7 Pakistani Cricketers Punished

Apocalypse in Pakistan Cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board and everything associated with Pakistan Cricket has been known to be unpredictable, dangerous and baffling at times.

This is one of those baffling times, the PCB has decided to ban, fine reprimand and banish its players today. In all, seven international superstars have been affected.

Why? Because of their demeanors on the forgettable tour of Australia. Irony believes that this tour shall not be forgotten anytime soon. Here is a rundown of the action taken and the reasoning given:

Kamran Akmal: Fined Rupees 2 million for lying to the press that he would be selected for the third test when he was publically dropped by the board. He is also on probation.

As if his glove work isn’t always on probation. Read on, the younger brother isn’t far behind.

Umar Akmal: Fined Rupees 3 million for feigning an injury in protest, allegedly for his brother Kamran getting the axe. Also on probation.

Aah, brotherly love. The parents would be so proud. I am not.

Shahid Afridi: Bitegate. Hate the name. Love the incident. Shahid Bhai ate the ball as if there was no tomorrow. Now the tomorrow has dawned and he has been fined Rupees 3 million. He is not on probation.

Dare they put him on probation. He is too talented to be missed out on. But so are the remaining people in the list. They haven’t been spared. Keep reading.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Malik: Handed a 1 year ban from international cricket, as well as a 2 million Rupee fine each. Indiscipline seems to be the reasoning given.

Talent is being taken to the cleaners today. But it is the player’s fault, isn’t it? Is it? Wait, there is more where these two came from.

Younis Khan and Mohd. Yousuf: Barred from playing international cricket from THIS POINT ON. Yes, you read it right. This seems to be a accumulative crime because it is hard to imagine a Pakistan team without one of these two.

I agree in this case. You cannot treat National Captaincy as a joke. Or an apple. You cannot say that you don’t want to play. What’s the point of growing up learning the game then? They had it coming.

7 players, 4 of which have been banned for a minimum of a year. 2 of them for a lifetime.

I don’t know whether it is a good or bad sign for Pakistan Cricket. Only time will tell, but my gut feeling says it feels like a sign of positive things to come. I could be wrong. It could be a sign of players fearing all action. Of days of dreading the national board. Wait and watch.

And yeah, what do you think?