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#1
8th March 2008, 02:34
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The irony of being Shoaib Malik (part 2)
Chapter 4 The remains of a dream
He always was an enigma. His “I know that” brand of smile was not only constant source of pain in the **** of opposition but a great tool he would employ to tackle the void of words and flow of speech. You will have to work hard to decipher each sentence separated by inverted smile and terminated by a full smile. In media they used his quicksilver expression and his implanted smile as subtitles, but they all vouch till date about the amazing fluency of his sentence which will go down in the history for not just that reason. “I will not be a dummy captain” was devoid of the usual overheads spoken in very firm tone and still had thousand interpretations waiting for it. As was his manner of speech so was the person, multi-layered and cryptic. Now, “wait a minute, isn’t it about me?” “For sure” but then isn’t it also about “Irony” Yah!! That’s the word. Should it surprise you that I play the role of supporting cast in my own story I did not intend to make history but what can you do if history had other ideas shaped splendidly by whims and fancies of few gentlemen. Now, the gentleman in question as you all would have guessed by now is the effervescent Pathan. Younis bhai had tremendous home series against Lanka and earned his spot at number 3 in tests. If you happen to be a newly appointed VC that too against India then acute failure in the opening test is not the recipe for acceptance. They not only questioned the wisdom of his promotion but the very existence. The Pathan that he is, he summoned all his predators and buried them along with a shattered Bhajji and harried Kumble whose Hostility was not just challenged but also ridiculed, first in Calcutta and then Bangalore. In him, India found their new Nemesis. By the time he finished his mammoth 267 in Bangalore, mocking faces first turned approver and then admirer. PCB hit the jackpot and started nurturing him as Inzy successor. The place was Barbados and there were one too many Pathan in the Pak dressing room. PCB cherished dream was about to undergo an acid test as Younis made his debut as a skipper in the absence of Inzy. His first experiment with the truth started with the discovery of “Rogue motivation” among seniors. He was not the first one to encounter it and I am not the last one either. The test was a disaster both on and off the field. There were rumors that Inzy bhai was so incensed that he wanted him to be relived. Afridi and Razzak were prima Donna’s of Inzy regime to certain extent you can count me in that list as well. A brief flutter in the corridor of power left a gaping hole in the so called “Team” as “Groups” were more visible. Comfort zones of certain players were closely guarded, selection was a funny word. For Razzak the term was “Auto-selection” for Faisal it was “Rigged election”. Not every thing was perfect in the volatile land of Pakistan cricket though it was perfectly natural. Younis bhai however moved on from strength to strength. 2006 home series saw him in thick of the action again apart from the now familiar site of dismantling Indian attack he also got an opportunity to set the record straight in the third test in which he led us to a glorious victory. The fairytale continued in England where he not only shined in the longer version but also batted with aplomb in ODI’s. Many believed that Inzy has outdone his run and should hang his boot. Younis was the blue eye boy Imran Bhai was certain. Immobility of Inzy’s persona and Captaincy was crying for some dynamism and he certainly was not short of it. So there was an air of anticipation when he was chosen to lead Pakistan in all important ICC champion trophy. An extended run was sure to give us a glimpse of things future had in store for us. It was then when it all began. Shortly after that whirlwind press briefing event started unfolding in a flurry. Yusuf was named as a substitute only to be demoted as suddenly, Sheriyar Khan was bundled out to make way for Naseem Ashraf who forced Younis to introspect and in retrospect. Younis accepted acting in haste. Within a week of first choice Captain being re-appointed and first choice coach being thrown out. We were ready to fly India leaving a trail of bizarre and heading for more. Asif and Akhtar were found guilty of using banned substance in the test conducted by PCB. They were immediately recalled and hurriedly banned. Keeping up with the mood Pakistan performed miserably but by then on-field action was secondary to off-field. A defeated and depleted Pakistan was returning home early while on the way back I couldn’t’ help thinking how I was forced once again in the background. Asif and Akhtar were sensationally cleared of all charges later and ban was upturned. The events left an ugly taste, Younis bhai, trying to overcome personal tragedies didn’t take it all very well he signed for Yorkshire and took a break he also expressed his plans of not continuing captaincy for long term. Pakistan cricket took one step further and two back. Inzy bhai was certain to lead us in the world-cup and a question “Who will be his successor” was standing long and tall, for once PCB didn’t have an answer. Coming back to the smile and deciphering the meaning of “Dummy captain” I couldn’t help marveling his instinct. So will the next captain be a “Dummy?” did he have the foresight or was I too dumb. Chapter 5: The beginning of the end South Africa tour fell just before World Cup. It was our last chance to gain form and combine as a unit to take up the mighty challenge. Inzy bhai wanted to leave with glory, a rare thing by Pakistani standard. What were our chances? I thought, though it didn’t bother me nor did it affect me but we still didn’t have settled openers our pace attack was looking all too familiar full of Right hand medium pacers. Many were concerned about overt religious tone which our team had acquired. It was also apparent that things were in complete control of Inzy bhai. For a man who was considered too soft has gradually grown in stature he was scouting us on the field and on ground for “Namaaz”. I use to wonder what in the god name was Mushtaq Ahmed doing as a bowling coach but again it seems his men were everywhere. Bob sir was very articulate and maybe he has given up to the fact that Inzy superiority was not be challenged, not that he had much issues with him not certainly as many as they both had with the other Shoaib. Somewhere in twilight zone of lunacy and madness he found a perfect harmony. His outstanding talent could never meet high standard set by his outrageous sense of humor. I mean the guy was so funny that he first blasted the terrified SA batsman in the first inning then his own hamstring and finally the poor Bob. The era of Inzy and Bob sir, also changed the very face of Pakistan cricket fully supported by PCB. For a country known for its ferocious pace we produced the most docile of Pitches one will find anywhere. from unrelenting attack to timid mind frame gradually our own identity had diluted and then lost. Yes there were many pluses but all of sudden exposing Red hot Youngsters to international arena was considered taboo “Instinct were put on backburner, selection touched a new low as Faisal Iqbal was drafted in for Inzy. We stopped nurturing our future long back. Its not that talent has suddenly vanished in the thin air but sadly it revolved around tried and tested failures for too long. We won few fights but lost the war. Pakistan arrived in West Indies for the mother of all battles far from confident the vicious circle of fate was about to come full. Inzy dream of a glorious exit was going to remain elusive. Though I fought with tooth and nail we lost our opening encounter. You could hear in hushed tone that they have started talking of an early exit. I could feel a cold chill running down my spine fear of loss has been elevated as a virtue and it occupied more space in our mind then winning. A look at the Green top and my heart skipped a beat losing toss made matter worse. St. Patrick day lived up to its name and we crashed out of World Cup by puny Ireland. It was a disgraceful exit and Inzy seemed to have felt the most. Another haste exit which will be no justice to years of persistence, another tame and abrupt end for a man who wore the national flag on his heart proudly all the years if you could see his eyes you could read the undeniable sense of betrayal. His end was just going to be agonizingly delayed and coming to agony that was just the start. Death of Bob Woolmer was the biggest injustice fate has done to us. His death eclipsed everything else. Everyday a new theory was put forward and rumor started spreading thick and fast. Being a murder suspect was a rare honor and doesn’t matter how passive you are it was a bit too much to take. Marred with multiple tragedies all we wanted was to return to the motherland even if we were welcomed with abuse and insult. suddenly everyone wanted to be in the tranquility of home. Inzy bhai took full responsibility of the loss, as expected tall promises were made and full blown master plan was presented as to how they will take Pakistan cricket to deserving heights. Younis bhai as expected declined the captaincy the only consolation was we had a huge break ahead of us before we will set our foot on the ground. Pakistan cricket was waiting to usher into a new era but who will lead us into it. There will be few new faces, a new coach and a captain what would be his face like “Dummy captain” I heard him saying and then many images flashed into my eyes I could identify them all and then it happened! Is it coming my way? Will I be thrown into the ring or will the ring be thrown into my neck? Being a passive soul that I have been could I remain that any longer? Spotlight was in search of a new face and fate seems excited at discovering its new victim. Last chapter: The Dummy captain After cementing my place in the shorter version Bob sir singled me out for the beleaguered opening position. As it happens here “Solution being worst then the problem” you know what would have been my reaction, certainly not the way Afridi Bhai responded to the “Indecent proposal” put forth by Younis Bhai, as I have done throughout my career I accepted it with no fuss. I had to work on numerous flaws in technique. Playing it on the up has to be checked I had my opinion against short pitched stuff but don’t think pacer over the world will give it an ear. English attack was not known for its largesse and their recent history of violence was not adding any substance in my footwork. Though we are going to play the series on “Sleeping beauties” I had my doubts. The legacy left by my predecessor made my tiny contribution looked very decent but nobody said or thought that I had arrived. They wanted to give me a long run and apart from that solitary century in face saving first test against Lanka I did not give them many reasons for that. Whatever they saw in me remained a matter of debate till date as I was dancing with two left feet in England when they finally played me in ODI’s. Soon they abandoned the idea as they abandoned many openers over the years, my place in the Test team was also questioned by many but I could always find my name in the list. When Younis declined the Captaincy many candidates were discussed Yousuf Bhai waved his hands rather impatiently and ungainly but nobody paid heed, Afridi bhai was found to be too hot headed and volatile. Who was the player apart from Yusuf and Younis having a guaranteed place in both formats? As the news reached me I took it as an honor. They really appreciated that I hardly ask uncomfortable questions, do not argue too much they were fully aware of the size of my shoes and length of my tongue. With the first choice turning his back and not left with many options, Pakistan Captain was once again not selected on merit or leadership skills but it was a marriage of compromise. My first assignment was home series against South Africa. I earned my name in the history book by becoming the first ever captain to loose a home series against SA. Counting on dead pitches and bewildered Kaneria didn’t work. We further went on to lose the One day series as well. The icing on the cake was upcoming tour of India as they call it the graveyard tour. I fondly recalled memories of my last tour which turned the things for me irony was at other end again as I knew with all the grace in the world it would be difficult to save myself. Mysteries behind Younis smile were starting to reveal themselves. The man himself gleefully accepted the Vice-captain role again a Vice who never wanted to be a captain. Funny are the way of life here and even more funny are the hide-and-seek game motivation plays with the seniors. I never set out to control everything around me. I knew my limitation well, found my self acting more like a manager. Every passing day I realized what a thankless job I have on my hands. I was drawing a lonely shadow out their in sun or under the lights no body expected miracles and neither did they happen. Losing ODI’s 1-4 didn’t surprise many. Nor did the Test series though I disappointed them with the narrow margin thanks to Mishab. I had a depleted side. My own performance took a severe beating. They thoroughly scrutinized my captaincy and unanimously passed the verdict of my failure. I cursed with every breath I took. “Younis bhai” why did you do this to me? PCB added salt to the injury by giving me a blanket cover of 1 year. 2007 has been a turbulent year for Pakistan cricket and it was coming to an uneasy end. They took away my small battlefield and drafted me into a bigger one where consequence of every win and loss were far reaching. I am not the kind of guy who had time for introspection but as I settled with my sedate celebration and welcomed another unsuspecting year I found some time to do just that. The question which was looming large in mind was “Why didn’t I say No!” “Could I?” Younis bhai can say no! Hell, he can even dance on my funeral but does Shoaib Malik of the world ever say no. We are the one who are chosen we don’t choose. When a difficult question is tossed and it doesn’t find many taker odds are always high that it will land up with some Shoaib Malik and you can always find a petrified Malik too scared to say no. “No is too powerful and Yes too gullible” There are many among us who sleep with the dream of bringing the next revolution. Changing everything which is wrong in the world only to submit ourselves ever so meekly to simple demands of the equation. The easy way is the way out but does it really makes me any lesser then likes of Younis khan who said “No” because he could but didn’t say “Yes” which he should. Who is at fault here Younis for expecting the world to dish out an all-round change on the platter rather then joining the system and fighting it out or a Malik who knows he might not but still become part of the system because as long as he is the part of the system he can always take a chance. There is something weird about the world we live in and in that weird world sometime fighting small battles is far more courageous then fighting those big ones. Your meek submission is not your defeat but start of a struggle. If you are smart enough to survive then you are fit enough to win. In a weird way battle to win is not as glorious as the battle to survive. Pakistan as a nation or as a team always look set for Dooms day by many and still you find government of people defeating army of a general. I meet corrupt to the core, pessimistic to the heart and in a very weird way I still see a bit of Pakistan left in some remote corner of their heart oblivious by its very absence they go on selling it everyday a little more and it still remains. You can call me a daydreamer or a deluded soul but I still see hope. It has to be discovered but its there and its there in our heart and our prayers. We have to lift our infrastructure but it will not be a handicap if we go back to our instinct. Where system fails inspired individuals rise above it youthful exuberance has to be trusted and last but not the least we do require true leader. So am I not the one? You tell me. They say I epitomize the mediocrity which has swept our cricket for long I stand for every filthy compromise which has been made. I represent an inheritance of loss. But really what do I actually represent? I know I am not the solution maybe symbolizing a need for it. In every battle there is a winner and a loser but there are also some survivors that’s what I represent for us the battle is never over I can see Australia are the next in queue but I find it truly hilarious that they are afraid of their limbs and life, man that’s a privilege meant only for Pakistan captain Fight_club Last edited by fight_club; 8th March 2008 at 13:09. 
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#2
8th March 2008, 18:15
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Great second piece as well. thoroughly enjoyed it- Didn't have some of the magic of the first piece but well done!
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#3
8th March 2008, 19:32
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thanx again blazer. honestly I was thinking of breaking it into three part considering the canvas it was also in the danger of misssing the deadline. it really made me stretch myself but I survived
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#5
9th March 2008, 08:26
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thanx Xoib, Malik is used here just as a medium.
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#6
9th March 2008, 14:09
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#7
9th March 2008, 14:46
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Thats very deep.
Is there a Part 1?
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#8
9th March 2008, 22:41
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hey fight club, ive read your previous pieces too, this one is something different, really well written, maybe you have showed a different side to malik in certain parts but hey its the style you wrote it in was really good, i liked the way you used younis khan in this part, this 2nd part you've set different moods more towards around the time pakistan cricket was going through dark times, and its good that you have written about it in your own style, luved this piece on malik from the fresh young player to the mature 'senior' role hes playing now, i thought you might have mentioned a little bit about when his father passed away whilst pakistan was touring in India and to see how well he came back in performance after this difficult period
look forward to more of where this came from!! (im sure you will get requests to write on other people too now) great work bro!!!
__________________
~ * .. * ~ קг๏ย๔ l๏ץคl Ŧคภ ๏Ŧ รเคlк๏t รtคllเ๏ภร ~ * .. * ~
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#9
9th March 2008, 23:38
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Good write up fight club, but in future I hope you utilise your excellent writing talent on someone worth the effort. Seems outrageous to believe that is malik's thought process.
Let me have a go... Part 1: I play circkit. I select phor team. The Bob give me number thiree ispaat. I say Jes sir. Bob say shabash. I make lassi...jess!! Part 2: Inzi bhai retire, I wery sad. I offer captaaniship. I say jes sir. Ve lose ewery match. No problem. Jes sir...ok I go..bye..
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#10
10th March 2008, 01:21
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#12
10th March 2008, 07:39
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#13
10th March 2008, 07:44
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okay the critique which I can give is that it kind of jumps from one event to another, the transition and the thought process is a bit jittery as a result. Or maybe that is what you were trying to convey that the evolution of thought process of our kaptaan saab hasn't really been there ;).
Very few performances and facets of his game are mentioned, it was more like a team summary rather than Malik thinking about himself. You forgot to mention the IM romance saga of his 
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#14
10th March 2008, 07:56
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that really cracked me Sultan, now watch out for "The Irony of being Inzy" Umar, muzy thanx and Muzy i agree it was very diferent from my earlier work and quite an experince also mid-way i realize there is enough to write a book. Imranahemad thanks for your observation and reply. Raul just in case you haven't ..http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/sh...ad.php?t=53846 Last edited by fight_club; 10th March 2008 at 08:37.
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#15
10th March 2008, 12:42
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#16
14th March 2008, 20:50
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I just read it, been away from PP for a while. I actually found it to be better than part I. While your first piece was geared more towards humor, this one was more introspective. I especially loved these 2 paragraphs.
Who is at fault here Younis for expecting the world to dish out an all-round change on the platter rather then joining the system and fighting it out or a Malik who knows he might not but still become part of the system because as long as he is the part of the system he can always take a chance. There is something weird about the world we live in and in that weird world sometime fighting small battles is far more courageous then fighting those big ones. Your meek submission is not your defeat but start of a struggle. If you are smart enough to survive then you are fit enough to win. In a weird way battle to win is not as glorious as the battle to survive. You should seriously think about writing professionally for a website/newspaper if you are not already. Great job !
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