Time for Hafeez to practise what he teaches

He is a deep thinker, often in his captain’s ear, overrules field placements. But marks are for results, not advice.

President Zardari can now be called a smart man. Not necessarily for being able to hang on to power against the various odds but for the choice he made at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — the appointment of Zaka Ashraf as its chairman. Not because of the results that the national team has delivered or the lack of punishments but for Zaka’s willingness to convert the PCB into a democratic system, where advice is invited and decisions are discussed.

The fact that he succeeded Ijaz Butt, who faltered regularly at crucial junctures, does make even the slightest improvement look grand. But Zaka, who has shown us that he has the skills needed to plead, convince, ridicule, stoop to new levels and share the revelation that a car has only two important wheels, is on a mission to take Pakistan cricket forward. His aides, manoeuvring his each move and speech, are due more credit but, as he thanked Misbah for his services in an obituary-like manner on May 10, there, on display was a man not afraid of delegating, anticipating the rewards in due course.

Zaka, too, has made some weird choices. His insistence that Pakistan is safe for foreign teams and the exchanges with India notwithstanding, a lot of his moves have brought him gold: welcoming back Shahid Afridi, extending Mohsin Khan’s interim role and handing Intikhab Alam the chief’s chair in practically every committee that he formed. The two moves still in their infancy are the appointment of Dav Whatmore and identifying Mohammad Hafeez as Pakistan cricket’s next leader.

Apart from the age factor, the leader-deputy combination of Misbah-Hafeez that has excelled at the SNGPL, the duo’s domestic side (and been employed at Faisalabad Wolves) is a bond that has been gradually melted, hammered and moulded into shape. The pair was key in SNGPL’s Quaid Trophy triumph in 2008, the team’s first season in the premier first-class event. Also part of the squad was Umar Akmal — in his maiden first-class season — and Adnan Akmal. The emergence of those two was credited to the Misbah-Hafeez partnership.

The all-rounder often captained as Misbah enjoyed a shock recall to the national side, unaware of the delight that was to follow. For Hafeez, it was an ideal situation to improve his game and polish the art of captaincy that is a useful addition to one’s CV. His team-sheet failed to scare the opposition, but his players’ show left them dumbfounded. His charges kept their feet on the ground, but their heads were held high, allowing Hafeez to shepherd the lesser-knowns into reckoning.

Now, the stage is bigger, the responsibility manifold and the stakes higher. Leading in just two matches next month may seem like a menial task, but with repercussions grand, as the 2012 World Twenty20 follows four months later. However, the appointment as Misbah’s deputy in Tests and ODIs will be Hafeez’s bigger challenge. He’s said that he’s been working hard since his comeback in 2010. The players also know that he is a deep thinker, often in his captain’s ear and overruling the field placements. But marks are given on results, not advice. Judgments are based on the runs scored and wickets taken, not for a witty choice of words.

The opinion remains divided. Others lie in wait if he falters. The PCB has made its move. Now, it’s up to Hafeez to convert those chalk marks into results. He seemed destined to lead but he must remember that the class has just begun.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 13^th, 2012.