Thanks to Allah
Well thanks to Allah we were humiliated in the world cup, or was it kismet? I forgot but I do remember that it was not because our team played badly, no sir.
The team that represented Pakistan in the World Cup was probably the weakest team Pakistan ever assembled. Now every so called expert is coming out of the woodworks to explain why the team was defeated. The most interesting of all reasons was given by P.J Mir the media manager of the Pakistani team. He stated openly what people were quietly whispering about before the World Cup. He squarely put the blame on the team’s lack of practice on their new found obsession with religion.
The article written by Shahriyar Khan after the death of Bob Woolmer also pointed out Bob’s reservations with this new trend and that he wasn’t able to get enough coaching time because of that. It was also disclosed in another newspaper that ECB after the tour of England had politely complained to the PCB over the team’s group prayer on the ground in Lords during the test match. P.J Mir also stated that Inzamam used to lead the prayers in the galley of the aircraft during flights.
Ever since this news came out it spread in blogistan like wildfire. An overwhelming majority of posters were of the view that it was their right to say prayers wherever they saw fit. I have to disagree with that wholeheartedly.
I believe in an individual’s right to religious freedom but I do have an issue with public display of religion especially in foreign countries. The team could have easily prayed inside the pavilion but they made a point with the public display in front of thousands of spectators, I am fairly certain that they felt morally superior by doing so.
For all those who would grill me for saying this, all I have to say is that Cricket is a profession not just sports. These players are paid very handsomely to represent our country and it is their professional responsibility to play well. Cricket at the highest level is not easy and require hours of practice everyday. I once read Justin Langer’s interview in which he disclosed that in order to stay in form he practiced batting five to six hours everyday in the nets.
If PCB is looking into wholesale changes in the next squad, they will have to address this issue. Professional appearance and conduct will have to be stressed upon and the dosage of religion will have to be reduced.
May 1, 2007 at 3:52 pm
islam comes first . so what they lost but they gained rewards.you secular pakis wehn you say these sort of commets ,pakistan is muslim state not a smelly secualr state .so shut up you atta turk bumchums
May 4, 2007 at 12:41 am
If you had an ounce of sense then you would read the words carefully. I said that professional cricket was a “PROFESSION” and should only be played by those who treat it like a profession. If someone has the urge to overwhelm the audience with constant shots of religion then they are better suited to the tablighi ijtamah not international cricket.