Time for a new beginning in Pakistan cricket has come

There is no doubt that Pakistan cricket is passing through a turbulent period after the nation's expectations from its champion cricketers ended in a most humiliating ouster from the World Cup.

Of course, it is no disgrace even if the team is defeated. But what hurt most was the defeatist attitude which the team displayed throughout the mega event. Never once Waqar Younis's men offered any semblance of playing as a combined unit.

As soon as Pakistan's campaign met an appropriate end in the city of dead kings, which is otherwise known as Bulawayo two weeks ago, many were anticipating widespread changes both in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as well as in the team. But none was forthcoming whatsoever. To start with, Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, arguably the most powerful figure to head the cricket board, announced that he was not going to quit come what may.

The General instead formed a farcical review committee to conduct a post-World Cup postmortem.

Wasim Bari, the subservient chairman of selectors also decided to stand firm when the need of the hour called for a straightforward resignation of the three-man national selection committee.

Not to be left behind, Waqar Younis decided to take a similar stance during a press conference in Lahore last week and vowed he won't step down as captain since he felt that he was fit enough to play.

Several senior players had proclaimed before leaving for South Africa that the World Cup was going to be their final hurrah. But once they arrived home, some of them like Rashid Latif and Saeed Anwar publicly declared their ambitions of carrying on playing. Their viewpoint was clear: to lift the team out of its present predicament.

However, there was one exception when that overpaid coach, Richard Pybus, mercifully opted to sever his links with his unappreciative pupils.

Pybus, the 42-year-old English-born who is not even known that well in South Africa where he now resides, was hired thrice by PCB before the current World Cup but each time he failed to achieve the desired results.

General Tauqir had already made it clear that he's not going to tolerate the seniors who let the nation down. An astonishing volte-face from a man who was unabashedly acquiescent, giving in to every whim and fancy of the players, particularly Shoaib Akhtar.

Shoaib was one of the prime reasons behind the resentment shown by players during the World Cup because he was given preferential treatment by the large contingent of team officials.

Why can't the aging Pakistani professionals choose a dignified way of finishing their international career. Already, this World Cup has seen the last of many greats of the modern era. Allan Donald, Andy Flower, Jonty Rhodes were unquestionably masters of their respective trades.

Aravinda de Silva is another outstanding individual who is about to close the chapter on a distinguished career, probably on Tuesday if Sri Lanka are unable to win their semifinal against Australia.

By sticking to his guns, Waqar is heading for a similar fate that Shaun Pollock had to face when he was sacked as South Africa captain.

Seniors like Wasim Akram, Saeed, Rashid, Inzamam-ul-Haq and of course, Waqar himself should decide their own fate. They mustn't let the PCB take the drastic step of showing them the door. After all, they had been, in their prime, undisputable champions.

To be honest, PCB should seriously take a future course of action with a magnifying glass on the World Cup 2007. A majority of the current seniors, therefore, don't fit into the scheme of things.

At the same time, PCB should ensure, in all sincerity, that the rebuilding phase takes a slow but positive step forward. There will be setbacks initially like Australia endured between the late 1980s and the middle of 1990s. West Indies, who once were the indomitable superpowers, are gradually showing signs of coming out of cliches like mediocrity, worthless, miserable etc. But all is not lost in Pakistan's case. There is always time for a new beginning, provided the efforts are wholehearted. This is an ideal opportunity for General Tauqir to show his true mettle and weed out the troublemakers - be they players, officials or his subordinates - altogether.

Identify a pool of talented players for the future, reinstate Moin Khan as captain, appoint Javed Miandad as coach and a strong disciplinarian like Majid Khan as manager.

Let this bunch gel together for a considerable period of time - prime example being Australia with Ricky Ponting/Steve Waugh sharing captaincy, John Buchanan coaching and Steve Bernard managerial duties - so that a strong and competitive Pakistan team emerges.

This is the only way out of the current crisis that afflicts Pakistan cricket. Many experts have been saying, quite vocally, that Moin should be asked to take over the captaincy of the national squad.

Former Test players Hasib Ahsan, Sarfraz Nawaz and Salahuddin Ahmed believe that Moin is the best alternative to lead the team in the wake of recent dismal performance.

Moin, for his part, has been keeping himself in shape by his tireless contributions on the domestic front, where he is a regular, ever since he was unceremoniously sacked as Pakistan captain in April 2001.

The gutsy wicket-keeper/batsman with his never-say-die attitude has kept his aspirations for a recall to the Pakistan side alive with sterling displays in the national championships. Recently he piloted PIA to the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy title.

Moin is probably the only player who was groomed, at the start of the 1990s, to lead the senior team. Over the years, he led Pakistan juniors, Under-23 and 'A' team squads in addition to captaining the country to the Hong Kong Sixes title.

At the age of 31, Moin has still a lot to offer to a side which desperately requires his motivational skills and determination.