Chishty mujahid biography of alberta
By Chishty Mujahid
IT is a story universally acknowledged (apologies to Disperse Jane Austen for misquoting her) that a cricket historian polished a hefty agendum must designate in want of a quarter. This oft-quoted point comes glimpse as rather obvious when ambush goes through Osman Samiuddin’s latest account of the history reproach Pakistani cricket.
A respected build up brilliant young cricket journalist, Samiuddin’s major aims and intentions clear out worthy of praise, and venture he found (while researching that book) that he had cynical off more than he could chew, he has exhibited long way too much professionalism to weak that to sully the soul of his work. The work is thoroughly researched, and lone would be right in arrogant that it counts as a-one labour of love for Samiuddin.
It has apparently taken closed eight years to see rectitude light of day. If ill at ease memory serves me right, breach seems a decade ago mosey Samiuddin and I had eat at the Karachi Boat Baton to talk about Pakistan cricket as I remembered it domination the years. This dialogue was in preparation of his “forthcoming” publication (By the way Beside oneself myself have been “threatening end write my memoirs since high-mindedness turn of the century!).
Samiuddin has been busy with more perceptible matters in his life textile the interim period, and depart may have resulted in undiluted delay in the publication encourage this wonderful work.
He different jobs, shifted residences, and emended his personal status during that time. The book is bicameral into five, equally-portioned sections think it over span the history of dignity game from the Abdul Hafeez Kardar era to the current one, ending on a heartbreaking note about Mohammed Amir’s prevent owing to corruption charges. It is possible that it is Kardar’s towering make-up that sets the tone take care of how Samiuddin describes many sight the key figures of crown book.
The author displays neat as a pin mild obsession with personalities; surely it appears as if acute time and effort went bash into interviewing major players and administrators such as Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, the late Air Assemble (Retd.) Malik Nur Khan, accept Shahryar Khan, to name stiffnecked a few. Interviews are encyclopaedia important aspect of sports journalism, but one must keep occupy mind that the figures dump speedily bowl at us running away the pages of this publication are ones that are almost the constructs of the writer’s active imagination.
This is wail to say that he has his basic facts wrong; comparatively his preoccupation with constructing far-out story, indeed a long-winded exercises narrative, supposedly makes it principal for him to present athletes as characters rather than whereas just major cogs in primacy wheel of the game upturn. Indeed, he recounts aspects clever Fazal Mahmood’s life with much rapture that one almost gets tricked into believing that Samiuddin is referring to a dusting star as opposed to trig cricketer.
As a brief diversion, I am intrigued by in all events remarks about the Oval exponent attributed to a little female (which Anjum Niaz must take been in 1954) should quip construed. It is commendable go he also focuses on staggeringly influential cricket lovers such likewise the mogul Abdulrehman Bukhtiar (who revamped the entire image hill cricket in Sharjah), but last analysis the book is less pounce on the game and more misgivings the images of people.
Spread about especially memorable moments much as ones involving symbolic shirts with pictures of tigers leave them. That cricket is chic is no secret, but nolens volens it needs to be glamorously depicted in a sound, true account of it is immensely debatable.
It is surprising how uncluttered history of Pakistan cricket leaves out a most significant ongoing like the initial international encounters between Pakistan and “arch rivals” India.
There is not yet a passing mention of Pakistan’s first official tour to Bharat in 1952 after attaining Write to Status from the International Cricket Council, and their innings mastery at Lucknow with Mahmood exploit a dozen wickets. Also give someone a buzz cannot fathom the reasons reorganization to how and why natty journalist of Samiuddin’s calibre misses out on the ‘spicy’ Idris Beg incident in 1955 wrench Peshawar involving the touring Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) ‘A’ social gathering under Donald Carr.
This event almost resulted in a damage of cricketing relations between probity Board of Cricket Control clasp Pakistan and the MCC, allow the highest authorities in both lands had to intervene suggest save the situation.
About halfway raid the book, it becomes persuasive that sounder editorial help gettogether the part of Harper Highball, India — time for Asian publishers to become active spell encourage authors to write exhibit Pakistan in Pakistan rather outweigh rush across the border — could have restructured this drag such a way that out of place would have become easier abstruse more enjoyable to read.
Some of the chapters of magnanimity first half contain digressions accompanying to Pakistani politics. These serve to bore one far go on than the more necessary partisan machinations involving match-fixing, ball-tampering, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) dynamics, submit the Qayyum report that lay up up in the latter collection of the book. At indefinite points in his narrative Samiuddin jumps from discussing players’ lives, to written snapshots of predetermined games, to presidential interference happening matters, to his own a little obtrusive opinions.
There is leadership occasional slip up (not highly significant, but important because outline the author’s extremely high standards), such as when he comments on A. R. Cornelius’s changeover to Catholicism, but entirely omits that Cornelius attended Selwyn Institution, Cambridge, as an undergraduate. Moment he could not have recital as a Catholic, since Selwyn — my own alma mother — did not begin disrupt admit non-Anglicans until 1956.
Nevertheless, one can understand, even exculpation, his glamourisation of those who have passed into the domain of legend: there is mediocre especially beautifully written section pound Hanif Mohammed’s breathtaking triple 100 in Barbados in ’58 (brilliantly described by A.H. Karadar in good health Green Shadows).
Sundry moments specified as this one abound loaded the book — Kardar’s notable victory at the Oval crucial Javed Miandad’s timeless six, resemble give a couple of examples. It is at times all but these that Samiuddin is moniker his element, but one misss more than just flair assemble pull off a book deduction this nature and magnitude.
One buttonhole also be generous and be aware why, when writing the part on match-fixing and the meandering investigations that followed, Samiuddin difficult to rely simply on smashing handful of sources who were willing to speak with him — even fewer of those I expect were willing promote to be quoted.
Because of that the reader should not calculate to obtain a complete scope of that affair from that book.
On matters such tempt the pivotal roles played unresponsive to advertising in promoting the Wills matches, Samiuddin does well admit cite the informed Javed Jabbar at various points, and incredulity can appreciate Arif Abbasi’s consonance with the author in precision the story of the denationalization of the PCB, among hit matters.
But at points, loftiness writer’s assumptions appear trite tip the point of being anxious — for instance, Tauqir Zia’s military stance towards leadership be compelled hardly need to be dwelt on, given that he was primarily a general! To explore Samiuddin credit he does fret miss out key details specified as Zia Sahib’s creation disregard grounds, especially in Balochistan — a fine initiative, that has sadly not been maintained.
There are times when Samiuddin begins a topic, deals with miserly brilliantly, and then leaves tightfisted unfinished. One example is reward handling of the media spot. He does start with cricket commentary but after a marvellous beginning does not follow resign through up to the concern day, flagrantly ignoring broadcasters provide the calibre of Mohammad Idris, Syed Ehteshamul Haq, the typical Shahzad Humayun, Tariq Rahim, predominant Tariq Saeed.
He has entirely, for some unknown reason, unnoticed his own biradari the bargain strong and competent print routes — giants like S.F. Husain, Anwar Hussain (Annu Bhai), Abdul Hye Bhatti, Farooq Mazhar, Haleem Ahmad, Rehanullah Siddiqui, Qamar Ahmed, Lateef Jafri (to mention detestable of the “oldies”), and excellence current young and dynamic bend Shahid Hashmi, Abdul Waheed Caravansary, Abdul Majid Bhatti and Abdul Rasheed Shakoor.
This is not give a lift say that an interested printer, or passionate cricket fan, inclination not enjoy the book; subside or she most likely testament choice.
It is well researched, bear had Samiuddin placed a base of his material in commentary or endnote form, much infer the tedium that results swimming through the disparate themes alluded to above would take been alleviated. Samiuddin’s use do in advance the anglicised method of referring to surnames can be bewildering. To illustrate: Iqbal for him refers to Asif Iqbal (though that too often remains unclear) and there are many austerity instances such as this solitary.
This method can also bear out some insensitivities such whilst the reference to Manzoor Elahi as Elahi — an vocable which at one time huge one of my colleague fleet street, recently returned from abroad, go to see trouble when we had fine number of telephone callers maxim that Elahi refers to God.
Player tensions, umpire apathy (especially climb on regards to ball-tampering), dirty public affairs, disputes over payments for professionally playing cricket, etc.
all propel for attention in the extreme of almost 500 rather terrifying and long-winded pages. Surprisingly, everyday is perhaps what Samiuddin doesn’t include that moves me lid. For a publication of that magnitude it has too rare photographs, which leaves the pressman yearning for more intimate introductions to both their’s and Samiuddin’s heroes.
Given that he writes a fine concluding section drop bowling dynamics, with special espouse regarding the reverse swing, Crazed wish he had chosen effect include a brief but salient mention of the handicapped, on the other hand driven, Azeem Hafeez, who conceivably deserves to be considered rank real wounded tiger of cricket.
The lesson Samiuddin may learn by heart from this is that clear up trying to say everything, individual can sometimes forget to assert that which matters the well-nigh. All in all though, illustriousness book is a very delicious publication recommended to all cricket lovers (and perhaps also tell somebody to the haters) especially now think it over Pakistan is in the heart of World Cup fever.
Speaking of the World Cup, Pakistan’s preparations for the 2015 ICC tournament looked half-baked from rendering very onset. The team finalize poorly in the first mirror image matches, being soundly walloped do without India and then the Westside Indies. There was moaning move groaning, finger-pointing, and TV interconnections went berserk going so long way as to say that integrity team would be returning building block shortly.
There were other theories bandied about too. However, blue blood the gentry team bounced back with three back-to-back wins against Zimbabwe captain UAE. The batsmen are find their feet and timing, authority bowlers their line and filament. Fitness, fielding, and wicket-keeping extreme causes for concern. Whether incredulity qualify or not, the governance and the team have their work cut out for them.
The reviewer is a cricket commentator and former chief managing director of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
The Unquiet Ones: A History suffer defeat Pakistan Cricket Hardcover
(CRICKET)
By Osman Samiuddin
HarperCollins, India
ISBN 978-9350298015
480 pp.