahul Haq, whose prowess ever since he was recalled from near-obscurity six months ago for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa is an unheard of fairytale in the realm of Pakistan Cricket.
Named vice-captain, he replaces the enigmatic Younis Khan, who had ironically, of late expressed the desire to lead the team!
Clearly, Younis has not helped his cause with his flip-flop over leadership turning the PCB into a nervous wreck, especially in the absence of Shoaib Malik on the recent Indian tour, although not for the first time.
However, purely from a future perspective, it may not be an ideal choice given that Misbah is already in the afternoon of his career (pity the PCB, which took so long to realize his utility), even if it comes on the heels of a purple patch for the unassuming batsman.
May be it is more of a horses-for-courses policy given that the board is tired of having a deputy (Younis Khan), who always leaves them guessing about his motive, and much younger players like Salman Butt, who is yet to fully cement his place.
But Misbah’s appointment does cap a meteoritic rise, in which many could justifiably, find hope and reason to emulate. Nice guys need not finish last.
