Re: Selectors take bribe in their first class teams selections - Zulqarnain Haider
We all know that the game of cricket is corrupt in Pakistan. Even our heroes have been involved in match fixing and other nefarious activities (Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzimam, Saeed Anwar, Salim Malik etc.). And all this has been going on for years because no-one has had the courage to come out openly against it. Whenever anything has been said implying match-fixing, corruption, we have rallied in favor of the accused, citing racism, conspiracies, etc. etc.
We all have cursed Kamran Akmal for his lousy wicket-keeping and his role in losing the Sydney Test, yet we find it hard to believe when Zulqarnain says that the Akmal brothers have a hold on Pakistan cricket. How many times have you seen Akmals being discarded from the team (other than now) despite their atrocious performances? Have you ever wondered why? What keeps them in the team?
If there’s a massive betting mafia with huge resources, then doesn’t it make sense that they’d exert control and influence over team selection, through any means possible, by hook or by crook, by bribing or by threatening? Do you remember Wasim Akram’s father being kidnapped after 1996 World Cup because one betting group got pissed at him for not playing the Quarter Final? Won’t the mafia be able to bribe and/or threaten players and selectors into complying with their wishes?
Put yourself in Zulqarnain’s shoes: You are an up-and-coming player, with potential, coming from a poor family. You get chosen to play for your country. You are offered money to lose. The easy path is to take the money, and no-one will know. But your conscience won’t allow that, and you refuse. Then your family is threatened. What are you supposed to do? You neither want to take the money, nor do you want your family to be killed. You take the third option: excuse yourself from playing… na rahay ga baans, na rahay gi bansuri. I think this was the only option a reasonable man would’ve taken. When it’s a matter of your loved ones lives, who would willingly take a chance, knowing how strong and powerful the mafia is?
And I also find it hard to believe Zulqarnain did all this “drama” just to get asylum in UK. Why would he want that? As a cricketer, he already HAD been in UK. He would’ve easily gotten a lucrative contract to play for a county. Every club cricketer in Pakistan plays at some level in the English cricket system, either at the county, league, or club level. Zulqarnain would’ve gotten the better opportunities, for his performance in the England Test series had been admirable, both with the bat and behind the wicket. Asylum had no incentive for him.
When watching movies, we all root for the honest guy who stands up against the system, fights the evil-doers, and does what’s right. In real life, we pounce upon the honest guy for daring to cast aspersions on the integrity of our system. We can all just close our eyes and pretend “All izz well” but that doesn’t change the reality.