da leao： A two-Test series is the equivalent of grabbing a quick snack
Omar Kureishi09-May-2001A two-Test series is the equivalent of grabbing a quick snack. It willdo for the purpose of providing immediate sustenance but as a regulardiet it falls far short of a regular meal. Pakistan has had so manychanges of guard in the cricket set-up that one doesn’t really knowwho actually agreed to this daft programme of two-Test series, rightlydescribed as neither here nor there. What were the compulsions on usthat we allowed ourselves to be downgraded and brought on par withZimbabwe?In Pakistan’s last three tours of England in 1987, 1992 and 1996,England was no match and lost all the three series. For England, itmakes sense to have Pakistan in the early part of the summer. Itprovides an excellent opportunity to prepare for the Ashes series andget their team sorted out. It is infinitely better than a conditioningcamp or net practice. From England’s point of view, it was a masterstroke to have got a team like Pakistan to help them get their acttogether ahead of the Test matches against Australia.What does Pakistan get in return? I haven’t been able to work that outas yet. I remember than even though Pakistan had levelled the serieson its inaugural tour of England in 1954, England, by way ofreciprocity, had sent a MCC ‘A’ team in 1956. I wrote then that thiswas the Colombo Plan in reverse, a developed country asking anunderdeveloped one for aid.I join the chorus of those who have spoken out against the two-Testseries and I would like to add that it is insulting as well,particularly to be asked to play a Test match in the month of May foron a single day, you can get all the four seasons. It may be cricketweather but it is not Test match weather but then who cares? It’s onlyPakistan that England is playing against!Shoaib Akhtar should be in England by the time this column appears inprint unless there is a slip between cup and lip. The drama around hisdeparture has become like a soap-opera. I am not sure whether he isenjoying all the publicity and he may well be doing so given that heis a showman, which on its own, is not a bad thing. But, as each daypasses and we read the latest bulletin on him, the expectations aregetting higher that he will demolish England and there has never beena fast bowler like him. He will become aware that great things areexpected from him.I have known and seen the world’s greatest fast bowlers, Ray Lindwalland Keith Miller, Dennis Lillie and Jeff Thomson, Michael Holding,Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall and of course Courtney Walsh and CurtlyAmbrose, Fred Trueman and Frank Tyson and our own Imran Khan, WasimAkram and Waqar Younis. They were a wonderous sight in action asindeed is Shoaib Akhtar. But there was a reticence about them off-thefield and they were almost media shy. When Imran Khan broke down witha stress fracture, he spent two quiet years getting himself fit.Shoaib must count himself very fortunate that there is a sympatheticPCB that has taken great pains to look after him and got him fit. Theonly way he can pay them back is by delivering on the field and bybeing a team man. Whether he should be played in the first Test matchis a decision that is upto the team management. It would be somethingof a gamble for he is short of match practice but it might be worththe gamble. He could bowl in short bursts but I feel the advice ofRichard Pybus should be sought. We are sitting too far away to knowwhat is the reality on the ground.I think Pakistan needed stiffer opposition than the BritishUniversities if the idea of side matches is to allow the Pakistanplayers to get used to playing conditions. It is the batsmen who needto be spending time in the middle for they are the ones who will haveto adjust to green wickets and the swinging ball. Too bad that bothInzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana missed out particularly Youhanawhose foot has been in plaster.Anyhow Pakistan has made a good start and it was great to see WasimAkram bang on target, setting to rest, one hopes, the doubts of thosewho were disinclined to include him in the touring squad and good toread the remarks of Waqar that he and Wasim had buried the hatchet.Judging from the fact that he is making so many statements, all ofthem upbeat, it would appear that Richard Pybus is enjoying himselfand has fitted in well with the team.Fast asleep for so many years, the ICC is making up for lost time withits probe Committee on a globe-trotting mission. I am all in favour ifthey can uncover all those guilty of match-fixing. It would be a hugebonus if it could uncover also all those whistle-blowers who have madeaccusations and when the chips have been down, claimed that they don’thave solid proof.Chief among these would be Ali Bacher who seemed to have gingerlystepped aside after making scandalous allegations. At least, in thecase of Javed Akhtar, the ICC must demand proof from Ali Bacher,failing which, recommend his removal from any cricket post he may beholding. It’s not the players alone who bring the game into disrepute.