Don’t Cry for me Rawalpindi

On a positive note, the playoffs started yesterday, and Yankees won their opener (8-4) with some awesome runs by Jeter (who is #2, by the way) and A-Rod, a guy who will make 252 million dollars over 10 years was hardly a factor.

It is for the love of the game. Much luck to #1 in your story. If you want something bad, you work on it.

well, what can one say... sad but true...
but this is how things work in pakistan... as soon as people see that there`s a cash cow to be milked, not many stay behind and that`s what has happened to the cricket infrastructure in pakistan...
everybody`s hell bent on making hay while it shines... they try to get their hands on each and every penny they can get while they are in a position of authority...
but still, we`ve managed to win the last two under-19 world cups and have a very reasonable international side...
so the future`s not all bleak

and by the way... i think 1 was talking about ``Najaf Shah``

Dear Author,

Best way to get recognized nowadays is to join that travelling freak show called Tableghee Jamaat, do the usual rounds with Inzi, Mushy, Anwar, JJ et al and wait for your call, sure bet to be selected. Take the recent appointment of Mushtaq Ahmed as Asst Coach for the Champions Trophy, classic example of cronyism but all Halal if its done after bismillah....

Thank you. i totally aggree the tableegee way is the short cut to cricket success these days. take Mo Yo for example. But there are hundreds of kids like these who have dreams but they get shot down and demoralized early on in their careers. I know you have to work hard at it. It would help if you at least get a proper chance. #1 was telling me the day he got selected he prayed for hours.. for thanks (i believe they are called Nafals). So i think he is on the right track to Tableeghee success in the future. hehe

A sad story for a cricket mad country like Pakistan where talent is in abundance but there is no proper channelization of that talent. I have seen the wastage of pure cricketing talent in a small city like Mardan over the years and still it has got players whom if groomed can be compared to any of the world class cricketers. Descrimination and corruption rules here in every sphere of life and cricket cannot be an exeption.

There was another story that i didn`t add.. about Yasir Hamid offering sexual favors to his coach in peshawar to forward him to the Pakistan A team. didn`t think it was necessary by its a well known story.

#6 you serious about this! you are talking about this guy

And there are those who insist that it is possible to succeed with a systematic institutional framework. One-man wonders make them proud. The diseased minds exist at all levels of society, including the PCB.

Re: # 8

I meant `without` a systematic institutional framework.

Yaar Zarrar, the same story is played out in India too. Selections are made on the basis of `Sifarish`, money, wine, and women. I personally know of a former selector (also happened to be a mediocre off spinner who played for India in the 80s) who has amassed crores of rupees. What`s more this gentleman is very fond of wine and women, and there is no dearth of folks offering him these in return for favors.

As far as I remember, Daewoo bus takes about 3 and a half hours to reach Islamabad from Lahore via motorway, quite a measly conversation for such a long journey don`t you think? Personally, I couldn`t really find any thing in there that I, the citizen of Pakistan, am not aware of already. Ironically, we tend to be much better at whining rather than finding a solution.

A combination of power, authority, shortage of time for the primary functions and survical instincts have led to a strange myopic tunnel vision within the Pakistani establishment and controlld organisations of Civil Society. Look how the dust hasettled after the compromise in Hair Fiasco. Everyone indeed feels VERY HAPPY.

There is a bowler from Burewala speeding above 160Ks. His slow ball is even over 140Ks but he cannot even find a place in a good departmental team.

Najaf was prediced by Sarfraz to be an asset. He is gone.

Re: # 3
i m not sure why do u sound frustrated,to blow your whistle on tableeighi jamaat rounds.
even inzi is havin problem to stick in the team , not to mention s.anwer had way to trouble in his last days.
i was way to cheap to blame tableeighi at the end ,when u cudn`t find any plausible reason.
i don`t know why people simply cannot stand religious breed in pakistan.

T`was a joke Kulharee... let`s not get emotional now

:)