It’s been a long time since I’ve blogged on the site. If anyone has any suggestions for desigupshup feel free to give us a shout!  Since I tend to be the sports writer I’ll get everyone in on the latest scoop that’s taken the whole cricketing fraternity by shock. Recently there was a terrorist attack in Lahore, Pakistan where the 3rd day’s play of the 2nd test match in a series of 2 was about to begin. The terrorists targeted the Sir Lankan cricket team and the attack was carried out somewhat successfully. A lot of the grenades thrown did not actually blow up, but several players, personnel and officials were injured. Injuries varied from just pieces of shrapnel to bullet wounds in the leg and chest. The driver carrying the officials died and one umpire was shot.

It was Team Pakistan’s luck that on this particular day their bus left 5 minutes later rather than together like they usually do or it might have been worse. I would say that this could be this a mere coincidence as luck was on their side that day. However let’s just quickly look at the trend from the past summer onwards in terms of security rated by the words of the Sri Lankan team personnel. The Asia Cup was held in Pakistan in the summer of ‘08 – great. The Sri Lankan team came for 3 ODIs in January – great (and this a direct result of India cancelling their series with us for security reasons after the Mumbai blasts). The 1st test of this series in Karachi – great. However when they came to Lahore, the security was quite different. So different that our own Imran Khan said and I quote: “The security provided to the Sri Lankan team was ten times less than what is given to interior ministry adviser Rehman Malik”

These are the facts and I am not going to be criticising anyone or anything here. What’s clear is that simply Pakistan messed it up. Why, we don’t know. However because of this little mishap no country will be visiting Pakistan for nearly 1-3 years potentially and that is if things get better. The people as always have been the ones to lose and no one else. The terrorists got their attention and they don’t even deserve it. Other security issues from back when Benazir was assassinated and onwards have resulted in Pakistan losing the Champions Trophy already, something that would have done Pakistan wonders on the world stage and financially.

So on a lighter side, I feel the there are a few music artists who are trying their best to try and do something about this. I will take Shehzad Roy’s example here. In his newest album: Qismat Apnay Haath Main, it is an album meant for the masses and youth love in Pakistan. He has released three videos so far, the first being Laga Reh – a very thought provoking song, second was Ek Baar – one of the love ballads in the album, Zindagi ft. Abida Perveen – beautiful music and video, was released long before the album as a special feature for Zindagi Trust (his philanthropic organization), and the newest one was for the title song Qismat Apnay Haath Main – very well written. I might also add that Shehzad Roy has penned the lyrics for nearly all the songs himself. This is the one I would like to showcase today! I would encourage all readers to see all the other videos I have mentioned here, as I’m sure you will like them like I did.

It really makes you think doesn’t it!

I’ll write back soon…Hassaan.

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What was to be, what is, and what will be? This year has been very bleak for cricket in Pakistan (no thanks to the political situation), which actually tends to help the country out in times of need.

To sum up the facts of what exactly happened to the Champions Trophy ‘08 that was supposed to be held in Pakistan, here is a timeline brought to you by cricinfo.com

Timeline

May 1, 2006 – The ICC awards the 2008 Champions Trophy to Pakistan

March 11, 2008 – Australia postpone their tour to Pakistan over security fears

March 19 – ICC says Sri Lanka will be the alternate venue

June 18 – Official launch of Champions Trophy June 19 – Ricky Ponting says Australian players are uneasy with touring Pakistan

July 6 – Pakistan successfully stages six-nation Asia Cup

July 24 – ICC keeps Champions Trophy in Pakistan after board meeting, high-level task force appointed

July 24 to 26 – Players lobbies step up pressure to pull out; Kevin Pietersen urges ECB to make Champions Trophy decision; Graeme Smith has ‘major concerns’

Aug 10 – ICC task team travels to Pakistan to assess security

Aug 12 – ICC drops Rawalpindi as one of the venues

Aug 14 to 17 – Geoff Lawson deployed by ICC to convince Australia and New Zealand; the task force, along with Lawson, meet Australian officials; New Zealand and Australian players’ associations remain unconvinced; ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat briefs England team

Aug 19 – Top ICC officials meet in Dubai, announce teleconference for

August 24 Aug 22 – South Africa withdraw from tournament

Aug 24 – ICC postpones trophy until next year, Pakistan keep hosting rights

For a quick 101 on the unknown names: ICC=International Cricket Council, Ricky Ponting-Captain of the Australian team, Kevin Pietersen-South African ex-pat who is now Captain of the England team, ECB=England and Wales Cricket Board, Graeme Smith-Captain of the South African team, Geoff Lawson-Coach of Team Pakistan (he is an Australian).

Now that the facts are out of the way, it is now time for the opinion.

This is probably the worst thing that could have happened to Pakistan, because I feel the spirit of the game has been tarnished by other issues when it does not have to be. Security is and always will be an issue everywhere in the world, not just in Pakistan. A large point to take into consideration is that sport has never been a target of terrorism or at least it has never been proven to be. Seeing that Australia already pulled out of a bi-lateral series tour that was supposed to be held in March-April of 2008, this was even more catastrophic for Pakistan.

Australia have agreed to come for a full tour having the Test series in March of next year and the ODI series the following year. The Asia Cup was held in July in Pakistan with six participating nations without so much as a hitch in security. However the rest of the non-Asian bloc countries’ players still feared for their safety. They were guaranteed security in the same capacity that is given to visiting heads of state! However all the players were skeptical about whether or not the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would be able to pull off these security measures. Seeing as how the decision has been made to postpone it to September of 2009, there is not much we can about it. The PCB stood to make US$7 million from the postponed Australia series and the Champions Trophy.

At this point in time since this year’s cricketing calendar was pretty empty for Pakistan due to the postponement of these two tournaments, the PCB is trying to fill in the gap with a tri-series in South Africa with the third country being Sri Lanka. Everyone is just awaiting the news on whether or not this little tournament will emerge or not so that we can see Team Pakistan in some real action!

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Team Pakistan have announced their 15 man squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan and it includes Shoaib Akhtar! A lot of his comeback has to do with sheer luck from other bowler’s suffering injuries and legal battles that were put on hiatus to allow him to play.

After being banned for five years for many things piling up together, from the likes of: hitting his team mate and fellow fast bowler Mohammad Asif with a bat, being tested positive for the anabolic steroid Nandrolone, not following protocol set on his central contract in the form of giving his opinion to the media whereby putting down the PCB and chairman Dr. Nasim Ashraf without permission, and various other scuffles; he was cleared to play in the recently concluded Indian Premier League playing for Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders team and doing very well at that!

After that tournament, the verdict was brought down that he would be banned for five years. He obviously appealed this and was able to get the ban down to 18 months, but also had to pay a fee of some Rs. 7 million. The condition that was put to allow him to play while he waits for the judgement of the appeal is to pay his fine, but he said he refused to pay it while he waits for the court to make its ruling. So the PCB has allowed him to do this. The final ruling is expected to come in September when the courts reopen.

It was thought that this man’s career would be as good as over after the initial sentencing of a 5 year ban, being that he is turning 33 August 13! I still think we need him. He’s a crowd puller, has experience, and he could potentially groom the young lot. But he needs to stay match-fit and not break down all the time. Happy Birthday to him in advance.

Now about the actual squad: Shoaib Malik (capt), Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal (wk), Bazid Khan, Khalid Latif, Shoaib Akhtar, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Iftikhar Anjum, Abdur Rauf, Saeed Ajmal

There’s only one somewhat new name here and that is Saeed Ajmal, a 30 year old off spinner who made his debut just recently in the Asia Cup and it seems he has impressed enough. I personally don’t like this pick. The only reason they’ve taken him is because he’s on off-breaker, but there are just as good spinners (be it a different kind) waiting in the ranks who are younger, dynamic, athletic, and multi-talented. I am referring to Mansoor Amjad a leg-break googly, who is capable with bat as well and only 20 years old! Misbah-ul-Haq is our talented and responsible vice-captain. Kamran Akmal gets another chance as wicketkeeper seeing as he has been struggling lately behind the stumps. Umar Gull has yet to recover fully from his rib injury sustained from the Asia Cup and Abdur Rauf…I like this guy! He’s a bit older, but hes been toiling in the domestic scene for too long and doing extremely well. He bowls tight and he has lots of domestic experience to back his inclusion.

I’ll be posting another blog completely about issues that have been brought up about the Champions Trophy actually being held in Pakistan, stay tuned!

OH and any questions anyone has about anything at all I’d be more than happy to answer them!

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