Re: Will Mohammed Yousuf return to Pakistani colors?
I've said this before and will say it again. Playing for PCB has nothing to do with patriotism. PCB, like any other money-making sports franchise, has its own interests to take care of. The better the players on its roster, the better the marketability of its franchise. It's in PCBs interest to have the reigning "Test player of the year" on it side. It needs match winners and stars otherwise people will get tired of a losing team real quick.. and the marketability of the team will suffer. If winning means offering the reigning MVP some extra incentives to lure him back, then so be it. Any sports franchise in the worl d would've done that. Don't confuse patriotism with playing for PCB.
Maybe for you they are two different things, not for me. PCB is Pakistan Cricket Board. These players are paid by the PCB and represent Pakistan in tournaments. You cannot compare this with doctors and engineers. A doctor or engineer can go to any country and try to get a job and if they think he'll do well, they wil hire him. Does that happen in Cricket? Do you think Tendulkar can represent Pakistan if we offer him more money or vice versa. Infact you cant even compare Cricket with the likes of NHL or NFL, as those leagues are all about money, no patriotism is there
But these cricket players are representing their country. Yes, they are the employees of the circket board but, they represent Pakistan on an international arena. Get that through your think head.
And which cricket board isnt a money making franchise? Look at the BCCI. Same thing. I have said before, and I will say it again, No active player in the world signed up for this league after their respective board's said they didnt recognize this rebel league. Only players who had retired or had no future signed up for this league. I have no problem with players like Farhat, Azhar Mehmood, or even Inzi signing up for this league...but PCB CLEARLY stated right after announcing the 20/20 squad that no ODI or test squad is complete without Yousuf. Maulana Yousuf still had to cry like a baby about it. Why did he want to participate so badly in this tulla tournament anyway? I'm sure he would have survived without playing this tournament.
And ignorent people on this forum ask what good has PCB done for its players. They have constantly increased wages for players, added more and more players to its central contracts, increased money even for all domestic players..and are spending money on stadiums. So give credit where's due. They hired Lawson, made Malik captain..which were good and bold decisions which PCB in the past has never made. Inexperienced coach and captain. The consitution is almost in place and I was reading in Jang, that the Ad-Hoc commitee will meet for the last time this week...so finally we'll get rid of this Ad-Hoc commitee.
People were ready to shoot the selectors heads when the names of Misbah and Tanveer were announced to replace Akhtar and Yousuf. yet, those 2 were the finds of the tournament. Get out of your typical Pakistani mentality and give credit where its due and not just hate the PCB for the sake of hating it. Im no fan of PCB but recently they have been making some bold and good decisions and I hope they keep it that way. I, for one, hated Wasim Bari and his selection committe.
The truth is, this board has done major changes after the 2007 WC debacle, and so far they all have been positive. I sincerely hope they keep it that way.