Is Pakistan cricket in crisis?

Well it looks as though the Pakistan cricket is in crisis when the news broke out that the retired Pakistan batsman Mohammed Yousuf has been called back into the Pakistani 16 member squad for the upcoming one day series against England in England. Of course, since the past two years or so, nothing has been able to be told regarding Pakistan cricket. In the beginning, it was only a problem for Pakistan cricket team in Pakistan. But, now, the Pakistan team is facing unbearable defeats outside as well, with the most recent one being the loss in the 1^st and 2^nd tests against England.

Not only did Pakistan lose both the aforementioned tests but also they were bowled out for a score less than 100 in both the tests. They have to consider themselves lucky for not getting all out for a score less than 100 in all the four innings they played. Nevermind that they did well to bowl out the Aussies unexpectedly for a score of 88 in the first innings of the 2^nd test last month. In early 2009, almost all cricketing nations started boycotting their tours of Pakistan for reasons not necessary to be cited specially. And, the only team that toured Pakistan had to pay the price for the same.

And then, Pakistan did which no other team in the world could do when they spent more than a year without playing a test match. This was also the year which Pakistan spent without hosting a test match on its home soil which is evident. Not even Bangladesh were able to achieve such a feat and Pakistan must be proud to have entered the record books for the wrong reasons. With teams viz Australia, New Zealand,England and South Africa along with India (obviously) dropping plans to tour Pakistan, one had to wonder as to what made Sri Lanka tour the nation. Were the Sri Lankans trying to justify that they are lions indeed as their flag suggests!

Off late, their performance is also found following the security situation back home. They were the first team to lose all matches to any team when they lost three tests, five one dayers and the lone T20 game that was played late last year. West Indies - who toured Australia at the same time were successful in drawing a match. Following this, the PCB took a drastic step by dropping eight players from the side and later on dropped the idea itself which is a different issue. Now, the worst of all is that Mohammed Yousuf is called back to the one dayers that follow against England.

The PCB never called back Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar or Waqar Younis once they retired. But, the case with Yousuf is a different one and shows the insecurity in Pakistan cricket as well similar to the one in Pakistan.

Will Ijaz Butt allow Pakistan to feature in the 2011 WC for matches scheduled in India?

The dates for the Champions' League T20 tournament 2010 are yet to be decided and so are the venues where the world's best T20 domestic teams will fight it out. But, a news prior to all these has already taken precedence when the PCB chief Ijaz Butt says that no teams from Pakistan would be participating in the Champions League 2010. But, there is just a hint that it will be held in India in 2010 which is yet to be decided. There should be no reason as to why any team from Pakistan should not participate in the Champions League though there is a more probability of the same being held in India.

Pakistan had no problems when the international hockey team is going to take part in the world cup that is scheduled in India. Is the frustration of the Pakistani players restricted only to cricket and no other game? The reason need not be cited specially that it is due to the backing out of the IPL sponsors who turned down on bidding on a Pakistani player that Ijaz Butt has come to such a decision regarding its participation in the Champions League. Would this be the decision if at all by freak chance, the tournament is held outside India by the committee members?

Is it a sort of revenge from the Pakistani side for the humiliation that its players had to bear when they were not picked up by any of the 8 IPL team sponsors? Or is protest a better word than revenge for Ijaz Butt's decisions? If any of the above reasons are anywhere to go by, Pakistan will be missing out on an opportunity to showcast its talent in T20 cricket, which has seen Pakistan giving its best since the inaugural world cup held in South Africa. The PCB chief has hardly taken any sort of responsibility for the attack on the Sri Lankan team bus and reacts in an unexpected way regarding the behavior of IPL sponsors.

One has to think whether the PCB chief would stand by his decision in case the Champions League is held outside India for the venue is not yet decided. And another issue to think over is that the world cup in 2011 is to be held in the sub continent minus Pakistan, wherein Pakistan will have to play matches in India as well. If that is the case, will Ijaz Butt rule out the players from Pakistan from participating in the world cup as well or boycott the matches that are due in India? If given a chance, Ijaz Butt would see to that the ICC scrap India also from hosting the world cup in 2011.

PCB officially does an IPL franchisee

Just a day after there were rumors that Pakistan's Abdul Razzaq has been linked to Kolkata Knight Riders, comes in another very interesting news that the PCB chairman has ruled out the possibility of any Pakistani player from participating in this year's edition of the Indian Premier League. This was no doubt in response to the humiliation that the Pakistani players had to face when none of the players from Pakistan were seen attracting bids from any of the IPL franchises. Someone like Kieron Pollard was able to attract the Mumbai Indians' eyes even before he could draw some appreciation from his home side.

There was nothing unusual in New Zealand's comeback man Shane Bond going in for a whooping $750000 for the Kolkata Knight Riders. However, when no Pakistani player was picked up by any of the franchises one has to wonder as to what made the Kolkata Knight Riders to approach Abdul Razzaq. Though the claim has been rubbished, had it been by anyone else, it could have been ditched. But how can anything be turned down when Abdul Razzaq himself has given a nod to that statement. It seems that Abdul Razzaq had been offered a contract of 1 year and is waiting for an approval from IPL.

But now, even though in future, in case of a freak chance if any of the IPL franchises opt for any player from Pakistan, it would not be let to happen by none other than the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt who has revoked the no objection certificates that it had issued to its players to participate in the IPL. But, one has to understand the motive behind targetting the players from his own country. No gains can be anticipated from the actions of Ijaz Butt why has been strict regarding the players from Pakistan. Is this in response to the anger on the Indian counterpart by the PCB chief?

The PCB chairman could have handled the issue in some other way when he could have asked for a reason for the franchises actions regarding the selection of players from Pakistan. Ijaz Butt could have sought the reason behind shortlisting the players' list who would be available for the auction in the third edition of the IPL. When no franchisee was ever interested in bidding for players from Pakistan, there was no reason for the IPL organising committee to have shortlisted the Pakistani players. Like last year, even this year the Pakistani players could have been barred from playing in the IPL by being straight forward. But, this action from Ijaz Butt is not justified.