The Pakistani view

A fine piece from Osman Samiuddin, friend and roommate from two very enjoyable Pakistan tours. It's difficult for an outsider to even imagine just how badly this decision will affect Pakistan cricket, and we can only hope that cricket doesn't eventually become a gang of four. The very fact that Pakistan have no Test cricket overseas till next July is a shameful indictment of the FTP.

Comments

[neilsrini]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7595572.stm

the right decision

[nelsrini]

The other interesting thing about this political move is the way South Africa positioned themselves. Since the political masterstroke by the BCCI to invite Saffer back to cricket with a tour in India we have had their vote. But nobody wants to live in a marriage where you are only there for the vote and you do not get a say. It may just be a split or it may be the beginning of a divorce but Saffer seems to have healed the wounds of sporting extinction and as the worlds second best side is (possibly best in 1-2 years time) they have found their feet and their independent voice. It is for the good of world cricket.

By the way if Manmohan Singh is worried worried about the security of a nation against the new power vacuum in Pakistan, Ricky Thomas Ponting, Graham Smith and everyone else in the world is well within their rights to not want to "Open their minds".

[nelsrini]

Dileep. The thing is this decision has nothing to do with Pakistan or the security in Pakistan, and you and I both know it. If an Indian side think they can tour safely then any side can tour safely in Pakistan.

The fact of the matter is that over the past 1 year, the scum at the BCCI have been flexing their muscles at the old powers. They want to show off their asses and their gold. They demand that English counties not play ICL players, they ban a county from the lucrative champs league because of some ICL based whim. They create an IPL that threatens the FTP and the security of other domestic competitions (KP doesn't even want to play for England and he is the English captain). They stamp their feet about rules and umpires (Hair et al.). They stamp their feet wanting every other world cup to be held in Asia. And they do it by the old shoddy politics of Indian business and the power of democracy (India, Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh almost equal a majority on their own).

Such Putin style politics is not good for cricket (its just not cricket) and you and I know that. The balance needs to be readdressed. People need to realize that world cricket is not the same without all teams playing. Australia and England are as much of a draw as India. And so the old powers have clubbed together and given the upstarts a bloody nose by playing them at their own game.

Pakistan cricket will suffer; in life there is always someone who has to suffer. But it is for the good of world cricket that the balance is restored and autocracy is put back in its place. Suddenly "You do what Asia does or we go without you and don't give you the money" is no longer a valid argument. This is a seminal moment in world cricket but one that in the long run we will look back on as a force for good. It will force opposing sides to work together. In the end Pakistan cricket has and always will be a rag tag with no domestic structure, that by the power of sheer genetics will produce genius' time and time again. This is not the end for Pakistan, they will have their moment in the sun again one day.