Thursday 5 March 2015 11:56, UK
Guest writer, Sajid Sadiq, of www.pakpassion.net, ponders whether Pakistan can dream of a return of international cricket to the country...
Picture this in your head if you may. Karachi on a fine October morning, and it’s the first match of a one-day home series against a visiting international side. Police have warned of congestion on the roads and attendance is expected to be a significant number, in line with today’s attendance trends around the world.
Thousands are braving the heat, transport hurdles and security checks to find themselves a seat at the National Stadium in Karachi. Some lucky enough to have booked in advance are already in their seats, excitedly discussing the possibilities that the day will bring, whilst others are queuing up patiently for the chance to watch their heroes play. Snack retailers and vendors of match memorabilia are making their rounds between the crowds and sales are expected to bring handsome rewards.
Outside the stadium a cheer goes up as the Pakistan team bus arrives and a little melee erupts as the police try and clear away a path through an enthusiastic throng of home supporters, armed with Pakistani flags and cameras of different shapes and sizes as they try to catch a glimpse of the players. The supporters run alongside the bus as it makes its way towards the stadium. A mere smile or a nod from a Pakistan player seated inside is enough reward for this effort and neither the sun nor the burly looking police officers will deter the crowd from their mission.
Later, the captains walk onto the pitch and a hysterical cheer goes up around the stadium and in living rooms across Pakistan and many other parts of the world as the Pakistan captain wins the toss and decides to bat first. Opening for Pakistan is a young man who is playing his first international game. He is visibly nervous but his confidence returns when he looks around and sees thousands of his countrymen and women cheering him on from different parts of the stadium. All shouting his name, with flags waving, colourful banners and various musical instruments being played by young and old.
This is the scene that every young Pakistani cricketer dreams of - the day they put on their batting pads or hold a cricket ball for the first time in their lives. Today is the culmination of all those dreams. Today is the start of a bright career and what better place to make that beginning than in front of your own supporters? A debut match is something to cherish forever - the arrival to the ground, walking in the dressing rooms, walking out onto the pitch with sounds of the multitudes cheering wildly every step of the way until you gace your first ball in international cricket.
To many around the world, the above sounds very familiar and almost borders on the mundane. However, since that fateful and cruel morning in March of 2009, the above has become just a distant memory for Pakistan and its cricket players. It was on March 3, 2009 that terrorists attacked the Sri Lankan team bus as they headed to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the third day of the second Test match against the home side. No major international cricket team has visited Pakistan since that incident, forcing Pakistan to hold one of its ‘home’ series in England in 2010 and the rest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the adopted home for Pakistan cricket.
While the tragic events of 2009 are a mere blip on the nation’s less than satisfactory record of provision of security for its inhabitants, the effects on the development of cricket in Pakistan have been nothing short of catastrophic.
The financial impact of foreign teams not playing in Pakistan in terms of gate receipts, advertisement revenues and broadcaster rights is a major setback for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and affects its ability to promote and develop the game in this cricket-mad nation. Also of concern is the PCB’s helplessness in holding a highly lucrative IPL style Twenty20 tournament where the involvement of foreign players is a must, but the current security situation prevents any players of repute from partaking in any such venture.
The PCB’s failed attempts to hold the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and visits by a Kenyan national side and a few exhibition matches involving some former international players are all examples of the futility of the situation faced by Pakistan cricket today. The harsh and sorry reality is that a once proud cricketing nation that visiting teams enjoyed touring has now been without any international cricket for over six years.
Whilst the financial implications cannot be ignored, the more important and tragic consequence of the country’s alienation is the effect on the lives and careers of the cricketers who are the lifeblood of the game in Pakistan. The incentives for playing cricket may be fast disappearing as the money dries up for local cricketers, but the effects of not being able to observe at close quarters or play alongside quality foreign players in their own country and on their own grounds is hurting the quality of the cricket being played by Pakistan. This is not mere conjecture but the results of Pakistan’s recent encounters leading up to and during the World Cup seem to point to a similar conclusion.
What is also of grave concern is that many of Pakistan’s top young stars, such as Umar Akmal, Haris Sohail or Sohaib Maqsood have made their debuts on foreign grounds and are yet to play an international match in front of their home crowd. Remarkably, Umar Akmal made his 183rd international appearance when he faced the UAE in the World Cup, but he is yet to experience what it feels like to play international cricket in Pakistan. This would be unheard of in any other cricket playing nation. The effect of playing ‘home’ series in near empty stadiums in a strange land as one starts a career instead of playing in front of doting thousands in Lahore or Faisalabad is potentially devastating for the effect on the self-esteem of any young Pakistan player.
Even the more experienced players are not immune from effectively playing ‘away’ series all year. Visiting home and spending time with their families is thus a luxury and is confined to a few months between cricket games. In a recent interview with PakPassion.net, one of Pakistan’s most well recognised and senior batsmen, Younis Khan, spoke about playing away from home stating: “You are getting recognised for your performances but when the day ends, you don’t have the option to go back to your family and relax and forget about the tough day you have had. As senior players, we had this option until 2009 as we played at home as well but spare a thought for the youngsters who came into the international side after that and how tough it is for them.”
There is no easy solution to Pakistan’s isolation. The geo-political mess that the country finds itself in at the moment will ensure that Pakistan’s historic cricketing venues will not see any action for the foreseeable future and one wonders when eventually this sorry situation will change.
For the moment, Pakistan’s young and experienced cricketers will be content with the fact that they are able to represent the country at the highest levels of cricket. However, the long term effects of this isolation are beginning to be felt already on Pakistan’s performances and results. To those wondering as to how despite such hurdles Pakistan continue to perform well in sporadic bursts in Test matches and the shorter formats of the game, the counter question is simply this, how much better would they be if they could play cricket at home? Unfortunately, the world of cricket will need to wait for the answer.
