DUBAI:
When the administration introduced, ‘The match will not be taking place, you possibly can all return to your rooms now’, all of the Pakistani gamers’ faces fell.
They’d come to the UAE to play cricket, and nobody wished their Asia Cup marketing campaign to finish like this. However the official directions needed to be adopted.
Concurrently, the PPCB despatched a WhatsApp message to the media, asking them to achieve Gaddafi Stadium instantly for a press convention, with TV channels bringing DSNG vans for stay protection.
The match time was approaching and the workforce was nonetheless on the lodge, regardless that, they’d been instructed to place their gear on the bus and wait.
At that time, Pakistan’s Asia Cuphttps://tribune.com.pk/story/2567421/pakistan-arrive-at-dubai-stadium-for-uae-asia-cup-clash appeared completed.
In the meantime, PCB officers had been in a Zoom assembly with the ICC, however no optimistic consequence got here out of it. The Council is headed by India’s Jay Shah, who has additionally positioned fellow countrymen in different key positions.
Pakistan’s objection was to match referee Andy Pycroft, who had instructed captain Salman Ali Agha to not shake palms with the Indian skipper. Pycroft gave the impression to be clearly facilitating the BCCI, which is why PCB wished him faraway from refereeing duties.
Additionally learn: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2567421/pakistan-arrive-at-dubai-stadium-for-uae-asia-cup-clash
However had Shah executed that, he risked being scolded by his father Amit Shah and even labeled a deshdrohi (traitor). However, PCB had already made lots of noise—if it backed down, it might have been humiliating.
ICC Basic Supervisor Wasim Khan was additionally fairly lively within the matter. Since his job is already beneath menace, he was attempting laborious to show himself impartial.
The easy answer for the Council would have been to not appoint Pycroft for Pakistan’s matches, however Jay Shah didn’t enable that.
As an alternative of being eliminated, Pycroft continued officiating and even oversaw the Pakistan–UAE match. Ultimately, the matter ended with apologies and inquiry promise.
Now the query arises: if this was the result, why did PCB delay a lot? They may have accepted earlier, and the match would have began on time as a substitute of being delayed an hour, with out pointless rigidity.
Reviews recommend that the board was significantly contemplating a boycott. A legal-minded official suggested it. However when Chairman Mohsin Naqvi consulted Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, they suggested that boycotting the match would negatively impression Pakistan cricket.
Higher to play, settle for the referee’s apology and investigation, and settle it on the sector.
That’s what ultimately occurred. The gamers boarded the bus, went to the stadium, and the match was performed. Pakistan gained and certified for the Tremendous 4. Nonetheless, the controversy had a unfavourable impact on the workforce, leaving the gamers in uncertainty.
There have been even fears that on account of psychological stress, they could lose in opposition to UAE. Fortunately, regardless of a mean batting efficiency, Pakistan gained.
This episode proved that Mohsin Naqvi must appoint succesful officers round him.
COO Sameer Syed has no understanding of cricket, Salman Naseer drags the whole lot into authorized tangles, and Wahab Riaz stays targeted on leagues moderately than administration.
If Naqvi had the precise folks round him, he wouldn’t have wanted to name Ramiz or Sethi.
In Dubai, when the workforce noticed the Indians weren’t within the temper to shake palms, the gamers may have stepped again themselves.
India has already misplaced a conflict—six jets together with Rafale destroyed—they faces world embarrassment. To distract its public, it’s utilizing cricket as a protect.
Pakistan’s administration additionally mishandled issues. Naved Akram Cheema ought to now step apart; this isn’t the period the place you would implement curfews and strict orders. When it was determined to boycott the prize distribution ceremony and Salman Ali Agha didn’t go, why then ship Shaheen Afridi to gather the award for many sixes?
Extra vital than the handshake challenge was Suryakumar Yadav’s interview wherein he referenced the Pahalgam incident and praised his military. Why wasn’t that highlighted? Why was the protest letter delayed? Worldwide Director Usman Wahla was suspended, however is he solely accountable?
The board should replicate on all this. They want a powerful CEO who understands cricket. The chairman has different obligations, so there needs to be somebody succesful sufficient to run the board even in his absence.
India will proceed utilizing such unfavourable techniques to cowl up its humiliation in conflict. Its media, infamous for lies, is fueling the hearth. Identical to through the conflict, once they unfold absurd tales, they’re doing the identical now. Already they’re spreading that the Indian captain gained’t obtain the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. First win the trophy, then speak about it!
Reviews additionally declare Pycroft by no means truly apologized. In that case, why is the referee silent? Why hasn’t the ICC denied it? Extra absurd nonetheless, Indian media even made a narrative out of the standard of Pakistan’s shirts! Indians IQ stage appears shockingly low—they don’t understand Modi’s authorities, after shedding the conflict, is fooling them by promoting new distractions.
Anyway, such mischief will maintain taking place. What Pakistan should bear in mind is that successful and shedding are a part of cricket—however all the time struggle. Within the subsequent match, don’t attempt to shake palms with them, defeat them on the sector. The extra you ignore the Indians, the extra they are going to squirm. Don’t fall into their traps, simply focus in your recreation.