Khan vs The match-fixers

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Dear Mr Khan, some of us are rooting for you, mainly because the other options are worse. People say you appear to care about this country, even though you’re rather muddled. Well they are correct at least as to the last where for example on the one hand you rightly point out that Gen Kayani has no authority to negotiate with foreign governments, and on the other you threaten to block NATO supplies if American drone attacks on Pakistani territory do not stop.

May we point out that you have as yet no mandate to take any such action?

As for caring about the country, it is hard to get much out of you beyond a ranting tirade against just about everyone, and you’ve made your point. We know they’re all crooks, and going on about it is bringing you to a silly point.

How about a clear indication of what you and your party aim to achieve, and how you’re going to achieve that aim. Give us some valid reasons for giving you that mandate mentioned above, for trading Mr Ten Percent for Taliban Khan. To put this in cricket speak, you’re zooting around, all the while the asking run rate has gone up. This is not a five-day Test match, but a tense One Day game playing out on an international arena. It is not a game you can play by marching long marches, or lying around on the ground, pillow or no pillow.

It is time to play with the meat of the bat, a well aimed double wicket maiden, maybe even a hat trick, with a well considered field placement. Please note, I’m trying to use your language, which, if you ever form a government (which appears highly unlikely at present), I foresee creating some misunderstandings vis a vis the Americans…say if you described yourself as playing an ‘orthodox game’, after Abbottabad, that is.

Coming back to the present game and to the batter now on strike, he’s a real match-fixer, which you called him yourself. The aim of his side is nothing beyond staying on the field and out of the pavilion, even at the cost of the rest of the team, the game, and the country. They’re proving too expensive.

So what’s your strategy since you wish to play against them? Which players are you picking, what will your field look like? And how are you going to get the stands to support you instead? The hoi polloi in the stands may be undiscerning, yet it matters. If nothing else, it tossed the coin that brought that team in to bat, and they could do the same for you, or not.

You need to play a captain’s innings once again, so take the time off rhetoric to get your eye in and consider the field.

This is a very poor, an impoverished wicket. There are too many players near the boundaries, too far away from the game. The ball never goes their way, and the wicket is a distant dream. They must be brought in, given an opportunity to bat and toss the ball. As matters stand, they wait all day in the sweltering sun never getting a touch at the game, sawn off if ever they do. Can you change that?

Make it a level playing field. Get some good rollers and decent grounds men; make a difference. Ensure that your team plays the right shots. We’ve had too many agricultural shots and feudal cricket which uproots the turf and ruins the field. We’re sick of such play. We want an educated game, a good match. Can you provide that?

Give us some first class cricket; farm out the ferrets, the free hitters, the gougers and the hacks. It’ll be a bit like trying to pick lice out a dense matted coat, but you could at least try.

We need peace within our team and on the field. We crave a good leader, a captain who’s not in league with the bookies, one who will bend his back to the job himself. In this game of limited overs we need some fours, plenty of sixes, and as many centuries as possible. Otherwise, we lose the match. And yes we remember your great match all those many years ago, but its no use reminding us about it unless you can do it again. As a start we’d be happy with some regular singles, so long as you can stop the ducks and outright collapse. Are you in form for that?

 

13 COMMENTS

  1. What an article. I hope Imran Khan reads it and memorizes it. Ms. Rabia Khan has written in Imran khans’ language and it should not be difficult for him to digest it.
    Imran Khan is living right now, like other politicians, on mere slogans and has yet to create an impression of visionary intellectual and seasoned politician. Personally I do not doubt his integrity and intentions but he seems to lack maturity. Being anti -establishment and anti- West is no politics. He needs a better vision. He needs a workable manifesto. In fact we have yet to see his manifesto. Other than that We do not Know who is around him. Can he name few expert economists, some foreign policy experts, national security advisers or educationist who would be part of his team to govern?
    Few Years back I had a chance to listen to him in New York. He was invited by the U.N. Journalists Association. My impression was he lacked depth of knowledge and probably he still does. He should realize that in the modern history President Clinton's and President Obama's success was a result of their intellectual depth, grasp of economic and international affairs and deep understanding of human psychology. He should read and listen to their speeches, particularly of Mr. Clinton. No screaming, no shouting, Just soft, direct, honest, in depth heart to heart address to the masses. That is how these two Presidents achieved the miracle of success.
    Rafatullah Khan
    New York

  2. I made a mistake by writing Ms. Rabia Ahmed as Ms Khan. Sorry.
    Rafatullah Khan
    NY

  3. Concise yet incisive!.. Hopefully Khan sahab reads the newspapers and his eye catches this one!

  4. Mr Rafatullah Khan, it seems your interested in Pakistan's politics but clearly lack a good source to follow it. Is he anti-western? Can you please elaborate because you'r clearly wrong there, just as the writer is by calling him Taliban Khan. Secondly you clearly dont know his team which is shocking since his party is the only with 'expert economists, some foreign policy experts, national security advisers or educationis..' for all i know. It is easy to criticize where as it wouldn't harm if you just open the website http://www.insaf.pk for a change.

  5. Imran khan's policies are well established, they have 90 days plan, The reason they are not making it public is because N-League always try to occupy the crease on someone else's idea. Let me tell u miss Rabia, God has to send Angels from the heaven to satisfy people like you. He might commit mistakes but two things that will make each and every youngster vote for him is that he never backs down, he is honest and he will learn from his mistakes. He is a very good administrator and he won't lie to us. ! Have you ever visited the tribal areas ? How the hell can you their mentality then and if a guy is trying to negotiate peace you label him with "Taliban Khan" ??

    Perhaps you need a detailed session with a pyschatrist when Imran will clean sweep in the upcoming elections inshaAllah !

  6. regarding above comment " how can you know the mentality of the tribal area people if you never visited them, they are also pakistanis"

  7. It seems that madam were having a super sonic democratic,justice and super power pakistan which lost in the middle and she need someone super natural to get it back? It is amazing that an indivisuals from a wripped off nation with million time deceptive democarcy and highest corrupt society and mindset and currently the words most dangerious place writing in way that she live in wonderland. Dear madam, First Deserve then Desire…Ateast learn to respect some one who is one in million who atleast delievered you some thing without your mere never counted vote.

  8. My God ! There is something wrong in the air of Pakistan. Not a single coo and logical response. Everybody seems to breath fire,boiled up, angry and highly emotional. You express you opinion and you are anti establishment, anti government, anti PPP, anti Nawaz Sharif and anti Imran Khan.
    "Anti IK anti Pakistan." Give me a break. That is why we have brought our beloved Pakistan to the brink of disaster. There is no rational thinking any more.
    R. KHAN
    N.Y.

  9. i'm not sure if I'm supposed to be participating in a debate generated by my own column, but for everyone's information, I admire and respect Imran Khan. I think he is head and shoulders a better person than most other people on the political scene today. He means well, I think, and has certainly proved his compassion and generosity by means of the Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Lahore. I am also aware that support for IK and his party has gone up many fold in the past few months. I am one of those who supports him. It is for this reason and not because I enjoy criticising anyone that I have pointed out his deficiencies, which, in my opinion for what it counts, are many as a politician. I hope that by hearing what we have to say about him he can improve his performance, if he sees fit to agree. He may be honest, but he is naive. He has not presented us with solutions, just criticisms of all and sundry. Please learn to take criticism, Pakistan needs debate more now than ever before. Criticism can be offered without any malicious intent, as mine is in this column.. Thank you all for reading my article, I appreciate each and every comment, whether it agrees with my thoughts or not.. God bless.

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