Monday, March 19, 2007
Poor Pakistan!
What a World Cup Pakistan has had this time! Even during the preparations, there were problems with Akthar and then Akthar and Asif were declared positive in the dope tests. In an attempt to put up a façade of responsible behavior and at the same time to take care of practical needs, Pakistan cricket authorities tried to reduce the period of punishment meted out to these players only to be thwarted by the likely results of the doping tests that would be done during the World Cup.
So they came without their two main weapons to the Caribbean. Then came the upset. Ireland comprehensively demolished Pakistan after getting on the right side of the toss. This shock defeat along with the failure to exploit the favorable conditions in the match against the West Indies saw to it that Pakistan, a possible contender for the Cup or at least a semi final spot was pushed out of the Championship in the first round itself.
This huge setback must have been too much to bear for their coach Bob Woolmer. He was found unconscious in his room and was pronounced dead soon. Woolmer, an average player and a much better coach was known to have problems with various sections of Pakistan cricket world including some players like Shoib Akthar and had been going through a very difficult period. He must have reached a stage where he could stand the stress any more.
A truckload of internal problems, an ignominious first round exit, the death of their coach, these factors by themselves could combine to paralyze a cricket system for quite some time. And to crown the whole thing Inzamam-ul-Haq, their captain and best batsman has decided to retire from one day cricket.
I don’t know if Pakistan can recover from this crisis easily and quickly. Of course, true to Pakistan’s tradition, there may be patch ups, Inzy might again be batting three down in the one-dayers and a new-look Pakistan, temporarily rid of the dirt accumulated through the years and vibrant and hopeful may come back strongly.
