Every time I think I have fully conquered the meandering roads of life and that this is a horse I can ride with confidence, enter Pakistan cricket and then I say to myself: “No madam, you’ve still haven’t seen everything in life.”
It often makes me remember the lines from Robert Frost: Miles to go before I sleep!
Miles to go before our Cricket Board is straightened out, sadly!
I am sure you’ve guessed that I am referring to the recent rather comical situation surrounding the Pakistan Cricket Board, where It is difficult to keep track of who the chairman of the PCB is. The situation is both comical and sad!
In the last one year, we’ve seen three gentlemen sitting on the converted chair of the chairman, taking possession of the beautiful yet rather large corner office allotted to the chairman – which also comes with the added privilege of being the best seat in the house both in terms of cricket and political jostling, it seems.
As a veteran journalist and a cricket commentator, I have experienced that wonderful view many a times during the era of Shehryar Khan sahib, Tauqeer Zia and perhaps a few other cricket-loving gentlemen, so I can understand the desire to own that office. What I can’t understand is the office changing hands on a fortnightly basis.
Whether it’s Ramiz Raja , Najam Sethi or Zaka Ashraf, I feel it’s unfortunate that their hand is forced in a way that they willingly vacate the esteemed office – or at times they are forced out.
A chairman should be allowed to enforce his vision and complete his tenure once given the coveted opportunity to run the cricket affairs of this passionately cricket-loving country.
My nature as a person is that I am an optimist and someone who believes there is a solution to every problem. So how do we resolve this sticky one? Well it’s quite simple: let’s depoliticise this position of the chairman.
No matter which political party is ruling the country, the chairman elected – not selected – should be able to run the course of his tenure. He should be able to pursue his vision. Otherwise, I am afraid Pakistan cricket would suffer and no individual or political party in Pakistan wants that. We all love cricket and frankly, in my lifetime, I haven’t seen any other facet of our lives giving us the kind of happiness that cricket gives, in spite of massive confusion and disarray at various levels in our country. Cricket is a constant and a saving grace, so let’s not ruin it by politicising it. Let’s leave it unsullied!
I would urgently like to appeal to the government to view this scenario with empathy and decide with their counterparts that they will rescue our most loved sport from mass destruction and run it independently in the future.
Let’s hold free and fair elections according to the constitution of the PCB, and then, whoever wins, he or she shan’t be touched until their term ends.
Let the governing body – which should comprise of senior broadcasters and former players headed by the chairman – run cricket affairs smoothly without the political sword hanging on its head.
There’s my solution and I’m sure that every genuine cricket lover would agree with me!
Every bone in my body stands with my argument, because I have devoted my life to this sport and I can’t bear to see it crumble like a cookie. Let its fate not be like that of other great sporting institutions, particularly those around hockey and squash.
Our cricket will flourish even more if the PCB is a strong and stable institution. So, let’s not weaken it for personal and political gains.
I hope better sense will prevail!
It often makes me remember the lines from Robert Frost: Miles to go before I sleep!
Miles to go before our Cricket Board is straightened out, sadly!
I am sure you’ve guessed that I am referring to the recent rather comical situation surrounding the Pakistan Cricket Board, where It is difficult to keep track of who the chairman of the PCB is. The situation is both comical and sad!
In the last one year, we’ve seen three gentlemen sitting on the converted chair of the chairman, taking possession of the beautiful yet rather large corner office allotted to the chairman – which also comes with the added privilege of being the best seat in the house both in terms of cricket and political jostling, it seems.
As a veteran journalist and a cricket commentator, I have experienced that wonderful view many a times during the era of Shehryar Khan sahib, Tauqeer Zia and perhaps a few other cricket-loving gentlemen, so I can understand the desire to own that office. What I can’t understand is the office changing hands on a fortnightly basis.
Whether it’s Ramiz Raja , Najam Sethi or Zaka Ashraf, I feel it’s unfortunate that their hand is forced in a way that they willingly vacate the esteemed office – or at times they are forced out.
A chairman should be allowed to enforce his vision and complete his tenure once given the coveted opportunity to run the cricket affairs of this passionately cricket-loving country.
My nature as a person is that I am an optimist and someone who believes there is a solution to every problem. So how do we resolve this sticky one? Well it’s quite simple: let’s depoliticise this position of the chairman.
No matter which political party is ruling the country, the chairman elected – not selected – should be able to run the course of his tenure. He should be able to pursue his vision. Otherwise, I am afraid Pakistan cricket would suffer and no individual or political party in Pakistan wants that. We all love cricket and frankly, in my lifetime, I haven’t seen any other facet of our lives giving us the kind of happiness that cricket gives, in spite of massive confusion and disarray at various levels in our country. Cricket is a constant and a saving grace, so let’s not ruin it by politicising it. Let’s leave it unsullied!
Whether it’s Ramiz Raja , Najam Sethi or Zaka Ashraf, I feel it’s unfortunate that their hand is forced in a way that they willingly vacate the esteemed office – or at times they are forced out
I would urgently like to appeal to the government to view this scenario with empathy and decide with their counterparts that they will rescue our most loved sport from mass destruction and run it independently in the future.
Let’s hold free and fair elections according to the constitution of the PCB, and then, whoever wins, he or she shan’t be touched until their term ends.
Let the governing body – which should comprise of senior broadcasters and former players headed by the chairman – run cricket affairs smoothly without the political sword hanging on its head.
There’s my solution and I’m sure that every genuine cricket lover would agree with me!
Every bone in my body stands with my argument, because I have devoted my life to this sport and I can’t bear to see it crumble like a cookie. Let its fate not be like that of other great sporting institutions, particularly those around hockey and squash.
Our cricket will flourish even more if the PCB is a strong and stable institution. So, let’s not weaken it for personal and political gains.
I hope better sense will prevail!