The walk from the main gate of the National Stadium Karachi complex to the stadium proper is nothing like the one to Gaddafi Stadium: much unlike Lahore, a line of untamed shrubs and wild flowers greets those who wish to make the little journey from the main gate to the enclosures. The National Stadium Karachi remains a picture of survival through neglect – fitting too perhaps, at least in the context of how Pakistan cricket is surviving in the face of international isolation.
The last time I made this walk was in November 2006, to watch Mohammad Yousuf break several Test records on the same day. This was also the day I made new and lasting friendships with people that I hadn’t known till then – something that forms part of my National Stadium Karachi experience till this day. That Yousuf didn’t disappoint, and actually got to two of records with boundaries on the on-side, just in front of our enclosure, adds to the memory. That Sania Bhabhi came to the National Stadium Karachi to cheer for her team, the Sialkot Stallions, is another tale to tell.
I made this walk again after some five years or so for the Faysal Bank T20 (FBT20) Cup, on a number of days during the past week. Of course, I could have been writing in euphoria of Shahid Lala having led the Karachi Dolphins to victory. Or even the unlikely success of Younis’ Abbottabad Falcons. But this was a tournament scripted to celebrate the return of Shoaib Malik into the national fold.
For us, Pakistani fans, the sub-plots it all has to offer – whether Misbah can survive the politicking that is bound to follow, what exactly was said during the two public heart-to-hearts between Shahid Lala and Misbah during their public interactions in the tournament, the dynamic of Malik ruthlessly leading his team to victory while both Lala’s Dolphins and Misbah’s Wolves limped out. Then there are genuine cricketing questions: how good is Raza Hasan? And didn’t he deserve a look-in for the Sri Lanka series too?
For a minute there, all of us would conveniently have forgotten that we live in the cricketing community with the same status accorded to us in the political world. That India now holds the key to our commercial success – and thereby survival – is discomforting; the fact that the International Cricket Council (ICC) sees fit to disband Pakistan cricket into isolation for a BCCI-backed initiative makes it worrisome to even the strongest champions of Indo-Pak peace.
That the FBT20 Cup was very successfully organised at the same time as the Champions League T20 (CLT20) was a tactical masterstroke. Of course, there were disapproving noises that the tournament had been shifted to Karachi; after all dengue fever isn’t quite so bothersome as targeted violence. The fact that the tournament went ahead at the same time as the CLT20 was meant to destroy the BCCI’s market, and simultaneously, prop up the PCB’s commercial returns from a Pakistani brand of T20 cricket.
Crowd interest was not very high when the tournament began, but as the week passed, the interest of the common Pakistani viewer in their domestic T20 league grew, and correspondingly, any interest in the CLT20 waned. Stadium began to fill beyond capacity too, this being a tournament in Pakistan.
The FBT20 even became news on Cricinfo, the ‘world’s leading cricket website’ by the time the semi-finals and final came around. Till then, the Pakistani T20 matches were merely a sideshow to the CLT20. Scorecards and commentary had to be searched for, especially on the mobile version of the website. But even Cricinfo had taken notice.
For the PCB, the FBT20 was a resounding success: not only were Pakistani audiences successfully drawn away from the CLT20, but a point hammered into the ICC that the Pakistani brand of T20 cricket cannot be ignored.
In terms of the Pakistani market, and supporter sympathies, this was a failure of the ICC. Many would like the PCB’s act to be cleaned up, but then many would also like to see Pakistani teams compete in the CLT20. Whatever little interest there may have been in the CLT20, the ICC lost a large commercial market in Pakistan.
Perhaps Karachi and Lahore are ready for international cricket again, or perhaps not. Pakistan has no control over other teams’ decision to tour or not. But Pakistan does deserve a fair hearing, and the same parity and treatment that all other boards get from the ICC. If the ICC has any claim of being independent of the BCCI’s whims and wishes, then Pakistani teams should be allowed into international level cricket at the earliest. This isn’t a market you would ignore.
By the way, the Stallions would spank both the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians. The Stallions are unbelievably good. And just how good is Raza Hasan? He has a doosra, you know.
Ahmad Yusuf, You seem to be another Pakistani who suffer from an over dose of high school boy type of patriotism and sickly self delusions of superiority. Do not blame BCCI for your isolation. You inflicted upon yourself and you deserve it. You are in the business of first licking the boots of your would be benefactor and when he refuses to oblige you start badmouthing him. Same stroy happening with USA. Did BCCI make this big mouth Butt you PCB chairman ? Did BCCI's cameras caught Afridi chewing on to ball ? Did BCCI stop you from arresting attackers of Sri-Lnka cricket team in Lahore ? Did BCCI collected all the evidence of Mohammad Asif, Amir and Salman Butt's match fixing scandals ? Other than terrorism in Pakistan, what good is happening in Pakistani cricket ? BCCI doesn't need to spend resources to isolate PCB. Your Govt, officials and players are same like you – super patriotic, low on skills and temprament and high on controversies, bravado and empty boasting. You morons always have a conspiracy theory ready to blame someone for your sorry state. But it is funny. Thankyou.
Yes the only good thing is your umpire Aleem Dar and Asad Rauf. I like them.
Wow, comment-flaming? Not idiotic at all, no sir. Beyta apna mulk sumbhalo, hum apna sumbhal lengey. Supremacist idiocy kaheiN aur dekhana.
FBT20. heard the name 4 the 1st time. oh the author is so inflated with his country’s cricket. too much proud. can we take a test 2 know how many people know about this FBT20 & so funny pakistanis blame everything on indians & next day they will say attack on srilankans in lahore,spotfixing is also due 2 india .
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