The good and the bad of Pakistan sports in 2010

From the whitewash suffered on the tour of Australia that kicked off one of the most eventful years in Pakistan sports to a gold medal finish in the Asian Games, The Express Tribune brings you the events that shaped the year for our athletes.

Thrashings, humiliation, bans, fines, bottom-place finish and lots of allegations dominated the year for Pakistan athletes. While the spot-fixing allegations rocked the cricketing world all over, positives, too, marked 2010 as a year to cherish for the country including gold medal finish...

Disastrous CWG show by Greenshirts

Arriving in India with hope held high under captain Zeeshan Ashraf, Pakistan’s hockey team continued its dismal show in the year by failing to reach the last-four – beaten 7-4 by India, allowing the hosts to progress – and losing the fifth place playoff too.

Australian whitewash

Pakistan’s first tour of Australia since 2005 turned into a disaster: nine matches, nine losses. The closest Pakistan got to a win was in the one-off Twenty20 which they lost by two runs. Injuries, dropped catches, lack of concentration resulted in total annihilation and humiliation of the tourists.

Sprint queen

It became a matter of 11.81 seconds to propel Nasim Hameed from the obscurity of Korangi to stardom on the international level. Pakistan’s female sprinter shattered the South-Asian Games’ 100-metre record and provided young girls a platform to pursue their dreams

Davis Cup loss

While Aisamul Haq Qureshi seemed on-course to conquer the world after his US Open heroics, the high-flying tennis star was quickly brought down to earth as Pakistan’s relocated Davis Cup playoff tie saw them lose 3-2 to New Zealand.

Afridi’s Test retirement

Four years after playing his last Test match, Shahid Afridi’s return to the five-day format lasted just one match – a thrashing at the hands of Australia. Unable to cope with the stern demands of Test cricket or lead his side from the front – Afridi duly bowed out of the format, again.

Aisam’s US Open heroics

While cricket made headlines for the wrong reasons, Aisamul Haq Qureshi found it a perfect time to balance things out for Pakistan by reaching the US Open finals for mixed and men’s doubles. Though he lost both, his emotional speech following the first defeat brought tears, smiles and lots of hope.

Asian Games glory

Last chance to regain lost glory and convert humiliation into success came in China during the Asian Games where Pakistan, against all odds, not only won the hockey gold but managed to lift the inaugural women’s cricket event. Eight gold medals in total was what Pakistan earned and the year that had started off disastrously for the nation ended rather well.

2010 World Twenty20

Pakistan’s rustiness and ineffectiveness on the field was visible in its defence of the World Twenty20 title as prayers and decimal points ushered them into the last-four. But just as a third consecutive final appearance beckoned, Michael Hussey shattered hearts and cut short the premature celebrations.

Australia finally beaten

Not content to let Shahid Afridi’s descent and Salman Butt’s ascent worry them too much, Pakistan came roaring back to level the ‘home’ Test series against Australia by beating them in a Test match after 15 years. Perfect start for the new captain and perfect tour for Pakistan. Thus far.

CWG flag spat

Controversies hit the Pakistan camp at the Commonwealth Games when the designated flag carrier, 2006 gold medalist Shujauddin, was robbed of the opportunity to carry the flag, by the country’s chef-de-mission Mohammad Ali Shah, also Sindh’s sports minister. Boycott threats were issued by the weightlifting contingent but timely intervention, and promises, assured they stayed in India.

Shoaib-Sania wedding

While the other banned players sought reasons for their punishment, Shoaib Malik found a forced break from cricket to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza. Not before twists, turns and soap-opera type revelations aplenty as another Indian girl claimed to be Malik’s first wife.

Zulqarnain saga

Yet another tour filled with controversy and poor performance. Pakistan’s home series against South Africa in the UAE suddenly made headlines when wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider fled the team hotel on the morning on the fifth ODI and appeared in London requesting political asylum after allegedly receiving threats from bookmakers.

Bans and fines

As if the hurt on the field was not enough, the Pakistan Cricket Board decided that the losses came courtesy infighting, lack of co-operation and mischief in the dressing room. Revelations behind closed doors resulted in bans and fines which were, unsurprisingly, overturned eventually.

Spot-fixing allegations

The unabated bashing on the field was followed by a Test win against England but as Pakistan’s second visit to Lord’s in the summer headed for a second loss, spot-fixing allegations shook Pakistan cricket. Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir were suspended and Pakistan cricket shattered.

World Cup disaster

The flying horses of world hockey were reduced to rubble in New Delhi when Pakistan’s appalling show confined them to a worst-ever 12th-place finish in the 2010 World Cup. Unsurprisingly, angry fans and former players called for the officials’ heads.

PCB-ECB tussle

The whole world seemed to be against Pakistan cricket, or so thought the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt who, quoting reports, blamed England cricketers of being involved in match-fixing. Threats of legal action, and calls for a dose of sanity, duly followed and friends threatened to turn into foes.

Highlighted are eight athletes that made the biggest impact on Pakistan sports in the year 2010 , as picked by The Express Tribune staff.

Aisamul Haq Qureshi’s heroics on the court throughout the year gave Pakistan hopes of success in tennis.

The 30-year-old from Lahore won his first ATP title in 2010 and reached the quarter-final of Wimbledon, the most prestigious Grand Slam of the year. He also won several awards for spreading the message of peace throughout the world.

Aisam took Pakistan tennis to new heights when he reached the finals of the men’s doubles and mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows in September. Although he failed to win either final, his post-match speech left all in awe, giving compatriots a lot to cheer about. In front of thousands, he uttered, “Pakistanis are believed to be terrorists but let me tell you all that we love peace as much as everyone else in the world”.

At the prime of his career, Aisam is still hungry for more success and wants to continue playing professional tennis for many years. His New Year resolution is to achieve number one doubles ranking and to lift a Grand Slam title.

From what I’ve seen of him, I’m optimistic that he can certainly achieve bigger goals in 2011.

Aamir Atlas Khan ended Pakistan’s Asian Games gold draught in squash last year in China.

The top finish ended a good year for him that started with titles in February. His partner Farhan Mehboob won the team gold at the Asian Games with him, beating Ong Beng Hee 3-0 in the first match of the final while Aamir whipped Muhammad Azlan Iskandar 3-1 to assure the gold medal for Pakistan.

The talented 20-year-old not only bagged the gold medal in the team event, but also secured the silver medal in the individual competition.

He began the year on the same note, bagging the SAFF Games singles and team titles earlier in the year. Pakistan dominated the squash court in Dhaka as Aamir defeated Mehboob 3-0.

Aamir has been a regular underdog at international events including the British Grand Prix, Malaysian Open, Asian Squash Championship, Kuala Lumpur Open and North-American Open, where he reached the quarterfinals. Ranked 28 in the world, Aamir will hope to improve on his 2010 performance when he launches his season at the North-American Open.

“All I want for this year is to break into the top 10 and make my country proud. I have tournaments lined up and my priority is to break into the top 10 rankings by the end of 2011.”

Despite his indifferent form, Salman Butt made news all year round. Everyone thought being handed Test captaincy on the tour of England was the biggest thing that happened to him but what followed was bigger. At the helm, aged 26, as the PCB could not find someone better, it turned over a new leaf for the opener. History was re-written as Pakistan won a Test against Australia after 15 years.

A star was born. What ensued was a man who knew how to handle media, critics and the fans.

“You don’t become a dad when you become captain” were his words which silenced everyone and it gave a signal to his young army that he was a leader.

Two losses to England and the fairytale came to an end. However, Salman’s articulate nature impressed, even in a losing situation. But the situation changed, the hopes got squashed. Spot-fixing allegations rocked Pakistan cricket and Salman was at the centre of it all.

Here, he was left speechless, stunned. Words seemed to desert him as he ducked for cover. A year that saw him make 182 runs in seven One-Day Internationals, 543 in eight Tests, an impressive 267 in eight Twenty20s and victory in two of five Tests for Pakistan is no mean achievement. But he’d still like to forget the year for the second half brought him more good than bad.

To earn a top-spot for the very first time for your country is an achievement that leaves its marks in the history books. Naseem Hamid became the first Pakistani woman to clinch the 100-metre gold in the 26-year history of the SAF Games. She was also crowned the fastest woman in South Asia last year, a feat which continues to bring unprecedented pride to the nation.

A childhood marked with impoverished lifestyle, having virtually no sporting facilities or training, Hamid surprised everyone, including herself, with the unparallel degree of determination and relentlessness she exemplified to lift the spirits of a nation that were otherwise flagging.

With resolve so strong that left a nation, which did precious little to nurture her talent, stunned.

“I had forgotten the world for six months and trained very, very hard” were Nasim’s words after claiming the golden feat for Pakistan. Naseem’s gold medal stands as a reminder of hope for the nation, commitment for athletes and a paragon for women across the country, who are waiting to leave their mark on the world through their talent.

Only a few right-outs of Pakistan hockey have been as humble and agile as Rehan Butt and fewer have been as prolific and hungry to score goals against top sides.

Born in Lahore, Rehan started his career at Lahore’s Noble Club of Model Town and made his first international tour and the 2002 Champions Trophy bronze-medal decider against India as the highlight of his career.

Committed to excellence and a strong believer in the quotation ‘success is a journey, not a destination’, Rehan has become an integral part of the Pakistan side and has endured good days and awful days in his quick stride. Blessed with the keenest of hockey minds, Rehan is widely regarded as one of the game’s finest drag-flickers alongside compatriot Sohail Abbas. He was also named Asia’s Player of the Year by the Asian Hockey Federation and currently was loaded into the International Hockey Federation’s All-Star squad. He captained the Pakistan team at the 2006 Asian Games in Doha.

Probably one of the last right-wingers in Pakistan hockey circuit, he executed much of his career with prosperity. He established himself at the vanguard of a new, defiant generation with slim built but swift flicking with lightning speed and the ability to score goals from unimaginable angles has seen him as a top player in the world, apparent from his performance in the 2010 Asian Games and his inclusion in the All-Star’s XI.

Making something out of nothing — Olympian skier Mohammad Abbas is nothing short of a pioneer and an inspiration, and thus a proof to us Pakistanis that two planks of wood tied by a piece of wool is all you need to achieve success.

Hailing from the valley of Naltar, near Gilgit-Baltistan, where he was living below the poverty line, it is admirable how despite his only asset being observation then, he managed to hone his skills and eventually make a breakthrough for Pakistan. All this despite being unable to afford equipment early on.

Before Abbas, it seemed that skiing was next to nonexistent in most of Pakistan. But last February, the country was enlightened that this sport exists as he became the first Pakistani to feature in the Winter Olympics.

Every sport in Pakistan, apart from hockey and cricket, cries for attention and funds, but this man is impressive as he forced people of his country to acknowledge him and his sport. And it’s true that his performance was nothing compared to the other professionals – a low 79th place in the men’s Giant Slalom – but it’s the effort that counts, right?

It’s because of him Pakistan is reaching more places, courts excluded.

A man’s drive to step out of the pessimism he is surrounded by may land him in unimaginable places. Azhar Hussain, who clinched a wrestling gold in the 55-kilogramme free-style category at the Commonwealth Games in India, is one such fairy tale.

Hailing from a small flood-hit village near Muzaffargarh, his family and fellow villagers were left devastated by the catastrophe, losing most of their belongings and property. For me, anyone who can battle a tough situation for a larger goal is a hero. Therefore, Hussain who kept faith in his ability and did not let any negative thoughts creep up is worth the mention.

“It was the passion to win for the country that kept me going. I can’t express in words what I felt when the Indian leaders applauded on seeing the Pakistani flag on top.”

To add to his medals cabinet, Hussain also won silver in the Greco-Roman category. What’s commendable is that the administration had earlier stated that the coaches required for this category were not available yet Hussain, and his team, decided to go for it.

Unlike most Pakistani sportsmen who are often seen complaining that their game is suffering due to the non-availability of government patronage and facilities, Hussain did not use any excuses and went ahead fully determined.

For most part of the year, Mohammad Amir remained Pakistan’s hero despite the procession of defeats that the team suffered. He smiled on the field after bamboozling opposition, and he smiled on tv flopping his hair.

Unlike most 18-year-olds in the country, Amir had become a poster boy, had travelled the world, donned a green top, won a World Cup and dismissed Sachin Tendulkar. Still, the left-armer wanted more. He stretched his body to the limits, and stretched his limb beyond that.

His antics off the field aside, his conjuring acts with the ball cried excellence. His flimsy frame and frail shoulders carried a mature head. He spoke of his bowling with a doctorate in his hand. Having experienced stress fractures, dengue fever, omission from the team and a thrashing at the hands of India, Amir became Pakistan’s – and not just Pakistan cricket’s – biggest thing.

Barely months into his international debut, Amir became Pakistan’s go-to guy. He swung, seamed and gloated, much to his team’s delight and fought, with Mohammad Asif, a battle against the opposition while his side’s batsmen faltered. Unthinkable became reality as the ascendency continued until the spot-fixing allegations – and the worrying silence that followed – shook the very foundations of a career that threatened milestones.

Despite all that followed, Amir ensured Pakistan cricket remained an exuberant force.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 1^st, 2011.