In my 25 years of following Pakistan I have seen it all; or so I thought. Apart from the action on the field, everything that can happen off it has happened but yesterday the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) stooped to the lowest if the lows by appealing the decision of the Final of the Asia Cup, to the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), citing a incident where they claimed all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad was deliberately blocked from taking a second run by Pakistan Fast bowler Aizaz Cheema.
Before the game, and after I have never seen Pakistani fans actually supporting the opposition in a game. Dhaka on the 22nd March 2012 was a case in reason. Many Pakistani fans felt that a win for Bangladesh would be great for cricket. Even myself,for my sins, had openly stated that I wouldn't mind losing the game but as always wanted Pakistan to win.
There was two instances if the same kind in the final. The first one, Mashrafee Murtaza blocked Shahid Afridi but the Pakistan star still managed to complete the run. Here, in Cheema-Gate it all happened on the first bowl of the last over of the game. Mahmudullah got a outside edge through to third man where Umar Gul collected and quickly returned it to Sarfraz Ahmed, the Pakistan keeper. Mahmudullah had turned to take the double but Cheema was in the way. Now, there are two things that will go against Bangladesh in the appeal; firstly, the second would have been extremely tight and may not even be tried as Gul was quick in his fielding. Secondly and most significantly, how does the ACC prove without any reasonable doubt that Cheema had deliberately blocked the run of Mahmudullah.
The BCB chairman, Mustafa Kamal yesterday came to the airport to see off his Pakistan counterpart, Zaka Ashraf. Within a few hours of doing so he filed the appeal. Talk about doing things with an double agenda, Kamal's actions really did stink. If going back on the promise of touring Pakistan was not enough, this incident has put the relations of the two boards in real danger.
The crying Bangladeshi players had won the heart of millions; but this sulking by the BCB has lost them those soft hearts and forever.
Imran Asghar can be followed on Twitter.
GeoSuper