Friday, July 11, 2008

Aamer, Champions Trophy, etc.

Aamer Sohail has to be my favorite commentator/analyst, purely from an entertainment perspective. Every utterance has the potential to be a classic. Like this gem (taken from Cricinfo Quotes):
"Countries such as Australia and England are our allies in this war on terror, yet they are not supporting us here. Are we real allies or are we just being used?" Aamer Sohail, never short of radical comments that provoke a thought or two, on major teams' security concerns over playing in Pakistan

I'm hoping he was being at most semi-serious, but when it comes to Aamer Sohail, who knows!

Levity aside, I really do think the Champions Trophy will be shifted. Sure the Asia Cup went off successfully, but it's a smaller tournament, with simpler logistics, and less attractive "targets" for those who want to create chaos and attract attention. I'm almost 100% sure that if the tournament goes ahead, the safety of anyone involved with the tournament will not be compromised. However, a series of unrelated events in the country at the time could lead to a potential cancellation, or a pull-out, which would be even worse.

As much as I would like to see cricket played regularly in Pakistan, the situation is not great. A security assessment will be released in the next week and ICC/cricket boards will study it carefully. Regardless though, I think players will put enough pressure to ask for a change in venue. The recent events in Islamabad and Karachi don't help either, and anymore unfortunate events will make things even worse.

Finally, Pakistanis have also not really shown their thirst for cricket. The paltry crowds during the Asia Cup were embarrassing, even for most Pakistan games. I know this can be attributed to many reasons (heat, weekdays, lack of competition, etc), but still it is not encouraging.

So Sri Lanka (ICC's official backup venue) or South Africa (the self-appointed backup venue ;) may need to start preparing to host the tournament. I'm going to stay hopeful that it doesn't come to that, but reality is steadily sinking in.

Make your pitch on this post...



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8 Pitched:

  1. Q said...
     

    All these participating nations need to be explained is that the terrorists are also cricket fans and busy watching the cricket and not planting bombs while cricket is going on...

  2. Anonymous said...
     

    i don't really appreciate commentators commenting on political issues.

    and sohail, can't comment on cricket in an unbiased manner, forget politics.

  3. straight point said...
     

    the way he does commentary (our SANSANI fame) i wont be surprised that sohail is going to burst in the echoes of his own words one day...

    that apart...

    yours is the most unbiased, sensible and balanced post i have read on this issue...

    i do believe now that it will help pak more if CT is shifted now then later for unwanted reasons...

  4. Obaid said...
     

    When is he going to write a book? Cant wait for that... him and SIdhu could do a great one together

  5. Samir Chopra said...
     

    They should write it in Punjabi.

  6. Q said...
     

    Now thats one bestseller in the making!

    Want to suggest the idea or ghost-write it Obaid? U could make a fortune ;-)

  7. Obaid said...
     

    lol! hmm my Punjabi isnt very good. But I would call it "How to hunt for a suitable bride and a test win at the same time" :)

    if you know what I mean Q

  8. Q said...
     

    I totally know what u mean Obaid.

    For the others, here's the joke:

    Me and Obaid went to the same college - Lahore University of Management Sciences about a decade ago..

    Aamir Sohail, who at that time was part of the Pakistan team used ti live opposite to our campus...

    His mother once visited the female dorms and went around saying that she is Aamir Sohail's mother and she is looking for a suitable bride for her son..

    She even sat down and had lenghty discussions with a couple of girls..

    She was never seen near LUMS ever after that..

    Im still not sure whether Sohail is married or not..

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