Did you play cricket yourself and if so, what standard?

YES! I'm from Karachi so I played cricket like a lunatic (street cricket mostly). I played for my school after moving to London but unfortunately the weather and academic commitments (as well as a notable absence of cricket-related activities at university) meant a premature end to a promising career (sigh). I do play on the streets every time I visit Karachi and Saturday night matches become a ritual.


Which was the best interview you have ever done and why did you like it so much?

Mihir Bose and Will Smith would be joint top of the list here, the former due to his depth of knowledge about the subcontinent and the latter for his humbleness (that too when it was pouring down!).


Who was the most difficult person you have ever interviewed and what made the interview so difficult?

Robin Brown, Zimbabwe's coach on their tour of Pakistan in 2008, was quite difficult. Zimbabwe had no chance of winning anything on the tour and Brown was quite aware of that. Their cricket board had been busy making headlines for the wrong reasons. Wary of that, Brown tried maintaining an optimistic view of the whole situation, scrutinising my every question before sharing his thoughts (curtailed due to the presence of Zimbabwe's media manager on his right). He was reluctant to share his true feelings about the young team and trying to get anything credible out of him, apart from 'we are here to win', became quite difficult. The man was a gem though, just that his hands were tied. Bechara.


As a cricketing journalist, what is your biggest achievement?

Sigh. My achievements bag is all empty unfortunately. But I did report MoYo's record-breaking innings in Karachi (breaking Viv's most runs in a calendar year record) in my maiden Test as a journo and became the first one to report that in print. Pure luck though. I think I'm not in the field to grab achievements to be honest. Just doing something I like and being content with it, especially following upcoming individuals, something I loved doing while I was with Cricinfo.


How hard is it to make it in the cricket-journalism business? Is Internet a blessing or does it provide too much competition for an upcoming journalist to succeed?

Competition is always healthy (not in the current financial gloom though..hehe). Learning from your peers, and even competitors, is essential as it broadens your vision by viewing different angles you can take or could've taken. I'm quite new to the field (been a journalist for just over three years only) so I'm still learning and have been quite lucky to be involved with really talented and skilled individuals.

Internet is a blessing and a curse: you get lots of info off it including stats and figures but reading an inaccurate or biased copy can have a significant effect on your work or your perception. Sieve through it, never dive into it.


In your experience, does a piece of writing gain credibility in your view when a mysterious source is mentioned in an article? Do you ever use such references in your writing?

Luckily my sources have always had names I've never felt the need to use a mysterious source in my writing but IMHO a copy doesn't gain credibility when that sort of a source is used. For all you know that 'source' could be a doodhwala and he's termed a mysterious source to spice things up. At times, however, it is essential to use that term as sources confide in you and share details providing they are not named.


Do you absolutely love writing, words just flowing from your pen and before you know it, a satisfactory piece is there in completed form; or do you find writing hard work, inspiration deserting you frequently and you having to force yourself to sit and keep on writing?

As a journalist, you never have time to gather inspiration and wait for words to arrive (as a fiction writer you have the leniency to do so). There are times when words flow like strokes off Ganguly's bat but at times, things drag like Inzi's trudging off the field but the deadlines are always there. The impact online journalism has made, you need to be very good with the flow of ideas and words with looming deadlines. The sooner you finish your work, the sooner you get to go home!


When your passion becomes your profession, what happens?

You get paid to watch cricket, that's what happens. You get to meet your idols, and realise they, too, are humans (quite an anti-climax really!). In my case, there have been times my life becomes cricket and even food (the love of my life) takes a back seat. And I simply loved it. It's quite important to love what you do, and not just faff about your career for the sake of money. As before, I've been quite lucky to be in the right places at the right times.


What's your prediction on which team's going to win the T20 WC?

India, despite Sehwag and Gambhir not being at their best in the IPL (at the time of writing). The team's young, captained by someone who seems to be possessing a magic wand or a time machine for his every (almost) action results in immediate success. And then there's Yuvraj. And Raina. And Rohit. And Pathans. Uff, the list's endless.

I have a funny feeling, however, that New Zealand may pull a rabbit out of the hat...let's see.


What do you make out on the youngsters which have been selected in the current T20 squad?

I've not seen Shahzaib and Aamer in action so won't really be able to comment at the moment. But as a fan, I really hope they deliver because, as things stand, we don't have reliable backup to the not-so-world-class batting lineup that we have. I predict Shahzaib scoring 120 off 33 against England!


Your comments on some of the more colourful aspects of Pak cricket:
1. Mohammed Asif - guilty of stupidity?

Most definitely. He should be flogged and the video sent to every single household in the world!

2. Shoaib Akhtar - past sell by date or can he give us the T20 cup?

Past sell-by in longer versions but a two-over burst can certainly help us.

3. ICL Gang - in or out? esp Mohammed Yousuf.

Tricky one, that. Their only fault was to follow their profession and make some money, but that's something we all do. But then again, they ditched Pakistan to do that. I say we allow them back in, but without the guarantees of a spot in the playing XI they so conveniently demand.


Quality of coverage for Pakistan cricket whether its domestic or international is very poor on cricinfo? Can you please explain the possible reasons behind this? we understand you are no more attached with cricinfo.

It's not just Cricinfo. How many of Pakistan's daily papers send reporters to the grounds? Or have extensive coverage? How many local TV channels cover the domestic season? You need to look at it from a business point of view I guess especially in the current economic gloom. In fact, how many of us (apart from all die-hard PP fans) REALLY are interested in the domestic season? The answer lies therein. It's a pity though. So I wouldn't single out Cricinfo there. Plus you always have PP scouts to provide first-hand info.. what else do we need


Who, according to you in Pakistan, is the best upcoming
-batsman: Misbah-ul-Haq, hehe?

Nah, I think Khalid Latif has potential and so does Nasir Jamshed. I'd also like Umer Akmal (little kamran) to be groomed properly as I believe he can be a useful T20 masterblaster.

-fast bowler?

I thought Sohail Khan was a find but alas, he let me down. I'm quite excited by the upcoming lefties to be honest. Apart from Aamer there is Naved Arif (if someone knows more about him I'll be glad to sit and listen...and pay for coffee of course) but it's a pity how our domestic pitches are so hostile towards fast bowlers.

-spinner?

None in particular. Ajmal was impressive but that's just one series so far. Yasir Shah hasn't been given decent outings yet. But with Pakistan not playing that many Tests recently, spinners are being neglected and hence the lack of interest even in our youngsters.

-wicket keeper?

Has to be Sarfraz Ahmed! That guy is as unlucky as Yasir Arafat (and maybe that left-handed bearded middle order whiz we call Asim Kamal...remember him?). Adnan Akmal, too, has shown promise over the years (maybe because he's staying away from Kamran!).


What do you think of current commentators? Do you prefer 2 ex-players who are basically analysts feeding it to people or a commentator (can be ex-player if he can last on radio commentary) and ex-player (analyst). Who are your favourite commentators?

We need new people! Sohail sounds like a silent (almost) assassin. Ramiz uses his thesaurus ka ratta from the night before fallaciously. Ranjt Fernando, as most of you have already noted, repeats the same thing the other person has said. Boycott brings his mum into play far too often. Bumble I quite like and would like to see more of. Deano lost all respect after the Amla incident. Bill Lawry is in hibernation. I say we make a petition and make Sarfraz Nawaz the official Pakistani commentator.

But I'd like a former player analysing and a commentator relaying on-field events. You guys should listen to Mirza Iqbal Baig on radio. That guy is CLASS! I've sat with him during commentary and he could do on for days and still keep listeners glued.


Faras do you think that certain Pakistani based journalists have a hidden agenda when it comes to reporting on Pakistani cricket and its players?

What hidden agenda would that be?


What are your goals as a cricket journalist?

To become one (anyone offering me a job?) I'd like to remember innings, strokes and performances like the hard-core cricket journos do. Simply awesome how they can recall even a particular shot from the mid 80s.. or how many runs someone scored off how many deliveries. They can probably give you exact latitude and longitude of where the ball hit the bat!


Is the work as a cricket journalist financially rewarding and who is the benchmark in the industry?

Journalism isn't the most rewarding fields financially. It's something you do more out of interest than hopes of buying Ferraris. But you get to watch cricket for free.. wouldn't that be reward enough? And chatting to Ganguly like a chaddi friend.. how's that for a reward? I feel quite lucky to be rewarded that way rather than fat paycheques (won't say no to both waisay!).


How can Pakistani cricket administrators break out of the colonial mindset and shackles and demand an equal and fair treatment of its country’s cricket as a whole and in particular the treatment meted out to its team at the international level. Encompassing such issues as the inability to play full 5-Test or even a 4-Test series even when the had the most exciting team with all the flair in the world, which has now been demoted to the status worthy of 2-Test, the isolation at all levels (shut out from IPL) internationally, even when touring Pakistan is not involved, and the inability of PCB to come out of the shadows of BCCI?

PCB can't. It's not in their hands. We all know the law and order situation is such that no team is willing to play and that has moved the sponsors away from Pakistan and Pakistan cricket. And if you have no money, or pulling power, we all know which end of the table you're at. Quite sad really.


How well (or badly) do you guys hide your patriotism behind the mask of professionalism when you cover matches with journalists from the 'enemy' camp?

It's quite easy really because despite being a Pakistani, you're a cricket journalist and appreciate cricket in general. There are random jokes and all but in the greater fold of things, it's cricket, and maybe some gossip, that binds all.

Secretly, however, you're hoping and praying your team wins!! Or pretend you have too much work if you lose and make a quick getaway.


What are the three key things you need to be a good journalist especially sports journalist, does connections play a huge part?

I'm perhaps not the best person to answer this (been a journo for only three years) but learning from my peers, I think interest in the sport and commitment are quite important blending nicely with the knowledge (so you talk sense and not waffle). You need to approach people with confidence, not wait for them to realise your existence.

Contacts are important in every field, not just journalism. You need to know the right people in the right places, and know them well, to just pick up the phone and get the info you need (but make sure you're there when they need you otherwise you're going on the blocked list!)