As usual Pakistan cricket is in the eye of a storm with the PCB being showered with advice from all quarters. What is the issue? Saeed Ajmal’s name has been omitted from those being considered for the ICC Awards which on the face of it is blatant injustice. Ajmal’s record speaks for itself and no one in his right senses can dare deny it. But the politics of cricket at the international level has its own dynamics and is a force to reckon with.
Unfortunately, we are more often than not at loggerheads with the ICC. It is here that we have to mend our fences and improve our relations with the rest of the cricketing world. We must also realize that the ICC is dominated by India primarily because of its financial strength and India notwithstanding all the talk about “Aman Ki Asha” is no friend of Pakistan cricket.
Having said all this I would urge the PCB not to boycott the awards ceremony – we will only end up looking like sour losers. Ajmal’s performance is there for all the world to see and such awards will not make an iota of difference to what he has achieved. As for the former greats who are urging a boycott, all they are doing is making things difficult for a young and promising side. And one last question: why are the two Pakistanis who were amongst the selectors so quiet which is surprising considering that when they are on television they can hardly stop speaking?
PARVEZ MASUD
Lahore
