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Yousuf shows class is permanent
By Tabrez Janjua for Stani Army in Pakistan Cricket
91 ViewsYou have to wonder why such a fuss was made of Mohammed Yousuf’s recall. When it comes to the reasons for why he was banned by the PCB, I for one am still none the wiser. Stani Army supported Mohammed Yousuf after the debacle of the Australian tour, and we still support him now.
We did mention in a previous post that Yousuf’s return will not only have the obvious effect of adding runs to the scoreboard, but also have an influence on the opposition and the young Pakistan batting line up. Certainly, it was obvious from Azhar Ali’s body language, that he was delighted to be out there in the middle with Mohammed Yousuf, and it is no coincidence that it led to Azhar’s highest score of his young Test career.
Did someone call for Yousuf? Mohammed Yousuf's return coincided with Pakistan's first 300 plus total of the tour of England
Yousuf’s affect on the mindset of the opposition was obvious, with Strauss adopting defensive fields to him very early on as it became clear that the tactics employed previously to the other Pakistani batsmen, were not going to work with Yousuf. Just his name on the team sheet would have put doubts in the minds of the English bowlers, as Swann later touched upon in an interview, that he had looked down the Pakistan line up and identified Yousuf as the prize wicket for his 100th Test victim. As it turned out, Swann did manage to get him, but more through a lapse in the great man’s judgement to a negative Ashley Giles type of round the wicket line from Swann, than through the guile of the bowler himself.
Many Younis Khan supporters suggest that Younis should also be brought back as he would have a similar affect, but just watching Yousuf play, it’s obvious that even from where Younis is, Yousuf is still a level or two above. Yousuf has not gained much support from the Pakistani contingent of writers on cricinfo, and it is sad that this kind of mentality still exists even amongst our fans. Most of this lack of support was due to their constant backing, which was sometimes blind, of Younis Khan. They’re sure to be eating a bit of humble pie after yesterday. Even those less affiliated with Pakistan cricket, like Andrew Miller on cricinfo, can appreciate what Mohammed Yousuf is, so it is a shame that some of ‘Pakistan’s own’ could not bring themselves to do so:
“But unlike his less experienced team-mates, who had clung on without pushing on at Edgbaston, Yousuf used every ball faced to gauge the pace of the wicket. By the time he reached a half-century for the 57th time in 89 Tests, he was right back at the top of his game, with Steven Finn leaking four fours in ten balls to the first true great he’s ever encountered.” Cricinfo’s Andrew Miller
It is obvious that Pakistan still need Mohammed Yousuf and not even Osman Samiuddin and Kamran Abbasi could deny that…well they could, but they shouldn’t. At 35 years of age, I hope Yousuf has a few more years left in him yet. A freak of nature, how he can be so uncoordinated in the field and so graceful and majestic with a bat in his hand, I don’t know. If there is a more absorbing batsman to watch in world cricket, I am yet to come across him.
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August 20th, 2010 at 8:37 am
This batting display was a slap on the team managements face who clearly stated more then one time that they dont need any experienced player (read Yusuf and Younis) in the squad ….. had they beed in the squad right from the beginning we may have seen some fight from Pakistani batting lineup and maybe some close games too.
Now can our two Butts (chairman and captain) explain why Younis is out of the team?
August 20th, 2010 at 11:09 am
@Asim –
I think this tour has clearly shown us, that if Pakistan did want to start afresh, eradicate the team’s in-fighting problems and go in a new direction then they had to get rid of two players primarily. Those two players are Shahid Afridi and Kamran Akmal, not Younis and Yousuf.
August 20th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Stani
Class is permanent and so is human nature. Yousaf was never kicked out because of form, I just can’t stand him for the fact that while supporting a huge beard this guy took Oaths on holy quran against Younis Khan.
August 20th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
I think Yousuf’s innings yesterday just showed how much Pakistan really missed him in the last 4 Tests that they have played in this English summer. They might have won one against Australia… but it is not everyday that the seamers are going to get an opposition all out for 88.
I’d like to draw a comparison with India here. India’s bowling attack is pathetic (that is, if it can be called an attack at all). Yet, the team is World No. 1 in Tests. It is for the simple reason that the batting is so strong that they hardly lose too many matches… and once in a while when the bowling unit does manage to pick up 20 wickets, the batting unit ensures that they can seal a win.
If only Pakistan could shore up their batting unit (a huge stride has been taken with the inclusion of Yousuf), then they have a huge amount of potential. Some may think that drafting in a 35-year old is a step back. I look at it differently. You cannot have 4 under 25 players manning your middle order. You need a guiding force… someone they can look up to in order to correct their own mistakes and failures. In Pakistan, the name of that force right now is Mohammed Yousuf.
August 20th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
@Wasim –
Do we know this happened for sure though Wasim? I’m not sure he was involved in that kind of thing and if he was, I’m certain it must have been under duress. The reason is that when he was captain on the tour to Australia, he was the one calling for Younis to be recalled and actually asked for his return. People may say that this was to save his own captaincy skin, but Younis was hardly a guaranteed saviour. I’m not sure, I think he along with Younis, was ganged up on and blamed by Afridi and his crew when giving evidence before the inquiry. I think that’s the reason those guys were let off light and Younis and Yousuf punished harshly.
August 20th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
@Shridhar Jaju –
Yes, and even less likely they will get an Australian opposition out for 88 again! I still think we were fortunate to win that game.
India’s spin attack has always been ok, it’s the pacers that let them down. But you had some good ones at different points in time but they just disappeared. When I first saw the likes of Munaf, Irfan Pathan and Ishant, I thought they’d be up there for years to come but they just dropped off. Munaf was McGrath like, Pathan with his left arm swing and slower balls and Ishant with his height. There was a lot of potential and talent there and it didn’t flourish for some reason. Did home pitches kill them off?
Completely agree with your last paragraph. I did mention in a post a while back that the decision to go with such a young side was almost soley for the reason of keeping Younis and Yousuf out. Not the right reason I’m afraid.
August 20th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Had Pakistan persisted with such a young batting unit, they would have has the same problems as India had with the bowling unit. You need someone senior with you in each department of the game to be able to guide you through tough match situations.
India had Srinath till 2003… and the guys who played with him back then are today indispensable. But they are just two in number: Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra. After his retirement, India did not have a senior fast bowler in their team and Zaheer himself was not senior enough to be able to guide the youngsters. Then Zaheer and Nehra were both out of the team… and the new guys that came in, shone for a while before fading away.
Its not dissimilar to the situation currently in Pakistan’s batting unit. The way Umar Akmal is playing… he might just wither off the Irfan-Pathan-way… or to be more accurate in analogy… the Mohammed-Ashraful-way. Showing talent is not, enough… using that talent for the team’s cause is important!
August 20th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Stani
There is no doubt about it, statement made by Rana and several others are quite conclusive in this respect, his decision to recall Younis was a political one and just in anticipation of the inquiry which the team knew was forthcoming after the Sydney test.
PCB made one big mistake when they pardoned Malik and Akmal, perhaps they did it because of the T20 WC.
It’s been a big mess where almost everybody was at fault.
August 20th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Yes, tell ‘em who MoYo is Stani!
I don’t care what people say, this bloke is an absolute legend and by far the best batsman Pakistan has at the moment. Even I might be able to go and bat out there with MoYo standing at the other end. Maybe, okay, maybe, my batting isn’t that good.
I’m not going to delve in all the accusations he faced since the tour to Aus, but personally I believe justice wasn’t done to the guy.
Wish you many more tons MoYo!
August 20th, 2010 at 8:50 pm
His class, his importance, his role in team is very obvious. no doubt.
His past act, his politics etc well there is too much mess around and you can’t actually filtered out real facts out of it unless some one really do it for the real sense of the word Inquire.
August 21st, 2010 at 2:31 am
[...] Stani Army » Blog Archive » Yousuf shows class is permanent [...]
August 21st, 2010 at 9:10 am
@Stani: Just to correct your understanding, politics in the team on australian and sirilankan tour was played by Akmals and Shoaib Malik … not Shahid Afridi.
August 21st, 2010 at 11:44 am
Yes Stani Asim is right Afridi was innocent he was just saying it out loud make me captain other than that he didn’t had any ill toward feelings for the sitting captain:))
August 21st, 2010 at 1:21 pm
@Shridhar Jaju –
Yes absolutely, it’s clear hat Yousuf has had that kind of affect already.
August 21st, 2010 at 1:22 pm
@Wasim –
Yes, it has been a big mess. I would also take what the likes of Rana said with a pinch of salt. I would question his reliability.
August 21st, 2010 at 1:23 pm
@sunny –
I don’t think justice was done to him either which is why his reaction was to quit. As I mentioned at the time, I thought by him resigning he felt hurt and decided what’s the point when he was left in the lurch as captain in Australia because there was no one else. To be then banned was pretty classless.
August 21st, 2010 at 1:24 pm
@Mudassar @ CricketVibe.com –
That’s the problem. Who on earth could we rely on when it came to the statements. Then we have the likes of Inzamam getting involved and it gets messy.
August 21st, 2010 at 1:26 pm
@Asim –
I don’t think Afridi is quite the angel he’d make everyone believe. He is the puppet master who planned to become captain almost at any cost. And as Wasim suggested, this is the guy that was having secret meetings with Ijaz Butt to take over as captain whilst Younis Khan still held the position. Then there’s his ball biting antics that brought shame not only on the team but the nation.
And get this, he recently had the nerve to make a statement that Pakistan don’t have the right mentality for Test cricket. This from a guy who quit in the middle of a match whilst he was Test captain. He was clearly afraid that whilst the Tests were going on, people would be forgetting him so he decides to make statements in the media. The guy is an attention seeker.
August 21st, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I think it Pakistan’s biggest mistake to drop all the experienced players at once.Yousuf has provided the much needed stability to the Pakistani batting order.
But,right now the real heroes are the bowlers particularly Amir and Ajmal.
Cheers,
Mayank Jhaveri
http://freehit-cricketanalysis.blogspot.com/
August 21st, 2010 at 7:23 pm
Stani
First of all congratulations!
We won because we improved our fielding and we axed the weaklings in the team, Kaneria, Gul and Umar Amin.
It’s a slap on the face of Afridi who decided to desert this team in the middle of the tour showing no faith in the players and the team, and he was deemed to be the aggressive captain. I think he should change his name to AFRAIDI.
Salman Butt led the team confidently and didn’t committed many mistakes, his personal form dipped but then again there are not many in both teams who have done well in these conditions especially those who bat higher.
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:58 am
@Mayank Jhaveri –
Yes, I suppose more of a transitional period was required. Our bowlers are always heroes, hats off to them.
August 22nd, 2010 at 7:00 am
@Wasim –
Congratulations to yo too Wasim! Why can they not do anything easy? Watching the Pakistan team must contribute to more heart attacks than a life time of living on a Pakistani diet. Combine the two and you’re not getting into your 40s!
Definitely, the fielding and the guys that came in made the difference.
I swear I was just thinking the same think about Afridi’s name just yesterday! He blatantly looked around and thought these guys are losers who I don’t want to be associated with so I’m out of here. What a shame. Little did he know we’d begin to rise up like this. Had he stayed, he could have gone out as a hero.
Yes, stick with Butt now and hope he is able to make a few with the bat when he gets in. There is no point in continuously changing captains. I think he led well and I was particularly impressed with his anger at certain mistakes. It’s good, it makes the guys stand up and be counted.
August 22nd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
Stani, where’s the treat?
Pak won so give me something as a treat…but not mithai.
August 22nd, 2010 at 1:13 pm
@sunny –
How about Graeme Smith? He’s got a bit spare time now that’s he’s stepped down from the t20 captaincy. I can hook you up with him as a treat. Really, it’s no problem. I’ll get on to it right away.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:06 pm
@TJ Stani: Again just to clear your statement, he didnot resign in the middle of the test but in the middle of the test series and to be honest everybody questioned his batting approach in the second innings, even before the test series started he clearly mentioned that he will play the tests as long as he is contributing to the team but surprisingly he was the first pakistani player who was honest in assessing his capabilities and resigned because he new he was wasting one spot in the team …. so infact he should be commended for his honesty, unline other players who stick to a post and leave only when they are fired or forced to retire.
If he really craved about the captaincy so much then why did he leave the captaincy of test team after the first test, he could have easily said he is building a team and it will take time and then continued …… and his meetings with Butt were all public, there were no secret meetings with him as all the meetings were clearly mentioned in the newspapers.
I am not suggesting that he is an Angel for sure ….. but he is much better then Akmals, Yousuf and others who swore to under perform, under the captaincy of Younis. Atleast he didnt sell his nation and national honour for personal gains and played against the team.
As for his comments about our batsman do not have the right mentality for test cricket …. his statement came before this test and to be honest we all agree to it, if you look at the last 4 tests before this one, what he mentioned was quite clear (not even a single score of more then 300 and majority of high scores were by tailenders)…. Farhat Parchi was a usual failure, except for Salman (although he too only averages 30 in test matches and needs to prove that he can score runs consistently), in the middle order the two young Umer and Azhar were failing consistently and then Umer Akmal was confused in either to play T20 or block the balls and Shoaib Malik was also a usual failure in tests but still persisted and lastly Kamran akmal who played usual dabs toward thirdman (perfect for onedayer and T20) but were all ending up as catching practice in slip cordon. So in absence of Yousuf and Younir definitely we were short of batsman who can bat with the right temprament in test cricket and the scores were a clear proof of that. So do you really think he was wrong in his assessment?
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:30 pm
On second thought, I wish I could delete my above post ….. whats the point in arguing when one thing is quire clear though that there is still a grouping in the team and this is not good for the future of pakistan cricket … and supporters are also the same we make them superstars one day and drop them to zero immediately …. Younis Khan lifted the worldcup for Pakistan and still regarded as the most capable person in the team to lead them in tests and onedayers but our biased supporters and players accused him of match fixing and some players took an oath and under performed under him and had him cornered and out of the team too, all those players except for Rana are currently playing for the team ?!?!?! …. whereas players who were fighting in public (malik and yousuf) and then Akmal brothers playing politics after sydney test are all allowed to play for the country but younis who did nothing wrong, played for the country with honesty is still out of the team sends very bad messages to the followers and young members of the team ……. Afridi is the second case in this regard when a month or so back he scored back to back centuries in asia cup, we were all praise for him but now we are all insulting and ridiculing him within a month or so speaks volumes about us too.
August 22nd, 2010 at 2:56 pm
@Asim –
There’s nothing wrong with debate Asim you may be right or I may be right but if we don’t say it, then how will anyone learn or consider an alternative view? You are free to have an opinion on this site, it your right.
I should have made it clear but what I mean by him quitting in the middle of the Test was the manner in which he played. I talked of it in a previous post, and it was clear Afridi had already quit in his mind by the manner in which he batted against Australia. He couldn’t care less about the situation of the game. He just went out there and threw his bat because he knew that it doesn’t matter, he will go. We were still in a good position but he played like an idiot and got caught off North’s bowling!
Cricinfo’s Brydon Coverdale and Nagraj Gollapudi covered it in their article ‘Ponting’s inspired change, Afridi’s brainless slog’:
“Why does Shahid Afridi come out to bat? After his 15-minute mayhem in the first innings which ended with suicidal shot selection, Pakistan’s captain had a good chance to redeem himself today. Instead, three balls into his second innings he once again went for the long handle against Marcus North, offering a simple catch in the deep. Even by Afridi’s standards it was ridiculous to say the least.”
Watch his innings in that Test again Asim, and you will have to agree that the guy had quit already.
This is the commentary of his 2nd innings dismissal, before which we were in a good position of 229 for 5:
“67.5
North to Shahid Afridi, OUT, that’s just frustrating. Afridi tries to heave the ball into the grandstand with a slog sweep, but hits it very high but not very far. Hussey sets himself underneath the swirling chance, holding on to a good catch. Pakistan are crumbling now.
Shahid Afridi c Hussey b North 2 (2m 4b 0×4 0×6) SR: 50.00
While there was a case for counter attacking, that was very irresponsible from Afridi. It was just attack without thought “
And this is the commentary team during the 73rd over:
“We’re still reeling from Afridi’s dismissal. Just unbelievable.”
Honesty Asim? The guy could have been honest in the first place and refused the captaincy instead of quitting half way through and lumbering Butt with a huge task. It was a purely selfish decision, there is no other way of looking at it. He just considered himself. How many Tests has he played before that one? Did he only realise now that he couldn’t play?
He quit the captaincy because he could see that we were not good at that form of the game and he would have to shoulder the blame as captain. It’s no fun losing, and Afridi didn’t want to be a part of it.
The meetings were secret but they were still picked up by the newspapers. Even if they were known about, he clearly lied about what he and Ijaz Butt talked about. When he was questioned on whether he and Butt had discussed him taking over the Test captaincy from Younis, he said no. A few months later, he was Test captain. Coincidence?
It’s obvious our batsmen don’t have the Test temperament. I didn’t say he was wrong in his assessment but when he is guilty of something himself, why is he even talking about it? I don’t see the need of his statement? Has he no shame the way he left the Test scene then he has the nerve to say our batsmen don’t have the temperament? He should stay quiet after the way in which he batted in his last Test.
I was ready for a fresh start under Afridi as captain but what he did after the first Test against Australia has made me question if he really has grown up.
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Asim
He announced his intention to retire while the test was going on, he didn’t performed under Younis until Younis announced his intention to retire and named Afridi as his successor.
He kept on giving statements about his desire to play test cricket and lead the team during Australian tour and it was before the third test that Yousaf said that “Afridi keeps on expressing his availability for the tests in media but when I approach him he says that he doesn’t want to play test cricket so go ask him what he really wants.”
Even Ponting said “that the guy gives three contrasting statements in one day. ”
It’s pathetic that you are defending a guy who has clearly played the worst role in playing politics in the team and always plays for himself whether he plays for Karachi or Pakistan, if you don’t believe me then go see the RBS t20 match between Sialkot and Karachi you will realize it, he didn’t selected Sami because Sami was made the captain in RBS t20 and Afridi was Snubbed by KCCA, Dolphins would have won that match but Afridi made sure that they don’t.
You mentioned about the technique of every batsman in the team except the man himself. Didn’t he knew the limitations of his “game and mind” before he expressed his interest in getting back into test team and finally taking the job nobody pulled a gun on his head to make him change his mind.
The English top order and Australian top order also consistently failed on this tours does it mean that they are also Parchi’s and don’t have the right temprament to play test cricket.
A lot was said about Hameed, did he out scored “Farhat the parchi” in this match he scored 36 in the first innings where he could have gotten out three times and 0 in the second innings. I kept on saying that it’s not a matter of Karachi Vs Punjab the players who are not in the team are not any better than those in the team except Younis and Yousaf.
Anybody can go out and play tulla cricket, in test matches you have to spend time on the wicket for which Azhar and Farhat were so criticized yes they didn’t succeeded much on this tour in terms of runs but they did see off the new ball nothing was wrong with their temprament, these were tough conditions to expect that every batsman will score a big innings is childish.
You are right about Kamran Akmal and Malik they don’t have the skill to play test cricket they can only play T20′s when the field restrictions are imposed.
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:27 pm
This article from Kamran sums up quite well…. http://blogs.cricinfo.com/pakspin/archives/2010/08/a_demon_banished.php
Are you really sure about us being in that game when Afridi came to bat, I dont think we had any chances as he was batting with Kamran Akmal and then the tail and approx. 200 runs behind and frankly speaking nobody expected afridi to do miracles with the bat, he has always been a gamble with the bat against spinners because for sure he will take them on from the very first ball, had he middled that ball things could have been little bit different like the way in asia cup when he was hitting Murali for sixes in each and every over …. that time gamble paid off but this it didnt, so this is the risk that we were all aware of.
Had his meetings been a conspiracy against younis, then he should have been the captain for newzealand and australian test series too and if you are suggesting that he was also the main schemer behind yousuf’s removal from the captaincy too ….. then I think you have gone tooooo far and from what I know about afridi, I dont think he can be that much smart or complicated
Good to know that you agree with his assessment … so what is wrong with that? he never boasted about his test batting and the temprament and his point was that for Pakistan to become world beaters in test cricket we should have a proper batting line up that can support our excellent bowling attack. In all 5 tests our bowlers did a great job and we only lost because of our batting. If we want to become world beaters then we need to select the right players who have the temperament to play long innings and on a consistent basis and stop selecting players like Farhat Parchi and Shoaib Malik. I personally do not see any harm in his statement. Nothing against Salman Butt but he is no Mike Brearly and he just cant play in the team because he is a captain, he has to lead from the front and be more consistent …. an average of 30 runs will not get him a spot in any major teams around the world. So we should introspect and start working on our weaknesses … if we cant stand positive criticism then its difficult to be one of the leading test nations.
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:34 pm
@Wasim: As I said earlier I dont want to debate with you
Just a small advice, I am not an expert but atleast watch the game and you will hear what David Loyld, Holding, Nasser and Gower were saying about Yasir Hameed …. ‘in earlier matches, they had been selecting the wrong team’ …. I rest my case.
As for Farhat Parchi …. if we give Umer Amin that many chances I am quite sure he will score more runs then him and will not drop that many catches and may take some wickets while bowling as well. Just to make myself clear I am not a big fan of Hameed either but he is much much better then Farhat PARCHI.
August 22nd, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Asim
I heard what they said about Hameed but unlike you I do not form my opinion based on the comments made by these so called experts, his first innings knock was a streaky one where he could have gotten out at least three times the commentators were only applauding his positive intent.
I’m not suggessting here that the team should drop Hameed, I wanted him to be in the team in place of Malik and he has done better than Malik, only made the comparison to highlight the double standard in your comment.
Isn’t it funny that on one hand we talk about positive intent and when somebody fails while doing so we immediately become wise and start talking about temprament and patience.
You don’t want to debate or you can’t debate:))
August 23rd, 2010 at 11:45 am
Congratulations TJ. What a turnaround! Pakistan are back in business in Test Cricket. Our bowling attack is up there with the best in the world or if not THE best!
Our batsmen have their off days and good days but with our reliable bowling attack we will always have a chance of winning.
Ajmal has shown his class and he should have been in the team much before Danish Kaneria and now he is showing why. The way he bamboozled the English batting line up after day 3 was quite extraordinary. Aamir, well he gets better and better day in day out.
Wahab Riaz well he certainly showed he wasn’t in the team based on double standards against many people’s speculation. But 2 left arm fast bowlers in the same team is a debatable one perhaps?
Azhar Ali, well he is a superb find.
Kamran Akmal may have taken 8 catches but that is just expected by a international WK, but his batting form is shocking. Bearing in mind these are Kamran Akmal’s scores with the bat this summer: 0/46/15/13/0/0/10/0…………..
August 23rd, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Chill Guys, save your energy for the fourth test as some drama is going to fold once again (by default)
Give Salman a break, he can perform give him time to get used to captaincy pressure specially when you are leading Pakistan in such chaos. Is it something like duty of Pakistani fans to criticizes just for the sake of criticize without even appreciating anything positive, nonsense!!
Whatever the motto was, I think in the end Afridi did make a right decision may be ill timed. His presence was only disturbing the team combination and benefiting very little to test team.
If Yousuf and Younis doesn’ have any interest in captaincy etc than Akmals are only one left with possible politics in their bag as I am already suspicious of Zulqarnain drop not only from tour but sending him back.
Anyways, they need to keep the momentum going, with every test team combination is getting better. Even there is no obvious chance of any change for forth test but it still need some areas of concern other wise this is much better team selection than what we had at start of tour.
August 24th, 2010 at 11:14 am
@TJ: One thing that I just remembered, when Afridi was made captain of the team, if he back stabbed younis, then why did he ask for younis to be his deputy?
@Wasim: There is no point in debating with you as I guess you might nominate our super duper star of the team Imran Farhat (read PARCHI) to be the captain of the team very soon
Anyway I was going through DAWN website and read few blogs and articles which are worth reading …. another blog with facts on what I was talking about when Fawad Alam, Asad Shafiq, and Sarfaraz were not selected in the team:
http://blog.dawn.com/2010/08/20/selecting-the-%E2%80%98average%E2%80%99-man/
Another blog on the curious case of Fawad Alam:
http://blog.dawn.com/2010/08/13/the-curious-case-of-fawad-alam/
From termite to terminator -case of Shoaib Malik:
http://blog.dawn.com/2010/06/02/from-termite-to-terminator/
Pakistan board puts out a contract — showing real faces of current team management and some players too:
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/sport/pakistan-cricket-board-puts-out-a-contract-630
Ex ICC chief called our chairman a buffoon and its about time we should get rid of Ejaz Butt (relative of Ahmed Mukhtar, minister and close aide of our president) and get him replaced by Ehsan Mani, Tauqeer Zia, Shahryar Khan or maybe as someone suggested earlier Majid Khan.
One of the writer sums up the current setup quite well:
‘I have labelled the PCB under Ejaz Butt as Permanently Confused Board; the post-Australian tour inquiry committee as FARCE (Friends, Associates and Relatives Clearing Ejaz), Butt’s face as the more recognisable U-Turn traffic sign (a diagonal line across his face where not allowed), and the best possible personification of room temperature IQ.’
August 24th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
@Asim
Your super hero who you are defending so much again didn’t picked Younis Khan and Sarfraz Ahmad in the team, does he has any shame or integrity if he thinks that he is not being given the right team then why he doesn’t quit and stand up against PCB. Why he is acting like a dummy?
As regards Farhat when I think he is capable of leading our team I will for sure back him up.
August 24th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
All the criticism is on Mohsin Khan that he is acting like a puppet What about Afridi is he any different?
August 25th, 2010 at 7:02 am
@Asim –
I think Afridi was just playing games and trying to look innocent. Plus, that’s more of an insult no?
August 25th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Stani, who said I like Smith? He’s among my least favourite Proteas. Now remember.
August 25th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
@sunny –
Too late, it’s all arranged
August 25th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
That’s okay. I’ll arrive with a gun at the spot.