Just like cricket is considered religion in India, just as cricket is every man's passion in our country, just like cricket is life in India, it is considered no less in Pakistan. Cricket in Pakistan is equally magnetic and massive in magnitude. The expectations that all of us have from the Indian cricket team and the pleasure we derive in watching the men in blue thrash oppositions is akin to all the Pakistanis watching their home team.
Pakistan, historically speaking, boasts of a much glorious past in cricket than India. They, from the very beginning of the first world cup were a big name in the sport. Barring the first edition of the world cup in 1975, where they were sent home in the first round, they consecutively reached the semi finals of the next three editions and finally won the most coveted prize in the game in 1992 under the inspirational leadership of Imran Khan. However, after exiting from the quarters and being runners up in the next two editions respectively, Pakistan cricket started to fade away. The team performed extremely poorly, much to the dissatisfaction of the Pakistani cricket fanatic in the next two world cups where they were knocked out in the first round on both occasions.
However, it is very sad that Pakistan cricket has taken a major hit in the recent past. It is a pity that the cricket has suffered in Pakistan because of the political disturbance in the country. Because of the huge political unrest and terrorism Pakistan cricket has only moved backwards. Pakistan is in a state of anarchy. Taking into account the last 5years, have been miserable for Pakistan cricket and completely disintegrated the team. Obviously Pakistan lack inspirational leadership qualities after the retirements of sporting legends like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, but this is not the sole reason for their decline. The political anarchy in the country coupled with massiveCONTROVERSIES has hit the team's morale and self belief. To begin with, Pakistan hold the infamous record ofthe only forfeited Test in cricket history -August 2006.Pakistan found themselves embroiled in a ball tampering controversy in England. The Inzamam led Pakistan team, was penalized 5 runs after Darrell Hair, upon examination, and said the ball had been tampered with.Pakistan did not come back to continue play after going into the dressing rooms at the end of the session, resulting in the only forfeited match in Test history.Later, the Pakistan team was again cleared of any wrongdoing and Darrell Hair was banned from umpiring again; however Pakistan was banned for 4 further games and the match itself was awarded to England. Then came the incident: whenShoaib Akhtar, and Mohammad Asif were banned for using steroid nandrolone in October 2006.Just before the Champions Trophy kicked off, the Pakistan team was dealt a severe blow when they had to send back Shoaib Akthar and Mohammad Asif after they tested positive for using nandrolone. Akthar was handed a 2 year ban while Asif was given a 1 year suspension.Next wasPakistan's World Cup catastrophe and death of coach Bob Woolmer in March 2007.This must rate among the most ugliest controversies any team could've been involved in. Following Pakistan's World Cup fiasco in which they lost to lowly West Indies and then much more surprisingly to Ireland in a make or break match, came one of the most shocking news to rock world cricket when Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died in a hospital after he was found unconscious in his hotel room. The Jamaican police had found the death to be mysterious and an enquiry ensued. The Pakistan team was questioned to see if there was any involvement and eventually cleared.Moreover, due to the political state of the country almost every team refused to play in Pakistan after theAttack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in March 2009.Pakistan's hopes of showing the world that their nation was safe as a host received an enormous blow, when the touring Sri Lankan team came under a tirade a bullets aimed at them by gunmen outside the stadium in Lahore. The attack resulted in 7 fatalities and injuries to 6 Sri Lankan players and a coach. Pakistan's right to hold matches in the 2011 WC was then withdrawn because of security concerns and the matches were shifted to the other sub continental countries.That was not the end of it. The team was then a part of aDisaster tour to Australia and bans on players - Feb 2010.After the calamitous tour to Australia which saw them lose all their matches, the PCB decided to launch an enquiry which resulted in major changes. Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan were banned indefinitely from playing for Pakistan, while five other players (Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal) were dealt with less severe punishments. The most recent and shocking blemish to taint Pakistan cricket was when they were accused ofSpot-fixing allegations in August 2010.The Test at Lord's between England and Pakistan would be remembered more for three no-balls rather than the superb performances by Stuart Broad, Jonathan Trott, Mohammad Amir or Graeme Swann..Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Asif and Test captain, Salman Butt were in the middle of a spot fixing firestorm that brought back the ghosts of the match fixing controversy in 2000.The three players were provisionally suspended for allegedly accepting money from agent and bookmaker Mazhar Majeed to deliberately bowl no balls during at specific times in the match. After this,Pakistan's desperateness to find an inspirational leader was now really vital and led toMisbah Ul Haq being named new captain in October 2010.The roller coaster ride to find the right man to lead Pakistan continued with Misbah-ul-Haq being named Pakistan's 4th Test captain in 2010. A lot of criticism came pouring in from all quarters, with many questioning Misbah's appointment as captain when he failed to even hold down a regular spot in the team. This came as a result of Younis Khan (who was incidentally the first choice to lead Pakistan) not having approached the board and promising no further disciplinary issues.
Misbah found support from the likes of Geoff Lawson( The coach that time).The latest of the controversies to hit Pakistan and perhaps the most extraordinary was the flight of Pakistan keeper Zulqarnain Haider, in the middle of an ongoing series. Pakistan were shaken to find out that their first choice keeper had gone missing hours before their virtual final against South Africa in 2010.Haider had left for the United Kingdom after he was allegedly threatened for life for not helping fix matches. The sudden disappearance made its impact in UAE as Pakistan succumbed to a 57 run defeat and ended up losing what would've been a morale boosting series win.
Advice has come in from far and wide, with many ex cricketers of the opinion that corruption must be rooted out. Pakistan have followed the ICC's advice and taken stern steps in ensuring that their players do not get involved in another troublesome situation. Only time will tell if these measures have the desired effect, and for now the Pakistan and ICC authorities will hope that they done enough to pull out corruption that is affecting Pakistan cricket from the core.
Pakistan have for long proved that their brand of cricket is entertaining, unpredictable and is always played with a never-say-die attitude. And many would be hoping that the controversies that seem to be following them do not affect them much on the field or else we would be deprived of watching one of the most exciting cricket teams in full flow.Pakistan themselves will be hoping that all that they've been through these past few years is like the darkest hour, just before dawn. I hope so, too.Pakistan, now are looking like a much better team. There was a huge boost to the team when they won the T20 championship in 2009 and were runners up in 2010. Finally there was something to cheer about for the cricket followers in Pakistan.It is a pity that the cricketers and cricket have suffered in Pakistan due to political problems and also till a certain extent the problems in the team itself. But then every team has its problems. It's not a big thing. The major reason for their decline was the political state in the country. It will be wrong to solely blame the internal team problems for their decline. Its not right for the sport to suffer due to politics and terrorism. The players and fans are not at fault but have to bear the consequences.Cricket having suffered because of reasons not in the hands of the cricketers and fans is shameful and very saddening for the common die hard Pakistani cricket fan.
On a brighter note, Pakistan has been performing brilliantly in this world cup and looks like having found a charismatic leader in Shahid Afridi. With no one giving Pakistan much of a chance in the world cup 2011 and labeling them as dark horses, the question is can Pakistan cricket come out of the blocks finally all guns blazing. With the team thrashing every team till now in the world cup barring one loss to New Zealand they have reached the semi finals where they will face either India or Australia. As an Indian cricket fan I hope India wins but also truly and sincerely hope for Pakistan cricket fans to get something to rejoice about. Hopefully they can put the past behind and pick themselves up with determination This is a true test of the strength of their character and of their mental toughness, if Pakistan can win this world cup, it will not only shock the world in awe of their amazing feat, but will also spread massive happiness back home.
Shahid Afridi
If Cricket needs to come back to its best in Pakistan, they need this world cup to resurrect Pakistan Cricket at the right place. Enough of talking has been done and now it is time for Pakistan to talk on the field. Come On! Make the People of Pakistan Smile at least by Cricket if not by anything else! With this team already in the semi finals nothing looks impossible and hopefully they can conquer the world cup. With the present form and captaincy, anything is possible. They have been amazing everyone till now in the tournament with their stellar performances. Hopefully dawn has finally come for Pakistan cricket and hopefully this team can finally rise and meet the expectations of the million Pakistanis to provide them with something joyous after so many years of struggle struggle and struggle. Pakistan is the like wounded tiger, or in the great Imran Khan's words The cornered tiger' , the term which Khan used to inspire the team during the 1992 world cup when Pakistan seemed out of the race having won only one out of their 4 games.
