At the moment, PCB is desperately trying to get out of the pit.
It’s been eight years.
Last time they played at home, Afridi’s century was the fastest ever. Anwar’s 194 was the highest individual total in an ODI. Asif was at his best. Akhtar and Yousuf hadn’t retired. Misbah hadn’t arrived. Amir hadn’t been banned. Their people would go and watch them play on their own turf.
Since then, Afridi’s record has been broken twice. So for Anwar’s 194. Amir got banned, served five long years and got back. Asif is yet to see another day. Younus became their best ever Test batsman. Misbah came, conquered and is set to go.
But International Cricket is yet to return.
When the questions surround the efficacy of a PSL final in Lahore, there is a fair bit of logic and common sense behind them. How handy would the outcomes be?
There are reasons to believe that it might not achieve what it is meant to. It might not even help Pakistan’s image across the cricketing circles. In the end, it could be a futile and silly exercise.
But PCB finds it so tempting that they think they need to give it a go. Could be it reassures themselves and their people - that they can do it.
Practicality is not a challenge here.
But feasibility is a big one.
Despite all the necessary evils of the post 9/11 developments, for years they enjoyed cricket in their own grounds. No one even thought of the remote possibility that one day, all this would evaporate. That Gaddafi could be the epicentre of an antagonism, none would believe.
In the aftermath, PCB didn’t help itself.
Why would someone else then?
A year goes by, and Lords happens.
Giles Clarke, the voice they needed the most to spread the word and address Pakistan’s isolation at ICC, refuses to greet Amir who was the player of the series.
The pit gets darker and wider.
Over the last few years, however, there have been consistent attempts by PCB to reincarnate a belief that Pakistan could host International Cricket like others do. Even though the returns didn’t meet the targets but it is fair to say they tried a lot.
What failed them?
There were quite a few external factors that they were in no position to control. Obviously, they couldn’t tell Obama when to pull out of Afghanistan. And, they couldn’t convince Modi to sit well with the CPEC. And also they couldn’t assure Mumbai attacks issue be resolved on table.
Every time, an India Pakistan series is in the offing, Mumbai 2009 blocks visions.
Pakistan always want to play India. India never wants to. This inflicts millions of dollars on PCB’s pockets. But BCCI is never short of excuses.
PCB, under Sethi, has posed itself well. In 2014, they also arranged a tour for Ireland. They were all set to turn it on. But one terrible night, Karachi airport came under attack. Ireland refused to visit them.
Zimbabwe asked for a lot. They paid it. Zimbabwe toured them. The opening match against Zimbabwe was not a low-key game. Not just a match, it was a celebration across the country. They thought they had made it. But they didn’t know a bomb had to explode just outside Gaddafi.
No one has toured them since.
No one except Zimbabwe has visited them in eight years.
Their grounds stay empty. Their wickets lay barren. Their stands echo silence.
Out of this desolation, they seek a revival. And don’t forget; they are desperate for one.
PSL has done all the yards for this one final to be held in Lahore. They have spent nights carving it. FICA came in their way. They sought Giles Clarke’s help again. His visit helped a lot. Only three weeks ago, a PSL final in Lahore was the likeliest. People were asking for special passes even before the inaugural ceremony could begin.
Now, the pit isn’t that dark.
There is a hope, a bleak line of white light approaching the tunnel.
But suddenly, it happens again. Once again, someone loses his mind. Once more, the lively and cheerful Mall Road records a carnage. Once again, they are in the middle of nowhere.
In the premise of disaster stands tall PCB, a Cricket Board that wants to convince the world that - Cricket must not stop.
It’s been eight years.
Last time they played at home, Afridi’s century was the fastest ever. Anwar’s 194 was the highest individual total in an ODI. Asif was at his best. Akhtar and Yousuf hadn’t retired. Misbah hadn’t arrived. Amir hadn’t been banned. Their people would go and watch them play on their own turf.
Since then, Afridi’s record has been broken twice. So for Anwar’s 194. Amir got banned, served five long years and got back. Asif is yet to see another day. Younus became their best ever Test batsman. Misbah came, conquered and is set to go.
But International Cricket is yet to return.
When the questions surround the efficacy of a PSL final in Lahore, there is a fair bit of logic and common sense behind them. How handy would the outcomes be?
There are reasons to believe that it might not achieve what it is meant to. It might not even help Pakistan’s image across the cricketing circles. In the end, it could be a futile and silly exercise.
But PCB finds it so tempting that they think they need to give it a go. Could be it reassures themselves and their people - that they can do it.
Practicality is not a challenge here.
But feasibility is a big one.
Despite all the necessary evils of the post 9/11 developments, for years they enjoyed cricket in their own grounds. No one even thought of the remote possibility that one day, all this would evaporate. That Gaddafi could be the epicentre of an antagonism, none would believe.
In the aftermath, PCB didn’t help itself.
Why would someone else then?
A year goes by, and Lords happens.
Giles Clarke, the voice they needed the most to spread the word and address Pakistan’s isolation at ICC, refuses to greet Amir who was the player of the series.
The pit gets darker and wider.
Over the last few years, however, there have been consistent attempts by PCB to reincarnate a belief that Pakistan could host International Cricket like others do. Even though the returns didn’t meet the targets but it is fair to say they tried a lot.
What failed them?
There were quite a few external factors that they were in no position to control. Obviously, they couldn’t tell Obama when to pull out of Afghanistan. And, they couldn’t convince Modi to sit well with the CPEC. And also they couldn’t assure Mumbai attacks issue be resolved on table.
Every time, an India Pakistan series is in the offing, Mumbai 2009 blocks visions.
Pakistan always want to play India. India never wants to. This inflicts millions of dollars on PCB’s pockets. But BCCI is never short of excuses.
PCB, under Sethi, has posed itself well. In 2014, they also arranged a tour for Ireland. They were all set to turn it on. But one terrible night, Karachi airport came under attack. Ireland refused to visit them.
Zimbabwe asked for a lot. They paid it. Zimbabwe toured them. The opening match against Zimbabwe was not a low-key game. Not just a match, it was a celebration across the country. They thought they had made it. But they didn’t know a bomb had to explode just outside Gaddafi.
No one has toured them since.
No one except Zimbabwe has visited them in eight years.
Their grounds stay empty. Their wickets lay barren. Their stands echo silence.
Out of this desolation, they seek a revival. And don’t forget; they are desperate for one.
PSL has done all the yards for this one final to be held in Lahore. They have spent nights carving it. FICA came in their way. They sought Giles Clarke’s help again. His visit helped a lot. Only three weeks ago, a PSL final in Lahore was the likeliest. People were asking for special passes even before the inaugural ceremony could begin.
Now, the pit isn’t that dark.
There is a hope, a bleak line of white light approaching the tunnel.
But suddenly, it happens again. Once again, someone loses his mind. Once more, the lively and cheerful Mall Road records a carnage. Once again, they are in the middle of nowhere.
In the premise of disaster stands tall PCB, a Cricket Board that wants to convince the world that - Cricket must not stop.
2 comments:
Really a wonderful selection of words
Thanks man 😊
Post a Comment