Cricket News is abuzz with Shoaib Akhtar eyeing the glamorous world of Bollywood right now; of contemplating a career in films. Perhaps the Pakistani Cricket Board (PCB) is at least partly responsible for this possible career shift. The rather inconsistent and wishy washy way that the PCB have dealt with the situation concerning their international cricket players, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammed Asif has been both weak and self serving. Witness the blow hot – blow cold manner in which the PCB has acted: Shoaib was banned for 5 years, then the ban was reduced to 18 months and instead a fine was added as penalty; he is allowed to play in the ongoing national Twenty20 series but it is not clear whether he will be picked for the international cricket team.
When Mohammed Asif tested positive for the banned substance Nandrolone (a steroid) during the IPL Twenty 20 tournament in May of this year, he faced a ban of up to 2 years. The matter and the appeal that came from it, is hogging headlines in cricket news far more than his actual cricket scores. The appeal is dragging on, the PCB having suspended Asif for playing in both domestic as well as international cricket for the time being.
The future of these two players as indeed their entire international cricket career hangs in the balance as they wait for the PCB to quit dragging its feet and decide these matters in a quick, efficient and efficacious way rather than the bumbling way it has adopted hitherto. If Shoaib was found to be guilty of use of banned substances, was given a 5 year ban, why was it then reduced to 18 months and substituted with a fine instead. Why is Asif’s matter dragging on?
One can only conclude that PCB felt the pinch of a depleted pace attack without the aggressive talent of Shoaib, and found it expedient to reinstate him rather than have him complete his suspension. How convenient for the PCB, who seems to make it a habit to use and discard players as per its whims, fancies and convenience to say nothing of present requirements. While it would be no one’s case that players who are guilty of breaking rules and using banned substances be let off of leniently dealt with, they should also be treated fairly, dealt with quickly and above all consistently. Then perhaps the cricketers can concentrate on cricket rather than other extraneous matters; such as Bollywood perhaps?
