Daily Times

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Najam Aziz Sethi’s stepping down from his lucrative post after failing to get ‘positive response’ and ‘vote of confidence’ from Prime Minister Imran Khan, the PCB losing its $70 million claim against the Indian cricket board, Fakhar Zaman becoming the first Pakistan batsman to hammer double hundred in ODIs, spin wizard Yasir Shah breaking the 82-year-old record to claim fastest 200 Test scalps, Babar Azam becoming the fastest to 1,000 runs and the national team’s impressive performance, led by Sarfraz Ahmad, in international arena dominated Pakistan cricket in the year 2018. With the arrival of Imran, speculations were rife that this was the end of the road for Sethi as PCB Chairman. Primarily because of former World Cup winning captain’s long association with the game and the political bitterness that existed between Sethi and him. Sethi hinted many a time that he wanted a ‘positive response’ and ‘vote of confidence’ from Imran to continue as head of the PCB. But that never came. Sethi’s resignation was no surprise. It was written all over the wall. Minutes later after Sethi’s resignation, the Prime Minister tweeted that he had nominated former International Cricket Council (ICC) President Ehsan Mani as the new Chairman.

Sethi was appointed the PCB Chairman for his last and unbroken stint in 2017, but had previously served as PCB Chairman in 2013 and 2014. That was a period marred by a power struggle between him and then PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf; the pair swapped positions several times before Sethi finally consolidated his control at the helm of the PCB. When Sethi was given reins of Pakistan cricket, majority was of the view that the sport, a binding force which adds to national unity and is the identity of Pakistan globally, would be doomed. Sethi took it as a challenge. He had an opportunity of making an impact – an impact that could transform Pakistan cricket’s promised future into a tangible future. And he was triumphant. The achievements of Sethi and his endeavours to take Pakistan cricket forward had been impressive. Sethi was the de-facto ruler in the organisation for much of his predecessor Shaharyar Khan’s tenure, where he served as the head of the PCB Executive Committee. Most visibly, he also served as the Chairman of the Pakistan Super League, Pakistan’s international T20 franchise competition. It is arguably what he will most prominently be remembered for, particularly since the competition was also viewed as the gateway towards the return of international cricket to Pakistan. Of course, Sethi’s ‘cricket role’ had not gone well with many and generated a new set of critics. To be fair, such criticism was sheer jealousy because that did not dent Sethi’s uniqueness as such. He proved to be a good administrator, having the ability to turn the fortunes of Pakistan cricket around.

Pakistan’s remarkable run of success in international cricket in 2018 was heart-warming for fans and made them front-runners for the World Cup 2019 to be played in England in June. Riding the crest of a wave after their victory over Test debutants Ireland in Dublin in May, Pakistan drew a fiercely competitive Test series against England, won a tri-series in Zimbabwe which also involved Australia, and outplayed Australia both in the T20s and Test series in United Arab Emirates in October. It must be mentioned that Pakistan cricketers had barely had breathing space between the series, being constantly on the road during a gruelling season. The hardship factor merits special mention; Pakistan are the only ones among the leading Test-playing nations to have been forced to play all their international matches away from a friendly home environment ever since the 2009 terrorist attack against Sri Lanka in Lahore stopped all visits by foreign teams.

Pakistan, long been regarded as one of cricket’s most unpredictable sides, also gave their fans something to cheer about in the shortest format of the sport. Consistency had never been a strong point for Pakistan, who, over the years, had built a formidable reputation as a side with a legendary ability to self-destruct. Their penchant for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory had made supporting them a health hazard. But under Sarfraz’s leadership, Pakistan turned into a winning machine in Twenty20 internationals. When they completed a 3-0 whitewash over New Zealand in November, it marked a team record of 11th consecutive series victory and consolidated their position as the world’s top-ranked Twenty20 team. Pakistan impressed early in the format, finishing runner-up in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007 before winning the title two years later. However, their failure to reach the knockout stages of the tournament in 2016 prompted important changes in personnel, with Sarfraz being elevated to the captaincy and South African Micky Arthur replacing Waqar Younis as coach. Since then, Pakistan won 29 of 33 Twenty20 Internationals.

The much-anticipated bilateral series between the two South Asian rivals – Pakistan and India – remained a distant dream. The PCB tried its best, even initiated legal proceedings, to convince India for a series but it hit a dead end. While the PCB played the waiting game, the Indian cricket board throughout maintained that the decision to play rested with the government. The PCB suffered a big loss when the International Cricket Council’s dispute panel dismissed Pakistan’s compensation claim against India for allegedly failing to honour a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral series, ending the long-standing feud by accepting the BCCI’s arguments on the matter. “The judgement is binding and non-appealable,” the ICC said. After a month, the ICC’s dispute resolution panel also ordered Pakistan to pay 60 percent of the cost demanded by the BCCI after the world body’s rejection of the PCB’s compensation claim which blamed India for lack of bilateral series between the two nations.

Mixed fortune tour Down Under: The year did not start well for skipper Sarfraz and his men. Pakistan visited New Zealand for five-match ODI series and three-match T20I series in January. The visitors were whitewashed in the ODI series 5-0 but clinched the T20 series 2-1 to end their tour Down Under on a high. The T20I series victory lifted Pakistan to number one position in ICC’s T20I Team Rankings.

West Indies arrive in Pakistan for T20 series: West Indies arrived in Pakistan for a three-match T20 international series in April. It was the latest step towards the resumption of top-level cricket in the South Asian nation. The West Indies became only the third international team to play a bilateral series on Pakistani soil since a militant attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Lahore in March 2009. Pakistan won the series 3-0. Having beaten West Indies by 143 and 82 runs in the first two games, Pakistan made short work of the toothless opposition to romp to eight wickets win with 19 balls to spare in the final contest.

One-off Test against Ireland: Pakistan visited Dublin in May for one-off Test against Ireland. In Malahide, Ireland came up short in their bid to pull off a miracle as they were beaten by five wickets in an enthralling inaugural Test with Pakistan. Hopes of an unlikely home victory were raised on the final day when the tourists, chasing 160, crashed to 14 for three, but half-centuries from Imamul Haq and Babar Azam helped Pakistan raced home.

Drawn Test series in England: After Ireland, Pakistan toured England for two Tests. Pakistan won the first Test at Lord’s by nine wickets before lunch on the fourth day to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. It was one of the finest victories of the tourists against the hosts. They did everything right. They lost one session but dominated the rest of the match. England collapsed from 236-6 to 242 all out before Pakistan chased 64 for the loss of only Azhar Ali. After gathering a lot of praise for an inch-perfect performance against England at Lord’s, Pakistan lost the second Test by an innings and 55 runs at Headingley.

Pakistan’s successful Zimbabwe tour: A tri-nation series was held from July 1 to 8 in Zimbabwe. It involved Australia, Pakistan and Zimbabwe, with all the matches played as Twenty20 Internationals at the Harare Sports Club. Australia and Pakistan qualified for the final where Pakistan defeated Australia by six wickets to lift the coveted trophy. After the tri-nation series, Pakistan and Zimbabwe played a five-match ODI series from July 13 to 22, which was won by Sarfraz and his charges by 5-0.

Zaman hits double hundred in ODIs: During the Zimbabwe ODI series, opening batsman Zaman became the first Pakistan cricketer to score a double century in one-day internationals. Zaman achieved the feat during the fourth ODI against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The Pakistan left-hander became the sixth international cricketer to cross the 200-run mark in ODIs. Apart from Zaman, India’s Rohit Sharma, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, India’s Virender Sehwag, West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar had reached the landmark score. Zaman scored the brilliant 210 not out off 156 balls, an innings studded with 24 boundaries and 5 sixes.

Nasir Jamshed banned for 10 years: In August, Pakistan batsman Nasir Jamshed was banned for ten years after an independent anti-corruption tribunal found him guilty of five of the seven breaches of the PCB’s anti-corruption code he had been charged on. In a short verdict, the three-man tribunal ruled that apart from suspension from playing any level of cricket, a player found to be in breach of the anti-corruption code should also be ineligible from holding any management roles in Pakistan cricket for life. Jamshed had been the third player to come under the PCB’s radar when they had begun investigations into corruption in early 2017 and had been arrested in the UK in February 2017. Jamshed was the sixth Pakistan player to be punished in the wake of the PSL spot-fixing case in 2017, and received the heaviest punishment. Previously, Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Irfan and Shahzaib Hasan were all fined and banned on separate charges. Jamshed last played for Pakistan at the 2015 World Cup. Jamshed filed an appeal against the anti-corruption tribunal’s verdict and the independent adjudicator upheld the 10-year ban that had been imposed on Jamshed. According to the judge, a 10-year ban imposed on Jamshed was “perfectly justified” and will continue to remain in force.

Ban on cricketer Shahzaib increased to four years: Also in August, disgraced cricketer Shahzaib Hasan, who was banned for his involvement in a spot-fixing case during Pakistan Super League in 2017, had had his ban increased to four years after an appeal he had filed against the decision. An independent adjudicator, headed by Justice (retired) Hamid Hasan, increased the ban to four years and maintained one million rupees fine on Shahzaib in connection with a spot-fixing probe. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-corruption tribunal banned Shahzaib for one year and fined him one million rupees for his role in spot-fixing during the second edition of the PSL in UAE.

Mani takes over as new chief of PCB: Former International Cricket Council President Mani took over the reins of the PCB as its new Chairman after he was elected unanimously and unopposed by the PCB Board of Governors (BoG) on September 4. He was the only candidate to submit his nomination papers for the vacant post. Mani, who was Prime Minister Imran’s nominee for the post, was elected for a period of three years. It is pertinent to mention that 73 years old Mani had shown his interest in the coveted post when there was a legal battle going on between former Chairmen Zaka and Sethi in 2013 and Pakistan cricket being in doldrums. Mani previously represented the PCB at the ICC as treasurer for three years and later headed the body for another three years from 2003 to 2006. He had also served on the Board of Governors of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Hospital – a charity project of PM Imran – but on an honorary basis without withdrawing any salary.

During the Zimbabwe ODI series, opening batsman Zaman became the first Pakistan cricketer to score a double century in one-day internationals. Zaman achieved the feat during the fourth ODI against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The Pakistan left-hander became the sixth international cricketer to cross the 200-run mark in ODIs. Apart from Zaman, India’s Rohit Sharma, New Zealand’s Martin Guptill, India’s Virender Sehwag, West Indies’ Chris Gayle and Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar had reached the landmark score. Zaman scored the brilliant 210 not out off 156 balls, an innings studded with 24 boundaries and 5 sixes

Pakistan knocked out of Asia Cup: Bangladesh knocked Pakistan out in Asia Cup in September in UAE. Mushfiqur Rahim scored a fighting 99 to guide Bangladesh into the Asia Cup final with a convincing 37-run win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on September 27. The former skipper missed out a deserving century but still lifted Bangladesh from a precarious 3-12 to 239 all out in 49.5 overs before they kept Pakistan down to 202-9 in 50 overs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Bangladesh’s victory upset millions of fans around the world who wanted another India-Pakistan clash as the two matches in the first and second round failed to live up to their billing, with India winning both in one-sided affairs. But Bangladesh were the worthy winners. India won the Asia Cup after defeating Bangladesh in the final.

Dazzling performance against Australia in UAE: In October, Pakistan played a two-match Test and three-match T20I series against Australia in UAE. Medium pacer Mohammad Abbas took his maiden ten-wicket haul in the second Test to fire Pakistan to a 373-run win over Australia in Abu Dhabi. Abbas followed his 5-33 in the first innings with figures of 5-62 to wreck Australia for 164 after they were set a big 538-run target. The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 victory in the two-match series after Australia fought back to draw the first Test in Dubai. This was Australia’s heaviest defeat against Pakistan, beating the 356-run hammering at this same venue four years ago. It was Abbas who destroyed Australia with a haul of 17 wickets in the series — becoming the first Pakistan fast bowler to take ten wickets in a Test since Mohammad Asif’s feat against Sri Lanka at Kandy in 2006. The following T20I series was no different. Australia slumped to a series whitewash defeat, losing the third and final game in Dubai by 33 runs. Chasing 151 to win in the dead rubber, the tourists were bowled out for 117 with five balls to spare in a dismal ending to the tour of the UAE. Aaron Finch’s men again proved no match for the world’s No.1-ranked T20 side, failing to build any substantial batting partnerships. Pakistan won the first T20 by 66 runs in Abu Dhabi and the second by 11 runs in a last over finish in Dubai.

PCB loses legal battle against BCCI: In November, the PCB lost its legal battle, started by then PCB chief Sethi, against India when the ICC dismissed Pakistan’s claim. The PCB had demanded $70 million compensation after alleging that the BCCI didn’t honour the MoU that required India to play six bilateral series between 2015 to 2023. The BCCI, on its part, maintained that the alleged MoU was not binding and did not stand as Pakistan failed to honour a commitment to support the revenue model suggested by India for the ICC. The BCCI also reiterated that bilateral cricket with Pakistan was subject to government clearance, which had not been forthcoming since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. The ICC’s three-member dispute resolution committee was formed in 2017 to look into the PCB’s compensation claim.

Brilliant performance against Black Caps in limited overs: In November-December, Pakistan played a three-match T20I, three-match ODI and three-match Test series in UAE. Pakistan won all three T20s to whitewash the Kiwi side and also extend their T20I series winning streak to 11. They convincingly defeated the NZ side by 2 runs in the first match, by 6 wickets in the 2nd and by 47 runs in the third encounter to complete a clean sweep. Persistent rain forced the third and final one-day international between Pakistan and New Zealand to be abandoned, extending the Asian side’s seven-year wait for a series win over the Black Caps. That left the series tied at 1-1 after New Zealand won the first match by 47 runs while Pakistan claimed the second by six wickets with both games played in Abu Dhabi. Pakistan have not beaten the Kiwis in a one-day series since their win in New Zealand in 2011, having lost in 2014 (2-3 in UAE), 2015 (0-2 in New Zealand), in 2016 (0-2 in New Zealand) and in January 2018 (0-5 in New Zealand).

Babar breaks Kohli’s record: Babar broke a record set by Virat Kohli when he passed 1,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket, while setting up another win for Pakistan over New Zealand in Dubai. In the course of making 79 in the third T20I at Dubai International Stadium, Babar brought up his thousandth run in the format, in just his 26th innings. That was one innings fewer than Kohli, the India great, took to achieve the feat. With 616 Test runs at 56, Babar was also Pakistan’s leading run-getter in the 2018 calendar year.

Yasir breaks 82-year-old record during third Test against New Zealand: Yasir became the fastest to take 200 Test wickets after dismissing William Somerville on day four of the third and final Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi. The leg-spinner, who broke Australian Clarrie Grimmett’s record, achieved the feat in 33 Tests. Grimmett took his 200th wicket in his 36th Test in 1936. The leg-spinner earlier became the first bowler since Anil Kumble to pick up 10 wickets in a single day during the second Test against New Zealand in Dubai. Yasir returned with figures of 8-41 in the first innings and 2-65 in the second innings (follow-on) on day three of the Dubai Test. Yasir was also the fastest Pakistani to 50 wickets (nine Tests), and reached 100 wickets in 17 Tests — second only to Englishman George Lohmann who set the record of 16 in 1896. Since taking seven wickets on debut against Australia in 2014, Yasir has been a key figure in Pakistan’s Test team.

Veteran Hafeez draws curtains on Test career: During the third Test against New Zealand in UAE, Pakistan veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez announced his retirement from Test cricket. The 38 years old Hafeez said in a statement that he had hanged up his Test boots in a bid to focus on his limited-overs career. “I feel the time is up. I am announcing my retirement and feel happy that I worked hard in my career,” he said. Prior to the third and final Test against New Zealand, Hafeez had played 54 Tests, scoring 3644 runs at 38.35. He had hit 10 hundreds and 12 half-centuries apart from picking 53 wickets with his off-spin. Hafeez made his Test debut in 2003 against Bangladesh in Karachi, and had since been in and out of the side. He had often run into problems with his bowling action, which has been reported illegal four times by the International Cricket Council (ICC). His highest score in the longest format is 224, which he scored in Khulna against Bangladesh in 2015.

New Zealand win first away Test series against Pakistan in 49 years: In December, New Zealand won their first away series over Pakistan in 49 years with a crushing 123-run win in the third and final Test in Abu Dhabi. The victory gave New Zealand a 2-1 series win after they had taken the first Test by a narrow four-run margin at the same venue. Pakistan bounced back with an innings and 16-run win in the second Test in Dubai. New Zealand’s last away series win against Pakistan was a 1-0 victory in matches played in Pakistan in 1969. It was the Black Caps’ fifth Test series win in their last six played since November 2016. They beat Pakistan, Bangladesh, the West Indies and England – all at home – with the single loss came against South Africa.

ICC orders PCB to pay 60 percent of cost claimed by BCCI: At the fag end of the year, the ICC’s Dispute Resolution Panel ordered Pakistan to pay 60 percent of the cost demanded by the BCCI after the world body’s rejection of the PCB’s compensation claim which blamed India for lack of bilateral series between the two nations. Nearly a month after rejecting the PCB’s compensation claim against India for allegedly failing to honour a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cricket, the ICC announced the costs award for the two Boards. “…the Panel orders the PCB to pay the BCCI sixty percent (60%) of: (a) the Claimed Costs; and (b) the administrative costs and expenses of the Panel…,” the ICC committee said in its fresh judgement. The BCCI, on the other hand, had been asked to pay 40 percent of the administrative costs and expenses of the DRC.

(The writer is Editor Sports at Daily Times and can be reached at mali319@hotmail.com)

Published in Daily Times, January 1^st 2019