Salahuddin did a post on his World Cup dream a little while back. I would like to mention mine. He spoke about his desire to see Australia not win this World Cup. I would like to see Pakistan make it to and beyond the Super 8’s. Just today I read that the captain, coach and team management were aiming for the semis. A few months ago they might have been aiming for the finals or even the cup.
I guess its true, you’ve got to redefine your idea of success according to your goals. And you’ve got to redefine your goals according to your resources. Today, the Pakistan cricket team’s goals are not anything beyond the semis. Even the semis seem like a far cry looking at their current form and condition. Hence, the sceptic in me says they’ll bow out in the Super 8’s, while my optimistic side says that they’ll make it to the semis. Either way, my goal for my team is to reach the semis. If they do, it’ll be a success.
Note: Shoaib and Asif are now out of the World Cup. I’ve spoken about Shoaib in an earlier post. Shoaib disappoints once again. Peter Roebuck writing for the Sydney Morning Herald says that he believes that Shoaib is an imposter. I can’t 
disagree. When the whole drugs scandal happened all the people were hoping and praying was that somehow these two players would be let off and they were. They gave the nation hope and then let them down. I can’t comment on the so called ‘injury’, but to wait till the eve of the World Cup to annouce their departure leaves a very unsettled unit with a lot of players who might not be confident about their place in the team. Here is the article that was published in the Sydney Morning Herald where the writer literally rips Shoaib apart.
Why Shoaib Akhtar should never again set foot on a cricket pitch
Peter Roebuck
THANK goodness Shoaib Akhtar has been ruled out of the World Cup. He will not be missed. He does not belong on a cricket field anywhere, let alone representing his country in the game’s most prestigious event. An impostor whose reputation relies on a handful of bursts spread over a career lasting a decade, he has been more trouble than he is worth.
No captain, no team, has ever been able to rely on him. Throughout, Akhtar has been more interested in the glamour than the graft. His image as a charming rogue conceals an outlook that has damaged the reputation of every team he has represented. Far from sustaining a great tradition of fast bowling in his country, he has undermined it. Worse, he has taken emerging players with him. Now he has been exposed as a drug cheat. The game is up.
It’s always worth looking at a player’s history. Hansie Cronje’s decline began well before the bookies. Akhtar’s failed drugs test was merely the latest episode in a career notable for its want of scruple.
Over the years he has also been suspected of throwing, and worse. His devastating burst against the Australians in Colombo a few years ago was as illegal as it was theatrical. Repeatedly the speedster moved wide of the crease to unleash inswinging thunderbolts with an open chest. Admittedly, Akhtar has an unusually flexible elbow that bends well beyond the straight. Suffice it to say that he took full advantage of his attribute. This was merely one instance. Whereas Brett Lee worked hard to correct flaws detected in his action, Akhtar refused to change.
Akhtar’s willingness to mess with the ball was evident in the same contest. Although they were loath to admit it, the umpires repeatedly scrutinised the ball and were clearly unhappy with its condition. Subsequently Akhtar’s county colleagues talked openly about the methods he used to disrupt the ball. No wonder umpires keep a wary eye on his comrades. Darrell Hair might have overstepped the mark at The Oval but his concerns were well founded.
Akhtar’s doomed attempt to take part in the forthcoming World Cup was the last straw. Everyone has been blaming the ICC and Pakistani authorities for the debacle that followed the failed drug tests, especially the overturning of the bans by a dimwitted court of appeal. Although it seems to have escaped the attention of our discredited government and especially its senior law officers, democracies are committed to due process. Akhtar was entitled to his day in court and those responsible were bound to accept the verdict. Clearly, stronger international structures are needed. At least the Pakistanis tested for drugs, a duty not yet undertaken by several other Test-playing nations. And at least the ICC found a way to scare Akhtar enough to convince him to withdraw.
But let us not dwell upon the inefficiencies of the system. Akhtar is the culprit. At the first time of asking - it was the first test to which Pakistani players had been subjected - high levels of nandrolone were found in his system. Recreational drugs are none of sport’s business but steroids must be stamped out. Cheats must not prosper. Akhtar was exposed.
That the same performance-enhancing substance was also detected in the bloodstream of a junior colleague made matters even worse. Now Asif, too, must miss the World Cup, the first of his young career. Akhtar was supposed to set a proper example.
Last week Akhtar flew to London, ostensibly to see specialists about various ailing limbs. Sceptics claimed he was merely avoiding further official examinations. He could not afford to be caught again and reputedly want to check his levels. A lifetime ban awaits second offenders. Private tests must have confirmed his fears. The nandrolone had lingered. Evidently, Asif faced the same predicament. It’s amazing that both men should be forced to withdraw at the same time. Akhtar says his injuries have not healed enough to allow him to play. His mother may believe him.
Far from capturing the imagination as a swashbuckling paceman, Akhtar swiftly deteriorated into a strutting caricature. It is high time stumps were called on an increasingly demeaning contribution. Barely a month ago Akhtar took the new ball for his country. It was enough to make the stomach churn. Not that he lasted the entire match. A lot about Akhtar’s attitude, not to mention his fitness, could be told from his slow trudge back to his distant mark. The prospect of him appearing at any stage of the World Cup was bad enough. The thought of him opening the bowling in the final was offensive. Thankfully it is not going to happen. It is to be hoped that Akhtar never again darkens fields he was supposed to illuminate.
But let us not dwell upon the inefficiencies of the system. Akhtar is the culprit. At the first time of asking - it was the first test to which Pakistani players had been subjected - high levels of nandrolone were found in his system. Recreational drugs are none of sport’s business but steroids must be stamped out. Cheats must not prosper. Akhtar was exposed.
That the same performance-enhancing substance was also detected in the bloodstream of a junior colleague made matters even worse. Now Asif, too, must miss the World Cup, the first of his young career. Akhtar was supposed to set a proper example.
Last week Akhtar flew to London, ostensibly to see specialists about various ailing limbs. Sceptics claimed he was merely avoiding further official examinations. He could not afford to be caught again and reputedly want to check his levels. A lifetime ban awaits second offenders. Private tests must have confirmed his fears. The nandrolone had lingered. Evidently, Asif faced the same predicament. It’s amazing that both men should be forced to withdraw at the same time. Akhtar says his injuries have not healed enough to allow him to play. His mother may believe him.
Far from capturing the imagination as a swashbuckling paceman, Akhtar swiftly deteriorated into a strutting caricature. It is high time stumps were called on an increasingly demeaning contribution. Barely a month ago Akhtar took the new ball for his country. It was enough to make the stomach churn. Not that he lasted the entire match. A lot about Akhtar’s attitude, not to mention his fitness, could be told from his slow trudge back to his distant mark. The prospect of him appearing at any stage of the World Cup was bad enough. The thought of him opening the bowling in the final was offensive. Thankfully it is not going to happen. It is to be hoped that Akhtar never again darkens fields he was supposed to illuminate.
What about you Mr. Haqqani ?
Haqqani also has a career in government. He served as an advisor to Pakistani Prime Ministers Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, Nawaz Sharif, and Benazir Bhutto. From 1992 to 1993 he was Pakistan’s ambassador to Sri Lanka.
This excellent article is a wake up call for Pakistanis.
It does not matter what Haqqani’s past, present or future is - why can’t we grow up and focus on our country’s future and learn from what is being said rather than who is saying it. All we seem to want to do is kill the messenger rather than listening to the message. We need to save a failing state that is our homeland.
I think the moderator quoted above misreads Prof. Haqqani’s commentary. Prof. Haqqani is saying what should happen while the moderator calls his analysis simplistic on grounds that it will not happen.
The distinction between “should” and “likely to” is significant.
Also, I agree with KarachiGirl that criticizing the messenger instead of listening to the message is not a good idea. Husain Haqqani served in Pakistan’s government and had a political career but that was many years ago. For the last 10 years he has been one of the major political columnists, writing first for ‘The Friday Times’ and then ‘The Nation’. Nowadays he is recognzied internationally as one of the most well known political scientists from Pakistan.
Anyone can disagree with him but, considering that Pakistan has produced more physicians and computer engineers than political scientists let us not run down the few have. For example, Henry Kissinger also served in government, and was responsible for many controversial policies, but Americans still respect his knowledge and analysis.
OK, instead of pointing fingers, lets work towards a solution.
I for one think that the in-efficiency of an government lies in the strength of the motivation and spirit it came into power with.
Some of the other tactics that the government applied in the recent past have some what back fired. Death of Mr. Bugti, the bombing of a training camp in Wana, and many more. I wanted to bring this up because I, now, consider them as a relatively in-effective methods. Eliminating ‘political (char)actors’ with force only catalyses the negatives. Because we are very poor at damage assessment and control, unlike our Western counter-parts, we are usually at sixes and sevens after our actions.
Pakistan is indeed a weak shape now. Pressures from international parties are piling up as they want answers and results. Only few of them (like Taliban leader Obaidullah) have been provided. But for a fact, that we as a nation are intolerant to advice and instructions has led us to bad times with bad decisions.
The political climate inside Pakistan is another story. “Grab what you get” is the name of the game, with hundreds of new one man parties that want a piece of the dough while they are at it.
We as a nation need selfless, fore-seeing, and able leaders who dont have have liposuction, hair-transplant and other materialistic desires on their minds.
We need change of mindsets.
Peace.
The last two paragraphs pretty much sums up the ‘State of Pakistan.’ Although I whole-heartedly agree with the author of Pakistan’s problems, I do have one issue: It is irresponsible (especially for a ‘political scientist’) to throw everything into one box and then label it as the state of the country. It suffers from the idea that everything that happens in the world (or in fact the country) is the fault of the State of Pakistan when there are clearly other interests at play. For example:
(1) The Samjhota Express incident has/ had nothing to do with the state of Pakistan. Even though the culprits are yet to be identified since it blew up inside the border of India it does not relate to ‘an effective state at home.’
(2) The fact that the government took a long time to ban Al- Akhtar and Al- Rasheed trusts. Clearly, there are national interests at stake and as such, these two trusts were and have been engaged in truly charitable work with respect to helping the people at home. When such is the case, and there is also evidence of involvement in ‘terrorism’ then the state’s action I think has to be measured in the sense of ensuring that enquiries are made as to facts (which takes time) rather than immediate. Although, I would not be surprised that the State in that case took action late based on pressure rather than facts and that is wrong both on the State’s part and Mr Haqqani’s (in not making that clear) from what can be ascertained from his view.
I agree with most of what Phil says.
My only comment is that politics has its own dynamics. I think we should embrace the dynamics of politics rather than hoping for some miracle workers who will set everything right at the same time.
Other countries begin with a constitution and then move on sometimes with good and sometimes with bad leaders. The military guards the borders, the politicians run the country, the technocrats work in their own respective fields. Some generals, politicians and technocrats are great, others don’t perform so well. But the system moves.
Why can’t Pakistan be like that?
If my doctor is not good, I look for another doctor. I do not go to a physicist to come and operate on me. The same way, when we have bad politicians we should look for good ones. The army has no business taking over.
Right now the priority should be to put the Jihadi genie back into the bottle. That requires cooperation between Musharraf and all the secular politicians. Musharraf will have to accept the right of politicians to do politics in return for their supporting military action against extremists. Then military and civilians all work in their specific spheres and we restore the writ of the state in accordance with the constitution.
I would rather see the writ of the State restored first so that a ‘jihadi’ or another common man engaged in a wrong under the law is brought to justice, rather than ‘bottled up’ for later appearance.
My disagreement stems from my agreement with someone that once said you can put the Jihadi in the bottle/lamp but not the jihad.
Hola faretaste
mekodinosad
I do not agree with your “a power-hungry general’ . It should in all fairness also add Power Hungry Civilan Kleptocratic Elite of Pakistan. Sipha-e-Sahba and all the extereme organization was formed under the very eyes of Civilians Klepto Rulers of Pakistan. If there any indepent investigation held today most of these Kleptocrats including Bhutto and Sharif will be ending in Jail. It’s shame at the end of day blame is given to the military and the Civilian thieves plundering the wealth of Pakisatn tapped on the shoulder. Perhaps Haqqani should also analyze as an insider the wrong doing of the previous failed civilian regimes, which none of the so called “elites” of Pakistan has not done so far. Wrong doing of one dooes not automatically makes the worong doing of the other parties right.