Ajmal exclusion

Ajmal exclusion

Saeed Ajmal’s exclusion from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) shortlist of players for the Cricketer of the Year awards has drawn great ire from Pakistan, be it administrators, former cricketers or the passionate cricket fans.

ICC has ruled out a chance for Ajmal’s late inclusion in the list, saying it does not have any authority over the final list, which is decided by an independent jury, who decided to leave out Ajmal. In return, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has indicated that it may boycott the awards all together to show its displeasure with the decision.

Much has been written and debated about Ajmal’s stand-out performance during the period considered by the ICC for award nominations. Here’s what Dawn.com contributor Shoaib Naveed said in his blog last week: “Ajmal is the highest wicket taker in Test matches during the time frame (August 5, 2011 to August 4, 2012) which the ICC considered while making its picks. And by some distance, which should alone be enough to warrant him a slot in the Test Player’s short-list, as is the case is with his counterpart, Lasith Malinga, in One Day Internationals (ODIs). The Sri Lankan pacer finds himself in the ODI list just because of the number of wickets he has taken (read matches taken part in) in the format. His average of 28, and an economy of 5.4 is nothing astounding, and dwarfs in comparison to Ajmal’s (third on the list) average of 22, and economy of 4.1.”

Pakistani cricket fans have been holding protests and taking to social media forums to criticize the ICC decision. It remains to be seen whether the PCB’s decision makers will actually boycott the ceremony and what, if any, result it will bear.

Should the PCB go ahead and boycott the awards and register a strong protest to the ICC’s decision?

Can you think of a logical, facts-based reason which could be behind this decision?

Will this bring a change to the way nominations and short-lists are made for such awards?

Should the ICC make the decision-making process more transparent?

Dawn.com invites its readers to share their views and suggestions…

 

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83 Responses to “Ajmal exclusion”

  1. Larkanavi says:

    If I were to answer this question based on the facts I would say yes, boycott the ceremnoy. Pakistanis feel hurt by this decision. However, there are times when mind should prevail over heart. And being emotional and boycotting the ceremony will not be a positive approach. After all that has happened to Pakistan cricket we need to take actions that would place Pakistan, Pakistani public and the PCB administarators on a higher moral ground. I think we have made enough noises to let the world know that an injustice has been done and that should be enough in the current circumstances.

  2. AA says:

    Yes, if PCB is sure that ICC is wrong then PCB should. I am with PCB.

  3. aisha says:

    I agree with Mr Sajid. “We have already recognized in the world as spoilt kid and thats enough for now.”

    Also the ICC selection panel has had to face enough embarrassment at the hands of the commentators and so forth. Pak shouldnt take hasty decision like the Oval test boycott. Boycotts seem the best options at first but turns out to be regrets later on.

  4. Sohaib says:

    Yes, ICC should boycott and make their voices heard by the cricket community. They should make them realize that they can’t just get away with whatever. The whole world knows what Ajmal is capable of. Regardless of the number of wickets, the stuff that he delivers NO ONE can do in today’s cricket world. We all stand behind Ajmal

  5. Syed says:

    PCB should complain to ICC, that’s a right but boycott will make PCB only look worst than thay are currently due to the recent events thanks to our players. Ajmal is a victim of that dynamo effect. Show some resilience, keep that chin up and reform the game within, alienating yourself from the body that controls the game will not do any good. Work on re-building the trust lost, the game has to come back to Pakistan and it’s not happening. Focus on that.

  6. Patel says:

    ICC controlled and run by Indian cricket board. Indian cricket board cannot tolerate if any Pakistani Player
    gets award. I think Mr. Ashruf took great step and he is doing great job.

  7. Ejaz says:

    Pakistani cricket needs to make friends! You do not make friends by acting petulantly every time a decision does not go oone’s own way. Why do we continue to behave in this childish way.

    Grow up everyone.

  8. Mohammad Sayeed says:

    It is the financial influence which India is trying to have over ICC,but it will not work in the long run.
    India is making sure that Pakistani cricketers are not given recognition one way or the other,but it is not working in their favour, inspite of international boycott of not playing cricket in Pakistan,the boys are proving that they are among the best in the world,award or no award

  9. Mohsin Ali says:

    Assalam-u-Alaikum
    As I have commented in other blogs, we don’t have to play defensive and agree to what they say. We should a stand on our opinions. Like Quaid-e-Azam once said, Think 100 times before taking a stand, but when you have taken it stick to it no matter what. I personally believe we should not attend it period.

    • Junaid says:

      Quaid-E-Azam also advised moderation in our actions. If we are upset on something we can protest to a limit where our protest remains effective. For example, we burned our own offices and cars and businesses to protest the ‘ Mohammad(PBUH) cartoons in Denmark’. That kind of protest achieved nothing and we hurt ourselves.
      PCB’s image is = Zero in ICC. No one cares if they are upset or not. Therefore much protest will further isolate them. They need to go in the ceremony and keep the communication doors open for future.

  10. Muhammad Din says:

    P.C.B should boycot the award ceremony…

  11. Farrukh says:

    Ajmal exclusion reflects in way of the hyprocracy of the ICC. When they need to find escapegoats for match fixing, pakistani cricketers are always under the spot light. PCB should boycott the ICC awards if Ajmal is not included in the list.

  12. Adeel Umer says:

    I believe that Pakistan should boycott the ICC awards. Additionally, I also feel the need to say that the boycott should also be followed by everyone associated with Pakistan Cricket. Senior cricketers(Wasim Akram & others), Commentators(Ramiz Raja etc) and Umpires should all be a part of the boycott.

  13. yousapzai says:

    This is the age of information. Dawn should put some efforts to share the the performance criteria used by ICC to rank players during this period, use the stats of different players nominated for those awards and also analyze the stats of S Ajmal.

    Or, if ICC is hesitant then they should talk with the representative(s) of Pakistan in the shortlisting committee and ask him/her how they evaluated different players and share the same with everybody.

    Even if the Pakistan representative(s) is/are hesitant then dawn should develop their own criteria and evaluate the performance of all those players in an objective way and share the same with everybody.

    If any of the above is undertaken then those interested in this affair would objectively take part in this issue to share their views in a focused way.

  14. m usman ali says:

    yes! Pakistan should boycott it.

  15. sajid says:

    I think PCB has done enough to register its protest and all the cricketing world knows what has happened there.And also the commentators during match have done enough to criticize the ICC’s selecting panel for not including saeed ajmal.This matter should end now there because at the end of the day its only a game and these are difficult time for pakistan and they should act wisely instead of emotionally.As a nation we should concentrate on our nation building and making our country strong enough that no body ever dares to discriminate against us in any way or any where.And boycotts shows that you powerless and you are not competent enough to convince people on your point. We have already recognized in the world as spoilt kid and thats enough for now.

  16. Aimal says:

    Ajmal is certainly one of the highest wicket-takers in recent years. But, I think the reason for his omission from the award list of ICC is his bowling action which can at best be described as rather controversial.

    • Shabbzz says:

      He has been cleared by ICC and no on field empire during those matches raised that issue. So one has to move on and start accepting that he is ‘the best and master’ of classical off spin.

  17. Rashid says:

    There is no reason to attendand award ceremony. ICC needs to make independant jury and make sure there is no cheating in it. Saeed Ajmal is a best bowler in the world right now.

  18. khalid says:

    This is high time, Pakistan should boycott ICC awards

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