Sports | HiPakistan

Pakistan play India today in Azlan Shah Cup

The Malaysian city of Ipoh is going to host the biggest match of the Azlan Shah Cup Hockey Tournament 2011 on Wednesday when Pakistan will take on India in a must-win match. India have had a good run of form and fortunes against Pakistan in recent times as the Green Shirts have lost four matches on the trot played between the bitter arch-rivals.

However, absence of drag-flicker Sandeep Singh will dent India’s chances in this particular match while Pakistan are looking to come back on winning ways after losing two matches on the trot in the competition. Muhammad Imran, skipper Pakistan, while talking to reporters here Tuesday said that his team was determined to turn the tables against India. He said, “We are fully confident of breaking the jinx against India this time. The 5-1 loss against Australia will not hamper our performance. Tomorrow is the rest day and we will assess our mistakes and will do the best against them”.

Talking about the pressure, Muhammad Imran said, “Naturally there will be pressure. There is pressure in any India-Pakistan match. But it is wrong to say that they have an upper hand because of previous four wins. This is new match and what matters is the performance on that day”.

“?” Question mark on Captaincy of Shahid Afridi

Pakistan cricket team has always wonderful players. But when it comes to select one person for captainship then competition and leg pulling is always found among players. From some past experiences and matches Shahid Afridi proved himself as a good captain. He is not only a good player but proved himself a good captain who lead the team and made it unite during ICC World Cup 2011. It was due to the efforts of players and his captainship that from start till semi final, Pakistan lost only two matches. But these days one question is very much circulating among the cricket lovers that “will Shahid be the captain for next matches?”. Well, selecting a team captain should not be an experiment but this chance should always be given to the one who has experience of being captain in the Past.

As the PCB has announced Misbah-ul-Haq as the new captain of Pakistan ODI team. Misbah-ul-Haq will lead Pakistan on the Ireland series. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the decision after Afridi’s statement against team management and infighting in the national side. The PCB served a show cause notice on Afridi, after he made public his differences with coach Waqar Younis.

On the other side Shahid Afridi has said that some people interfere in his work, which is displeasing. On his return home Sunday morning after one-day series against West Indies, the national team captain said that he would soon be meeting the PCB Chairman.

Whereas the former cricketer Wasim Akram said Afridi should be made captain for a long term. Well we agree with the Wasim’s statements and request PCB to think over it. Conflicts always occur where there is a group of people but its effect should not be there on the major decisions.

Crises in Pakistan Cricket

Cricket is an interesting and commercial game. Being a commercial game a lot of money involved in it. Pakistan is a well known country in the world of cricket. It has produced many famous and well known cricketers who earned fame all over the world. Pakistan won world cup in 1992 under the captaincy of Imran Khan. Pakistan was also a world champion of T20 world cup.

Despite of this entire Pakistan cricket is facing a hard time in these days. The bad time of Pakistan cricket was started in March 2009, when terrorists attacked Sri Lankan team, and the fate kept on going worst till the recent events. Pakistani cricket has literally been starving as major cricket playing countries refused to play in Pakistan. Teams were already unwilling to come to Pakistan. Recent match fixing and spot fixing allegations over some Pakistani players are very dangerous and alarming for the future of the Pakistan cricket.

ICC is not treating well PCB. It is working against PCB with the help of BCCI. BCCI will never want see Pakistan cricket to make progress and earn a good name in the world. It is doing all In my opinion PCB is fully responsible for current cricket crises. Officials know everything but they were silent and took the matter easy. If PCB had punished cricketers legally who were involved in match fixing or spot fixing in the past, the situation would not be worst like this. Match fixing and spot fixing allegations have mad Pakistan cricket to bear irreplaceable losses.

Current PCB chairman is not fit for this position. He just posses the seat through political appointment by the president. Selectors are also taking political and financial pressure to select the teams, their personal likes and dislikes can also be seen in team selection. Potential Cricketers ignored by selectors, no merit criteria for selection.

PCB should play his to role to bring back the international cricket in Pakistan. It should have to convince the other cricking countries to play in Pakistan and ICC should help PCB in this matter. In my opinion international cricket will come back in Pakistan and soon Pakistan will host cricket series.