Wise men had always advised, “promise less, deliver more,” and that has been the punch line for the successful people.
But for Wasim Khan, its tall claims first, even before taking stance at the crease! The Pakistan origin Briton has agreed and has been announced as the MD of Pakistan Cricket Board earlier this month.
The process of selecting the MD has also come under criticism as a few of the applicants told SCORE LINE that Wasim’s name had already been finalized and the process was a “mere formality.”
The PCB has also erred in the appointment as there is no such post in the PCB’s constitution. The constitution should have been amended before the appointment. Now the PCB is likely to amend the constitution and then create the post of chief executive and re-name Wasim’s post as PCB CEO.
As soon as Wasim’s name was announced, he went on an interview spree. His interviews appeared right, left and center. He started making tall claims, the latest being that “I will bring Australia to Pakistan,” a claim too tall to make, considering that Australia have not toured Pakistan since 1998. More so, because New Zealand had turned down a similar offer, in July this year.
Wasim has also promised to overhaul Pakistan cricket without knowing the deep-rooted problems that continued to hamper the progress at all levels. Wasim’s unstoppable interviews – from tv channels to newspapers — prompted senior Pakistan journalist Waheed Khan to compare him with former chairmen Najam Sethi and Shaharyar Khan – both of who were never shy of giving interviews. They would stand up and speak at the first sight of cameras!
The first and foremost challenge for Wasim will be his dual nationality, if he has one. As per the Supreme Court ruling dual nationalities will not be allowed in Pakistan. If sources are to be believed Wasim does not have a Pakistani passport. If this is the case then he has to forego his British nationality. Otherwise there are chances that his appointment may get challenged in the court.
No one can doubt Wasim’s credentials as he was on the radar of the England and Wales Cricket Board after his success at the Leicestershire county. But working in an English atmosphere does not guarantee success in the often problematic Pakistan society.
Besides overhauling Pakistan’s domestic cricket, his other challenges will be to improve relations with India and to bring international cricket back to Pakistan.
He has fried the first salve soon after his appointment, urging India to make Pakistan players part of their lucrative IPL.
“I want to sit down with my counterpart at the BCCI and see if I can improve that relationship,” Wasim was quoted in an interview. “But the complications go far beyond cricket and will require changes in thinking. I’d like to see Pakistan players welcomed into the IPL, though.”
That will take time. If the BJP wins the next elections in India then it will remain a distant dream.
Hopefully, once everything falls in place, Wasim will realize that it’s better to deliver first then speak.