Pakistan Cricket Board succeeds against all odds (II)

The summer of 2010 is going to be a treat for Pakistan cricket fans as the national team will play six Tests as well as ODIs and T20s against Australia and England in England. Furthermore, even the Indian cricket authorities have shown their willingness to resume cricketing ties. One hopes that they can be fit into the team’s packed calendar at some point. The PCB chairman’s own lengthy association with the game is showing its worth when it matters most.

Knowing well the PCB’s significance, it is no surprise that there are some individuals who are maligning the board, the players, and Pakistan cricket in general for obscure reasons. Keeping in view the last year’s tumultuous events and the fact that the cricket team members enjoy star status in Pakistan, it is not surprising to see the desperation of certain individuals trying to get their 15 minutes of fame at the expense of Pakistan cricket.

The attack on the Sri Lankan team rather than uniting the so called critics behind the national game seemed to expose their hypocrisy almost as much as the men who thought that firing at cricketers was a brave endeavour. While the Sri Lankans were standing shoulder to shoulder with us in our time of need, the critics seemed upset that the PCB hierarchy did not chase the terrorists themselves! However, two facts have clearly shown that the only purpose of certain individuals is to play the role of Dr Doom, and they can always be heard whenever the national team suffer a defeat or some uncontrollable act takes place.

The Lahore High Court has published a full report on the events surrounding the attack on the Sri Lankans. Not one of the many misguided individuals known as critics has bothered to read or analyse the report. Why would they? After all facts are something they are immune to because facts expose them for the frustrated and ill informed people that they are. Similarly, in a wide ranging interview on a local channel PCB chairman Mr Ijaz Butt stated that he was not in favour of playing the fateful 2nd Test in Lahore. However, he was given assurances to the contrary. The chairman showed what he is made of by refusing to divulge any names or personal attacks at a time where anybody having a bad day is allowed on Television to froth at the mouth on any issue they see fit.

Nevertheless ‘facts’ are always ignored because, after all, why look for facts when any person willing to spread lies is afforded space in the national press. The unworthiness of an individual to write on a subject that he has no clue about is never an issue for these critics who see fit to comment on the affairs of the board as if it is a trashy ‘Soap Opera’. Maybe it would be a good idea to organise a nationally televised game of critics so the whole country can see what they really know about the game.

While it is totally fair that former cricketers and those who have been actively involved with the administration of the game comment from time to time regarding Pakistan cricket, it is highly unfair that individuals having no cricketing pedigree promote themselves as critics.

Despite the absurdities written in some publications by so called critics there must be a reason why Mr Ijaz Butt seems to always be in the line of fire?

One reason has become quite clear in recent times. Mr. Ijaz Butt’s predecessor at the PCB had earmarked a massive amount of Rs 553 million under administrative expenses. Mr Ijaz Butt has in fact saved an amount of over Rs 120 million from the budget outlay of the previous management, and further reduced by 36 percent the total outlay for administrative expenses in its first budget that will cover the 2009-2010 fiscal year. Now all that cost cutting doesn’t leave any room for paying people to waste the boards’ money and time for their alleged ‘expertise’.

In other words since huge amounts of money are not being doled out to unworthy individuals a lot of people (mainly the same ‘passionate’ critics frothing in newspaper columns) are angry with Mr Ijaz Butt. He is not letting them run away with the board’s money as was the practice in previous administrations where all sorts of exorbitant money was doled out to undeserving and unqualified people.

Various sources from within the current PCB administration have confirmed that since Mr Ijaz Butt took charge at the PCB, there is a massive cost cutting. This austerity drive has saved the PCB’s money. After all it was Mr Ijaz Butt’s administration that released the details of the past ‘loot and plunder’ and that must have annoyed many since most of the self styled analysts and critics found writing rubbish in their columns were in fact beneficiaries of this largesse!

The year 2010 will see plenty more of this useless banter from these self styled critics. Whenever the national team lose a game for whatever reason they can be found spitting venom in the hope that the can find a place back in the board and make more money.

Despite the childish accusations against Mr Ijaz Butt, the PCB chief remains focused on the many issues confronting the game. Having secured a packed calendar of cricket for Pakistan to securing $12.5 million in compensation for the World Cup 2011 to the efficiency and diplomacy shown by the PCB in getting our players an opportunity to play the IPL, Mr Ijaz Butt can be pleased with his 2009. After all we won a World Cup after 17 years! The recent meetings of the ICC Special Task Force on Pakistan cricket is a good omen for the eventual resumption of international tours and one hopes that Mr Ijaz Butt, who knows how to do his job, keep on working for betterment of Pakistan cricket.