Comment: No effort, no hope!

This week, Pakistan completed half a decade as a pariah of international cricket. That is a long, barren period, but the most unfortunate part of this unfortunate episode is that there are no signs of a breakthrough. The thirst of cricket fans in the country remains unquenched but the fear is that a large number is resigned to this rather sorry state as the demons of the March 3, 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team continue to haunt. The most terrifying aspect of the saga is that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has almost thrown in the towel as far as its campaign to revive international cricket is concerned. Former PCB chiefs, despite all their shortcomings, had strived hard for the mission with a belief that things could change. Although most of their initiatives failed to deliver the desirable outcome, the vital aspect was the effort that they made. In contrast, the current regime is seemingly spending little or no energy on the matter. Obviously, the current law and order situation in the country is not conducive, but that does not completely rule out the possibilities of bringing about a change. After all, the Punjab government has proven that Pakistan can still host foreign athletes or players by organising the Youth Festival, featuring several disciplines successfully, last year. This year’s ongoing edition has taken a turn for the better. If the Punjab government can take such prosperous initiatives, why cannot the PCB follow their footsteps in bringing foreign cricketers? Unfortunately, the governing body’s high-ups, who are ready to take credit for on-field feats, are not interested in making an effort, perhaps due to minimal chances of success. The proposal regarding the Pakistan Super League, that was deemed the country’s main hope in relation to the subject at hand, has been put on the back-burner. Ironically, different venues outside Pakistan are being considered for the league with the focus more on earning revenue for the board. In 2012, tours by teams of British universities and the Afghanistan squad resulted in success. This process should have continued, but the musical chairs in the board’s hierarchy made the task tough. Apart from draining the PCB coffers, our players are being deprived of playing in home conditions and in front of their own crowd. Our newcomers do not enjoy the same advantage novices of other teams do — new talent is expected to enter and deliver in the international arena in unfamiliar conditions. Pakistan are scheduled to host Australia, New Zealand and Zimbabwe this year, but our grounds are unlikely to see these teams in action. With such apathy, one can easily guess the fate of real home venues in the years ahead. The writer is a reporter for the Sports desk at The Express Tribune Published in The Express Tribune, March 5th, 2014.