Now consider this. A bowling spearhead, allegedly, runs in to bowl the first delivery of one of the most anticipated series in the world and looses it completely. No need to mention who the culprit was, but, have a butchers about these numbers.
In the last 15 test matches, away from home, the Spear Head, lets call him SH. averages 47 away from home, if you reduce the criteria to 12 tests, that is after 2004 test series against West Indies then the average goes up to 52.58 with a strike rate of 70 plus.
SH is widely regarded as one of the best bowlers in the world, how & why, is beyond me. SH has only taken tow 5 wicket halls, home or away, in the last 15 months. S.H has not taken any five wicket halls away from home since 2004, that is 25 innings without a 5 for. A five wicket hall is equated to a century by a batsman, generally. This means a premium batsman, who is supposed to carry the batting of the whole team and set the tempo for the team has gone 25 innings without scoring a century away from home. The most talked about run drought for a leader was that of Mark Taylor and he only went century less for 18 months and 22 test innings, but, he was too valuable as a captain to be dropped and his team was still winning. Our SH has gone for much longer then that, against all kinds of opposition. This is like Ricky Ponting, Mohammad Yousaf, Inzimama, Rahul Dravid or Jacque Kallis not scoring a century for two years and 25 innings and yet remains to be the lynch pin of his teams batting. Can it really happen in today's media.... how come no one is focusing on this.
Just to put things in perspective SH's figures are worse then those of Mohammad Sami, probably the biggest disappointment of modern cricket.... worse then Mohammad Sami.. with his built and with the team faith that is placed on him, is mind boggling. I mean we are talking about being worse then Sami, it hardly gets any worse then that.
Needless to say, SH also stand for Steve Harmison and I am sure no one will put Sami, Agarkar and Harmision in the same bracket of fast bowlers, but, whether you like it or not, Sami and Agarkar have better record then Harmison's record away from home. Both of them have better bowling records in Australia then Steve,he averages 77.80, none of them have, at least publicly, admitted to being " frozen" in the face of the biggest series of their careers. So is it really such a big surprise to see England suffer in Australia. May be some people need to get the recognition they deserve like Hoggard and some ether's position in the team needs to be questioned.
Wednesday, December 6, 2006
Shoib & Asif acquitted of Drugs Ban
I have had mixed feelings ever since I heard about Shoib & Asif's acquittal. I am relieved, sad, frustrated, unable to comprehend and actually understand the whole affair.
Relieved as purely a selfish person who wants to see Pakistan cricket team excel and do well. They have got their best fast bowling pair back, along with Shabbir's come back in January and Umar Gul' growth throughout the season, not minding the mixed form of Rana and " no form" of Sami, the fast bowling department looks impressive.
Sad because only PCB can make such a mess of an affair like this. New chairman comes in, promises accountability, transparency - a word almost abused in Pakistan politics and administration- of strengthening the system or in other word taking control away from the players. Every thing that every single chairman of PCB has said in their opening addresses.
Punish the bowlers, rightfully so, although bit severe especially against Shoib apparently for his active sex life and consumption of Alcohol, and now lets them scotfree. what has really changed since the first verdict, there is a new committee headed by the very able justice Fakhrudding G. Ibrahim, Captaincy has come back to Inzimam from Younis, Pakistan lost miserably in Champions Trophy, Inzi came back and won a series against WI, elections in Pakistan are coming closer, Opposition is bringing people on the streets. May be a lot has changed.... but really has there been a fundamental change to Shoib & Asif's case?
Justice Ibrahim, lets keep in mind, was the person who passed a verdict in mid 90's clearing Saleem Malik of any wrongdoings to fix matches or affect their result apart from by playing the game. That enquiry was set up after accusations from Basit, Rashid, Waugh and Warne... so I guess it is no surprise that this verdict has been given. Three weeks ago the Chairman of PCB said that the tests were conducted internally & out of competition and neither ICC nor WADA had any jurisdiction on the case.... people in the know how knew that the sentence will be reduced, but, no one expected acquittal, not without a suspended ban or fine or any other form of punishment. But then, Chairman PCB is a minister of state and does not want to provide fuel to the raging opposition parties in Pakistan against his boss, and the patron of PCB, the president of Pakistan.
Although, it does make me wonder that a player who had been banned for suspect action, questioned over his commitment to the team cause ( even before he started his international career his work ethic was questioned), charged and found guilty of ball tempering twice and found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs can still be considered a national hero and a role model, without even going into his debonair lifestyle. And in the same country, Meherullah Lassi and Faisal Karim, two of the best boxers in their categories have been banned for LIFE... yes LIFE... only days before the traveled to Doha for Asian Games for using canopies. They were serious contenders of medals for Pakistan...... what glamour, what star power and politics can do... one wonders.
Relieved as purely a selfish person who wants to see Pakistan cricket team excel and do well. They have got their best fast bowling pair back, along with Shabbir's come back in January and Umar Gul' growth throughout the season, not minding the mixed form of Rana and " no form" of Sami, the fast bowling department looks impressive.
Sad because only PCB can make such a mess of an affair like this. New chairman comes in, promises accountability, transparency - a word almost abused in Pakistan politics and administration- of strengthening the system or in other word taking control away from the players. Every thing that every single chairman of PCB has said in their opening addresses.
Punish the bowlers, rightfully so, although bit severe especially against Shoib apparently for his active sex life and consumption of Alcohol, and now lets them scotfree. what has really changed since the first verdict, there is a new committee headed by the very able justice Fakhrudding G. Ibrahim, Captaincy has come back to Inzimam from Younis, Pakistan lost miserably in Champions Trophy, Inzi came back and won a series against WI, elections in Pakistan are coming closer, Opposition is bringing people on the streets. May be a lot has changed.... but really has there been a fundamental change to Shoib & Asif's case?
Justice Ibrahim, lets keep in mind, was the person who passed a verdict in mid 90's clearing Saleem Malik of any wrongdoings to fix matches or affect their result apart from by playing the game. That enquiry was set up after accusations from Basit, Rashid, Waugh and Warne... so I guess it is no surprise that this verdict has been given. Three weeks ago the Chairman of PCB said that the tests were conducted internally & out of competition and neither ICC nor WADA had any jurisdiction on the case.... people in the know how knew that the sentence will be reduced, but, no one expected acquittal, not without a suspended ban or fine or any other form of punishment. But then, Chairman PCB is a minister of state and does not want to provide fuel to the raging opposition parties in Pakistan against his boss, and the patron of PCB, the president of Pakistan.
Although, it does make me wonder that a player who had been banned for suspect action, questioned over his commitment to the team cause ( even before he started his international career his work ethic was questioned), charged and found guilty of ball tempering twice and found guilty of using performance enhancing drugs can still be considered a national hero and a role model, without even going into his debonair lifestyle. And in the same country, Meherullah Lassi and Faisal Karim, two of the best boxers in their categories have been banned for LIFE... yes LIFE... only days before the traveled to Doha for Asian Games for using canopies. They were serious contenders of medals for Pakistan...... what glamour, what star power and politics can do... one wonders.
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