LEGSLIP

Misbah to play against Younis’s Patrons XI

Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the Patrons XI Team and Chairman XI Team for the practice matches at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore for the preparation of ICC World Twenty20. Three matches to be played from 20 – 22 May at 07:00 PM local time.

Patrons XI:
Salman Butt, Ahmed Shehzad, Younis Khan (captain), Shoaib Malik, Fawad Alam, Yasir Hameed, Sarfraz Ahmed, Muhammad Amir, Sohail Tanveer, Yasir Shah, Shoaib Akhtar, Umer Amin, Kamran Younus, Imran Ali.

Chairman XI:
Shahzaib Hassan, Nasir Jamshaid, Kamran Akmal, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Shahid Afridi, Muhammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Rao Iftikhar, Saeed Ajmal, Umar Gul, Aizaz Cheema, Zulfiqar Jan.

I just saw the interview of Dr Huma Mir, a former actress who is also a columnist. She said that the politicians from two largest parties are not helping in affected areas in NWFP. She was very critical of the so called democratic set up in Pakistan. She spoke highly of MQM and said that they are the only party that represents the middle class in Pakistan. She said the feudal system makes Pakistan undemocratic and that MQM is the only party that represents democracy in Pakistan.

She also said Musharraf was the best leader Pakistan ever produced. She said in his era there was fairness and real democracy in Pakistan. She said Musharraf’s only fault was that he was a benevolent person and did not rule like a dictator.

Musharraf’s full interview with Fareed Zakaria: he talks about the Army, the Taliban, America, India, and Pakistani politics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOZYSbI4HBU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQZVlbv4A4Y

Munir sahab

Thanks for the comment and I agree with you.

PCB needs to think hard about whether it needs to go in the direction of BCCI or WICB. Cricket runs in the blood of Pakistanis and you are right that PCB has been able to survive because of this die hard fan following. Fans continue to support this corrupt and incompetent board and these nothing players.

In West Indies the decline started with batting collapses. If you remember they still had the great pair of Walsh and Ambrose but their ranking was descending because there was a lack of reliable batsman. At the moment in Test cricket Chanderpaul is their only world class player and he will retire within 2 years. There is no one who can take his position.

So it does not matter if Pakistan has an in form Shoaib Akhtar or Umar Gul, unless the batting has consistency there will be no improvement. At the moment only Younis Khan is a Test calibre world class player in Pakistan.

The West Indians are not as crazy about cricket as Pakistanis, so they have now turned to basketball. Basketball is very popular in West Indies and slowly but surely Pakistan will go in that direction. I come across many 17-18 year olds from Pakistan who have no interest in cricket and when you talk to them about the Pakistan team they only know of players like Wasim Akram and Inzamam. So the first signs have started showing that cricket is dying in Pakistan.

As with everything they need good leadership and having Ijaz Butt is not helping. I never said Ijaz Butt has some agenda and he is working to destablise cricket, he probably means well but he does not have the education or energy to run such an important organisation. Only in Pakistan can someone like Butt be appointed to head a cricket board. Butt’s appointment was political and he was definitely not appointed on merit. So if the Chairman is appointed because of nepotism and politics, what does one expect from the selectors and captain who manage the team?

Our job is to present the reality in the open and now it is upto the administrators to act. What can the ordinary citizen do? We can’t do anything except complain and discuss.

Also, over time Younis may be able to make a difference but the first signs from him have not been positive. The question is, are things going to be worse before they get better?

Why can’t PCB do “danda” on these players? We are told this is because the player always tries his best and the player’s confidence and attitude will be affected if the PCB tries “danda” strategy. Shoaib Akhtar is an uneducated lout, whereas Younis Khan is also temperamental. Malik and Misbah just play for themselves and they are not very capable players.

This is an indication of player power again, because the PCB is too afraid to upset people like Younis and Akhtar. They are too afraid that Younis will abandon captaincy and they are too afraid that Akhtar will become “unavailable” for selection.

LOL I came across this and want to share this with all, one more time. What a disgrace for the nation! No matter how beautiful or sexy someone is, a political leader can NEVER say this on camera. Zardari is Choo**ya:

Abdul

And Kaleem is the umpire

Why did you make Awas the 12th man Abdul? He is a key player. In fact I recommend him for captaincy- tactical, diplomatic, wise and will keep diverse ethnicities unified

Abdul

I am shocked at this strategy of yours to make a player like Awas 12th man?

Why are you playing politics in the team? You don’t like players from Lahore?

I think you should give up your place for Awas and you should become coach to teach us how to bowl googlies and flippers.

Abdul

“If I’m from Lahore why will I discriminate my own ?”

That is exactly what I wanted you to say

Abdul

You did well for remembering that Javed A Khan was an opener and that I was a fast bowler (more like medium pacer, but I was good ]

Is your Yasir Hameed real by the way? If he is then I am also hope for his well being!

My LS line-up:

Javed A Khan (aggressive opener)
Kasim sahab (defensive opener like Hanif Mohd)
Theossa (like Younis Khan)
Q
Munir sahab (middle order, consolidator)
Awas (all rounder)
Omer Admani (all rounder)
Abdul’s friend Sam (wicketkeeper)
Kaleem
Zak
Khansahab

12th man/Spin coach/team manager/masseur/- ABDUL

LOL Omer

I don’t agree with his team which is why I have created my own. I really think the team needed a spin coach, manager and team masseur.

Who should the captain be? Kasim sahab for seniority, Javed Khan for aggression, Awas for diplomacy, Theossa for dynamism, Omer for democracy or Khansahab for wicket taking ability?

Omer

In the Pakistan team what is needed most is to do danda to players. So actually a dictator will do

I think Javed A Khan is my captain……..

Omer

I hope your meritocracy ideal is seen in the Pakistan team because it is neither present in the team nor anywhere in the country. Hence the need for danda.

Omer

Society features subjects with varying levels of enlightenment. It is the duty of every enlightened being to contribute towards the enlightenment of others. Sometimes children don’t listen because they are stupid or immature. Parents do danda. And when children grow up they realise parents were right and their parents are considered as heroes.

Omer

Zinda hai Musharraf asli mai zinda hai….

Omer

What you are saying cannot be understood by 90% of Pakistan’s population so it becomes irrelevant because they will only vote for the local Choudhary who will win elections in the same seat and do his best to make sure the arguments you are advancing cannot be understood by the paindoos around him. When this Choudhary dies his son or uncle will win in his seat and they will rape women, abuse human rights, enforce their will and do danda and be worse than any dictator. They are democratic leaders but their reality is far from democratic.

80% of Pakistan’s population is rural and what I have described there happens in 75% of those 80% rural villages. So there in one brief paragraph I present to you democracy in Pakastan.

JIYE PERVEZ MUSHARRAF

Omer

BC Zardari ya Nawaz apnay aap ko state key logon sey zaada barra nahi samajthey? Unho ney toh mulk ko loota bhi hai and democracy keh naam par ghareeb aur miskeen ka haqq khaya hai aur beywaqoof banaya hai.

Kiya alternatives hain Pakastan key logon key paas? Zardari, Nawaz ya phir someone like Musharraf?

Omer

Why can’t the parent-children analogy be applied here? Was Quaid e Azam not Father of the Nation? Was Gandhi not Baapu? Is Musharraf not Father of Modern Pakistan?

MULK BACHAO, MUSHARRAF KO LAAO

Omer

The system was given a chance after Partition. It failed. This is not to say military dictatorship succeeded necessarily. However, the 2 most prosperous times in the history of the nation where under Ayub Khan and then Pervez Musharraf. Under Ayub Pakistan’s manufacturing sector expanded and Pakistan’s defence foces became strong. Under Musharraf the finance and banking sector was expanded and there was unprecedented development throughout the nation.

Conversely, “democracy” ruined Pakistan’s economy first during Zulfiqar Bhutto’s time who had to join forces with corrupt wadereys from interior Sindh and corrupt Choudhary’s from Punjab and in fact it is through this network of corruption and feudalism that PPP gained support in Punjab and became a formidable party. Then his daughter looted the public exchequer and transferred money in her Swiss accounts, and then Mian Saab came and made the country bankrupt, so much so that he had to beg ordinary citizens to contribute. He did it shamelessly.

Omer

Yaar Nawaz ney Pakastan ka kya haal kiya tha aur abb duss saal baad woh qom sey “Jaag Punjabi jaag” kehta hai aur abb mulk ka most popular leader hai. Uss ney toh yeh bhi aaelaan kar diya keh, “I don’t need American support to become PM”. Awaam uss key saath hogi bhai woh kuch bhi kerlay.

Pehlay Pakastan ko samaj lo aur Pakastaneeon key dimaagh ko samaj lo bhai, Musharraf sahi aadmi hi mulk key liye.

Omer

India has neither the ethnic problems Pakistan faces (no absolute majority for one ethnicity), no problem of militant religious extremism (or let us say their religious extremism is more political whereas ours is more militant), and it is not a Muslim country, which makes it very different to Pakistan.

The reason why India has fared better is not because of lack of military intervention in politics, but because it did not have ethnic problems, feudalism, and religious fanaticism that Pakistan does.

After Partition within 2 decades most of the feudals in India had abandoned control of their lands or were merely performing a traditional role disassociated with local politics.

In India the feudals and aristrocrats transferred power to the middle class staightaway after Partition. Which leader has represented the middle class in Pakistan to date? Only Musharraf and 1 or 2 more military dictators.

It is not the presence of military dictatorship that has failed to blossom democracy in Pakistan, it is the fact that middle class has no power in Pakistan that has prevented democracy from flourishing. Until recently Karachi was the centre of Pakistan’s “middle class”, however you know how these middle class people have been treated by their fellow countrymen. The very fact they represent the middle class makes the majority of Pakistanis hate them because they are so different and because they are “outsiders”. That is because outside Karachi and Lahore and some localities in some cities, you still have only the feudals and the villagers.

The reason why Indian Army never intervened in politics is because the country was always run with more fairness, disclipine and less corruption than across the border. In Pakistan there is a world of a difference between the Army and how politics and governance works. The Army has discipline, professionalism, accountability and some sense of meritocracy. Outside the Army everything works with corruption, ethnic bias, unprofessionalism etc.

In Pakistan, when the “middle class” was represented strongly in civil service, public sector, administration, the capital was shifted to Islamabad. After that in 60s and 70s quotas were introduced to restrict this “middle class” who were more educated and competent than the rural and feudal classes. Not only did it happen in government and administration, it also happened in the showbiz sector and you saw what happened. The standard of movies went down. In the olden days Pakistani movies, poetry, music was at par with India but then India went too ahead and Pakistan went back.

So now we are crying because whereas India gave power to the middle class, at the same time we took power away from our middle class who then went on to form the Mohajir Qaumi Movement.

Jaisa karo gey, waisa bharo gey.

Omer

In theory yes but in practice, no. This talk about religion creating unity is crap. What religion? The Deobandi one or the Berelvi one? And what unity? Why did the Bengalis demand Partition from West Pakistanis? How important was religion then?

Why does Baluchistan Liberation Army demand indepedence, why was Bacha Khan against Partition and why did Muhajirs demand Jinnahpur? After Benazir’s murder why did Sindhis demand to be separated from Punjab?

There is an absolute religious majority in India. Absolute majority means, more than 50%. And Hindus are 80%. I am sorry if I don’t understand this view? Please elaborate.

Whatever you can say in theory, in practice this name India, whatever it means, has united a billion people and Islam in Pakistan barely unites half the country because provinces don’t want Punjabi domination. Now whether that is because of dividing provinces or whatever, this idea was propagated by the middle class in Pakistan but again they received hatred in return.

It is ethnicity that destroyed Pakistan when it was still a relatively prosperous nation in 60s. Ethnicity destroyed Pakistan’s chances of building a middle class back then when it really mattered. That is why Pakistan needs a leader who considers Pakistan first and not Punjab first or Karachi first.

Omer

Unsound governance can be a euphemism for many things. I think the ostracism of Baluchis is more to do with “unsound governance” in the sense of, negligent handling of their interests. I don’t think Muhajirs have been ostracised for the same reason however.

With Bengalis, it was a mixture of ethnic differences and unsound governance. Bengalis were more educated, secular and more like Muhajirs in their mannerism, whereas West Pakastanees were more paindoo. Unsound governance can be caused by ethnic differences and ethnic hatred whereas ethnic hatred can also be caused by unsound or careless governance. I think it is more of a “chicken or the egg” question.

With Bengalis the unsound governance aspect game from Bhutto who simply did not follow the democratic way and compromise with them despite their natural majority. What the Pakistan Army, in particular the Jatt and Rajput divisions did however, was not unsound governance but ethnic divisions or ethnic hatred. If you see a relatively taller or relatively fairer skinned Bengali today anywhere, there is a chance he may be an illegitimate offspring of a Pakistani retired soldier.

Omer

I understand your point and honestly I had already predicted you would say this in your reply. I don’t have a problem being ruled by Punjabis as long as I am ruled intelligently and fairly. Kayani is a Punjabi but he is more learned and more decent than most civilian politians and for this reason I would prefer to be governed by him.

This is a neverending debate really, you can see how deep and intense these debates are. That is why governance is so difficult.

You are right the Army was the mover and shaker in Bangladesh. But the Army has also given us Musharraf, Ayub Khan and Kayani.

I don’t know that much about Bhutto. My father told me he was a nationalist, but I don’t see what good he did for Pakistan by creating a controversial Constitution (many say on gunpoint), messing up the situation in Bangaldesh (Koi East Pakistan gaya toh mai uss ki taangen tor doonga), and expanding feudalism and corruption into Sindh and Punjab in the name of PPP.

Bhutto is considered by most Pakistanis as the greatest democratic leader. What a joke! Does a democratic leader ever say that “koi falana udhar gaya toh mai uss ki taangey tor doon ga”. I think only Hitler could have said something like that. Bhutto was a feudal at heart, a corrupt and immoral person. This is feudal talk, “Break his legs”. In Pakistan that is also democratic talk, because feudalism is Pakistan’s democracy unfortunately.

Omer

Army has more discipline than civilians, so whatever it can give us will be better. Army did give us Musharraf did it not? When Musharraf was CAOS, the heads of Navy and Air Force were also Muhajir.

Plus, Ayub Khan was a Pathan or Hindko, but not a Punjabi and Yahya Khan was Pathan too. There have been more.

About Army taking money, again if it did, I never said they are invincible. But they still loot less than PPP and PML N.

Omer

Judge not lest ye be judged

End of debate for me, I am going to sleep now.

Zinda hai Musharraf asli mai Zinda hai……

LOL Omer

American congressmen recently stated that they are afraid of “Mr 10 percents” looting American aid if aid is given. They trust the Army more. America is a very shrewd player and would not give aid like this to the Army if a large chunk was being taken by the Army.

It is very strange that you say Army steals so and so and yet no Army wala is in the top 100 richest Pakistanis, but many civilian politicians are. Zardari at no 2 and Nawaz at no 4….

So I think the only one under an illusion is you. You think Pakistan should follow the American political system and yet you don’t even know the ground reality of ethnic problems, feudalism etc that can never make Pakistan a democratic country unless an enlightened moderate middle class person uses the danda.

I have never said in absolute terms that the Army is totally free of all evils. But it is less corrupt definitely. At least the senior Army officers are educated, look at our senior politicians, only a handful of them can speak English.

Omer

I don’t observe from watching movies or fairy tales, I read newspapers and blogs. Mai filmon ki duniya mai nahi rehta dost

I’m just pulling your leg, I know what you mean.

I can very easily say to you too that you don’t know what you are talking about. You often try and say this to me and I just ignore it because this argument that, “You think you are the only knowledgable person” is trivial and very petty. And I never claimed to be the only enlightened person, I don’t know why you are accusing me of some kind of pride or vanity? I am generally considered by others to be a down to earth and humble person.

I am not imposing my view on anyone, we are here to discuss. I don’t know why you get so heated up man? Let us be like friends and have a relaxed discussion, what is the point of using sentences like, “You don’t understand you are not the only enlightened person….?”

If I don’t agree with you or vice versa, it doesn’t make anyone wrong or right, smart or dumb.

Omer

If I have ever detracted from any point it is because I don’t want a civilised discussion to turn into a petty or immature fight. I have done this with you a few times before, if you once recall we were discussing about the French revolution or something and I just abandoned the argument because there is no point fighting like kids if we can’t change the other’s opinion, and also because you appear to get very heated up and incensed.

Army is Punjabi dominated and so is the civil bureaucracy in Islamabad and to me it is very obvious that greater discipline and professionalism in the Army than in civil society (which is so very evident) leads to fairer and more competent governance. If the Army was also run as poorly as the civil society, then I am sure India would have treated Pakistan with much less dignity. The only reason India can’t dare to be very heavy handed against Pakistan is because it is aware of the might of Pakistan Army. Now you may say that American influence in Pakistan’s Army has made it more competent, but for whatever reason Army is a different world to civil society.

About the civilians who can think better than you and me and you can write well, I am not denying their existence. But if you have been following our discussion about Musharraf you should have noticed how many journalists, members of the public and how some politicians themselves are pro Musharraf. I have said before that the middle class heralds democracy in any society, and Musharraf is the President of Pakistan’s middle class. He is very popular amongst intellectuals and poets, the type of people who can think better than you and me. He is also quite popular with the youth, in fact a group has been formed which might become his party if he decides to join politics and 90% of people in that group are university graduates, a lot of them settled outside Pakistan.

There is nothing with the Polish girl, I just went to the takeaway twice and saw her. I do fancy her, but I have a problem with dating a takeaway worker. It is some kind of psychological barrier. Also, at the moment I am not prepared to get involved in a physical relationship.

Faisal Iqbal ‘heart-broken’ after being axed

Osman Samiuddin

May 20, 2009

Faisal Iqbal says he is “heartbroken” after being overlooked for a series of three practice Twenty20 matches in Lahore starting from Wednesday.

The board named two teams for the warm-up games designed to help Pakistan’s 15-man squad to prepare for next month’s World Twenty20 in England. Though he was part of the 30 probables named initially for the squad, Iqbal was dropped and then wasn’t picked for the practice games. And he says he doesn’t understand why he is being typecast as a Test player only.

“We are centrally contracted players so I can’t say too much obviously, but I don’t understand what’s happening with me,” Iqbal told Cricinfo. “I’m not criticising anyone but I’m really hurt by this. I thought, fine if I don’t make the World Cup squad, at least I can prove myself in the practice matches but I haven’t even been picked for that. I believe that being part of the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, I deserve a chance to at least play the practice matches.”

Though Iqbal averages nearly 40 in domestic limited-overs matches, he has become – much to his own frustration – a Test specialist to a succession of selection committees. He played the last of his 18 ODIs against West Indies in December 2006 even as Pakistan’s ODI batting has often suffered since then after the exits of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf; he has yet to play a Twenty20 international. In contrast, he has been a regular in the Test set-up since January 2007.

“I’m performing in Tests because I am getting a chance to play them,” he said. “If you don’t give a guy a chance in another format how will you know how good he is or not? Anyway I feel totally comfortable in any format. Twenty20 cricket is in my veins anyway because that is what we grow up playing in Karachi’s streets, these 5-10 over, or 20-over matches. I am confused – how do I prove myself to them?”

Barring exceptional circumstances, Iqbal will not be playing in the World Twenty20 in June, but he will have a chance to show selectors what they might be missing in the RBS Twenty20 Cup, due to start on May 25. “I was looking through some old stuff recently and found an old ODI green shirt of mine. It just made me wonder when I’ll be wearing it again. I am heartbroken about it.”

The journalist Christopher Martin-Jenkins has compiled a list of 100 greatest cricketers. The list can be seen on:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article6307539.ece

The list features plenty of Australian and English cricketers and I am sure Asians will find it very biased, perhaps with good reason too. For example, he has put Adam Gilchrist at no 10, who was probably not even in the top 5 batsmen of his era, and he has put Wasim Akram at no 34. He has put Graham Gooch at 44 and Dravid at 74.

Omer

This is what happens when an educated and intelligent politician or leader makes a statement. Musharraf on his recent tour to USA complained about America’s inconsistent policies in Pakistan for over 2 decades and how that has hurt Pakistan. Today this is what Hilary Clinton said:

US wronged Pakistan for 30 years, admits Hillary

WASHINGTON, May 19: The US secretary of state acknowledged on Tuesday that Washington had not been consistent in its dealings with Islamabad.

Talking to reporters at the Foreign Press Centre and the White House, Hillary Clinton said ‘it is fair to say that our policy towards Pakistan over the last 30 years has been incoherent. I don’t know any other word’.

About the military operation, Hillary Clinton said the United States was working with Pakistan to determine and disrupt the route for supplying weapons to the Taliban.

‘Yes, we know that the extremists are being supplied,’ she said when asked why the US was unable to determine and disrupt the Taliban supply route.

The secretary recalled that in the 1980s, the US partnered with Pakistan to help train the Mujahideen.

‘Their security service and the military were encouraged to go after the Soviets in Afghanistan’ and when they withdrew in 1989, ‘we said thank you very much’.

Mrs Clinton said while it was fair to apportion responsibility to Pakistan, but the US also shared the responsibility for what happened during and after the Afghan war.

‘What President Obama is doing is qualitatively different from anything done before. We support the elected government … it is a relationship very clear, honest to each other.’

The US, the secretary added, was assisting the new government in Islamabad to be ‘as successful as possible in delivering, we believe the future of Pakistan is extremely important for the US … the advance of extremism is a threat to our security’.

She underscored America’s ‘very strong’ support for the effort by the Pakistan army for defeating the terrorists.

Mrs Clinton said the Al Qaeda and their allies were intent upon harming not only US friends and allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan but also in the US homeland and to American citizens.

‘They have not given up on their desire to inflict damage, harm and murder on the USA … this is how we see helping our friends and allies … we have walked away in the past … now we are going to forge a partnership with the government and the people of Pakistan.’

‘We are working very closely with the intelligence service of Pakistan and others to determine where are the weapons coming from. We are working with Pakistan to disrupt the supply line.’

Javed A Khan/Munir sahab

I am not doubting the credibility of Omer’s proposals, only that they can work in a country like America or even India but not in Pakistan. Also, I never said the Army is free of all evils. They are corrupt but less than civilians. That is because there is more discipline and accountability in the Army.

I think people sometimes understand when I talk about degrees and people talk in absolute terms. I don’t say Musharraf is perfect or Army is perfect. I am only saying, “who is better”.

Also, practically speaking opposing Musharraf is like supporting Nawaz Sharif and Zardari. That is because, if Musharraf can not govern, who should govern? They are the alternatives. And they are really bad alternatives. Maybe if Imran Khan had been PM or ANP or MQM would be in central government and would have been more competent, I would not obviously support Musharraf like this.

Javed A Khan

The moment Altaf Hussain steps on Pakistani soil, he will be killed. There is absolutely no doubt about it. He is the most hated politician in Pakistan.

About him spending a luxurious life in the UK, I agree.

Javed A Khan

Why will they kill him? There must be hundreds of reasons. Who will kill him- anyone from intelligence services, Taliban, PPP, PML N, Haq Parast Haqeeqi or ANP.

I think he will be considered a hero anyway, whether he dies a natural death or not.

I don’t think he will be considered a coward, although fleeing on asylum I suppose is cowardly. He rose against the establishment at that time when the whole country was opposed to his people and their views.

I have no respect or admiration for him, but what he did required guts, and whether we like him or not, he gave a voice to Urdu Speakers. They needed a voice in politics, now how they got this voice is not a pleasant story to tell, but the end result has been good.

“Javed” ki nihari in Karachi is the best Nihari I’ve had in my life…

I don’t know why people in Karachi are so greedy. They eat like savages. I remember observing the greediness and lack of manners they had, sitting in places like Javed ki Nihari or Silver Spoon.

Lesbian scandal in Pakistan cricket:

Irfan Pathan is not jealous of Yusuf Pathan:

Abdul

Being English means that you are white and your roots lie in England. So are you English?

And the site is not mine only, the site is of Javed A Khan and Awas’s also.

3 Uzbek militants held while sneaking into Swat

KHAR: Three Uzbek militants were apprehended during a search operation by security forces in Bajaur tribal region on Wednesday.

According to the Bajaur Scouts, a tip off was received that some foreign militants had crossed into the tribal agency from the Afghan border and were planning to sneak into the Swat and Dir districts. The forces tightened security and sealed all entry and exit points to the tribal region.

The security forces erected barricades and during a search of vehicles arrested three foreign nationals at Yusufabad area, some three kilometers from headquarter Khar.

All the three detainees belonged to Uzbekistan and were stated to be key Taliban commanders, officials said, adding: They were going to troubled Swat valley to join Taliban fighting against security forces. The forces also seized sensitive equipment from their possession. The suspected persons were shifted to undisclosed location for interrogation.

Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants planted and detonated an explosive device near the main gate of the residence of a local, Yusuf Khan. As a result, the boundary wall of the house was completely destroyed. However, no casualty was reported. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Omer

The polls in Pakistan suggest that Zardari has an approval rating of 19%, which is lower than any approval rating Musharraf had. This is a statistic from ARY digital and I hope ARY is a credible enough source for your royal standards.

Again, the question is “who is better” and the answer is that Musharraf as a dictator is better than Zardari and Nawaz as “democratically” elected leaders. It is a sham democracy and laughable democracy. It is “paindoo democracy”.

Yes Kayani is a smart person, but I don’t know how much you have read about Kayani? Kayani’s inspiration is Musharraf and his role model is Musharraf, this is what he said when he was made COAS. So he is a smart man indeed. But if he is letting PPP and PML N run the show, then his decisions will turn out to be very stupid and you will see, all the good work Musharraf did in 9 years will be undone by these two parties in 2 years.

I don’t know what conspiracy theory writer you refer to. I have pasted articles from many journalists across the board, from Jang, to Dawn, to regional newspapers. The interview of the columnist Huma Mir to which I alluded to earlier, is from ARY Digital. The interview of Hasan Nisar in the previous thread is from News One, the news channel. Musharraf does not have support amongst the paindoos, but he has lots of support from intellectuals. Now it is your wish which group you would like to join?

Your latter paragraph looks like dogmatic mumbo jumbo to me, because you have just elicited a make-believe account of my education and my critical thinking and research skills. And Omer, without sounding as dogmatic, condescending and belittling as yourself, I would suggest you not advise me about what lawyers do and how they should behave. It is the height of dogmatism that you are undermining my 4 years of legal education like this.

Omer

I am sorry if I misunderstood you and let us bury the argument. Both of us ultimately want the best for Pakistan. I mentioned earlier that for your sake I hope Razzaq gets into the Pakistan team and makes a positive difference and for your sake I also hope we have good and real democracy in the country without undemocratic elements such as ethnic politics and feudalism.

Javed A Khan

I don’t see the feudal system being abolished anytime soon. That is because the country is overwhelmingly agricultural and the feudalism is the pulse of the country’s biggest and most influential province. Whenever proposals of land reforms were heard of, they got buried. In 2006 Musharraf tried to introduce land reforms, but nothing materialised.

I also totally agree that a new Constitution should arise which provides for checks and balances for everyone. We studied this a lot in American Politics at A-level, that the more checks and balances you have, the more difficult it is for the government to function and implement its agenda. I don’t trust the government in Pakistan because the individuals with power will only work to loot money and fool the masses. Hence Bhutto’s idea of a strong government should be rejected.

The courts act as a check and balance for the government. The Pakistani Constitution does provide for the court in some cases to review and strike down decisions of the government. However, when I said that Pakistan is a unique case and cannot be compared with USA or India, what I meant is what happened with the Supreme Court in Pakistan and this is what I attempted to explain to Omer, as well.

The driving force behind the movement to restore Choudhary was not legality or righteousness. It was ethnicity and politics. Politics in the sense that Choudhary and PML N have ideological similarities. This was a game designed by Lahore Bar Association and PML N, and then religious parties and Imran Khan joined them, as it became a political movement to remove Musharraf. Mubasher Lucman (who is a Punjabi), the reporter for News One, is uncovering what happened “behind the curtains” in this movement and he wants to expose the politics behind this restoration.

So our “principles of democracy” are strongly intertwined with ethnicity, regional affiliations and corruption. This is not what should herald democracy in any society. Democracy is built on equal rights, on minority rights, on meritocracy, on honesty, accountability etc.

Some people may say that it is because of democracy that MQM is winning seats in Karachi or ANP is becoming strong in NWFP. MQM offered support to Musharraf, whereas Musharraf improved MQM’s profile and gave them more powers. People say Musharraf rigged the election in NWFP so that a moderate and secular ANP could come to power. I can’t say for sure whether he did or not.

The point is that until very recently (2008) PML N did not even recognise MQM as a political party. What kind of democracy is this? Does it not serve the interests of one province, one race and one ideology?

Sham colleges open doors to Pakistani terror suspects

Thousands of young Pakistanis exploited a hole in Britain’s immigration defences to enrol as students at a network of sham colleges, The Times can reveal.

The gateway, opened by fraudsters who have earned millions from the scam, has allowed in hundreds of men from a region of Pakistan that is the militant heartland of al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taleban.

Eight of the terror suspects arrested last month in Manchester and Liverpool were on the books of one college.It had three small classrooms and three teachers for the 1,797 students on its books. Another college claimed to have 150 students but secretly enrolled 1,178 and offered places to a further 1,575 overseas applicants, 906 of them in Pakistan.

The investigation has also revealed:

• those running the scam charged at least £1,000 for admission places and fake diplomas. They created their own university to issue bogus degrees;

• they also charged £2,500 for false attendance records, diplomas and degrees that were used to extend the students’ stay in Britain;

• one wealthy associate, Mir Ahmad, linked to two murders in Pakistan, was arrested yesterday after The Times gave the Home Office a dossier implicating two of the colleges.

The Times has uncovered close ties between 11 colleges in London, Manchester and Bradford, all formed in the past five years and controlled by three young Pakistani businessmen.

Each of the three men entered the country on a student visa. One has fled to Pakistan after earning an estimated £6 million from the scam. Fayaz Ali Khan and another man are in the UK.

All but two of the ten students arrested last month over an alleged al-Qaeda bomb plot were enrolled over an 11-month period at Manchester College of Professional Studies. Two Liverpool universities admitted last night that they had given places to four of them, who had used a diploma from the college when they applied.

The massive fraud has fuelled a surge in student arrivals from Pakistan, which the Prime Minister has identified as the birthplace of two thirds of terrorist plots in the UK.Between 2002 and 2007, the number of Pakistani nationals with permission to enter or remain in the UK as students jumped from 7,975 to 26,935.

Manchester College of Professional Studies, set up in 2006, sold places to more than 1,000 students, including hundreds of men from North West Frontier Province, where a battle is raging between Taleban fighters and the Pakistani Army. Others came from mountainous tribal areas near the Afghan border, described by President Obama as “the most dangerous place in the world”.

The college was removed from an official government register of education providers last summer but those who ran it have set up other colleges.

Tougher rules on the admission of international students, introduced last month by the UK Border Agency, aim to weed out bogus colleges and close the immigration loophole. The Times has evidence, however, that those involved in some abuses are already seeking to exploit the new system.

Phil Woolas, the Immigration Minister, said last night: “The information provided by The Times has been passed on to the UK Border Agency, which is investigating.”

According to Jang, Basit Ali has been appointed Pakistan’s batting coach on the recommendation of Younis Khan.

So Younis wants a coach to work on his, Malik’s and Misbah’s batting flaws but he does not want to give a chance to Fawad Alam.

Afridi and some other players have been against batting coaches and instead have said the team needs a counsellor or psychologist.

The Indian election

Dawn report

PAKISTANIS should find a proper study of India’s latest general election quite rewarding — that is if they can abandon their utterly irrational resolve to learn neither from friends nor from foes. One of the most peculiar features of the Pakistani mindset is an incredibly strong sense of self-righteousness.

As the chosen community we do not have to learn from any other people. Indeed, the world, especially the non-Muslim part of it, has nothing to offer us. The ‘godless communists’ apart, we ignore even the believers in the West because of their ‘obscene practices’ and their high divorce rates. If a country had questioned our credentials to lead the Muslim ummah or failed to vote in our favour at a world forum it was to be put down in the list of permanent enemies.

In this regard, India has been selected for the worst possible treatment. Since we have designated this closest neighbour as our most inveterate foe, the question of looking at its ways of dealing with issues of statecraft, development, public welfare et al simply does not arise. So strong is the Pakistani elite’s aversion to India that it barely acknowledges its South Asian identity. Most Pakistanis would like to believe that Pakistan is located somewhere between Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

We become jealous of Bangladeshis if we find their taka has become a stronger currency than our rupee or that they have radically slashed their population growth rate, but we have no interest in examining as to how all this has been possible. (An exception is some rudimentary attempts to imitate the Grameen system of micro-credit.)

This mindset prevents Pakistan from studying Indian strategies to deal with the various issues that also plague us. Faced with problems of stagnation in agriculture we have invited experts from the western countries that have little knowledge of our soil, our land tenure system and the strengths and weaknesses of our peasants but we have made no serious attempt to analyse how India, a food-deficit country in the early 1950s, is now groaning under stocks of surplus grain. The destruction of Pakistan’s railway system is a most painful scandal but it is doubtful if we have tried to find out what keeps the Indian railways running. We have subcontinental diseases and we insist on applying Middle Eastern cures, quite unmindful of the disastrous results.

This habit of ignoring Indian efforts to grapple with the problems that afflict Pakistan also must be given up as the cost of persisting in this folly has become unbearable. This does not mean that whatever the Indians have done is wholesome and worth emulating because the mistakes made by them are legion. What is implied here is that when different communities address identical matters they can all learn from each other’s experience, their failures as well as their successes. It is in this context that one should like to urge state functionaries, public representatives, academics and students of politics to take a hard look at the latest general election in India.

First, the mechanics of an election. India is the only country in the world where polling in a general election is spread over several weeks, the basic reason being the keenness to ensure availability of the necessary personnel in sufficient strength in each sector. Till some years ago ballot boxes used to be kept under strict guard till counting could begin at the end of polling. It was no small achievement that in a country that was among the first to report incidents of booth-capturing no serious complaint of tampering with ballot boxes was heard.

But in 2004 India took a revolutionary step by switching over to vote-recording machines. The success of the system has silenced all those who had argued that the poorly educated rural communities could not use machines. True, there have been minor problems here and there but on the whole voting by machines has yielded huge benefits.

The entire hassle involving the printing of ballot papers, the dispatch of these ballots, stamps and papers related to polling to faraway polling stations and arrangements to guard against pilferage has been done away with. Counting can be done easily and speedily. The need for hard copies of electoral rolls can also be eliminated. All that a voter is required to do is to go to the polling station for his residential area and gain admittance by establishing his identity and his place of residence. True, those who can storm polling stations — and this species is not absent in Pakistan — will use the machine as effortlessly as they can stamp ballot papers, but that is a law and order issue, not an electoral problem.

The electoral contest was prolonged and bitter. The ruling coalition was visibly nervous and the challengers were smelling victory. But considering India’s vast territory, its mammoth electorate and the presence in considerable numbers of criminal elements among voters and candidates both, incidents of violent disruption of the electoral proceedings were negligible.

Some improvements in India’s political culture were evident in the promptness with which the losers admitted defeat and the manner of their doing so. In the main they held themselves responsible for their poor showing instead of blaming the system or the winners for wrongdoing. It is evidence such as this that convinces everybody of the election having been free and fair.

The electorate in any country derives immense pleasure from proving the poll forecasts wrong, and the more underprivileged a people the greater their happiness in surprising sophisticated mind-readers. Indian voters have once again enjoyed proving themselves to be masters of the moment. Now all the experts can indulge in semantics to their hearts’ content over why the people in a part of India preferred a party/candidate to another, why someone won and somebody else lost. The voters have spoken and moved on — replacing a dissection of the past with hopes of turning the corner in the future.

The extent to which the election commission has contributed to the development of electoral processes and conventions in India merits study by Pakistani experts. India has avoided reserving the chief election commissioner’s office for the judiciary and succeeded in establishing the institution’s credibility. Differences have been noticed between the commission’s working under a stern and authoritarian Seshan and a gregarious and media-loving Gill and there have been occasions when observers have wondered at the commission’s laziness or else but on the whole the system has continued to deliver.

No doubt Indian democracy is far from perfect. The ordinary citizen’s participation in governance is largely restricted to periodic elections of his representatives with little control over the latter’s performance. But Pakistanis will do well to appreciate a poor Indian’s feeling of fulfillment when he recalls that it was he who threw out prime ministers or reinstated the discarded ones, that he has been part of the process of change. It is this heady feeling that enables the ordinary Indian citizen to own the state and to be proud of it in spite of all his grievances about being neglected, abandoned and exploited.

The greatest misfortune of the Pakistani people has been that the repeated disruptions of the democratic journey by authoritarian adventurers have deprived them of the joy of owning the state. The Indian election needs to be studied in Pakistan in order to settle the question of the state’s ownership — whether it belongs to an oppressive, incompetent and corrupt elite or the dumb, exploited multitude.

Omer

The writer above talks about the strength of Indian democracy and he seems to replicate your views and he has even said that authoritarian disruptions have affected democracy in Pakistan, which is what you say.

But again, does he understand the fact that the two countries are very different?

This is the scorecard of a T20 match played yesterday.

http://pak.cricdb.com/archive/domestic/tournaments/contents/scorecard/view/index.php?scr_id=532

Fawad was sent in to bat in the last few balls and he remained not out on 5, whereas he took a wicket and conceded 19 runs in 3 overs. In terms of economy rate he was the 2nd best after Afridi, in spinners.

Salman Butt made 60, but with 8 boundaries and he took 53 balls, which means that otherwise he made 28 runs in 45 balls, which is not good for T20 (when you take out his boundaries). This shows he is poor at rotating and strike and also that he is playing for himself and not taking more chances.

Hence I agree with Javed A Khan that Butt and Shahzad should not open in T20. They need to play Fawad Alam. Malik did not do anything great in this particular match.

Omer

Were you referring to this “conspiracy theorist” writer?

Stop The Rot In Pakistan

Ahmed Quraishi

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The worst part of the continuing instability in Pakistan since 2007 is that it is fast pushing this nation’s best and brightest to lose hope. The doomsday reporting on Pakistan in the Am-Brit [American-British] media – which appears more like a war campaign than reporting – is devastating the national psyche. But this would not have been problematic had our national leadership been up to the challenge. This leadership has been a failure in the best of times. Now our challenges are tall and our leaders are pygmies by comparison.

I know Pakistani businessmen who made fortunes out of providing uninterrupted high-value services to the banking industry who are forced now to contemplate migration because they are losing hope. Their incomes are intact but it is the quality of their lives in Pakistan’s biggest city that they are concerned about.

The military institution is strong and is capable of holding Pakistan’s stability and integrity despite the alarm and the unanswered questions over how our situation deteriorated over the past four years and how our homeland has become exposed to multiple foreign players wreaking havoc here, not to mention why we have allowed ourselves to blindly trust one superpower with our interests.

The military can and will prevail over the threats facing us for the time being, but who will assume the challenge of reviving the national spirit, remodeling national politics and initiate the hard task of making Pakistan an attractive place for its citizens?

The political parties are unmitigated failures and cannot run a democracy. None of these parties today has a national agenda. Most of them have shrunk into narrow regional or ethnic interests. None of them has a working party system that produces leaders since most of these parties operate as one-man shows or as family-run businesses in their most primitive forms. If handed over power tomorrow morning, there is hardly any party out there that can come up with better plans or policies than the one currently in office.

And while this failure continues, the ethnic-based provincial division of the state is turning every administrative issue into an ethnic flashpoint. Some politicians and political parties are manufacturing ethnic tensions for political gain. Foreign players are exploiting this and courting separatism in Pakistan as a vehicle for pushing their own interests. It is an irony that there isn’t a single political party in Pakistan today that raises the flag of Pakistani nationalism. There was a time when India, our perennial enemy-friend, used to be the only bastion of advocates of separatism in Pakistan. But today we see the center of gravity of this trend moving to Washington, for various reasons.

But these are fallouts. The strings are still in our hands and no one can mess with us if we put our house in order. But who will do it in Pakistan?

If the political parties are unable to produce leaders, we cannot wait for them forever to do so. We in Pakistan do not have the luxury of time. The time for this was the 20th century when nations took their time to develop their national systems. We wasted that opportunity. Both an elected civilian leader and a military ruler – Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Ayub Khan – made good starts but messed up in the end.

To move forward, Pakistan needs a new deal for the 21st century. And this deal cannot come through the ballot for the foreseeable future. Our best chance is for Pakistan’s best and brightest – outside the realm of our failed parties and a failed system – to step forward with a plan to remodel the state, change the constitution and create an environment for real political parties to grow and prosper. This is the only way left to bring capable and creative civilian administrators to power. Such a civilian administration can and must borrow the support of the military institution for such a grand project of national rebuilding.

As we make a final push to expel America’s failed war encroaching into our territory in our northern and western regions, the wider national perspective must not be missed. A vibrant, creative and emerging Pakistan is still possible. But for this to happen, Pakistan’s thinking classes, the media and the public opinion will have to support creative out-of-the-box thinking.

The time to stop the rot is here. Let’s not become the worst managers of one of the world’s best pieces of real estate.

————————————————————————————————
I don’t agree with Ahmed’s very biased approach towards the West or India, but what he says about Pakistani nationalism is spot on. Ahmed needs to realise that ultimately, in order to get the Pakistan he envisages, lessons will have to be learned from the West as well as India.

I have never seen a journalist who is so committed to the unity of Pakistanis. Ahmed knows in his heart that the answer to his concerns is someone like Pervez Musharraf, a leader not for Punjab, a leader not for Karachi, a leader not for Baluchistan, but for Pakistan.

Shoaib Akhtar pulled out of Pakistan’s World Cup squad

——————————————————————————–

LAHORE: Pakistan pulled fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar out of next month’s World Twenty20 tournament in England due to injury, the Pakistan Cricket Board said Thursday.

“We have pulled him out of the World Twenty20 on the basis of a medical report on his groin injury,” the PCB said.

Fitness concerns have continued to plague the 33-year-old bowler, who skipped the squad’s conditioning camp for the World Twenty20 and was not featuring in any of the three practice matches.

Shoaib Akhtar managed just four Twenty20 matches last year due to fitness and discipline problems. He was dropped from the team after he managed to get just one wicket in the two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka in February.

Despite his problems Shoaib Akhtar had been named in the 15-man squad for the 12-team Twenty20 event starting from June 5.

Pakistan are placed in Group B alongside hosts England and the Netherlands.

The website Cricdb has reported that Akhtar was suffering from genital warts, which is why he is unable to play in the practice matches and why he is not fit to play in the T20 World Cup.

http://pak.cricdb.com/archive/domestic/tournaments/contents/index.php?srsid=16

Genital warts is a sexually transmitted disease.

http://pak.cricdb.com/archive/domestic/tournaments/contents/scorecard/view/index.php?scr_id=533

Shoaib Malik’s allround effort court not prevent defeat for Younis Khan’s team in today’s T20. Hafeez, playing for Misbah’s team batted brilliantly today and single handedly engineered the innings for Chairman XI. Malik and Tanvir were the wicket takers and Malik was also economical.
Fawad Alam was expensive in his 2 overs.

Malik top scored with 71 from 52 balls while Butt and Younis provided some support. Fawad as usual was sent in to bat towards the end of the innings but he could not win the match for the Patrons team. He remained unbeaten on 10 from 7 balls. Fawad Alam faced the last ball of the innings; hit six over mid-wicket off Umer Gul.

Rao Ifthikar was the Chairman XI’s best bowler, taking 2 wickets whereas Saeed Ajmal was economical.

The batting has been very selfish and the senior players like Younis and Butt are treating this as batting practice. They are playing so slowly. Ahmed Shahzad has not been able to strike form and although he is a confident striker, he is not playing the ball in the gaps. Younis needs to promote Fawad Alam because in T20 Fawad can unquestionably play better than Younis, but neither of Younis, Malik or Misbah will do anything ever to benefit Fawad because they know he threatens their place.

Awas

Tney are senior players and they should be accountable to the team and the country. They are not performing adequately and they should demote themselves or get demoted. Younis made Malik open today and made Butt bat at no 3, don’t know whether it was because he wanted to benefit Butt or Malik or both.

He can promote Akmal up the order, Misbah can promote Hafeez and Afridi up the order but no one can promote Fawad up the order. That is precisely because they feel threatened.

Whether I talk from their perspective or Fawad’s perspective, what they are doing is wrong. It is discriminatory treatment.

Munir sahab

So it seems you are saying that playing selfishly is justified? Being an accountant is different from being a cricketer. When you are an accountant you think about yourself and your firm, but as a cricketer you should think about your team and your country. If Awas was in a team of 11 accountants being sent to some global competition to represent England, and if he was not doing a great job and knew someone else could do a better job than him, then the situation changes slightly. The stakes are raised higher, it becomes a matter of pride and an occasion where integrity, conscience, honour etc are tested.

If this method of thinking is adopted, then Pakistan will surely remain a substandard team because the public will think the seniors are doing the natural thing or the justifiable thing to play selfishly and not give chances to someone who is potentially better.

Yes Munir sahab that’s because I do most of my uni work on the PC and I keep refreshing the admin page )

AFRIDI UNAFRAID TO TAKE RISKS

Pritam Das

22/05/2009

There is a thin line separating genius from madness. With Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi, the line is a blur.

Supremely gifted, yet eccentric, Afridi is what Afridi does. Most often it’s hitting bowlers out of the park, bamboozling batsmen with his furious brand of leg-spin or needling the opposition with incessant chatter from the in-field.

In between he performs deeds of reckless abandon, like scouring the business end of a pitch with his spikes or announcing his retirement from Test cricket just when he’s made himself a fixture in the team.

Rarely does the script go wrong.

His looks make him a darling with the women. His ability to smack the ball with power guarantees him a sizeable fan following, especially in his homeland where extravagance is revered.

Afridi’s batting technique is simple; hit the ball and hit it hard.

He comes to the crease with the one idea of hitting just about every ball out of the ground. Attack and aggression are his natural instincts.

Most bowlers quake in fear. Others throw up their hands, go through the motions and get smacked.

Only 16 when he made his international debut in 1996, Afridi took the cricket world by storm, smashing the fastest century in one-day cricket in only his second match. The opposition was no less a team than Arjuna Ranatunga’s Sri Lanka. Ironically, Afridi was picked on the strength of his bowling.

Whatever his task in the team, Afridi had arrived and with a bang.

Afridi’s cricket is a reflection of the region he comes from. A Pathan from the craggy rocky mountain and barren North West Frontier Province, Afridi brings the qualities of his tribe – fearlessness and aggression - to the field.

His batting too reflects the region of his birth. It carries a rustic charm sometimes memorable, but at other times a quickly passing shadow which leaves no mark.

“In the dressing room, I tell myself I will be patient at the start at least,” he says.

“But once I cross the boundary ropes, the noise and screams of the fans get to me and it makes me nervous. It puts me under pressure,” Afridi said.

“It is my nature. A Pathan is a hot-blooded creature, who always wants to get things done quickly. Sometimes it backfires. The mind doesn’t think too much when in a hurry.

“I am not perfect and I do have my limitations,” he added.

Indeed, consistency was an attribute which he introduced to his game a good six years after he made his debut. The benefits of discipline and judgement were brought home to him only in 2005 when the late Bob Woolmer took over as coach of Pakistan.

After several years of trying he finally made himself a permanent fixture in the Test team, only to announce he was retiring due to “burnout”.

On the field Afridi had never been found wanting in agility and safety. Rarely does he put down catches while fielding in the ring.

His throws from the deep are precise and powerful.

Along the way, he has also added several tricks to his loopy-leg spin and many consider him second only to the legendary Shane Warne for variation.

Australia found that out much to their discomfort in the series in Abu Dhabi and Dubai last month where he emerged top bowler.

A man of many gifts and fragile temperament, never has a player endeared and exasperated in equal measure. It has become the irrepressible Pathan’s signature style.

Today Altaf Hussain spoke to Asaf Zardari on the phone and raised concern about IDP’s entering into Sindh. Sindhi nationalist groups have protested in some villages in Sindh because they don’t want “outsiders stealing their resources”.

After sending money and relief goods almost everyday and doing more than anyone else for the relief of refugees from Swat, MQM today undid all that by raising these concerns. I am really upset at them.

The reason why this is particularly sad is because Punjab was the first province to say it does not want any refugees and in fact it came in the news a few days ago that Punjab government has closed its borders to refugees.

Now if the same thing happens in Sindh (to be honest I think MQM and Sindhis are doing this as a reaction to what Punjab government did) where will the refugees go?

Top cricketers to feature in Akbar Alam Benefit match

Friday, May 22, 2009

KARACHI: Top Pakistani cricketers will feature in the Akbar Alam Benefit match when Governor’s Eleven will take on Chief Minister’s Eleven on May 23 at the National Stadium.

Custom’s Academy is organising this T20 match in honour of Akbar Alam who dedicated his life for the promotion of cricket in the country.

Legendary cricketer Saeed Anwar and former Pakistan cricket team skippers Javed Miandad and Inzimam-ul-Haq and other renowned former cricketers will be playing in the match.

Pakistan team captain Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and Misbah-ul-Haq has also confirmed their participation.

Governor’s XI: Javed Miandad, Syed Mustafa Kamal, Faisal Sabzwari, Dr Saghir Ansari, Rashid Latif, Moin Khan, Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Zahoor Elahi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Umer Gul, Fawad Alam, Col Zubair, Haji Ashraf, Sohail Khan, Ali Hussain, Khalid Latif, Yasir Shah, Hanif Malik, Pir Zulfiqar, Yasir Hussain.

Chief Minister’s XI: Abdul Qadir, Dr Mohammad Ali Shah, Agha Siraj Durrani, Saeed Anwar, Inzimam-ul-Haq, Azam Khan, Abdul Razzaq, Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan, Asim Kamal, Salman Butt, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Sohail Tanveer, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Col Aamir, Junaid Jamshed, Anwar Ali, Dr, Junaidf Ali Shah, Ather Ali, Rameez Aziz, Hafiz Asad, Shahzaib Hassan, Jaahid Shoukat Ali.

Today Fawad was sent in to bat at no 4 and what happened? He made 33 from 18 balls which is the best strike rate of this series by any batsman who has faced more than 10 balls.

http://pak.cricdb.com/archive/domestic/tournaments/contents/scorecard/view/index.php?scr_id=534

He scored 3 boundaries but also played the balls in the gaps and ran singles and doubles. Like I have said this guy can do anything, he can hit fours and sixes, he is good at driving the ball in the gaps and rotating the strike etc.

Omer

You’re up early?!

Omer key liye

Raath keh baara bajay din nikilta hai..

Subah key che bajay raath hoti hai….

Shoaib to play domestic Twenty20 next week

Cricinfo staff

May 23, 2009

Pakistan cricket looks headed for another showdown after Shoaib Akhtar was named captain of the Islamabad Leopards for next week’s RBS Twenty20 Cup, just two days after he was dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the World Twenty20 due to a skin infection.

“He (Shoaib) has told us that he is fit so we have no reason to drop him,” Islamabad Cricket Association president Shakil Shaikh told the Associated Press. “We have not received any medical report of Akhtar from the Pakistan Cricket Board.”

A PCB-appointed three-member medical panel said on Thursday that Shoaib would need a minimum of ten days to recover from his condition, which prompted the Pakistan board to jettison Shoaib from the squad the same day.

Shoaib’s ailment had initially ruled him out of the training camp the team attended in Bhurban, a mountainous hill resort near Islamabad but he had been confident of recovering in time for next month’s World Twenty20.

“It’s the basic fundamental right of the player that if he says he is fit you can’t stop him from playing,” Shaikh said after naming Shoaib as captain for the five-day domestic tournament starting on Monday in Lahore.

Should Shoaib play – and perform – it will inevitably lead to questions over why he was dropped from the squad, after having been picked in the first place. The popular Twenty20 tournament will have 18 matches, and has a prize money of 4.44m rupees (approx US $55,000), and will feature all members of Pakistan’s squad for the World Twenty20.

Javed A Khan sahab

Mai Punjabi sey zaada waaqif nahi hoon goya meray mutabiq mulk ki waqar aur falah o behbood key liye Zardari ka kirdaar munasib nahi hai.

Abdul

Yes it is an anticipated match, I am in your agree.

Abdul

I have not been keeping up with domestic cricket in the UK, so can’t comment.

You like my new pic? My friend took it when I was at his house last week. I thought if you have shown your pic, I should show mine too, but no one complimented me except you. I am thank you.

I don’t know about New York. I don’t get much time to watch movies.

RBS T20 Cup

KARACHI: Pakistan’s England-bound cricketers intend to make full use of the 2009 RBS National Twenty20 Cup starting in Lahore from May 25 ahead of next month’s World Twenty20 Championships.

All of Pakistan’s 15-man squad will compete for various regional teams in the five-day spectacle to be played under floodlights at the Gaddafi Stadium and LCCA Ground in Lahore from May 25-29.

Pakistan captain Younis Khan will lead Peshawar Panthers while former skipper Shoaib Malik will spearhead Sialkot Stallions’ campaign to retain their title. Pacer Shoaib Akhtar is at the helm of the Islamabad Leopards.

Leading Faisalabad Wolves will be senior batsman Misbah-ul-Haq, while Kamran Akmal will captain Lahore Lions.

The Rs 4.4 million tournament will serve as a launch pad for Pakistan ahead of their campaign in the World Twenty20 Championship to be played in London and Nottingham from June 5-21.

A total of thirteen teams, representing all leading cities across Pakistan will feature in what is easily the country’s most popular domestic cricket event.

A total of 18 Matches will be played; 12 at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore and six at the LCCA Ground, Lahore. The Gaddafi stadium matches will be telecast live on Geo Super.

The event’s schedule was announced on Tuesday at a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium that was attended by the senior management of RBS and Pakistan Cricket Board.

Speaking on the occasion, Salman Sarwar Butt, Head of Retail Banking, RBS Pakistan stated: “The RBS sponsorship of the 20:20 tournament for the second consecutive year reinforces our commitment to Pakistan cricket. With enormous popularity across the nation cricket is by far the most popular of all sports both played and watched. RBS is delighted to continue the partnership with the PCB.”

Sultan Rana, PCB’s Director Cricket Operations Domestic said: “We are very optimistic that this tournament will also be a great success. We look forward to further strengthening cricket at the domestic level thus providing more players at the grass roots level with opportunities to perform and qualify for cricket at the international level.”

Awas

Totally agree with you there. T20 is just a lottery. IPL is ridiculous in that respect because all teams are evenly matched and whoever obtains the momentum ends up winning. Plus, I have not followed IPL 2009 but in last IPL Tamil Indians were playing for Punjab, Bengalis were playing for Mumbai etc. Why are they associating a team with a region then if the team consists of players from all around the country?

IPL is just about lots of razmatazz and “hungama”, it’s like a Bollywood event. In fact this year pretty serious match fixing allegations have been levied and it seems like professional wrestling to me, which is like watching an action movie with publicity stunts and scripted events.

Omer

I am in favour of having different squads for T20, ODI and Test cricket. The 3 formats are played very differently and cricket boards should employ a “divison of labour and specialisation” approach to training youngters.

The reason why Pakistan can get away with having an almost identical T20 and ODI side is because the selection in ODI’s is biased towards including aggressive players who are good at T20 too. The basic form of cricket played in Pakistan is a twenty over format played on streets, where batsmen just want to smash the ball around wherever they can.

Clean hitting, bowling with variety and excellent fielding are three requirements for T20 cricket and whichever teams focus on these 3 requirements, they will be the best teams in the future. I think having a balance is important and all batsmen should not be pinch hitters, but from Pakistan’s perspective having having 2 of Misbah, Malik and Fawad should be enough. They are players who can rotate the strike and take singles and doubles and also hit biggies when the situation requires. There is no need to have Younis and Yousuf in T20.

I don’t know why people are getting so ignorant and why T20 is being so popular. I am not against T20′s popularity, but the fact that it is replacing ODI and Test cricket.

The ICC should also take measures to make Test cricket more popular. By this, I don’t mean having rules that if a batsman faces 2 short pitch deliveries in one over, the bowler gets suspended or rubbish like that, but maybe the ICC can make Tests a 4 day game. Maybe introduce coloured kits for Tests and have evening or night matches.

Bangalore and Deccan were the worst teams last year but they are now the finalists this year. What rubbish is this? Why is the ICC on making cricket a game where all teams are equally capable who luck dictates who wins or loses?

I think any of the top eight teams in the world can defeat one another, with Pakistan and India slightly more likely to win because of having naturally aggressive players who also play ODI and Test cricket like Afridi, Akmal, Sehwag, Gambhir and Dhoni.

Musharraf vacates Army House

ISLAMABAD: Former president Pervez Musharraf has vacated the Army House — 18 months after retiring as the Chief of Army Staff.

Reliable sources told Dawn on Saturday that belongings of the former army chief had been moved to his house at Chak Shahzad farm house, near Tamri Chowk. They were not sure when Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, the COAS, will shift to the Army House.

Gen (retired) Rashid Qureshi, who had twice served as Gen (retd) Musharraf’s spokesman, said as he was in Karachi, he was not in a position to confirm the evacuation.

He said the former president would soon return home after a lecture tour of several countries. ‘He (Pervez Musharraf) has no plan to settle abroad,’ Gen Qureshi added.

However, the sources said, very few belongings of the former army chief had been moved to Chak Shahzad. They said it was not clear whether or not Gen Musharraf intended to settle down in Chak Shahzad.

Gen Musharraf had retired from the army on Nov 28, 2007. But he continued living in the Army House as the government declared the premises as official residence of the President of Pakistan on Dec 6. However, the residence, constructed for the current Army Chief remained in his possession.

In T20 Malik is a good player. In fact I have said that he was always a T20 player and if you look at his domestic record he is the best at T20 and the worst in first class. In fact his first class record is so mediocre that you have to wonder who made him a Test player and how?

Younis and Dravid can be compared and Dravid and Misbah can be compared too. Misbah is a good T20 player and in fact he is also best in T20 and not as good as one day and 4-day level.

For whatever reason Butt and Shahzad are likely to play in all matches.

Pakistan squad: Younis Khan (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Salman Butt, Ahmed Shahzad, Shoaib Malik, Shahid Afridi, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal, Yasir Arafat, Umar Gul, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Rao and Shahzaib Hasan.

Out of this squad I will pick:

Shahzaib Hasan (he played well in the practice matches held a few days ago)
Shahid Afridi
Kamran Akmal
Younis Khan (no other batsmen in the team!!!)
Shoaib Malik
Misbah ul Haq
Fawad Alam
Sohail Tanvir
Umer Gul
Rao Ifthikar (can hit sixes)
Saeed Ajmal (I agree now with Javed A Khan that it is better playing an extra spinner, although my reservations with Ajmal’s fielding remain)

Omer

Firstly I agree with your comments to an extent.

There are much better players than Ahmed Shahzad. Shahzad just got his chance because of favourtism. He is not making his debut now, he made his debut in ODI cricket and that too against the 2nd best ODI side. He has good technique but needs much more experience.

I would not have complained if he would have made his debut in this T20 WC. His got his chance vs Australia because of politics and that is the reality.

Fitness is so important in T20 because runs have to come one way or the other. However, a poor runner like Yousuf will not help. Similarly, Younis is a type of player who has to get settled before he can play his shots. Now because he bats at no 3, he tries to play against his natural game and does not succeed in T20. Either he has to demote himself or he should not play. Yousuf is a different type of player, a bit more like Tendulkar that he can start playing his shots straightaway, but Yousuf has a serious problem with fitness. You see that when he is running and you see that when he is fielding.

If you take the example of England, players like Strauss, Cook and Bell are incapable of performing at the international level in T20 because they, like Younis, have to settle down first and T20 does not allow that chance. Similarly, Amla and Prince in South Africa also have to settle down first.

The answer is not easy, because whatever we are saying also depends on what number the batsman is coming to bat. That is why I keep saying that Misbah has this advantage of being in a much more certain position when he comes to bat at no 5 or 6, than someone like Younis. Misbah can only score when he comes in a pressure situation, because he is batting low down. Now because he is coming in a pressure situation, he is allowed to settle down first because at that stage the writing is on the wall, that Pakistan is 50/4 or something and someone needs to waste many balls and get into some kind of form. Younis does not have that liberty.

Can you imagine what the situation would be if we have players like Yousuf and Razzaq playing T20? All the good work done by them in their batting or bowling or whatever (I seriously doubt Razzaq’s abilities, which we have discussed before) would be undone by their rubbish fielding.

Javed A Khan

The reason I chose Tanvir and Rao was because even if their bowling does not click, both of them can hit sixes. Who else is there? Yasir Arafat and Mohd Aamir. Aamir is not a batsman whereas Arafat’s bowling has not been impressive. I think Rao’s experience will help plus on English pitches Rao might be able to swing the ball.

But it is a close call between Rao and Aamir.

Ajmal action gets ICC’s green signal

The ICC has cleared the bowling action of Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal. In a statement on Monday, it confirmed that Ajmal’s action was found to be legal in an independent test conducted by Bruce Elliott, a member of the ICC Panel of Human Movement Specialists, and the player could, therefore, continue to bowl in international cricket.

Ajmal’s doosra was reported by the umpires during the second ODI against Australia in Dubai last month but he was allowed to continue bowling till Elliott’s assessment of his action was completed.

During a comprehensive analysis it was revealed the amount of elbow extension in Ajmal’s bowling action for all deliveries was within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted in the ICC regulations. The analysis was performed by Elliott in Perth on May 14.

“We have received a report from biomechanic expert Bruce Elliott in which Ajmal’s action while bowling a contentious delivery has been cleared,” Zakir Khan, PCB’s director of operations told AFP. “Elliott has sent his report to the PCB as well as to the ICC.”

Ajmal, however, will be permitted to continue bowling at the international level subject to certain conditions. The first of which is, “the effect of Elliott’s report and any report from a biomechanical expert, cannot be to clear him without limitation in the future. The effect of Prof Elliott’s report is simply to confirm that Ajmal is capable of bowling with an action which complies with ICC Regulations,” said the release.

Second, “whenever Ajmal bowls in a match in the future, his action will be under the scrutiny of the match officials”.

And finally, “according to the ICC regulations, the match officials will use the naked eye to determine whether his action complies with the Laws of Cricket. The permitted degree of elbow extension is 15 degrees and the level of tolerance was set at the point at which such elbow extension will begin to become noticeable to the naked eye. Accordingly, any degree of extension which is visible to the naked eye must and will be reported. ”

Commenting on the results of the analysis and also restating the ICC’s policy in relation to suspect illegal bowling actions, David Richardson, the ICC general manager, said, “Ajmal can continue to bowl in international cricket on the basis that he uses an action consistent to that used in the latest independent analysis of his action.

“However, it is important to emphasise that no bowler is ever ‘cleared’ as it is impossible to predict how a player might deliver the ball in the future. All bowlers are subject to further reporting if the match officials are of the view that they have concerns about whether a delivery or deliveries conform to the Laws of Cricket when observed with the naked eye.”

India no favourites to defend World T20 title: Abbas, Akram

Former Pakistan captains Zaheer Abbas and Wasim Akram on Sunday refused to reckon defending champions India as favourites to retain the World Twenty20 title, saying the Indian players would be too tired to go for a kill after a hectic last season coupled with the IPL grind.

“I think there is no favourite team in such a tournament. Anyone from Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa can win the World Cup,” he said.

“If the IPL is good practice for the players ahead of the World Cup the Indians have been playing too much cricket and would be tired by the time the tournament is held,” Abbas said.

Wasim also agreed that India could face problems this time because their players were fatigued after a long tough season.
“In such a tournament it is very difficult to maintain a long winning streak and you need to be fresh for the challenge,” he added.

The two, however, had different opinions about runners-up Pakistan’s chances in the upcoming tournament.

Abbas felt Pakistan had only a distant chance to claim the coveted trophy.

“I would love to see Pakistan win but the fact is that the World Cup is being held in different conditions and it will be very tough,” said Abbas, known as black Bradman.

However, Akram tipped Pakistan as favourites to win the final because he felt bowling was their strength and suitable for the English conditions.

“And they have a very good track record in T20 cricket. But more then anything I believe our bowling is strong and ideal for the English conditions and pitches,” the former fast bowler said.

“I don’t think any other team has so much variety and experience in their bowling line-up,” he added.

Pakistan’s coach Intikhab Alam also agreed with Akram that Pakistan were among favourites to win the title.

“We will be relying a lot on our spinners. Because in T20 cricket I believe more than the fast bowlers, the bowlers who can mix up their pace and balls are more successful. And we have some very good quality spinners and options available to us,” he said.

But Intikhab agreed that Pakistan would face a big challenge in trying to lift their fielding standards in the mega event.

“Fielding is crucial in this form of the game and in the conditioning camp and practice matches we have been laying lot of stress on our fielding drills and also watching videos of other teams,” the former Test captain said.

No role in Bugti killing: Musharraf

ISLAMABAD (Agencies) – Former President Gen (r) Pervez Musharraf has denied any role in the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti. He also maintained that he will live in Pakistan and keep visiting abroad.
In an interview with a private TV channel, Musharraf said he was satisfied with the security at his residence in Chak Shahzad. He disclosed that he had purchased a flat in London, adding that he was in London for lectures and interviews and it did not mean that he had left Pakistan for good. “I will live permanently in Chak Shahzad,” he added.
He also rejected allegation of acquiring electricity on cheap prices, maintaining that he was not involved in any illegal act.
Replying to another question, he said Ch Shujaat Hussain and Ch Pervaiz Elahi were his friends and he still meets them. He denied accusations of rigging elections as baseless.

Top 10 run scorers in IPL 2009:

Hayden
Gilchrist
AB Devilliers
Raina
Dilshan
Duminy
Gibbs
Hodge
Tendulkar
Kallis

Interesting combination of clean hitters and orthodox middle order batsmen.

RBS T20 Cup starts from tomorrow in Pakistan.

Younis leading Peshawar, Akhtar leading Islamabad, Malik leading Sialkot, Afridi leading Karachi, Misbah leading Faislabad and Akmal leading Lahore.

All top stars are playing in this Cup.

Geo Super will televise it across the world. Link will be posted tomorrow. Matches start 4am UK time on Monday.

List of fixtures:

http://content.cricinfo.com/pakistandomestic/content/series/405029.html?template=schedule

Omer

What, you repeated my opening sentence? There is no fun in that man Imitation is the sincerent form of flattery, or so they say

It would have been better to say, “I am agree with you”.

I will have to I am agree to I am disagree with you regarding Yousuf’s running, because he has a habit of not looking at his partner when he runs, and he starts panting very quickly. Not a fit player. Not a six-hitter as well, so I don’t see him performing in T20. You can say he overcomes his fielding weakness with his batting, or there is another way or eliciting the situation which is that if he scores 25 runs in T20 but gives 10 runs away because of poor running and throwing in the field, his net utility is 15 runs which is not impressive.

Do you remember we had this debate before the Australian series, where I said Ahmed Shahzad may be talented but he is no Miandad or Tendulkar (as in, as they were at age 16)?. That is exactly what happened. He is “talented”, yes, no doubt but he didn’t do anything extraordinary with that talent on his debut. I said he needs experience, so I am not discounting the possibility of him becoming better as time progresses. However talented or not, his selection was very mysterious and not based on merit or good domestic form.

I know you follow this argument very rigidly that domestic performance should not be an indicator as to how a player will perform internationally, but what you should also appreciate is that domestic form should dictate WHETHER A PLAYER SHOULD GET CHANCES and HOW MANY chances a player should get to prove himself. Also, saying Malik is a good domestic player but cannot be a good international player, is a very black-and-white statement because shades of grey are being ignored. Malik is a good T20 player, both in international cricket and domestic cricket (he was in the top 10 batsmen in the T20 WC 2007). He is not a Test level player in international cricket and at domestic level, he is not a good first class player (which I have said as well in my post no 167 above). He averages something like 29 in domestic 4 day games and other players in his own Sialkot side like Kamran Younis and Shahid Yousuf are more consistent and reliable than him.

So in line with my above argument, on the basis of having a poor RBS One Day Cup, the performances of which were meant to decide the squad against Australia, Shahzad did not deserve to be selected and his place should have gone to Khalid Latif or Khurram Manzoor. Latif went berserk in that Cup avergaing 114 or something.

You are right in spotting gaps in Australian talent. Apart from people like Warne and Ponting, Australia did not have great raw talent, as you would expect from countries like England and Australia where a player is not as talented as his Pakistani or Indian counterparts, but he benefits from professional coaching and advanced training from a very young age. People like Wasim Akram and Inzamam were flukes and players like them are not produced in every era necessarily. Same goes with Warne and Ponting. You will find this breed of exceptional players who were brilliant when they started, worldwide, like with Lara, Tendulkar, Waqar etc. I don’t think the system has much to do with the individual brilliances of Inzamams and Pontings. What drives them in inherent genius which would work under any system.

Australia has gone through this period before as well when it has not been the no 1 side and people have started questioning its status. I am sure it will produce some quality players within the next 2 years or so. The Australian system is too good to fail. Ever since cricket has been played internationally, Australia has been a top 3 side. India, Australia and South Africa will now rule the cricket scene for a long while. The improvement in the Indian system can be seen from the way bowlers like Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar and Zaheer Khan have done well and from the way they are producing batsmen like Gambhir and Raina. Similarly, South Africa has developed this new breed of aggressive, super fit and mentally strong players.

Pakistan is well behind but they still have a bunch of talented players who need to be utilised properly without politics or favouritism. If Pakistan can use a little bit of intelligence such as demote Younis Khan in ODI’s, make use of players like Fawad Alam, open with Afridi, and if they can stop wasting time and money on people like Shoaib Akhtar, they can become a top 3 side.

Abdul

He hit 3 consecutive 4′s but was out on the 4th ball. When Yousuf hits a century we also see ecstatic flamboyance from him? Why are you only limiting ecstatic flamboyance to Imran Nazir?

Abdul

Poor Omer is innocent in this business and he has never sent me a naked picture or sex video. Stop tainting his name and tainting the vision before our eyes. Omer is a real world player, he is the real deal. He knows what purpose women serve, he has a no nonsense approach to women and he wants to show them their place. You gotta respect his guts.

I am agree,

Why are you instructing Awas to forget the Pakastan T20 tournament? Are you aware the quality of Pakistan domestic T20 is very good? You should see some matches and you will see some very good players.

Omer

Good argument- I do not am disagree.

They need to give Fawad Alam a fair chance.

Awas

Geo TV usually shows the domestic cricket Geo Super shows, in the UK. In any event I will get a link and also check whether Geo Tv is showing the matches.

Awas

Yes that is true and good point. However Omer will pay no heed to the fact that statistically Yousuf is a worse runner between the wickets than Inzi, because Omer does not believe in numbers

Musharraf goes to Prague to deliver defence lecture

LONDON: Former Pakistan president General (retd.) Pervez Musharraf left here on Sunday for Prague where he is scheduled to deliver a lecture at a defence-related think tank on May 27.

Musharraf arrived here early last month after having travelled to China and Saudi Arabia on what is being described by his friends as a post-retirement extended holiday.

He had taken a quick round trip to the US earlier this month to appear in a Fareed Zakria show on the CNN. He appeared in a David Frost show on Al Jazeera last month in London. He is expected to return to the US for a month-long lecture tour in September.

In London, he is staying at the Richmond house of his old friend and long-standing bridge partner Brigadier Niaz.

Some of his close friends here said that he was looking around to buy a flat in central London, preferably around Edgware Road area where most of the property is owned by Arabs and where a two-bed room flat costs around pounds 500,000 to pounds 700,000. Others said that he was looking for a villa in Chelsea where the property was worth between £2 million to £5 million.

But sources not very close to Musharraf, claiming to be well informed about his activities in London, say that he has already bought a flat in the Edgeware Road neighbourhood where Interior Minister Rehman Malik also has his flat which was the venue of the signing of the historic Charter of Democracy between the late Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair lives in the same neighbourhood.

Musharraf and former first lady Sehba Musharraf have a personal staff of around 10 persons, including an in-service Colonel and a Major.

His close friends insist that he has no intention of settling down in the UK. But his detractors are convinced that he has no plans of going back home, at least until the retirement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
His PR in the UK is being looked after by the son of former PIA managing director Aslam R. Khan.

One of his old friends, a former air force officer Zafar Iqbal, is said to have approached a number of well-informed persons to get an idea about the various possibilities in store for Musharraf on his return home.

The former president is said to be spending most of his time in London playing bridge, sight-seeing and partying within a close-knit circle.

Earlier this month he is said to have met a number of his friends from Pakistan at a party hosted by Hafeez Pirzada. Those who attended the party included former prime minister Shaukat Aziz and former interim prime minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi. Anwar Pervez of the Bestways and other well-known British tycoons of Pakistani origin are also said to be his regular hosts.

Awas

The real competition is between Karachi Dolphins (Fawad Alam, Afridi, Sohail Khan), Lahore Lions (Akmal etc), Peshawar Panthers (Younis etc), Faisalabad Wolves (Misbah, Ajmal etc) and Islamabad Leopards (Akhtar, Tanvir etc).

Sialkot Stallions is the best team, with Malik, Imran Nazir etc.

LOL Choudhary came to power again because of Nawaz Sharif with the objective of “punishing” Musharraf and playing politics.

What legality! It was all politics intertwined with ethnicity.

Imran Nazir smashed 68 from 38 balls or something. Missed that innings!

I think the PML N spokesman Siddiq Farooq is either demented or does not know what he is talking about, below. He claims that every dictator has ordered a military operation against Pakistanis, from Ayub to Musharraf. He seems to have forgotten the genocidal Operation Clean Up that was lauched against Muhajirs by Dictator Mian Nawaz Sharif in 1992, which resulted in the death of thousands of Muhajirs.

Of course, because they are not sons of the soil and they are not Punjabis, they will not get treated as being same as Punjabis and the others…..

———————————————————————————-

Moot condemns extremism

The participants of the Awami Tehrik’s (AT) National Conference on Sunday approved several resolutions and also ensured their support to the government against extremism. The theme of the conference was ”National and democratic question in Pakistan and ways and means for uprooting terrorism and lawlessness”.

Barrister Aitzaz Ashan, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) spokesman Siddiqul Farooq, leaders and representatives of Sindhi nationalist parties, and economic groups were the participants of the day-long conference.

One resolution was passed in which the participants condemned the mobilisation of the Taliban. They said that the lives and property of the common people were in danger and the government should take measures to safeguard them.

The participants also opposed the migration of people from Swat, Dir, Malakand and other affected areas to other provinces, especially Sindh. They demanded of the government to make arrangements for displaced persons in the NWFP. “There presence in any province might create a law and order situation as Sindh is already flooded with non-Sindhis,” they said.

They strongly condemned the military operation in Balochistan and expressed their solidarity with the Baloch community. They also demand that governmental bodies like National Finance Committee should be made proactive to initiate a dialogue between the federation and the provinces.

“There is no alternative to democracy and the country needs revolutionary reforms to combat the current scenario,” Aitazaz Ashan told the participants. Every part of the country should be treated equally treated to avoid the situation we see today in Swat and other affected areas,” he said.

The declaration of provincial autonomy would save the country and it would help it emerge from the recent crisis, he further said.

Sindh United Party (SUP) President Jalal Mahmood Shah said that Pakistan was a multicultural country and sovereignty at provincial level as defined in the 1940s resolution was the solution to every problem.

Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party (STPP) leader Dr Qadir Magsi said that new social contacts among the masses and political parties were required to overcome issues. He said that the country was being run along wrong policy lines since 1947.

According to him, the situation now was the outcome of the policies adopted in the past. He urged changes in the policies as per the the requirements of the country rather than those of personal vested interests.

Siddiqul Farooq said that previous election results were a clear verdict against extremism and were in support of real democracy in the country. From Ayub Khan to Perwez Musharraf, every dictator had used military against his own people, he said.

He added that democracy would solve every problem and it was necessary that no further disturbance in this process occurred. The dictators had damaged the Constitutions of the country and all problems had been arising from this, he further said.

AT head Rasool Bux Palejo said that Pakistan went in the wrong direction during its early days and it happened due to poor foreign policies. “Jinnah defined the certain frame of principles but the rulers adopt policies against it,” he added.

He said that Jinnah wanted Islamic principles in the country not Mullah’s Shariah (rules set by religious scholars).

Ayub Sher, party member of Sindh National Front (SNF), Rauf Sasuli of Jamhoori Watan Party, Ishaque Baloch of National Party, Abid Hasan Minto from the National Workers Party, Abdul Rahim Mandukhel of Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party, Azhar Jatoi of Sindh Hari Party, and others also spoke on the occasion.

Awas

Every Muhajir you will speak to in Karachi has lost a relative or friend in these military operations. Also, the majority of people that were killed in these operations were university students, the “brain bank” of the country. You can’t compare that to what is happening in Swat. I know some Punjabi people who have always been against this operation, mainly because innocent students were massacred and also because the scale of destruction was massive and disproportionate.

The operation in Swat is happening because of powerful foreign players who are forcing the military to do it. That never happened in Karachi.

Religious extremism threatens life, liberty. Look at how many lives religious extremists have taken over the years. In Karachi the issue was ethnicity, not religion.

Imposing law and order on whom? Intellectuals? Like how the Army imposed law and order on Bengalis, so much so that Bengalis hate Pakistan and despite religious differences, they still treat India better? Not only are Bengalis more educated than Pakistanis, they are also more religious.

This is the link for RBS Cup:

http://www.justin.tv/rbspakistan

Omer

I am talking about your adventures with the Latino girls in clubs, and the Latino girl whose elder sister lives in your flats or something.

I meant to say you believe in action, not romanticism. I was praising you man!

PCB Prevents Akhtar From Playing Domestic Tournament

——————————————————————————–

Karachi, May 25 (PTI) After dropping him the national squad for the Twenty20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board has now barred controversial fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar from playing in the national T20 tournament.
A PCB official said they have informed the Islamabad Cricket Association that the fast bowler would be in violation of his central contract if he played in the national event despite a medial advice that he needs to rest for 10 to 12 days to recover from a skin infection.

Shoaib, who was dropped from squad last week on fitness grounds, had intended to take on the authorities by leading the Islamabad team in the national championship.

“The board has sent us the medical report and copy of the central contract which states a player playing against medical advice can be fined,” Shakil Sheikh, President of the Islamabad association told PTI.

Shaoib was in Karachi last night for a function but he refused to comment on the issue though he admitted that being pulled out of the World T20 squad was disappointing.

The International Cricket Council today allowed Pakistan to replace Shoaib with pacer Rao Iftikhar who will now be going to England. PTI

Quotes from Musharraf’s interview with PJ Mir on ARY:

“The only message I can give to Pakistanis is to take Pakistan forward….there is nothing else I can say”

“There is extremism in our society. We have to get rid of it. You saw extremism in Lal Masjid. It takes us backwards. Extremism is present in cities”

“I am doing these lectures to raise awareness of Pakistan amongst outsiders. All they want to know about is extremism and terrorism. They don’t want to know about anything else.”

Hafeez helps Faisalabad crush Quetta

Cricinfo staff

May 25, 2009

Group A

Mohammad Hafeez’s all-round display helped Faisalabad Wolves crush Quetta Bears by 101 runs at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Quetta captain Taimur Ali must have been ruing his decision to field first as openers Hafeez and Qaiser Iqbal provided Faisalabad a rousing start. Confident strokeplay saw the opening stand race to 155. Hafeez was the first to fall, having stroked 74 off 72 balls, including ten boundaries. Qaiser departed soon after having managed a 76-ball 80, comprising 12 fours and a six, but it was Naved Latif’s late cameo that lifted Faisalabad to 218.

During the reply, Shoaib Khan jnr’s 55 looked threatening for Faisalabad but once Ali Raza sent him back, Quetta collapsed like a house of cards. Mohammad Hafeez cleaned up the middle order to finish with impressive figures of 4-1-5-3. Raza, too, picked up three, as Quetta finished on a disappointing 117 for 8.

Jahangir Mirza, the offspinner, led a combined bowling effort – each of the Lahore Lions bowlers took at least a wicket each – to limit Rawalpindi Rams to 135 for 9, and set the stage for a resounding eight-wicket win at the Gaddafi Stadium. Awais Zia resisted with 43, but received little support from the other end.

Mirza (2 for 16) was supported well by Abdul Razzaq (2 for 28) and the Lahore batting was equally dominant. Openers Ahmed Shehzad (28) and Nasir Jamshed (32) led the reply with a brisk 64-run stand before Salman Butt (30*) and Umar Akmal (39* off just 20 balls) ended the proceedings with more than five overs to spare.

Group B

Imran Nazir struck a whirlwind, unbeaten 68 to help Sialkot Stallions beat Karachi Zebras comprehensively by eight wickets and more than seven overs to spare at the Gaddafi Stadium. Nazir struck six fours and five sixes, and was well supported by Tahir Mughal (42) in a stand of 96 for the second wicket, as Sialkot breezed through in pursuit of 134.

Their job had been made easier by a collective bowling display, as Sialkot captain Shoaib Malik (3 for 25) combined with medium-pacer Kashif Daud (2 for 32) and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman (2 for 15) to bowl out Karachi for a chaseable score. Karachi captain Faisal Iqbal, Fahad Iqbal and wicketkeeper Javed Mansoor got starts but failed to consolidate.

Group C

Fayyaz Ahmed’s quickfire half-century stole the thunder from yet a sparkling knock from Younis Khan as Islamabad Leopards made easy work of Peshawar Panthers at Gaddafi Stadium. Opting to bat, captain Younis gave Peshawar the much-needed momentum after they had lost their openers cheaply. His 70 off 46 balls was a masterful innings comprising six fours and two sixes. Sajjad Ahmed gave him able support with 38 off 34 balls as Peshawar finished on 152 for 4.

Afaq Raheem gave Islamabad a breezy start during the reply, scoring 41 off the 47 runs by the fifth over. But even as Islamabad lost both their openers, it was Fayyaz who took them to victory in the 18th over with his 46-ball 58, studded with nine fours and a six.

Group D

Lahore Eagles held their nerve to seal a tight seven-wicket win over Abbottabad Rhinos at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. They were helped by crucial contributions from each of their top three as they chased down 137 with two balls to spare. Opener Abid Ali made a relatively patient 42, and was supported well by both Ahmed Dar (34) and Azhar Ali (40), notching up half-century partnerships with each of them. Yasir Shah took two wickets, but Khaqan Arsal made an unbeaten 16 to see his team through.

Abbottabad limped to their score, squandering a comfortable position at 50 for 1. Wicketkeeper Mir Azam (28) and captain Adnan Raees (35) added 48 for the second wicket, but proceeded very slowly. Their team slipped once they departed, Azhar Ali – who starred in an allround display – taking 2 for 21, and posted an inadequate total.

Omer

I will probably never see that Polish girl again. I just went to that takeaway twice and saw her. I never saw the Polish girl in a sexual way, make fun of it if you find it amusing. Her prettiness evoked my sympathy but not sexual desire.

It is not to say that I am not tempted to experience Beauty and Happiness and Excitement, but there are certain other considerations that are taking priority.

There is a hijaab waali in my law school and she is a proper hijaab waali, meaning she is religious and does not wear it for the sake of fashion. Now there is something about her that turns me on, she is always covered, but something about her face and body is very hot (pretty face and perfect body). If there was anyone I would like to do, it would be her. But the way she is, I would be very lucky just to even hold hands with her and I would not like to even think about ravaging her sexual abstinence. That I think like this about a hijaab wali too, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Abdul

The rumour of Lara converting to Islam has already been reported on LS last week.

But I am thank you for doing it one more time.

Omer

I’m only familiar with a headscarf which is commonly known as “hijab” in the UK, and a jilbab which is usually worn by Africans, which covers the whole body; it’s like a long frock.

I think hijaab has many meanings which is what you are referring to.

This girl just wears a headscarf, usually she is wearing a coat on top of shirt and jeans. She is also usually very simple, just wears kaajal.

I think the reason why I don’t approach goris is because I don’t find that vitality on their faces which I do on Pakistani girls. Most goris without make up look dull, although some of them are very attractive. If I do ever go out with a gori she will have to respect me for my beliefs and culture, like how I will respect hers. Otherwise a casual relationship just based on physical attraction and sex is like going to a prostitute. What is the difference?

That is what I don’t want, if I am spending time and money on someone at least they should respect me for what I am. There is so much racism and Islamophobia here in the UK that goreys want to distance themselves from Muslims. In USA it’s very different.

Gilchrist’s captaincy made the difference: Afridi

It was Adam Gilchirst’s sensible and aggressive captaincy that changed the fortunes of the Deccan Chargers in IPL-II, Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi said on Tuesday.

Chargers, who had finished seventh last year, crowned themselves champion in the second edition by defeating Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final on Sunday.

Afridi, who played for Chargers in the inaugural edition, had sparked off a big controversy last year with his suggestion that Gilchrist should replace VVS Laxman as captain of Chargers.

Afridi said his viewpoint now stand vindicated though he never had anything personal against Laxman.

“People misunderstood what I wanted to say. I never meant any disrespect to Laxman who is a top Test player. But I just felt that his captaincy was not aggressive enough for T20 cricket.

“Laxman’s captaincy was one of the reasons for the team not doing well in the first year. One can see the difference that Gilchrist brought to the team as captain.

“Gilchrist is one of the best captains I have seen. He leads from the front. He is strong enough to take sensible and aggressive decisions in pressure situations and his backing of the younger players was very impressive.

“This was more or less the same team that played last year. But the captaincy made a big difference to the team Afridi said.

Afridi told reporters though he was disappointed that he could not play for his side this year, he was very happy that the chargers had come from bottom to win the IPL and proved everyone wrong.

Afridi couldn’t take part in the IPL this season due to advice from the Pakistan government that players should not travel to India because of tense relations between the two countries after the Mumbai terror strikes.

The IPL, however, was later shifted to South Africa but by that time it was too late for the Pakistani players to get into their franchises for the second edition of the tournament with many teams either suspending or terminating contracts of their Pakistani players.

BREAKING NEWS

Ifthikar Choudhary’s Supreme Court removes ban on Sharif brothers. They are now free to contest elections.

Coincidence?

http://www.justin.tv/rbspakistan

For those who have any doubts about Fawad Alam’s batting, please see the above link and see what he is doing.

He just flicked an outside off short ball to midwicket for four, Tendulkar style. And then he 2 fours in a row. He is timing the ball so well that he doesn’t need to run for anything.

Fawad Alam out on 70 from 35 balls.

Great innings.

I’d like to see Misbah and Malik bettering that.

Theossa

They always look like they will win but Sialkot edge them out. Sialkot play with a lot of unity, the team spirit is unbelievable.

Fawad was again the star, batted superbly and then took 2 wickets and also effected a run out.

Afridi was in good batting form. Sohail Khan was good, quick and aggressive and Khalid Latif hit some good sixes. Although I don’t like Latif’s technique, I don’t think he is international level yet.

Awas

Munir sahab had plenty of doubts about Fawad. He just said that no one can say anything against Fawad, but he forgot to add that no one should say anything against Fawad because they will be proven wrong.

Theossa,

Agreed Younis is doing well in this RBS Cup. He is the only good batsman in his team. In fact when playing for Pakistan he is the ONLY Test calibre batsman.

Razzaq century powers Lahore Lions to big win

Cricinfo staff

May 26, 2009

Group A

A blistering century from captain Abdul Razzaq gave Lahore Lions their second win as they beat Quetta Bears by 74 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium. Razzaq, who came in at No.3, took a couple of overs to settle in and then opened up, smashing eight fours and as many sixes in his innings of 109. The blitz included 28 runs off an Irfan Ismail over that helped propel Lahore to 214 for 6. Razzaq received excellent support from Salman Butt (31), and Nasir Jamshed (58), with whom he added 162 for the third wicket, as Lahore batted Quetta out of the match.

Quetta, in response, were never in a position to scale down such a massive target, struggling to 24 for 3 at one stage. Their captain Taimur Ali resisted with 42, and wicketkeeper Bismillah Khan chipped in with 26 to help them recover somewhat, but a good bowling display saw them finish on a disappointing 140 for 9. As a result, Quetta find themselves at the bottom of the Group A table with two successive defeats.

Mohammad Hafeez was the star for Faisalabad Wolves yet again as they beat Rawalpindi Rams by 27 runs at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground. Hafeez boosted Faisalabad to a challenging score of 170, stroking an unbeaten 79 off 56 balls including 11 fours. Not that Rawalpindi were without a chance. They had restricted the opposition to 21 for 3, but Hafeez was supported ably by Khurram Shehzad, who made a 51-ball 65 to help his team recover. Sohail Tanvir was impressive, taking 3 for 24 but his efforts were in vain.

In their reply, Rawalpindi faltered from the outset, losing wickets at frequent intervals. Opener Naved Malik threatened with a quickfire 50, smashing seven fours and two sixes, but was short of support from the other end. Hafeez did the damage once again, taking 3 for 14 to take his team to the top of the Group A table.

Group B

A 118-run opening stand between Babar Ali (58) and Sohaib Maqsood (59) laid the foundation for Multan Tigers’ successful run-chase against Karachi Zebras at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground.

Karachi had posted a competitive score of 158, thanks to half-centuries from Shahzaib Hasan and Fahad Iqbal. They were comfortably placed at 140 for 2, but lost their way a little, losing four wickets for 18 runs. Kashif Naved, the left-arm fast bowler, took 3 for 20, and played an important role in stemming the flow of runs.

Babar and Maqsood led the reply with the latter being the more aggressive. Multan’s job was made easier by an 18-ball 30 from Rizwan Haider who struck two sixes and a four to complete the job, and hand Multan their first win. Karachi, on the other hand, have lost two in two.

Group C

Hyderabad Hawks opened their account in the RBS Twenty20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium with a comfortable eight-wicket win against Peshawar Panthers, who suffered their second consecutive defeat in as many days. Peshawar fell away after a good start, to post 148, and the target was easily overhauled thanks to Faisal Athar’s unbeaten 55 and Azeem Ghumman’s steady 40.

Peshawar were in a good position to post a bigger score when they were at 86 for 1 in the 12th over. The top three, including captain Younis Khan, made starts but couldn’t push on. Hyderabad too got off to a good start, with their openers adding 61 in eight overs. Faisal, walking in at No.3, hit three sixes and six fours in his 37-ball knock. Rizwan Ahmed joined him in an unbeaten stand of 74 to help Hyderabad finish the formalities.

Group D

Half-centuries from captain Khalid Latif and Fawad Alam boosted Karachi Dolphins to a formidable score, one that they were able to defend comfortably against Abbottabad Rhinos – who lost their second consecutive game – at the Gaddafi Stadium. Karachi piled on 209 as Latif blasted a 50-ball 81, and added 106 with Fawad, who was equally ruthless, smashing 11 fours in his knock of 70.

Abbottabad were dented early in their innings, Mohammad Sami striking twice in the third over to remove the openers, though captain Adnan Raees and Fawad Khan did stage a recovery with a 61-run stand. However, it proved inadequate as Fawad chipped in with two wickets to remove both of them, and produced a run-out to seal a convincing 52-run win.

Fawad Alam out on 51 from 36 balls.

You should have seen the way Lahore Eagles celebrated when he was out, like when a minnow team defeats Australia or something. They went berserk.

They know the quality of this great player, even though Munir sahab does not.

Good match and well played Lahore Eagles. Eagles are one of the weakest teams and this is a great victory.

Dolphins gave away too many runs because of Fawad Alam and Mohd Sami’s expensive bowling. And in batting they had 3 top players in Fawad, Hasan Raza and Afridi but Afridi did not click. Both Raza and Fawad, the best batsmen in the team, performed.

Fawad was again the best batsman in the team. He is head and shoulders above the other Karachi players, in fact I would say he is world class level if the team management gives him confidence and fair chances.

Awas

No, they did not. They were more controlled when they got Raza out and same for Afridi.

In terms of batting Fawad is miles ahead of Raza and Afridi.

Abdul

Wow, excellent analysis and I will have to am agree with Theossa about your enlightened opinion.

Also when you say that it is an anticipated competition, I am totally in your agree because Pakistan want to take revenge on India for 2007′s defeat.

Awas

Yeah, I noticed that too. He is in good form.

I think he is one of those players that, either his batting and bowling, both do the trick or he does nothing at all.

Abdul

Again spot on analysis. However, how can you predict something that has happened in the past? You said Pakistan cricket’s history is unpredictable. I think Pakistan cricket’s present and future is unpredictable, but the history is there in front of us.

I may be wrong. Please correct me?

Thumps up on Misbah’s great T20 batting though.

“Though I am a Pakistani, I practically live in India.” -Wasim Akram

——————————————————————————–

There were no Pakistanis in the IPL but the former cricketer says he wanted Delhi to win the title

“I won’t discuss IPL at all,” said Pakistani cricketer-turned-commentator Wasim Akram tersely, only to confess that he had rooted for saddi Delhi Daredevils in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League.

The former Pakistan captain emphasised that he would speak only about “his tournament” the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 in England. He was in town to promote the same.

Pace master: Wasim Akram in Delhi on Tuesday
Akram fielded questions on T20, Indo-Pak relations and his much-maligned former colleague Shoaib Akhtar. Excerpts from a quick chat:

Who has gained more from the IPL young players or the senior ones?
In the long run, younger players will gain more from this form of cricket. Look how Manish Pandey (Royal Challengers) performed. However, one can’t negate the contribution of experienced players. Be it Adam Gilchrist, Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid or Matthew Hayden everyone rose to the occasion.

Do you regret missing out on Twenty20 cricket?
I don’t regret not playing this format. Though, I feel I would have thoroughly enjoyed it.

Who, according to you, are the front runners for the World T20 title?
My obvious choice would be Pakistan, but then defending champion India are also hot favourites and so will be the mighty Australians.

Is Pakistan as strong as it was during the 2007 edition of the World Cup?
They are stronger. The team looked good in the recently-concluded series against the Aussies.

Indo-Pak relations have hit an all-time low and the two nations’ cricket culture has been affected negatively…
I am hoping this World Cup will revive the ties between the two countries. Personally, I want things to get better. Though I am a Pakistani, I practically live in India. When I am in Pakistan, people joke, ‘Arre aap Hindustan se aa gaye!’ Both countries are close to my heart and in the long run, I feel things will improve.

What do you have to say about the recent controversy that has hit Shoaib Akhtar?
I don’t know what happened. I have been in India for the last couple of weeks. Whatever I know of the issue is through media reports.

Did the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) do the right thing by divulging sensitive details about Shoaib’s medical reports?
There could have been a reason why the PCB decided to come out in the open. Shoaib Akhtar kuch karta hai ki kuch aisa hota hai. Termit his misfortune, Shoaib somehow ends up becoming controversy’s favourite child.

Two strong teams, Peshawar and Karachi, have been ousted from the tournament now.

I think the main reason these teams did not play so well is because the team spirit is not as good as Sialkot and Lahore.

In the Sialkot and Lahore teams, I observed the players are like brothers and everyone backs each other.

Also, another problem with Karachi and Peshawar is that individual players are very good, but rest of the players are average.

Younis and Gul in Peshawar, Afridi, Fawad, Hasan Raza and Sohail Khan in Karachi. But apart from that there is hardly anyone who can do something special.

Theossa

Imran Nazir is not in the team because he signed for ICL. It has nothing to do with Punjab.

And I don’t say that being Punjabi is some qualification for automatic team selection. I say being Punjabi helps and being a non Punjabi does not help.

And I actually think Imran Nazir looks like a Punjabi too.

Theossa

I was joking too actually, but with a very straight face I knew what you meant.

Abdul

Adil Rashid? Decent bat-man and good bowler. So my vote is Adil, so I am agree.

Psychologist feels Pak can lift T20 World Cup

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Karachi, May 27: Sports psychologist Maqbool Bari feels Pakistan players have the ability and confidence to win the ICC World Twenty20 if they play as a unit.

Bari has been hired by the Pakistan Cricket Board to counsel the players as part of their preparations for the World Cup in England next month.

He held one-to-one sessions last week on the sidelines of the practice matches in Lahore and will have a group sitting before the team leaves for England on Saturday.

“Sports psychology is nowadays widely being used to motivate top athletes because when you compete at the top level there is always that underlying fear of failure at the back of the athlete`s mind that hampers his performance,” Bari said.

“Some years back Mohammad Yousuf was going through a bad patch because he got scared of failures. I had a session with him and he went onto make loads of runs against South Africa and Bangladesh. That is how important sports psychology counselling is these days in top sports,” he added.

He said during the one-on-one sessions with the players, he tried to remove all such fears of failure and motivate them to believe in themselves and build up confidence to handle the pressures of a World Cup.

“When I meet with them again I will try to implant in their minds that cricket is a team game and everyone should play for each other and not for himself as an individual,” he said.

Theossa

I think it’s a lesson for Pathans and Karachi walays…..

Look at the unity between Punjabis and how they stand for each other.

So why do Pathans and Karachiites fight amongst themselves?

Seriously, the unity seen between Lahore players and Sialkot players is amazing. They all play for the team.

Whereas in Karachi, the players look disinterested. They are mediocre players most of them, and I think they are jealous of better players like Fawad and Sohail Khan.

In Peshawar again they are all serious, in fact some of them look like they are in a bad mood.