tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post2153671682366447801..comments2024-03-17T12:14:30.727+04:00Comments on Well Pitched - a cricket blog: Mohammad Yousuf is Specialobaidhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04686432822347334520noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-28111807230064877352009-07-07T10:31:15.517+04:002009-07-07T10:31:15.517+04:00Sam, forget it. I thought I could explain "gr...Sam, forget it. I thought I could explain "grey" to you, but I think you are comfortable dealing only with black and white.rajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-17412486538776284672009-07-07T05:04:23.733+04:002009-07-07T05:04:23.733+04:00Simple point : you cannot time your return to the ...Simple point : you cannot time your return to the national fold per your convinience. and if somebody does that, simple take disciplinary action against him.<br /><br />but then MY is special cos he scores centuries at will. whatever happened to team ethics is hardly an issue.<br /><br />Raj you got to tell me where does the Karn issue and patriotism come here ?<br /><br />and it would be laughable if you equate Karn with MoYo.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06876550270524801825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-81898107835231293122009-07-06T20:51:32.338+04:002009-07-06T20:51:32.338+04:00Wasim,
I agree.. Kallis was also dropped.. Gangul...Wasim,<br /><br />I agree.. Kallis was also dropped.. Ganguly, Dravid, Sachin didn't play either.. Yousuf should have taken it in his stride..<br /><br />But I do believe that he left cos of differences with Malik and the board and that he was closer to people like Inzi who were constantly requesting him to play in the ICL.Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-74771648349090563912009-07-06T20:43:24.753+04:002009-07-06T20:43:24.753+04:00KK,
I think u have explained the situation perfec...KK,<br /><br />I think u have explained the situation perfectly. That is how it is in Pakistan.<br /><br />And I agree that it shouldn't be but it is.<br /><br />The bottom line as u say, it doesn't take away from the beautious sight he is as a batsman!Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-12363627117860105172009-07-06T20:42:23.239+04:002009-07-06T20:42:23.239+04:00Raj,
I like the Coke v Pepsi example u give. Agai...Raj,<br /><br />I like the Coke v Pepsi example u give. Again an employee vs employer position, which is what it is with the boards, ICL, IPL, etc..<br /><br />As for the legal bills.. it was the PCB's case to fight since it was against their contracted player..Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-69500117438682131472009-07-06T19:27:46.516+04:002009-07-06T19:27:46.516+04:00Sam, what's your opinion on Karna from Mahabha...Sam, what's your opinion on Karna from Mahabharat?rajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-1829917867591981242009-07-06T18:22:16.964+04:002009-07-06T18:22:16.964+04:00Nobody ever doubted his abilities as a batsman, mo...Nobody ever doubted his abilities as a batsman, most of us didn't liked his business ethics.<br /><br />Almost every T20 team left out a few of their senior Odi and test batsmen from their T20 Squads Yousaf should have accepted that decision.<br /><br />There was a report that he made around a million $ from ICL so the argument that he made far less money than what he makes from PCB doesn't hold.<br /><br />Money has been his top priority, so I don't buy his excuses.<br /><br />It's good to have him back in the Pakistani test and Odi line up, I hope he learns from his mistakes and doesn't try to black mail PCB in future.Wasimhttp://www.cricketfiles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-35071096177837836892009-07-06T16:59:24.709+04:002009-07-06T16:59:24.709+04:00although this debate has enough differences alread...although this debate has enough differences already, here is another angle to it.<br /><br />while it may be UNFAIR to equate playing for your country with patriotism, it doesn't quite work like that, especially in pakistan.<br /><br />a tenuous sense of national identity and a plethora of political problems means that the cricket team is easily one of the most, if not the most, viable symbol of pakistani national identity. that shouldn't be the case but it is. <br /><br />i'm not saying that this is a desirable or a sustainable situation, but that is the reality in pakistan.<br /><br />ergo, while MoYo's behavior might not have been much different from any professional, it does have huge consequences in our country.<br /><br />that still doesn't diminish the beauty of his cover drive, or the atrociousness of his running between the wickets, but that is how it is.karachikhatmalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10230156724789704199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-1968099019912580852009-07-06T16:54:09.783+04:002009-07-06T16:54:09.783+04:00Well, Sp, the thing is I dont see PCB as a country...Well, Sp, the thing is I dont see PCB as a country - rather, I see it as say Coke vs Pepsi. You work for Pepsi, you get shabbily treated, or atleast have a perception like that, you shift to Coke. You bad mouth Pepsi bitterly. My take is that this is how MoYo's life panned out, Except that he was dealing with nationalism and emotions associated hence the mess and hatred.<br /><br />This happens to thousands and millions possibly of professionals all the time. This is the only way I can see it. Very human, I'd say. Not SRT standards, but in my books, not reprehensible.<br />Ofcourse, that bit about making PCB pay his legal bills, and then hotfooting it is certainly condemnable. I didnt know of this before. With this piece of information, my take will surely change.rajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-86114657522167037712009-07-06T16:39:14.758+04:002009-07-06T16:39:14.758+04:00I'll leave that for Raj :-)I'll leave that for Raj :-)Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-58804014366602739952009-07-06T16:27:35.291+04:002009-07-06T16:27:35.291+04:00my question is still unanswered Q... :)my question is still unanswered Q... :)straight pointhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-28342010700019000892009-07-06T16:10:19.478+04:002009-07-06T16:10:19.478+04:00SP,
I wouldn't exactly condone it, but that&#...SP,<br /><br />I wouldn't exactly condone it, but that's not how it exactly happened.<br /><br />After Yousuf cancelled his ICL contract, the ICL filed a case against him. The PCB's lawyers fought the case for Yousuf because it was them who had forced Yousuf to cancel his ICL contract..<br /><br />That case went on for a year without a result, when Yousuf ditched Pakistan and left for the ICL.<br /><br />Yousuf did not blackmail the PCB.Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-53391375300766024112009-07-06T16:06:53.734+04:002009-07-06T16:06:53.734+04:00Fark,
Regarding patriotism and sports, I am with ...Fark,<br /><br />Regarding patriotism and sports, I am with you and Raj..<br /><br />As far as the right people are concerned, they will help to some extent..<br /><br />But the thing is that 20 other people defected to the ICL with Yousuf, but it was only he who ditched the team and spoke against it. The others went abt their business. That was unwanted.<br /><br />Besides that I don't have an issue..Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-15111438882933449382009-07-06T15:36:28.729+04:002009-07-06T15:36:28.729+04:00raj you dont have to be patriotic/unpatriotic to p...raj you dont have to be patriotic/unpatriotic to put the country you play for into embarrassing situation...<br /><br />isn't it...?<br /><br />q will condone this that he virtually black mailed pcb on more than once...made them pay for lawyers for lawsuits HE was facing...dumped them...turned up for them...then dumped them again...<br /><br />pls enlighten me where does the patriotism issue comes in this...?straight pointhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309030423887849171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-45141368838927196842009-07-06T15:26:29.485+04:002009-07-06T15:26:29.485+04:00Thanks for illustrating that example Q. It does de...Thanks for illustrating that example Q. It does definitely look like MoYo handled that affair pretty bad and showed his lack of maturity and priorities.<br /><br />One thing that would definitely help is if the best people are there at the right positions - from the board to the selectors , team management who are also in a position to advise and mentor the players on handling things outside of the playing field.<br /><br />Like Raj said earlier - my stance on patriotism associated with sport is probably a little different than what is normally accepted, but that's not the topic here for sure :-)Farkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505224947963274186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-10084863707032660882009-07-06T15:14:13.046+04:002009-07-06T15:14:13.046+04:00Fark,
I understand and agree with exactly what u ...Fark,<br /><br />I understand and agree with exactly what u have said.<br /><br />I've done tons of posts in the past talking abt the free market for cricketers, the need to allow them to choose their employers, and so on...<br /><br />There I have no arguement.<br /><br />In this Yousuf instance, I'll give u the specific example.<br /><br />He signed with the ICL. I didn't have a problem with that.<br /><br />He cancelled his ICL contract cos PCB told him they need him. Still no issues.<br /><br />He fails to get an IPL contract cos of the ICL court case, which is never ending.<br /><br />He gets selected for Pak's squad to face Windies in AD (Nov '08), but disappears and appears in the ICL without telling anyone.<br /><br />PCB find out from his wife.<br /><br />Now that is where my issue begins. He ditched the team.<br /><br />He's made his choice, which again for me is like picking ICL over country - not such a big issue. That's ok. But I still feel he should not have done it, but don't hold it against him.<br /><br />Once in India for the ICL, he speaks up against Shoaib Malik and how he did not treat him right, he speaks against PCB, he speaks against the selectors, and disses one and all connected to Pak Cricket.<br /><br />Again, his opinion, no problems. He's entitled to them.<br /><br />But then comes the shocker.<br /><br />ICL goes bust, Yousuf comes back, cancels his contract, and says Pakistan has always been his priority and that his loyalties lie with Pakistan.<br /><br />My issue with that is, if Pakistan was his priority why did he ditch the team on their departure for Abu Dhabi?<br /><br />He's a liar. And he's selfish.<br /><br />Most people think that he is greedy and he did all this for money. That is not true. His ICL contract did not even give him half of what he makes playing for Pakistan.. it wasn't for the money. His defection was due to genuine problems with Pakistan's team management, captain, and board.<br /><br />But then, which player doesn't have those issues? You don't ditch your country for them.<br /><br />That is my take.<br /><br />Despite all that, he is still a special batsman!Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-28613302727166496102009-07-06T14:59:41.946+04:002009-07-06T14:59:41.946+04:00Q- don't get me wrong, I'd definitely take...Q- don't get me wrong, I'd definitely take your word for it about the past experiences, and the fact that he has left the team in a lurch before. <br /><br /><br />It's just that I think that sometimes, we might not know the full story from their aspect. We must also remember that for many of these players, especially from the sub-continent, cricket's their only way out. Many of them lack the formal education ,awareness and sensitivity of situations , that we might expect out of professionals from "other fields", if you may. Thus, it is quite safe to assume that for many of them, only cricket, and not communication, sensitivity etc is their forte.<br /><br />The boards, management, team personnel, etc must take such talented players in the wing and help them, utilize their skills, and also make the communications better between them and the common junta.<br /><br />Come to think of it, in our regular lives too , we face a lot of tough situations with bosses, team-mates and other such things. We might deal with it diplomatically, but even we falter often.<br /><br />What's your take?Farkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505224947963274186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-71001261462203996612009-07-06T14:50:51.746+04:002009-07-06T14:50:51.746+04:00Raj,
I agree with almost everything you have said...Raj,<br /><br />I agree with almost everything you have said. I also believe there was nothing wrong in those who went the ICL way.<br /><br />My issue was with how Yousuf went abt it. That's all.<br /><br />But again, that does not come in between my judgement of him as a batsman.<br /><br />Ur right abt the inflated bit.. but for me Inzi will remain the best Pakistani batsman ever. I think he was far ahead of Javed.Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-75905074525438519962009-07-06T14:48:19.226+04:002009-07-06T14:48:19.226+04:00KK,
No I missed the Max interview. If its availab...KK,<br /><br />No I missed the Max interview. If its available online, or if someone has a transcript, I would love to see it.<br /><br />It was good to see him score as Yohanna, but he only got better when he became Mohammad.. and ur right, he's so easy on the eyes... a treat!Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-83240177289205823812009-07-06T14:46:53.868+04:002009-07-06T14:46:53.868+04:00Fark,
Yep, he is special.
I agree that the ICL/I...Fark,<br /><br />Yep, he is special.<br /><br />I agree that the ICL/IPL drama goes a lot deeper than what we see it as, but that does not take away the fact that Yousuf left Pakistan in compromising positions before..Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-56299913271010593532009-07-06T14:33:57.047+04:002009-07-06T14:33:57.047+04:00Q, that said, you have to inflation-adjust the 24 ...Q, that said, you have to inflation-adjust the 24 100s of MoYo against the 23 of Javed Miandad. Different times. Different standards of bowling attacks. Different styles of pitches.<br /><br />To me, Javed remains the best ever paki batsman.rajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-67267026245789826402009-07-06T14:31:58.781+04:002009-07-06T14:31:58.781+04:00I am with Fark on this. And this working up onesel...I am with Fark on this. And this working up oneself over patriotism in reference to a sporting team also makes me laugh.<br />It's like this:<br />Serving in the army =Patriotism<br />Serving in the cricket team != patriotism.<br /><br />Cricket is a sport. Fun. Game. Dont read patriotism into it.<br /><br />Also, working oneself into a frenzy over nationalism, and hating other nationals is no less reprehensible than state-based narrow mindedness.<br /><br />As Fark said, ICL, IPL etc go much deeper than what we can glean at surface.<br /><br />Nice of us to sit here,and comment on Cricketers for whom Cricket is their only marketeable skill, and that too only during their prime. They have to live a life time after that - and nothing wrong in an individual making choices that he thinks helps that goal. As long as he isnt throwing matches by accepting money. As long as he isnt selling his country. Playing in ICL isnt a crime. I say this as a long time critic of IPL-haters who tend to rubbish IPL but think the world of ICL. Basically, those guys have an agenda to rubbish BCCI and anything it does. However, to turn the opposite, and rubbish ICL is equally stupid and agenda-based. <br /><br />There is nothing wrong with MoYo. Much is wrong in the way we see Cricket as a proxy for nationalism.rajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-15390967479141081752009-07-06T10:54:44.923+04:002009-07-06T10:54:44.923+04:00Q
Did you get a chance to see Max Babri on tv? it...Q<br /><br />Did you get a chance to see Max Babri on tv? it was great fun...<br /><br />personally, i've always loved MoYo, but after his conversion things became iffy. when he was scoring as youhanna, you felt so happy that maybe pakistanis will find a minority as a hero, and then learn to love and accept all the minorities in our country. then he converted and scored bucketloads, and all the crazy fundos - most of whom were never interested in cricket - pointed to his conversion as the sole reason, and used him to trumpet their opinions.<br /><br />REGARDLESS, he is such a joy to watch. and as far as i am concerned, there are only two main criteria for judging a batsman - how good is he to watch, and his ability to score crunch innings. MoYo is brilliant to watch, and often gets the great innings as well.karachikhatmalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10230156724789704199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-49849015532727130362009-07-06T09:56:07.846+04:002009-07-06T09:56:07.846+04:00Q,
Hello there! He definitely is special for su...Q, <br /><br />Hello there! He definitely is special for sure. His consistency is quite incredible, as is his strike rate.<br /><br />Thank you for also educating me about his selfish aspect! Never read too deep into it because I believe this whole ICL, IPL and boards thing goes a little deeper than what we casual observers see it as!Farkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01505224947963274186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3713921718473352259.post-66597167609762725132009-07-06T09:14:50.317+04:002009-07-06T09:14:50.317+04:00Late,
That's right.. I believe De Silva has a...Late,<br /><br />That's right.. I believe De Silva has a run of 7 tests in which he scored centuries.. I might be wrong but will check that..<br /><br />2006 was a dream run for Yousuf.. its a pity Pakistan didn't play enough test cricket after that..Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947332468863567271noreply@blogger.com