Ads by google

godaddy

Tackle the Web with up to 5 new .COMs, $5.99 for the 1st year!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Muhammad Amir deserves a second chance

A gem must not be wasted
So, Mohammad Amir has been released from jail.
Last year, Mohammad Amir along with Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif were jailed for spot-fixing and this incident simply brought a nation and its fans down who are in troubled waters. Though Asif and Butt received no sympathy but Amir did draw a lot of sympathy from many corners simply due to his age and his lawyers are expected to appeal for his ban being shortened so that he again play for Pakistan.  
If the ICC reconsiders his ban and shorten his ban then? I wonder will he again play for Pakistan or will the PCB consider his selection for the national team?
Perhaps yes, perhaps no! 
Many fans, whose passion was hurt in 2010, feel that Amir should never be considered for the selection for his act and must not play for Pakistan again. Yes, no doubt Amir has done a shameful act and has let his country down and thus hurting the passion of millions of Pakistani fans who watch the men in green in action to forget the pathetic situation of their country. But can we really go ahead ignoring Amir if he's really available to play for Pakistan? Can we really think about the green army without a boy as gifted as Wasim Akram?
I can't think that. Amir's act is shameful and it fumes me with anger when I close my eyes and think of August 2010. But I also turn in to think that forgiveness is a great virtue and forgiveness is a beautiful trait that cannot be practiced by all. It is one such character which is easier to preach than to practice. It requires a great magnanimity to forgive whether it is a friend or an enemy and the weak can never forgive but it’s the act of strong personalities. I rate Pakistani cricket fans as strong characters. 
Although many Pakistani fans feel that Amir doesn't even deserve forgiveness but dear men in green fans forgiving Amir can be as good and healthy for you and for the team. And obviously practicing forgiveness is the most important contribution to the healing of the past wounds. By forgiving Amir we can heal the wounds which he gave us and let him give a chance to correct his mistakes. He did commit an error but that doesn’t mean that we just ditch him and let him sink in oblivion.
I'm against Asif and Butt to be considered for the team if they ever get a chance as because they had the maturity to think which is right or wrong but if we think about Amir then we must have to consider his age. He was 18 then and at this age unknowingly big mistakes may happen. I think Amir was the victim of a putrid environment and obviously he didn't have safe hands on his young shoulders to convey good advises.
I read an article written by a respected writer in a website saying, ‘I personally do not think he or the other two should ever be allowed to wear the Pakistan shirt again. He was given a chance but blew it, there are hundreds of thousands of boys who dream of playing for their country and do not get even ONE chance, who are talented but have no-one to put a word in for them, who can play but can't afford a kit, who have the talent but have to go to work to survive because their parents are too old. What gives this guy the right to get 2 chances?’
With due respect to the writer's opinion, the boy, Amir, should be given a second chance again only because he's a gifted cricketer and a bowler which you get once in a generation. And in life there is always a second chance. If we can vote the corrupted politicians again and again and give them chances zillion of times to run a country, then why not give a teenage boy a second chance who deserve to correct his mistakes by performing well again for Pakistan.
The writer also wrote, ‘Now they want him to have ANOTHER chance. Why? Are they putting a player before the country, is the honour of the country not as important anymore?’
Well if Amir is given another chance then it will only ensure benefits for Pakistan and no harm in playing a Pakistani gem for Pakistan's finest benefits. Don't forget that by putting a player before the country is only ensuring the greater benefits of the country. 
The writer said again, ‘If someone disrespected your mother, would you give them another chance? If your mother chose them over millions of others and had her faith in them and they threw it back in her face would you allow that to happen again?’
Well, to speak the truth forgiveness is the divine quality of the mothers and no mother can ever be angry with her dearest child. Mohammad Amir is Pakistan's dearest child. The young lad's mistakes, I believe has been forgiven by her motherland and I just feel his motherland want his son to deliver the best for her to make her proud. And dear writer don’t forget that your politicians are disrespecting your motherland a thousand times and if your motherland can forgive them then why not Amir?
Then the writer says again, ‘We must make a stance and start afresh, we must sacrifice potential short term success for the future. Sport should be sport and winning should not be everything. Losing with dignity is better than winning with disrespect.’
Yes, Pakistan should start afresh but that freshness will give a beautiful fragrance by allowing once in-a-life-time package another chance to serve his country to ensure the best of the results. Definitely sports should be sports and wining is not everything but no harm in ensuring the victory by the addition of a gem. And by addition of a person who is believed to correct his mistakes will never give victories tagged ‘disrespectful.’
‘I want only the best for my country, role models we can be proud of, ones that our children can emulate. Parents will always love their children no matter what they do wrong. I will always have a love for Amir, but please give another kid a chance who deserves it,’ the writer said in his piece.
I agree that a country need to cement those players who can be role models for our young generation and what Amir did is hazardous for the next generation but in the name of saving-the-best-talent-of-the-land Amir deserves another wind in his cricketing career and surely it will be an example for the children to follow the code 'To err is human and forgiving is divine' and no harm in giving another player chance but not for the sake of a diamond. 
Mohammad Amir deserves forgiveness and a second chance and if you fans don't forgive him then I must say, ‘He that cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven.’ (George Herber)

Thanksgiving, the Pakistan cricket team, and Greek chicken for ferocity and prettiness

Live well, eat well, play well, and look devastatingly good while you're at it
That’s right, it’s Thanksgiving in Canada today, a day to reflect on all the things we have to be thankful for.  Good friends, good family, and good food.  But that’s not all, people; for all of us cricket fans there’s a great test series coming up.  You got it, the lovely lads of Pakistan are back for a three test match series against my second-favourites Sri Lanka starting on October 18 in Abu Dhabi. 
 
His Handsomeness Wahab Riaz
Goodness gracious it’s exciting and goodness gracious I’m thankful to finally get to see his Handsomeness Wahab Riaz back in action.  I’m also thankful that Umar Gul-zilla is back after being rested and I want him to develop a ferocious appetite for Sri Lanka scalps!  Heavens, one can get aggressive just thinking about him unleashing the bowling beast and breaking some Sri Lanka furniture!  Go  Gulzilla!  Go Handsomeness!

Will Gulzilla unleash the scalp-taking beast?
Now as much as I’d like to think that Pakistan can win this one with their hands tied behind their backs, the truth is that Sri Lanka are rather good.  As  mentioned earlier,  the ridiculously handsome Riaz and wicket-hungry Gulzilla were rested during the tour of Zimbabwe, but were they well-fed?  A poor diet can have atrocious consequences, such as poor sporting performances and a loss of one’s looks.  We simply cannot have Gulzilla bowling feebly nor Wahab Riaz losing his pretty face ( I would die.  I would simply DIE). 
Therefore, to make sure our super sporting gents of Pakistan do well, in case they’ve been eating poorly, let’s influence them to make this lovely Greek roasted chicken for their dinner.  Reap the benefits of eating well, macho men!   Go tear Sri Lanka to shreds, and look fabulous while you do it, lads!  Now go get your hair nets and aprons, gents, and let’s get to the kitchen pronto.
Kairene’s Greek Chicken to Take Scalps and Inflict Sporting Pain
1 whole chicken, skin on, about 1.5 kgs
¼ pound butter
¼ cup olive oil
2 teaspoons salt (use less if you wish)
Crushed black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon or more of finely chopped fresh oregano
A couple of pinches of finely chopped fresh dill
Juice of two lemons
Pre-heat the oven to 190 C or 375 F.
Heat the butter and oil, and pour half into a baking pan to cover the bottom.
Put the chicken in the pan, and sprinkle on the salt, pepper, oregano and dill.
Mix the remaining butter and oil with the lemon juice and spread it evenly on the chicken.
Bake at 375 F or  190 C for about an hour and a half, less time if you’ve got a smaller chicken, more time if you’ve got a larger one.
Baste the chicken 3 or 4 times while cooking to keep it moist.
Now if you like, it’s possible to make some gravy to go with the chicken.  When the chicken is done, remove it from the pan.  Add some boiling water to the drippings in the pan.  In a separate bowl, add about two tablespoons of flour or cornstarch to half a cup of water, and stir it until there are no bumps.  Add this mix to the pan, and stir it.  Then put the pan back in the oven and bake for five minutes at 450 F or 220 C .
Serve with rice, potatoes, or salad, or all three for a great big dinner.
And there’s a Greek chicken that will spell doom for Sri Lanka but sporting success and prettiness for you.   That’s right Pakistan, look alive and look good!

Happy cooking, happy cricket, and Happy Thanksgiving and happy handsomeness.

Pakistan vs England: ODI Statistics & Facts between the sides

As Pakistan sealed a historical 3-0 whitewash of the current No.1 ranked Test side, It was only hours later when England announced there ODI and T20 Squads which means there in business and are no way going to allow Pakistan on this tour to steal the headlines within the desrts of the UAE. 

England have won 38 out of the 68 matches they've played against Pakistan, Losing 28 and 2 ending up as no results. 
2010 was the last time Pakistan and England played an International one day game against each other, It was the 5th game in the five match natewst series at the Rose bowl, Southampton. England took the close fought series 3-2 after winning the game by 121 runs. Eion Morgan scored a magnificent 107* to take his side to 256 but 3 wickets each from Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann had Pakistan dismissed all out for 135 

18 Months later, Both sides have different captains are ranked 1 place further away from each other and would want to take momentum heading forward especially England as the No.6 ranked side have tours of Sri Lanka and India coming up where the conditions are relatively similar. On the other hand the Pakistan Cricket Board who are deciding on who to appoint as head coach must first think what more to ask for from there current one - Mohsin Khan who was actually appointed as a Interim coach since Waqar younis resigned after the 2011 Zimbabwe tour has helped them too Test ODI and T20 series win over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Dav whatmore is the man who seems likely to be appointed as head coach but Mohsin also made his claim of a full time job by adding a Test series whitewash victory over the No.1 test side onto his CV. Khan also stated his target is for Pakistan to be No.1 and gradullay in the top 3 for Tests and ODI's so another series win for the Pakistani's could possibly take them from 5th to 4th depnding on the outcome of the on-going tri series between Australia, Sri Lanka and India.

17 ODI games against the No.1 ranked Test side, Younis Khan has 433 runs at 28.86 with 1 hundred and 3 half centuries and a best of 101. Younis who started of the test series on a low scored a wonderful 127 for his country in there 2nd innings of the 3rd test that set the platform for a Pakistani win. As always he is a vital part of the side and will be a man to look out for.

225 runs in 5 matches, No half centuries 1 century at a spectacular average of 56.25 against Pakistan he is an upcoming sensation and is one of best One day batsmen at the moment. Had nothing but an absolute horrendous 6 innings where he was terrorized by Pakistan's spinners and averaged 13.66 with 82 runs to his name in the test series. Surprisingly, Eion Morgan leads this side with the most runs against Pakistan. Should be considered extremely lucky if he isn't dropped from the test squad but his elegant strokes with a blend of nous and power makes him a natural ODI finisher and a good finish from England in the series is required and it would  be essential of him to perform.

Sometimes you think will Pakistan ever be complete without this man, But for now let's just admire his 31 wickets in 22 matches with a best of 5/40 he'll bring plenty of smiles, heart touching feelings and charisma to the field. England struggled with Off spin throughout the test series but they better figure out Shahid Afridi's leg spinners too as he is as always been in the limited overs side and England better watch out for Boom Boom.

James Anderson would want to add on to his 25 wickets in 14 matches against Pakistan, With a best of 4/27 England's spear head of the attack had an ordinary test series too claiming 9 scalps - As always he is one of the main performers with the ball for his team and he's spoken his desire of also returning to the T20 side, If he does have a great One day series it is likely he'll be included in the current T20 World champions squad too.