PCB to fix current crisis first, curbing radicalism takes a backseat

Karachi, Apr 3 (UNI) Pakistan cricket team's humilating ouster from the priliminary stage of the ongoing World Cup has forced the nation's cricketing board (PCB) to partially drop down its plan of curbing down growing 'religious beliefs' within the team till the recent crisis is resolved.

A PCB official was quoted by 'The News' as saying that once the PCB manages to overcome the current crisis surrounding the nation's cricket, it would then come down hard on the players whom it believes have allowed their religious beliefs to come in the way of team interest in recent times.

''Being religious is a good thing because it makes you more disciplined but when it gets out of hand it can affect the overall interest of the team,'' said the annonymous board official, adding, ''that is precisely what happened with the Pakistan team and the Board would assure that these things are brought under control in future.'' Interestingly, the PCB took the decision of curbing down rising radical beliefs within the team just before the World Cup, after growing reports that most of the cricketers in the team were too focused on praying and preaching religious beliefs instead of their primary job of playing cricket.

According to reports, in the recent past under the leadership of outgoing skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq, the culture in the team dressing room had allegedly changed from being moderately religious to the sort of atmosphere one would find in a gathering of Raiwind preachers.

Visiting mosques and Islamic centres on foreign tours topped the agenda for most of the team members. It became so regular that once the Pakistani foreign ministry had to ask the PCB to minimise it during the team's tour of England last summer.

It was also believed that at times Inzamam would pick or drop players on the basis of their religious beliefs.

However, as per the official, at that time Inzamam was too influential and the PCB was in no mood to tangle itself in a confrontation especially with the mega event just five months away.

''There is no such problem now because the World Cup is over and Inzamam has failed to deliver. He and other players will have to face the consequences,'' he warned.

UNI