Pakistanis across the length and breadth of the country breathed a collective sigh of relief yesterday (11th October, 2011) after reliable sources confirmed that Ijaz Butt has been replaced by Zaka Ashraf as the new supremo of the PCB.
It is no secret that the Butt was universally despised by everyone who followed Pakistan cricket under his stewardship. Today the sport, which is revered by millions across the country, is on the brink of implosion after suffering immensely from 3 years of incompetence, buffoonery, ineptness, utter failure and various faux pas on the administration front.
Here are just some of the many, bone-headed decisions taken by Butt in the last 3 years. From arbitrary coaching changes to inserting lackeys in important positions, from changing captains to backing players against a captain, from bumbling along during the biggest scandal to hit the sport to blaming English players of match fixing. Losing hosting rights for the Champions Trophy and the World Cup, blaming security lapses on the government, meddling in team selection, and ruling like a dictator are just some of the medals hanging on his personal wall of shame.
The popularity of the game of cricket – and hence its potential to influence the youth – can be gauged by the fact that cricketers are the sole remaining superstars in entertainment-starved modern-day Pakistan. The sport of cricket brings together the aspirations of millions of Pakistanis and the awaam immediately identifies with their heroes. Not only did Ijaz Butt made Pakistan cricket a laughing stock amongst the cricketing world, he also shattered dreams and desires of countless numbers of fanatical followers who follow Pakistan cricket passionately.
Butt trampled upon the beauty and ability of this great sport to rise above the various ills that plague our beleaguered society, to bring joy to the people who have suffered immensely. He played with the hearts of millions just because of his egoistical and ad-hoc nature.
Pakistanis feel a unique connection with cricket – thus he made sure that his failures were not personally his own, but collective of the nation. For this the whole country will never be able to exonerate him for a botched job.
GeoSuper