Pakistan Cricket’s Panic Button: Players Pay the Price as Accountability Goes Missing
In the middle of a series, Pakistan pressed the panic button – and how. They have sent seven players home from England, removed the coaches and tried to make an example of them. But what example? One of disrespect and humiliation? Of insult and abusive behaviour? By doing what they have done, what signal are they sending to other players in Pakistan? What signal are they sending to coaches worldwide and, most importantly, what signal are they sending to their fans?
Players are on the chopping block. Coaches have been removed. But what about the officials? Why not a word? Why this total silence of convenience? How are they not accountable? How is it that no one will say a thing to them and they will continue to function as if nothing happened?
The truth is that players are soft targets and sacrificial pawns. You can treat them with disdain and get away with it. And given that you are in a position of power and can harm people, no one will dare question your authority. The situation is as bad as it can possibly get. Ego, attitude and entitlement – Pakistan cricket, and sport overall, have fallen prey to each of these attributes of the political class in charge of sports governance.
I am not for a moment saying the players have played well. They haven’t. But if you hear things in the dressing room about your Board threatening to boycott the match and the series, what mental state will you be in to continue? How can you focus on the task at hand?
Take the case of Salman Agha. I had the opportunity to meet Salman in Birmingham a month and a half ago, and must say I was impressed with his vision for the game in Pakistan. He was asked to step in as captain in the first Test and was then dropped for the second. Now, he has been sent home ahead of the third. It is just ridiculous, to say the least. How do you assess a player on the basis of one Test match in England? And that too when he was entrusted with the task of captaincy at the very last minute?
For far too long, these things have been allowed to pass in Pakistan. For far too long, players and commentators have kept silent. Finally, we are seeing men of influence start to speak up. It was good to see Osman Samiuddin, noted journalist and author of The Unquiet Ones, tweet about the ill-treatment being meted out to the players. You need to speak up, for the sport is the only loser in the end.
Spare a thought for these players. They return home in ignominy and are staring at an uncertain future. More importantly, think of those who are now on their way to England. What chance will they have with no time to acclimatise and no time to get used to the conditions? How do you even expect them to turn the tide in a situation when the team is mentally down and out?
But then, this is the story of Pakistan, and it just doesn’t change.
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