Difference between Cricket and Politics

Good old time

Do they look good now?

The recent Tsunami of allegations between PML-N and PTI, is / was not only disgraceful and full of hatred, but also, senseless. Sensibility and compromise is the main ingredient of a political system, which is seen no where in recent days by both the parties. The reason in case of PML-N is their bitter recent past and the threat of PTI reducing their seats in urban areas. Whereas the reason for PTI is its non-political structure and overenthusiastic (both from its leadership and supporters.) We can term this mentality as a cricketing mentality which is fueled by “captain” himself (who is still a captain), his overenthusiastic supporters (on social media in particular) and the so-called think tank (aggressive / pessimistic people like Haroon Rasheed and Hassan Nisar). But this is politics, not cricket. The difference is that:

• In politics, you are not required to lead from the front all the time. You should rely on your team, designate responsibilities to them, and get away from tiny matters to concentrate more on important issues.
• In politics, there are more options than only winning or losing. You should negotiate, make space for yourself and others to share the success to keep the system running in a acceptable way. What it means is that Tsunami “is” forceful, but goes faster than it comes. Also, it destroys everything irrespective of wherever it belongs. Why didn’t PTI participated in elections yet? Because, they are expecting a landslide victory due to some miracle. What if it does not happen? Would Imran Khan accept 20 seats as his real share after big big claims. He is making his life difficult because politics has history. A cricket match does not have. You can always start a new day in cricket. In politics, the baggage of past defines your future.
• In politics, you have to keep your temper. In sports, people would not bother about it too much, because its just a game. Would Imran Khan be able to work with Nawaz Sharif after so abusive language against him and as a whole. Does he intends to make “permanent” enemies in a system / profession in which he would be working tomorrow. This would never work and would make the system paralyzed, even if he is heading the system.
• In cricket, there are no personal attacks. In politics, you should be ready to face it. You should be willing to lower your ego for political gains or for overall progress. For example, second grade MQM leaders have been calling Sharif brothers “ganjas”, but this does not hinder PML-N to talk with MQM. Does Imran Khan has capability to lower his ego? We have not seen it yet.

To be successful in politics and contribute in the system positively, PTI must differentiate between cricket and politics to provide a fruitful fresh option to people of Pakistan rather than burying themselves into egoistic graves dug by themselves.

See Also: http://pakistanisrising.wordpress.com/2012/08/07/difference-between-cricket-and-politics/

Spot Fixing Scam: Is justice done?

I am NOT supporting Salamn, Asif and Amir in anyway. They deserve what they got. But has the “British” justice system done the justice.

 

Did they bring in the bookies into the spot light? The main source of money.

Did they wanted to know about the whole network of corruption involving businessmen, boards, and players from other countries?

How these players are serving their sentences in the UK, Legally?

 

Its really sad to see behavior of our board and Government who did not say a word. Board should have intervened to make it a more general event in which all the countries are invoked. Government should have intervened to get their citizens back to Pakistan. Why was this trial held in UK at first place. We should have done this investigation in our country. Forget about the board, government should have intervened.

Shame on everyone who is involved and management from board to the highest level.

 

Cricket Team / Player of the Decade

In an article Aussies and others published in cricinfo , Five Australians figure in each of the two XIs of the decade picked by Cricinfo’s jury. The teams are:
Test XI
Matthew Hayden, Virender Sehwag, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shaun Pollock, Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath
12th man: Andrew Flintoff

ODI XI
Sanath Jayasuriya, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Flintoff, Shaun Pollock, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan
12th man: Shane Warne

The teams are formed from only three countries, Australia, Indian and South Africa. The inclusion of Sri Lanka was due to undeniable existence of Murali whereas Pakistan, West Indies and New Zealand were ignored all together despite achievements and records.

Our Teams

After browsing the records for the decade, almost half of the both sides fell down showing the biasness of so called jury. Our teams are:

Test XI
SR Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Ricky Ponting, Mohammad Yousuf, Rahul Dravid, DPMD Jayawardene, KC Sangakkara (wk), SE Bond, Shoaib Akhtar, Muttiah Muralitharan, Glenn McGrath
12th man: SM Pollock

ODI XI
ML Hayden, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, RR Sarwan, S Chanderpaul, KC Sangakkara (wk), SE Bond, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Muttiah Muralitharan
12th man:A Flintoff

These teams are more realistic. Based on the records and player influence on his team performance, the player of the decade award goes to Jacques Kallis, Muttiah Muralitharan or Glenn McGrath, not Ponting (see Ponting voted Player of the Decade).

New Biography of Imran Khan

“Imran Khan and Benazir Bhutto” This used to be a romantic tale popular in our childhood. So there’s nothing surprising. Obviuosly a good story to sell a book. BUT if they had relationship of any sort at that time, Is there anything wrong with it? One of them is not with us. Imran Khan has many other allegations of this nature to defend. If he is so ‘sincere’, he should come up and accept what he has been doing. If he has noting to loose, let the people decide. The story goes like that: Imran Khan and Benazir Bhutto enjoyed a close sexual relationship in Oxford

We all ‘loved’ this game

Thanks Cricinfo for article ‘Cricket won’t be played in Pakistan in the foreseeable future’ which summarize “Reactions to the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, which has put in doubt Pakistan’s status as an international sporting venue.”