When Pak slumped, Musharraf turned off his TV
Posted online: Friday, February 10, 2006 at 1522 hours IST
**Islamabad, February 10: **Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf conceded to the Pakistan and Indian cricket teams that he had switched off his television, after the home team had slumped to 39 for six in the third and final cricket Test in Karachi.
“After Pakistan cricket team collapsed to 39 for six, I switched off my television set. But when I was told about the recovery, I switched my set on and then followed the game,” President Musharraf told both the teams that called on him in the presidency on Friday morning.
Pakistan lost three wickets in the first over of the match and then were reduced to 39 for six before staging a remarkable comeback to win the match by a huge 341-run margin.
“I was really worried with the team’s position” he said, and then referred to Kamran Akmal and remarked, “Well done Kamran. You played an excellent innings and I am proud of you.”
Akmal, batting at no 8, scored 113 runs and was later adjudged man-of-the-match.
President Musharraf also lauded Pakistan’s gutsy fightback back and attributed the success to a committed and dedicated performance.
“I am delighted with the fight back you showed in the Karachi Test. You showed the world what we are capable of. You showed your character and made everyone proud,” General Musharraf, who is also the patron of the Pakistan Cricket Board, said.
PCB’s director board operations, Abbas Zaidi, who also attended the meeting in the presidency, said the President was in a good mood.
“The President complimented both the teams for playing excellent cricket. He also appreciated both the teams for playing cricket in its true spirit and displaying themselves as true ambassadors of their respective countries,” Zaidi said.
The Pakistan cricket team later offered Friday prayers with the President, who is also expected to watch the second One-Day International between the two teams to be played on Saturday.
Musharraf had hosted the Indian team in 2004 as well, when the Indian cricket team made its first full-fledged visit to Pakistan in 15 years.
While the Pakistanis had nets at Pindi stadium, venue of the second cricket One-Dayer on Saturday, before heading to Musharraf’s residence, the Indians attended the nets after the meeting.
(Assuming this article is true)
Ah, let me get my dictionary. This just seems way too hard to comprehend.
“After Pakistan cricket team collapsed to 39 for six, I switched off my television set. But when I was told about the recovery, I switched my set on and then followed the game.”
“The President complimented both the teams for playing excellent cricket. He also appreciated both the teams for playing cricket in its true spirit and displaying themselves as true ambassadors of their respective countries,” Zaidi said.
How convenient it is for a leader…for a Pakistani conductor and guide himself to display a bundle of ignorance from his part. First, he goes on to mention that he turned off his television set when Pakistani team collapsed, and later on, in the same tone, tinge and timbre, went on to congratulate both teams for displaying true spirit and representing their countries. Where in God’s name in your spirit, Musharraf? Where is your true blood? Where is your sense of equality? Has your patriotism gone out the window? After all of your sessions of ‘Dars’ with the Pakistani team (and otherwise with Mullah parties), did somehow, a thought and contemplation of a prayer just skipped out of our mind? Did you somehow ricochet with the earthquake from within your own?
This article seems to collide head-on with The News version as well. A perfect timing, or a mere coincidence?