Shoaib Akhtar Ban : Personal Vendetta or Disciplinary Action
By Sameer Shaharyar • Apr 2nd, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 8 CommentsI am quite perplexed over the 5-year ban on the speedster Shoaib Akhtar. I am confused over the fact that PCB has given 5-year ban, which is very unrealistic and I am very much suspicious over the behind the scene motives of this decisions. PCB is not foolish enough and neither the Dr. Nasim Ashraf to garner more troubles for them at this point in time when the performance of the team is all time low, and players are enticed towards ICL, IPL and county cricket and no foreign team except Bangladesh is willing to visit Pakistan.
This decision seems more political than anything else. Dr. Nasim is a very close friend of President Pervez Musharraf, who is also the chief patron of the Cricket Board. This Shoaib Akhtar decison has made Dr. Nasim Ashraf a villian in the country, courtesy to the media. Tune in any channel and you will see Shoaib Akhtar lashing out at the Dr. Ashraf. On one channel Shoaib Akhtar has even made allegation that Dr. Ashraf is asking him for money to play in IPL.
There is no doubt about the fact that the ban is cruel and I would say that it’s unrealistic and the way media is projecting it and the politicians like Hanif Abbassi are rallying behind the player, the matter has more to it then it is visible upfront. This decision would be rolled-back and the days of Dr. Nasim are numbered. This is more a ploy to get rid of the chairman of cricket board than anything else.
There is also not question about the fact that Pakistan Cricket was never so much devastated than now. During the reign of Dr. Nasim Pakistan lost everything. There is no bench strength now and there is no influx of the new talent. Team is divided harshly, and the coach is just a puppet and the lamest of the lot. It would be a good thing to get rid of Dr. Nasim. Dr. Nasim should sense the direction of the wind and step down himself and save him some dignity. He is no more wanted by the king makers.
Shoaib Akhtar is no angel at all, and the way he is bleating in front of media and crying that “What Have I done?” and blah blah blah is funnily disgusting. He has always been a problem and will remain so. He has never delivered consumately and has always given black spot to the good name of country at home and abroad. Along with Dr. Nasim Ashraf, he would also be a good riddance.
Following is the chronology of disciplinary actions taken against Shoaib Akhtar according to media reports.
Sept 1997: Dropped from Pakistan one-day squad for a series in Toronto on the basis of tour manager’s report of an earlier visit to England by the ‘A’ team.
Dec 1999: Banned for illegal bowling action.
Feb 2000: Banned for a Test and fined Rs50,000 ($1,800) after breaching players’ code of conduct on tour of Australia.
Jan 2001: Banned for illegal bowling action for a second time.
Nov 2002: Fined 50 percent of match fee, banned for one One-day International for throwing a bottle into crowd during a Test in Zimbabwe.
Dec 2002: Suspended one-Test ban for ball tampering.
May 2003: Banned for two ODIs and fined 75 percent of match fee for ball tampering during a tri-series match in Sri Lanka.
Oct 2003: Banned for one Test and two ODIs for using obscene and offensive language towards South African Paul Adams in Lahore Test.
Dec 2004: Fined 40 percent of match fee for taunting batsman during Test in Australia.
Jan 2005: Fined 25 percent of match fee for excessive appealing in ODI in Australia.
Oct 2006: Banned for two years for testing positive for nandrolone. Ban lifted on appeal two months later.
Aug 2007: Fined $5,000 for leaving training camp without permission. Fine suspended on appeal.
Oct 2007: Banned for 13 international matches and fined Rs3.4 million ($120,300) for four breaches of discipline including striking team-mate Mohammad Asif with a bat before World Twenty20 Championship in South Africa. Also put on two-year probation.
April 2008: Banned for five years by PCB for violating code of conduct while under probation period.
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I have been following Pakistan cricket since the first World Cup in 1975. I don’t recall any other Pakistani player who got himself in so much trouble on his own. Imran and Sarfraz had their issues, Wasim and Waqar never really liked each other, Miandad’s contribution to Pak cricket never truly recognized by Imran & Co, but none of them could match Shoaib in terms of getting in trouble and giving bad name to Pakistan.
At the same time, I think we have an idiot leading the PCB. I mostly support Musharraf but this was one of his mistakes to appoint Dr. Ashraf. He may have contributed positively to Human Development area, but the guy is joker when it comes to his role as PCB chairman. During his tenure we have seen greats like Waqar and Miandad treated shamefully and a cricketer who finds it hard to even earn a place in the Test team is leading the side now.
This is a hard one to take sides but overall I believe that Shoaib could have been handled in a better way if we had a different person leading the PCB. Shoaib is very talented and his skills should be utilized in a more focused manner and at the same time all players should be treated equally when it comes to discipline and commitment.
Amazing..everything you just said in the beginning …you nullified them in the end by giving figures of disciplinary actions against him…if the Chairman has made a good decision (which u support)
“He has never delivered consumately and has always given black spot to the good name of country at home and abroad. Along with Dr. Nasim Ashraf, he would also be a good riddance.”
Then how is it a political decision???
I think, Sir, Mr. Shaharyar…you need to make up your mind…?
Or are you so used to pulling everything into the Presidency…that it just happens?
Reagrdless of who is head of the PCB - a player of Shoaib Akhtar’s erratic behavior should be punished even more severly. Lets not philosophize too much on this one. He is a bad seed; a sleage bag. It must be clear to all the others in the team now or later that such spoiled brats are not welcome in our national team. He is not well and needs serious counselling the kid is on a mission of self destruction. Help him, I suspect he is in great trouble with himself!
Typo again: Please read above # 3 “He is a sleaze bag.” I mean this Shoib Akhtar.
I think we are forgetting the fact that he was on probation not to break the PCB rule of conduct EVER AGAIN after he tried to take Asif out with a bat in the dressing room. He was warned that any further violations would lead to a life ban. That is what has happened, he spoke out in the media against the PCB’s dual policies again and thus violated their code of conduct.
He deserves it..people think he has made us famous? yeh he has made the whole world realize that we are a bunch of drug taking cheats. Who needs recognition like that?
Can’t say anything. I have no love for the chairman of PCB and I just hate Shoaib Akhtar.
Shoaib says he was offerred money to loose games in Johannesburg and India but due to patriotism didnot accept it.. If this true after removal of salim malik ,azaruddin etc and killing of Hanse cronje . This should be investigated by the PCB thoroughly. Who all got this offer? did some players fall victim to temptation? This must be investigated. Also who made the offer in Johannesburg and India and what was their demand etc?
Shoaib is no angel but his allegations require inquiry for the benefit of game in subcontinent.Pakistan which used to produce naturals like afridi,waqar ,wasim etc are at the bottom.
Let us give the disciplinary committee a chance to give its verdict without any pressure. The organisations must be allowed to work. Many things which they know, which we do not.
We must not involve our personal liking or disliking for shoaib akhtar in pressurizing the PCB to change its decision.