So… Ricky Ponting closes his career but not on his own terms. He did that by following the rules Australian system has set for the legends. Australia has developed strongest sports system over the years. They have learnt the art of being on top and maintaining the position. They have learnt to say good bye to their heroes without humiliating and ridiculing them and without letting the legends play with the future of their system. Cricket Australia follows same tradition and Ponting’s good bye is another exhibition of that strong system. But every country does not have the same system.
Ponting’s retirement has reminded me of Pakistani and Indian legends. It was exactly the opposite here in South Asia. Let’s see…
How Australian System works:
In last one decade, Australian legends like Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee and Ricky Ponting announced their retirement. No one in Australia could enjoy a farewell that Steve Waugh did. Thousands of spectators watched the match to witness last day of their hero’s cricket career. They watched a match-saving inning of their captain and clapped on every stroke he played. Deafening clapping of fans, standing ovation of the colleagues and creative broadcast of the media made the “good bye” memorable.
In last one decade, Australian legends like Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee and Ricky Ponting announced their retirement. No one in Australia could enjoy a farewell that Steve Waugh did. Thousands of spectators watched the match to witness last day of their hero’s cricket career. They watched a match-saving inning of their captain and clapped on every stroke he played. Deafening clapping of fans, standing ovation of the colleagues and creative broadcast of the media made the “good bye” memorable.
Following the same tradition, Australian fans came to witness final day of their all-time great strikers Shane Warne and Glen McGrath. The match-winning duo has also had life-time memories in their last international match. Their colleagues, fans and media played the same role and closed their career on happy note.
There was one similarity in Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting’s decision. None of these two was happy with his contribution to the Australian cricket. They decided to leave the arena not because they were pushed to leave but because they were not satisfied.
The story of all these greats is not that simple. It is great to hear and easy to understand.
Cricket Australia keeps a track record of every individual from the day he starts playing at domestic level. CA’s officials analyze strengths and areas of improvement of every player, give them a road map to achieve a certain level of performance and then they communicate the expected date of retirement so that the players could perform according to their potential as long as they play and then leave the field after giving their best days to the system and in the end, by developing their replacements. Each and every player follows the pattern. This is why there are hardly any players who complains of any injustice and speak against the board or the selectors. They not only perform well and saying good bye at a high note but also leave a place for someone who could maintain same momentum of victories in their absence as they cannot maintain the pace.
From Steve Waugh to Ricky Ponting, everyone has faced equal amount of pressure from the peers, fans and the system and left the place without shouting against the system.
Cricket Australia keeps a track record of every individual from the day he starts playing at domestic level. CA’s officials analyze strengths and areas of improvement of every player, give them a road map to achieve a certain level of performance and then they communicate the expected date of retirement so that the players could perform according to their potential as long as they play and then leave the field after giving their best days to the system and in the end, by developing their replacements. Each and every player follows the pattern. This is why there are hardly any players who complains of any injustice and speak against the board or the selectors. They not only perform well and saying good bye at a high note but also leave a place for someone who could maintain same momentum of victories in their absence as they cannot maintain the pace.
From Steve Waugh to Ricky Ponting, everyone has faced equal amount of pressure from the peers, fans and the system and left the place without shouting against the system.
On the other hand, South Asia has a different story altogether. India and Pakistan are the lands where people and system either worship their heroes or humiliate them.
How Indian System works:Indians have an amazing criterion of saying good bye to their legends. It revolves around records and BCCI takes decisions not to keep the momentum of success going but to save their repute and to give a save passage to the players.
Kapil Dev, the then world record holder and the only fast bowler of India had worst years at the end of his career. However, he was neither dropped nor pushed to announce retirement but was given time to break the world record and leave the ground on his own terms. Sunil Gavaskar has the same story and Sachin Tendulkar who has average of 29.15 in recent year and has not made any century since January 2011 in Test cricket has no pressure from the board to announce retirement although he is struggling continuously. The only sufferer is Dhoni who has talked of it metaphorically for many times but does not have courage to speak against people’s belief. Spectators believe “if cricket is a religion then sachin is a god”. And even BCCI cannot challenge it. Everyone knows that Sachin does not a many days in cricket and he has not developed true replacements who could serve Indian cricket for two decades but still he will not say good bye until he himself feels that it is all over.
Anil Kumble, Sarav Gangully, Rahul Dravid and even VVS Laxman were given a chance to say a respectable good bye. I am sure; Harbhajan, Zaheer Khan, Sehwag and Kohli will also be given same chance before they retire.
Anil Kumble, Sarav Gangully, Rahul Dravid and even VVS Laxman were given a chance to say a respectable good bye. I am sure; Harbhajan, Zaheer Khan, Sehwag and Kohli will also be given same chance before they retire.
Indian system is not as mature as Australian is but they know how to keep the morale of fans high and how to earn respect for their legends. Their upcoming legends will not feel unsecured once they earn respect in the hearts of their fans.
How Pakistani System works:Pakistani system does not have such stories for their legends. Let’s not compare it with Cricket Australia. Indian system is somehow similar to Pakistan’s however they story is not that encouraging for the legends of tomorrow. We have a history of humiliating heroes.
Superstars like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Saeed Anwar were dropped from the side and announced their retirement when they did not receive any green signal from the board.
World Champion Imran Khan wanted to close his career in England by leading his side but board did not show interest in keeping him along and announced a team which was led by Javed Miandad. Imran announced retirement later on.
The career of two Ws was not over and both claimed that they had one year of cricket left in them and they could groom fast bowlers of the national side at the highest level but both lost their place after losing world cup 2003. “Rebuilding Process” of national side started by keeping legends of all times out of the system. Saeed Anwar was also dropped without giving any prior intimation. He was the only century maker of the world cup from Pakistan though.
The career of two Ws was not over and both claimed that they had one year of cricket left in them and they could groom fast bowlers of the national side at the highest level but both lost their place after losing world cup 2003. “Rebuilding Process” of national side started by keeping legends of all times out of the system. Saeed Anwar was also dropped without giving any prior intimation. He was the only century maker of the world cup from Pakistan though.
Rashid Latif and Moin Khan are known as the best wicket keepers of Pakistani cricket history but both fall in the category of once-dropped-never-contacted again. Amir Sohail and Basit Ali have an interesting story of humiliation and conspiracy. And there were greats like Abdul Qadir, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmad who gave new meanings to cricket. They were the most innovative players the world has ever produced however they could not get a chance to make an announcement of leaving the ground with respect and pride. Javed Miandad, Inzamam ul Haq and Shoaib Akhtar announced retirement while playing for the country but everyone knows both of the legends were pushed for that.
Each one of these greats was either equal to or better than the Indian and Aussie legends. Their people respected them but Pakistan Cricket Board did not offer them a respected exit. Who can forget the announcement of Miandad, Yousuf and Afridi’s “first” retirements? They never had problems with the performance when they decided to quit but the then president of PCB did not want them to be part of the team.
Each one of these greats was either equal to or better than the Indian and Aussie legends. Their people respected them but Pakistan Cricket Board did not offer them a respected exit. Who can forget the announcement of Miandad, Yousuf and Afridi’s “first” retirements? They never had problems with the performance when they decided to quit but the then president of PCB did not want them to be part of the team.
Pakistan is blessed with abundant talent. This blessed country has people with right attitude towards sports but they could never understand “games of the sports”
I remember only two articles that our few bloggers wrote in the favor of Younis Khan and Misbah ul Haq but PCB never thought of them and dropped them only because they were struggle to maintain their image. Board could not even define their role in the team.
We can predict how Clarke, Dhoni, Sehwag, Misbah, Younis and even Umar Akmal will retire. Everyone will remember their exit as first three will be respected and last three will be humiliated.
