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Modi The Weasel
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in General Cricket, International Cricket, Pakistan Cricket
39 ViewsWas Lalit Modi talking out of his backside recently when he was quoted as saying “Unfortunately, the Pakistan government won’t give them [Pakistan players] clearance to come to India, and since Saturday was our cut-off date, it’s not possible to have a team from Pakistan this year”. The PCB say they were not consulted or told about any deadlines so why has Pakistan been isolated from the Twenty20 Champions League and why did Modi not just tell the truth?
Some may argue that Pakistan had banned its players from travelling to India so Modi had no choice. The thing is that this was a decision made in regards to the IPL and could have been reviewed and indeed lifted had the PCB been contacted and asked its position in regards to the Champions League. It seems this did not happen. We cannot therefore be too critical of the PCB in regards to knowing what was happening as they were not brought into the fold at all. What we can be critical is of their weak response thus far.
Remarkably, another BCCI official was quoted on cricinfo as saying that the decision to exclude Pakistan’s T20 domestic champions was a “precautionary one”. So what was it Lalit? Did the Pakistan government ban its players or did you as a “precautionary” measure not give them a chance? The official also gave the excuse of not having to risk pull the Pakistan team out at the last minute but could not give any realistic reasons for this happening. The BCCI can not even be sure that the tournament will be in India even though they plan to hold it there. Just like the IPL was moved away from India, the Champions League may also.
We cannot expect teams to travel to Pakistan due to the situation there but for our cricketers to be shunned like this and prevented from playing elsewhere is simply disgraceful. The ICC should be ashamed of itself. It is becoming increasingly obvious that Lalit Modi cannot be good for a united cricket international community.
What better way to answer them then to win the Twenty20 World Cup.
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May 27th, 2009 at 4:14 am
It makes me furious thinking that all the top international teams will field a side in the Champs league, but Pakistan..
They say they don’t want to isolate us, but that is exactly what they r doing..
They could have easily invited Pak, and kept a back up team (DDD) in case the Pak team did not get permission.
The PCB official is right, Modi was 2nd guessing.
Truth be told, after receiving an invitation for the inaugural champs league that never took place, Modi did not even bother to contact the PCB and inform them of the next one.
Obviously he doesn’t want them there.
Sad how the PCB-BCCI relations have worsened over time..
May 27th, 2009 at 8:29 am
woteva!!!!ur just bluddy stupid!!! u dont noe anythin the pak playrs r tryin 2 kil us!!! go modi!
May 27th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
That’s a good point about keeping a back up team Q. It could have easily been done.
Amy, I know that’s not what you really think. You love Pakistani talent…..it’s the best in the world.
I thought you said you had had enough of Lalit? Now come back and redeem yourself to the Pakistani fans. We’re very forgiving
May 28th, 2009 at 1:08 am
It’s simple, isn’t it? If you don’t join in Modi’s enterprise, you don’t get to come to the second part. Apart from not helping him make money in SA, why would he wnat a team that isn’t in danger of having playes poached by his teams?
More seriously, the suggestion that talking to the cricket board helps deal with the government is slightly disturbing, but I guess that’s business as usual.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:59 am
We should not send our team to India for any match whatsoever unless they give us a guarantee that in future they will not cancel any Pakistani tour.
May 28th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Jonathan, how are you supposed to join a enterprise backed by the ICC, which bans you for no good reason? The IPL was in S.A. With a little effort, they could have restored the pak players but no one even bothered suggesting it let alone putting things in place to make it happen.
I don’t follow you government/board point.
Waseem, with the awful security provided to the Sri Lankans, we cannot realistically expect anyone to tour us. This will be the case, I think, for as long as America is engaged in this losing, endless war. The nation of Pakistan has suffered the most but is still blamed the most.
The best we can do is to remember who was who in this saga. One day the tables will turn….then we will see.
May 28th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
TJ
Did India cancelled the Pakistan tour before the Lahore attack or After?
Bombs explode in India also, there was a time we also used to say that no team has ever been attacked in Pakistan, but we were naive and I think so are Indians in the current situation. Many temas didn’t gave us the margin before the Lahore attack and cancelled their tour to Pakistan purely for political reasons but the same margin is being allowed to India and Srilanka.
Cricket becomes the first casuality of the political fallout between two countries, India should stop using sports as foreign policy tool.
Otherwise Pakistan has no choice but to reciprocate and we should not get double minded in this situation.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:09 am
TJ, I wasn’t trying to support Modi, but I don’t think the ICC is really relevant here. Modi’s joke of a Champions League is simply a ‘reward’ for co-operation in his main game. There are a lot of questions about how the India-Pakistan situation has been handled, but it’s hardly surprising that Modi will keep what he can as long as he can find an excuse.
May 29th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
I agree with your margins point Waz but we are already isolated as it is so refusing tours would make things worse. We do not hold a strong hand. We must do what we can within reason to get back on par BUT we must not forget who was who.
Agree Jonathan. What disgusts me is the ICCs complicity in this. They are letting Modi run around and do what he likes. He even announced that the champions league was in the FTP and the ICC had to then come out and say that it was not.
I agree with your reward point. It’s almost like he’s rubbing it in.
June 1st, 2009 at 10:27 am
Hello
June 1st, 2009 at 10:30 am
Hey
June 1st, 2009 at 12:29 pm
[i]Just like the IPL was moved away from India, the Champions League may also.[/i]
No question of ‘like’. The elections in India are over.
June 1st, 2009 at 12:45 pm
[i]Cricket becomes the first casuality of the political fallout between two countries, India should stop using sports as foreign policy tool.[/i]
Please don’t confuse Modi for Indian state. He’s not. I would love to see the Pakistani teams competing in Champions League, and I am sure they will. Can’t something still be worked out?
Obviously, Modi is a great tactician. And he’s showing Pakistani board who’s the boss. But, I just wish the focus shifts back to cricket.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Welcome Socrates.
You are right about the elections but it was the underlying security situation that caused the move. I believe if the elections did not happen, the IPL would have been moved anyway and rightly so. That’s just my opinion i.e. the BCCI would have played it safe rather than risk anything happening.
I too wish the focus was back on cricket. Do you think Modi could have done wonders for his reputation had he done more to try and a) Make more effort to recall dropped Pakistan IPL players b) Try and get a Pakistan team to play in the Champs League.
He would have been hailed as a hero if he did the second. He is in a position of power, I’m not certain he always uses that position with the best interest of cricket at heart.