Ad-hoc judgements about players unwarranted

It is a matter of satisfaction that the force and strength of both the senior and junior cricket strings have been acknowledged at the international level and their box office attraction in Australia and Sri Lanka cannot be denied. However, one finds the rather discouraging the statement of the cricket chief that some of the players locking horns with the Australian and Indian packs Down Under in the trilateral series may be shunted out in the next schedule of duels.

The cricket enthusiasts are concerned over the feebleness of the batting-line as sometimes it is the top order which fails to click and the tail wags vigorously. On other occasions like Pakistan failing to romp home by just 15 runs against the Aussies at Melbourne it was the lower order, which much against expectations, panicked and could not attain the target. The cricket analysts and critics are within their right to comment on the result and the show of the team but when the highest cricket authority makes an adverse judgment on some of the players and talks of taking measures for fielding a new squad in the upcoming programme against Sri Lanka, can the stars involved in the tri-nation engagements in Australia put up performances to their optimal level? Besides, many would like to know if there are as much resources available in the country as to challenge Sri Lanka on an equal footing in the Test and the nascent encounters with a 'B' team?

Lt-Gen Tauqeer Zia specifically picked out Ijaz as a failure but soon the batsman was seen to be in full form striking hard and handsomely at the Australian and Indian bowlers. The stricture against the opening batsman was also quite harsh. Yet the next day there was a gusty innings from Shahid Afridi. One expected words of encouragement from a person presently at the helm of cricket hierarchy and not hard rebuke when they are facing the world champions and the top-rated set of international cricket.

It goes to the credit of the cricket chief, however, that despite objections, he, on his own initiative, despatched Waqar Younis to the Kangarooland. There was hardly any place for him in the mainstream squad, especially when speedster Shoaib Akhtar was later cleared by the ICC panel temporarily for the Australian part of the one-dayers. Waqar displayed his utility as a batsman and at times became a stumbling block for the rival bowlers to be removed. He worked hard, watched the ball carefully and stayed at the wicket obstinately in spite of the efforts of the rival bowlers to beat him with their artifice. His free hitting had been clever and was a delight to the onlookers at the Australian venues and those glued to the TV sets in the morning at home. However, his extras while bowling, especially the five wides in one single over against Australia, made his supporters sad. His pace too has considerably declined from the days when he was the danger man and called 'Burewala Express'.

Apart from Wajahatullah Wasti and Mohammad Wasim, who have not lived up to the expectations of the team as openers, perhaps there is no surplus player in the entourage. Azhar Mahmood, the young all-rounder, was unfit and may have been taken as an 'extra'. But his 67 and attempt at a rearguard action in the tie against India must have removed all doubts about his potential. Besides, he is an agile fielder at any position. Who has to be discarded if a second line of the conglomerate is to be built up? A stream of upsets with new faces will hit the morale of the senior players. Two separate sets - one for the Test matches and the other for the limited overs - is a far-fetched idea which can hardly satisfy the cricket enthusiasts and bring the desired end-result to the country.

As far as the cricket chief's plan for reshaping the domestic format is concerned the fans of the game are still waiting for it. Nevertheless, if the school and club-level cricket is given a priority many promising players may be discovered at the right age when their talent could be honed up. One cannot forget the old Rubie Shield which attracted thousands to watch and back up the budding cricketers at various venues of Karachi. Hanif Mohammad, Munaf, Wallis Mathias, Antao D'Souza, Khalid Wazir and Ikram Elahi to name only a few, were the products of that tournament. But where are the coaches of the calibre of Abdul Aziz and Harris. Then the Board will have to find the fields and get new grounds prepared for cricket activities round the year.

Whosoever may be behind the briefing given to the General about Karachi's cricket must have misinformed him for there is no lessening of the game's activities even during the holy month of Ramazan. Not only the association is organising competitions the clubs are no less enthusiastic about local contests. A large number of cricketers have found the chance to help the national outfit. Besides, even the players of other zones are stationed in this industrial and commercial city and usually assist one of the departmental teams. Are they not to be counted amongst its representatives? If at all the grass-root level cricket is going to be launched it is the turn of the Board to provide the facilities to the association and procure grounds for mass-scale grooming of youngsters. This has to be done at other centres as well.

One cannot but point out the non-compliance of cricket constitution by the chairman of the ad hoc committee. In the first instance he has to complete his set of ad hoc committee members for under the provisions of clause 41(1) it is mandatory. No advisory panel can replace or supersede the ad hoc committee members. Secondly, under the same clause, sub-clause 3, the ad hoc committee assumes all powers of the higher tiers of the board viz. the General Body and the Council.

Besides, according to Clause 27(5) a selection committee has to be constituted for its usual and routine work of watching the players, going through their records and then announcing a balanced team to be finally approved by the Council, which as one finds the situation is none other than the ad hoc committee chief. The advisory panel set up by him cannot intervene in the affairs of the selection, which is the normal practice in all the cricket-playing nations. The faces may change but a selectorial panel has to carry out its assigned role.