Cricket fixes

KARACHI: Pakistan lost the match against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup but overall, the team performance was better than before. Three things went wrong. Firstly, the batting order was incorrect. Two new players were sent in third and fourth positions which are important when the team is chasing a target. Players like Umar Akmal or Shoaib Malik should play that position. Secondly, Mohammad Aamir was talking to someone on his mobile phone in the dressing room. This is against ICC’s laws prohibiting players from carrying mobile phones into dressing rooms. Lastly, Waqar Younis, the team’s coach, made inappropriate comments regarding Shoaib Akhtar’s performance. After the match, Younis said that “Still he’s (Shoaib Akhtar) got a long way to go. He has picked up three wickets which is good for us but I think he’s not where we want to see him.” I think that such comments should not be made because they hurt team performance and spirit.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 18^th, 2010.