The arrival of a group of Pakistani artists led by TV and film actress Atiqa Odho in Abu Dhabi to support the Pakistan cricket team which is currently playing a 5 match one day international series against Australia, has not gone down well with certain section of the Pakistan media. The visit from the artists has been called a ‘huge distraction’ for the players. What seems to have irked sections of the media dealing with cricket news is the fact that Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) director cricket operations Zakir Khan personally welcomed the artists, leaving his other duties for photo ops.

Apparently captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam were “made to leave team practice to join them”. Supposedly it is this and the fact that the artists (Atiqa Odho, Maria Wasti, Ayesha Umer, Anushey, Ejaz Aslam, Faisal Qureshi, Sahir Lodhi and Najam Sheraz were the names quoted in the cricket news) were ‘scantily clad’ that caused the alleged ‘distraction’. The visit of the actresses to the hotel where the players are currently staying also supposedly further added to the ‘distraction’.

It sounds very strange that film actresses should be the cause of ‘distraction’ in a sport that is now increasingly associated with the film and glamour world. And this is not a recent development. Those that remember the days of cricket being played in Sharjah would remember the constant presence of film and other celebrities, from India as well as from Pakistan. No one alleged that they were ‘distractions’ at the time. From time to time names of famous cricket players from Pakistan have been linked to Indian actresses so the cricket – glamour association is hardly a new one! Remember the Imran Khan – Zeenat Aman and Mohsin Khan – Reena Roy link ups?

Besides it is now the age of IPL! The film world is now inextricably intertwined with the world of international cricket. If you have team owners like Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta and Shilpa Shetty constantly visible during cricket matches to cheer on their teams then last year their presence at the IPL was even more prominent. When the IPL was in India last year, there was always a fair presence from the world of glamour, with Bollywood beauties always in attendance. Surely this or the fact that there is considerable interaction between actors and cricketers for shoots, promotional activities etc is not cause for ‘distraction’. Cricket players are professionals who are not supposed to be ‘distracted’ by every passing pretty face!

If people are looking for reasons for Pakistan’s below par performance in the current series, they should perhaps come up with a more plausible reason.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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