Sports

‘Player-power cannot be eradicated so soon’

PCB chairman’s claims dismissed by former captain.

Express May 16, 2011

LAHORE:

Former players believe that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ijaz Butt’s claim that player-power had been eradicated from the team cannot be believed.

The Chairman, in a recent interview, had said that the PCB had wiped off player-power that existed within the Pakistan team under his leadership.

“I’ve crushed the player-power menace and it has only been possible by imposing punishments without reluctance,” Ijaz had said.

However, former cricketers have been cynical after the Chairman made the claim, saying that player-power has existed in the Pakistan cricket system since the start and could not be finished ‘just like that’.

Former captain Zaheer Abbas said the country’s cricket would be on the right track if the menace was eradicated.

“It’s a good thing if it has been stamped out,” said Zaheer. “Cricket will flourish if claims made by Ijaz are to be believed. Players have always run after power and it’s been a major issue with Pakistan cricket.”

Meanwhile, former official Mian Munir placed the blame on Imran Khan and said the legendary all-rounder gave rise to player-power.

“It’s very unfortunate but our 1992 World Cup hero Imran actually laid the foundation of player-power,” said Munir, a former Pakistan team manager and cricket administrator. “It’s unlikely that it has been eradicated so quickly but if so then one needs to make sure it doesn’t creep in the future as well. Shifting the power to the players has damaged the spirit of cricket which has led to inconsistency in team selection for many years.”

Munir added that harsh punishment is not the solution to the issue.

“Punishing them doesn’t solve anything. There needs to be a strong team management that educates the players as well.”

Meanwhile, Abbas added that it was due to this menace that no players’ association had been formed in the country.

“Players have always been in a strong position so they’ve never needed an association. As far as the Chairman’s claim is concerned, something so major can’t be done in a year or two because it’s become a tradition in Pakistan cricket for the last two decades.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (2)

Chilli | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. Imran Khan is the one who invented the concept of Players Power when he was involved in revolt against Javed Miandad. He is squarely responsible for demolishing all norms and decency in cricket. Imran's sledging on his own players is on tapes and cannot be denied. He regularly poked his nose when Javed Miandad was captain and supporting Wasim Akram against his old rival. Mr. Khan you are not as clean as you looks.

Mirza | 13 years ago | Reply The truth is there are no good players, so player's power is automatically reduced. There may not be a single batsman who has his batting average in 40's let alone in 50's like Miandad, Yousuf and Younus. In fact Boom Boom's batting average is less than that of Imran Khan in tests. The numbers do not lie, they are like a mirror. Similarly there is no bowler of the stature of Imran, Akram, and Waqar, to name a few. Talking about fielding and wicket keeping is almost a joke. A single Indian test player has scored many more centuries than all the Pakistan team combined.

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