Tag Archives: Sports

Shame on the ICC

Pakistan women cricketers are being threatened. Indian Hindu extremist parties like Shiv Sena etc. are issuing death threats and warning of digging up of pitches and so forth. If India is incapable or unwilling to arrange safe participation of the Pakistan women’s team, then surely the ICC should strip India of the tournament. Move it to another country. If not immediately possible, then postpone the tournament for a short while and line up a new host. ICC should stop acting as BCCI’s slave. The shameful deference in regards to DRS and many other issues makes a mockery of the ICC. If the ICC can’t protect the interests of cricket, then maybe there should be a major rethink of the assigned powers and roles alloted to the ICC.

Pakistan Hockey players not rewarded

Despite a bronze in the Champions Trophy (defeating India in the medal match) and winning the Asian Champions Trophy (defeating India in the Final despite fitness problems with key players), players of the national sport have been given the cold shoulder.

Melbourne, Doha events: No rewards, incentives for hockey players despite fine show

While the cricket team received financial rewards for defeating India in the recently concluded series, the under paid hockey players were not awarded any such rewards. On the contrary, the cheques by the Punjab government bounced. Sorry state of affairs. The players deserved much better.

Injured footballer left to fend for himself

20-year-old midfielder Mohammad Tauseef got injured while representing Pakistan in international football. Playing for the Pakistan side against Palestine, he also scored the only goal by a Pakistani in the series. In the second match, he broke his posterior cruciate ligament (<– what? wikipedia)

The expenses for an operation are estimated to be at least Rs600,000 but the PFF(Pakistan Football Federation) is only willing to bear upto Rs40,000-50,000. The youngster got injured on the field while playing for the PAKISTAN international side. Surely, it is the moral obligation of the PFF to bear all expenses for an injury sustained directly while on national duty.

FIFA, PFF, … Will someone step up? Press conferences, publicity photo shoots by politicians and/or officials galore. But will someone do right by this youngster – not out of pity, not for publicity – but because it is the right thing to do?

Injured Tauseef awaits PFF help for career revival

Quote of the Day: Say No to India

“If a majority of the ICC countries believe that the DRS is a good improvement for international cricket, they should vote for it and say, ‘Sorry India, you are in a minority.’ It’s supposed to be a democracy around the world, where the majority takes precedence. But there is fear to offend, and some countries are totally afraid to offend India. The sooner they get around to it and say, ‘No. Since a majority of us believe it is good, we’re going to do it,’ the better. Simple as that. India won’t like it, but you can’t be run by one country.”

— Geoffrey Boycott, former England batsman
Source: Countries should outvote BCCI on DRS – Boycott

Quote of the Day – Muslim Women & Sports

“Muslim women feel empowered, physically stronger and more successful when they participate in sports and they are trying to find ways not to cross the borders of their cultural/religious obligations. The governing bodies should be more supportive for Muslim women to find ways to be able to play sports in accordance with their religious sensitivities, rather than forcing them to make a choice between the two.”

— Sertaç Sehlikoglu, a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge and the author of the blog Muslim Women in Sports.

Delhi Games — Anger mounts, Olympics hopes in tatters

After the whole Delhi CWG fiasco, it seems the Indians are intent on prolonging the reminders of their incompetence. With the hopes of bidding for the Olympics firmly dashed, now the Indian organizers are blocking payments & equipment and refusing to even reply to the aggrieved parties. Needless to say, the Delhi CW Games have been a resounding failure and embarrassment for India and they don’t have anyone else to blame but themselves.

EXCLUSIVE-Games-Delhi organisers accused of owing millions

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Organisers of this year’s New Delhi Commonwealth Games were accused on Tuesday of owing companies millions of dollars and blocking equipment used for the opening and closing ceremonies from leaving India.
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“This is a scandalous situation. I find it outrageous an organising committee behaves like that,” said Ric Birch who has organised ceremonies for Olympics and Commonwealth Games since 1982.

“The behaviour of organisers and Indian government agencies has been so shameful that any international company must beware of entering into any business contracts with Indian government agencies.”
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“For some of these companies involved this equipment is their lifeblood,” Birch said.
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Corruption, shoddy construction and health and security risks blighted the build-up, bringing into question India’s ability to host an event of that size.
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“India is doing damage to the reputation and brand of the Commonwealth Games,” Birch said. “If they ever mounted an Olympic bid we would make sure the bid would not get very far.”

Rashid Latif on Spot/Match Fixing

Rashid Latif who has a been a vocal opponent of match fixing for many many years shares his thoughts on the latest incident. Read more about it @ Who is the real cheat in spot-fixing saga?

Some interesting quotes from the above (especially about the involvement of some ICC officials),
Continue reading →

Pakistani Wicketkeeper’s Journey to International Debut

A moving journey of suffering and determination of young Pakistan wicketkeeper Zulqarnain Haider who recently got the honour of representing his country in the highest format of international cricket. From personal tragedy involving his parents and family members to being part of the Under-19 squad that went on to become world champions to international debut. Read more @ Zulqarnain’s long road to recognition