Make no mistake, I give the guy props for at least representing the Pakistani perspective (and in decent English, thank god). Sadly, the PCB’s inertial frame defies human understanding, so the poor guy’s columns always read the same way, the ad-hoc way the Board is run, decrying the lack of a constitution. That’s in addition to the standard and constant ghaur-o-fikr on how to give our batsmen a modicum of technique, our fielders some enthusiasm, and our bowlers some consistency. Occasionally he’ll come up with something fresh, like suggesting Yasir Arafat (whose jersey inexplicably reads ‘Arfat’) as a replacement for Sami, but generally it’s just a repetitous look at the shortcomings of the team and some harmless barking at the Board. Call it the Subcontinental Reporter’s Dilemma.
Abbasi’s latest blog entry is a fine example of this (and the complementary Subcontinental Fan’s Dilemma). I wish there was a point to commenting there but it’s little more than cathartic self-consolation, given that no one has (or should have) the patience to read all the comments that have come before it. Luckily enough, I have a blog. (‘Ooh, forgot about that!’)
Stepping past the obvious (we need stability, we need our spearheads back, Younis must grow into the captaincy, technique on bouncy tracks must improve, etc.), it needs to be said that his comment that “the Pakistan Cricket Board isn’t known for its ethical purity” is negligent, bordering on libellious. Their history, controversial as it may be, reveals no more unethical behaviour than that of the other boards, or even of the ICC itself. They’re an easy mark, but criticising them makes no sense here. As for whether they do ban Shoaib and Asif, that remains to be seen and until they pass judgement, glib, smarmy comments are nothing short of frivolous.
And lest anyone forget, these may be Pakistani players on trial, and Pakistan accused of wrongdoing, but at least the PCB had the integrity to stand up and take some action — the Sri Lankans refuse even to test their players! So quit your pontificating.
(Note, I’ve quit mine — which was proportioned to begin with — for several weeks now. Now I just present a considered opinion that you should accept as fact. Do it, c’mon, do it.)
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