The Supreme Court recently threw out the entire list of civil service promotions made by the Gilani government. Nepotism and favouritism had been on display at its very worst. Deliberate manipulation put the entire selection process into jeopardy. It affected both those who were promoted, on merit or not, and those who were superseded, on demerit or otherwise. The evaluation process should not only be fair, it must also appear to be fair. There is no mechanism of checks and balances to ensure the process is not circumvented. In rejecting the undeserving, their lordships had also to cancel out the promotions of those who were eminently deserving but had the bad luck of being thrown in with the unworthy.
My article on "Leadership and merit," on Jan 27, 2001, recognised a truth universal to all, including the civil and military services, the corporate sector: "Barring the solitary and unique magnificence of the Quaid we have had a succession of terrible leaders, only a handful can be counted as being above par. The natural emergence of leadership is stunted because we only give lip-service to the merit system, relying mainly on a client-patron relationship to influence the choosing of our leaders, comparable to marriages among blood relations, the mating of similar genes leading to retardation and deformity. This causes frustration among those with the aspiration to rise on their merit, the upwardly mobile, causing a talent drain as people leave service or even the country for greener pastures where merit is recognised and rewarded. Not recognising merit and giving it its legitimate due is bad enough. What is worse is when merit becomes a disqualifier. Those with merit are earmarked for getting 'special treatment,' meant to never let them rise in their profession, unless, of course, they have mastered the quality of being double or even triple-faced. The system forces people to have dual personalities, one face for your seniors and another for your subordinates. Very few people with merit graduate to higher levels, even then they are subject to systematic mean and vicious character assassination. The means do not matter, the end justifies it. Many up and coming leaders with great amount of potential have thus been derailed from contributing their actual worth for the good of the institution they serve or for the country at large."
Tariq Khosa is one shining exception. Thankfully, the Supreme Court recognises his potential even if those behind the Gilani government have good reason to fear his qualities of honesty, integrity and merit.
The PM (and those pulling the strings behind the scenes) got off scot-free, corrupting the sanctity of the selection process. The ends of justice will only be served by bringing to book those who deliberately compromised this trust. Fabrication, falsification and concealment of facts amounts to perjury. To quote my article of Dec 15, 2005, "Eliminating perjury": "Recently, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, has set about enforcing a code of conduct in the superior judiciary. Why not also go after those who have brought false evidence under oath to the High Courts and the Supreme Court itself?" The PM plays to perfection the "good cop" to President Zardari's "bad cop" act, but this is wearing thin.
After the charade of the president's powers ostensibly being taken away by the 18th Amendment, PPP chairman Zardari was in fact confirmed as a civilian dictator. The legal challenge before the Supreme Court is: can any party leader arbitrarily dismiss any parliamentarian who dares go against his will? Don't the votes of tens of thousands in direct elections count against the whims and wishes of one indirectly elected person, and that too someone who is mired in manifold controversies? And this farce is supposed to be a "democracy"?
The armed forces also suffer from this malaise, but not on the scale witnessed in civil bureaucracy. Musharraf promoted a majority of brigadiers to major general on merit, but beyond the three-star rank was another story. The basis was "loyalty only"; merit was a force-multiplier. A case in point was the advancement to the rank of lieutenant general of two powerful intelligence bosses serving Musharraf's individual interest to the exclusion of everything else. Even officers senior to them dared not cross these two, who took law into their own hands with impunity. Their promotions were imminent if Musharraf had stayed on as COAS a little longer beyond November 2007. Once they were lieutenants general, who else would they have pushed for promotion except those who done their bidding without question? Such anomalies tend to disfigure the senior military hierarchy. Kayani passed over both, graphically illustrating how the system had been corrupted earlier to favour undeserving favourites. The military hierarchy's quality is eroded when those with self-respect opt for retirement on being superseded unfairly, rather than serve under those clearly lacking merit. A triple whammy where, losing the services of quality officers, we get mediocre individuals instead, who, in their turn, chose similarly mediocre persons.
On Jan 27, 2001, I wrote: "The Pakistan Army has been somewhat spared this merit disqualification syndrome, but not altogether. The evaluation process having become computerised, another issue has cropped up, altering of records by electronically changing the basic data fed to the computers, the human element subverting the integrity of the machine. Thankfully, the COAS (at that time Pervez Musharraf) has punished both the perpetrators as well as the beneficiaries of this fraud. It is mind-boggling what would have happened had this chicanery not been discovered: (1) not only the future leadership of the army would have been disfigured and distorted but (2) the integrity of the army as an institution would be compromised when such leaders come to office, their CVs being enhanced by 'electronic' sleight of hand to a far better one. Consider when one resorts to nepotism and favourtism, it has the same effect." The same Pervez Musharraf who had corrected the "electronic" anomaly undid all the good work of his first three years of incumbency by "manually" undermining the same process to stay in power for another six years.
The people have more confidence in the military leadership to deliver on the public promises made, an acknowledgement that in the military merit is recognised for the most part. The quality of senior military officers is therefore very important in Pakistan. Scrupulously promoting fair play based on merit and performance till now. Kayani's acid test will come when someone comes up for consideration he personally favours but whom the whole army knows does not merit advancement on professional grounds. Good leadership must evolve naturally. Otherwise the natural corollary of good governance will never be available to this country. Poor countries are only poor because they have poor leaders. Countries get the leadership they deserve. For Pakistan this is not a correct premise. We have a great country and great people inhabit this country. We deserve good leaders, if not great ones.
To preserve the quality of our leaders across the broad spectrum and prevent it from being destroyed or diminished, the Supreme Court should impose exemplary punishments on those who deliberately subvert what must be a transparent and fair promotion process.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
There is blood on our hands
The different kinds of violence that run through our country have turned it into a zone where war, and the chaos it brings about, is a perpetual phenomenon.
Most recently Ahmedis have been its victims, with 90 killed in the bloodbath in Lahore. In past months Shias have suffered similar violence. Ethnic battles rage on in Karachi, the military fights extremists in the northwest and other kinds of killings take place in Balochistan where five teachers have been among the 128 shot dead in targeted killings over the past five months. Fourteen teachers have been among the 782 killed in targeted shootings in the province in the past three years. Attacks on Christians are reported every now and then as are different kinds of random violence that seem on the surface to be senseless. Mob action against those suspected of crime is becoming more and more frequent and, frighteningly, as the killing fields spread, the state's law-enforcers seem to have been reduced to the role of spectators, who can, at best, only rush in after the spree of violence to pick bodies off the streets.
Certainly, this is what happened in Lahore. Threats to the Ahmedi community, coming in for almost a year in the Model Town area went largely unheeded. Security was stepped up but was obviously inadequate in the face of an attack as well-coordinated and planned as the siege that disrupted weekly prayers. It appears that intelligence agencies had failed to pick up on plans for the attack. Ahmedis report that after it took place the police response was delayed and the death toll could have been even higher had two young Ahmedi men not acted with immense courage and disarmed two of the suicide bombers, holding them captive for 30 minutes until the police made their way to the spot in Model Town. Even after the carnage, there is evidence the lessons have not been learned.
Arrangements for a mass funeral were altered by the Ahmedi community which saw the security as insufficient. Their fears are not out of place. Attacks at burials have been staged on more than one occasion by the militants to maximise the numbers they consign to death.
The events we saw on Friday go beyond the issue of a failure to offer security. They are rooted in the state's discrimination against a particular community which in 1974 was declared 'non-Muslim' despite its own protestations to the contrary. Some ten years later specific laws against Ahmedis made it more likely they would be persecuted. According to the US State Department's annual Human Rights Report issued in March 2010, 94 Ahmedis faced criminal charges in Pakistan for religious offences during the past year: 37 under the blasphemy laws and 57 under Ahmedi-specific laws.
Pakistan remains on the list of countries of 'particular concern' for the US Commission on International Religious Freedoms. Such state-backed discrimination has strengthened the hatred against Ahmedis propagated by extremist groups. This sentiment has found its way into mainstream society, mainly through the doings of sections of the media. While Friday's killings shocked many, there was disturbingly muted comment from some quarters about the 'controversial' beliefs of the community – as if this justified murder. Some national leaders made it a point not to mention Ahmedis by name in statements condemning the act of terrorism against them.
Another game now appears to be afoot. There have been observations from police officers in Lahore that the militants who staged the attack had roots in North Waziristan. It is quite possible that these findings are not inaccurate. But there is suspicion that a part of the motive is to deflect criticism faced by the Punjab government for failing to act against groups in southern Punjab suspected of being linked to the attack. There is certainly evidence to back this. Those present at the Model Town place of worship say one of the young men pinned down by worshippers spoke in Seraiki, cursing those who had prevented him from completing his 'mission'.
Initial claims of responsibility for the assault appeared to come from the Tehrik-e-Taliban, Punjab, and despite the denial of the Punjab government the fact is that this group has been linked to many of the recent spate of terrorist attacks. It of course is likely that it is working alongside forces based in the northwest, forming a new – and extremely dangerous -- nexus.
Southern Punjab has for many years been the heartland of sectarian violence and also anti-Ahmedi sentiment. The groups guilty of repeatedly violating the law against the spread of religious hatred have never been charged. No attempt was ever made to prevent them from inciting violence against the Ahmedi community. In some cases the government, at various points in time, has connived in actions directed against Ahmedis. The refusal to go after extremist groups has almost certainly encouraged them.
For purposes of electoral gain, Punjab ministers have joined hands with leaders of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, despite the fact that it is a banned organisation. Other banned groups continue to operate in the province. This dangerous situation of course increases the possibility of more violence in future with Punjab becoming a safe haven for militants.
The state of war we live in leaves no room for development or an improvement in the quality of human life. It presents fearful dangers to the state itself, with new fault lines zigzagging across it. The cracks have been widening rapidly. We must find ways to fill them in before the rifts grow deeper and the violence they generate assumes still more dangerous dimensions. The state needs to take the lead in this. Discrimination laid down in law must be ended and an even playing field created for all citizens.
Until his happens, we will remain a nation divided on the basis of religious belief, ethnicity and other factors which prevent us from discovering the tolerance we so badly need to create integrity and the willingness to live together within a territory shared by many diverse groups.
Most recently Ahmedis have been its victims, with 90 killed in the bloodbath in Lahore. In past months Shias have suffered similar violence. Ethnic battles rage on in Karachi, the military fights extremists in the northwest and other kinds of killings take place in Balochistan where five teachers have been among the 128 shot dead in targeted killings over the past five months. Fourteen teachers have been among the 782 killed in targeted shootings in the province in the past three years. Attacks on Christians are reported every now and then as are different kinds of random violence that seem on the surface to be senseless. Mob action against those suspected of crime is becoming more and more frequent and, frighteningly, as the killing fields spread, the state's law-enforcers seem to have been reduced to the role of spectators, who can, at best, only rush in after the spree of violence to pick bodies off the streets.
Certainly, this is what happened in Lahore. Threats to the Ahmedi community, coming in for almost a year in the Model Town area went largely unheeded. Security was stepped up but was obviously inadequate in the face of an attack as well-coordinated and planned as the siege that disrupted weekly prayers. It appears that intelligence agencies had failed to pick up on plans for the attack. Ahmedis report that after it took place the police response was delayed and the death toll could have been even higher had two young Ahmedi men not acted with immense courage and disarmed two of the suicide bombers, holding them captive for 30 minutes until the police made their way to the spot in Model Town. Even after the carnage, there is evidence the lessons have not been learned.
Arrangements for a mass funeral were altered by the Ahmedi community which saw the security as insufficient. Their fears are not out of place. Attacks at burials have been staged on more than one occasion by the militants to maximise the numbers they consign to death.
The events we saw on Friday go beyond the issue of a failure to offer security. They are rooted in the state's discrimination against a particular community which in 1974 was declared 'non-Muslim' despite its own protestations to the contrary. Some ten years later specific laws against Ahmedis made it more likely they would be persecuted. According to the US State Department's annual Human Rights Report issued in March 2010, 94 Ahmedis faced criminal charges in Pakistan for religious offences during the past year: 37 under the blasphemy laws and 57 under Ahmedi-specific laws.
Pakistan remains on the list of countries of 'particular concern' for the US Commission on International Religious Freedoms. Such state-backed discrimination has strengthened the hatred against Ahmedis propagated by extremist groups. This sentiment has found its way into mainstream society, mainly through the doings of sections of the media. While Friday's killings shocked many, there was disturbingly muted comment from some quarters about the 'controversial' beliefs of the community – as if this justified murder. Some national leaders made it a point not to mention Ahmedis by name in statements condemning the act of terrorism against them.
Another game now appears to be afoot. There have been observations from police officers in Lahore that the militants who staged the attack had roots in North Waziristan. It is quite possible that these findings are not inaccurate. But there is suspicion that a part of the motive is to deflect criticism faced by the Punjab government for failing to act against groups in southern Punjab suspected of being linked to the attack. There is certainly evidence to back this. Those present at the Model Town place of worship say one of the young men pinned down by worshippers spoke in Seraiki, cursing those who had prevented him from completing his 'mission'.
Initial claims of responsibility for the assault appeared to come from the Tehrik-e-Taliban, Punjab, and despite the denial of the Punjab government the fact is that this group has been linked to many of the recent spate of terrorist attacks. It of course is likely that it is working alongside forces based in the northwest, forming a new – and extremely dangerous -- nexus.
Southern Punjab has for many years been the heartland of sectarian violence and also anti-Ahmedi sentiment. The groups guilty of repeatedly violating the law against the spread of religious hatred have never been charged. No attempt was ever made to prevent them from inciting violence against the Ahmedi community. In some cases the government, at various points in time, has connived in actions directed against Ahmedis. The refusal to go after extremist groups has almost certainly encouraged them.
For purposes of electoral gain, Punjab ministers have joined hands with leaders of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, despite the fact that it is a banned organisation. Other banned groups continue to operate in the province. This dangerous situation of course increases the possibility of more violence in future with Punjab becoming a safe haven for militants.
The state of war we live in leaves no room for development or an improvement in the quality of human life. It presents fearful dangers to the state itself, with new fault lines zigzagging across it. The cracks have been widening rapidly. We must find ways to fill them in before the rifts grow deeper and the violence they generate assumes still more dangerous dimensions. The state needs to take the lead in this. Discrimination laid down in law must be ended and an even playing field created for all citizens.
Until his happens, we will remain a nation divided on the basis of religious belief, ethnicity and other factors which prevent us from discovering the tolerance we so badly need to create integrity and the willingness to live together within a territory shared by many diverse groups.
Salman Butt named vice-captain
KARACHI: Salman Butt was on Wednesday installed as Pakistan’s vice-captain for this month’s Asia Cup and the tour of England later this summer.
The left-handed opener is seen by many in the current national cricket set-up as a future captain. Butt, 25, in fact emerged as a favourite to take over as Pakistan’s Test captain when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ran out of captaincy options after it banned three former skippers — Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik — in March.
However, allrounder Shahid Afridi’s decision to come out of Test exile after staying away from the longest format of the game for four years ended Butt’s hope of succeeding Yousuf as Pakistan’s Test captain.
“PCB announces Salman Butt as the vice captain of the Pakistan team for the Asia Cup 2010 as well as the tour of England,” said a PCB statement issued on Wednesday.
Butt, 25, has previously served as vice-captain under the leadership of Shoaib Malik in 2007.
Commenting on Butt’s appointment, Afridi told ‘The News’ that he was confident that Butt has the credentials to be a good deputy. “Salman is a good cricketer and I believe that his appointment as the team’s vice-captain is good for Pakistan cricket,” said Afridi.
“He is the future of Pakistan cricket and I hope that he will prove his worth in the Asia Cup and more importantly during the long tour of England,” he added.
Afridi’s Pakistan will meet old rivals India, hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the four-nation Asia Cup to be played in Dambulla from June 15-24. From Sri Lanka, Pakistan will leave for England where they will play two Tests and two Twenty20 Internationals against Australia before meeting England in four Tests, five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games.
Butt will be one of Pakistan’s key players in Sri Lanka and in England. He has so far featured in 27 Tests, 76 one-dayers and 22 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan since making his debut in 2003.
The left-handed opener is seen by many in the current national cricket set-up as a future captain. Butt, 25, in fact emerged as a favourite to take over as Pakistan’s Test captain when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ran out of captaincy options after it banned three former skippers — Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan and Shoaib Malik — in March.
However, allrounder Shahid Afridi’s decision to come out of Test exile after staying away from the longest format of the game for four years ended Butt’s hope of succeeding Yousuf as Pakistan’s Test captain.
“PCB announces Salman Butt as the vice captain of the Pakistan team for the Asia Cup 2010 as well as the tour of England,” said a PCB statement issued on Wednesday.
Butt, 25, has previously served as vice-captain under the leadership of Shoaib Malik in 2007.
Commenting on Butt’s appointment, Afridi told ‘The News’ that he was confident that Butt has the credentials to be a good deputy. “Salman is a good cricketer and I believe that his appointment as the team’s vice-captain is good for Pakistan cricket,” said Afridi.
“He is the future of Pakistan cricket and I hope that he will prove his worth in the Asia Cup and more importantly during the long tour of England,” he added.
Afridi’s Pakistan will meet old rivals India, hosts Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the four-nation Asia Cup to be played in Dambulla from June 15-24. From Sri Lanka, Pakistan will leave for England where they will play two Tests and two Twenty20 Internationals against Australia before meeting England in four Tests, five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 games.
Butt will be one of Pakistan’s key players in Sri Lanka and in England. He has so far featured in 27 Tests, 76 one-dayers and 22 Twenty20 Internationals for Pakistan since making his debut in 2003.
Doubts remain over Akhtar, Malik
KARACHI: In a bid to make their international return, Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik on Wednesday underwent fitness tests in Lahore a day before Pakistan name their 15-man squad for this month’s Asia Cup.
Sources told ‘The News’ that Akhtar was unable to fully convince the national selectors about his ‘match fitness’ after bowling ten overs. But the controversial pacer, sources said, is still in with a ‘70 per cent chance’ of making the cut for the Asia Cup.
Malik, on the other hand, passed the fitness test but his selection depends on whether he is able to get the required support from Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi at a crucial meeting to be held at the PCB headquarters in Lahore on Thursday (today).
The former captain became available for the Asia Cup after a one-man appeal tribunal cleared him of a one-year ban imposed on him by the PCB last March for indiscipline. Malik has been blamed for hatching conspiracies against former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.
However, sources said that Afridi doesn’t want Malik back, at least not for the Asia Cup, which is why he is unlikely to be selected today.
Sources said that the Board is under pressure from some influential quarters to bring Malik back in the team.
“There is a lot of pressure on the PCB to pick Malik for the Asia Cup but Afridi wants him to stay away. The captain believes that Malik should get this message that unless he changes his approach, he won’t be welcomed back in the team,” said a well-placed source.
Akhtar, in contrast, has Afridi’s support.
“Afridi believes that Pakistan can field Akhtar in crucial matches and give him regular rests between matches. He is of the view that Akhtar can still be a wicket-taking bowler in one-day and Twenty20 cricket.”
Sources said that there is a 30 percent chance that the national selectors might overlook Akhtar because of fitness concerns.
Shoaib bowled ten overs during the fitness test at the Gaddafi Stadium but was unable to maintain his pace towards the end of the exercise. “His pace went down and there was also this slight limp which left the selectors unconvinced.”
If Shoaib is overlooked, then the selectors and the team management are expected to select rookie fast bowler Mohammad Irfan in the Asia Cup squad. Irfan almost made it in Pakistan team for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and is now in contention for a place in the touring party for the Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, there are at least three new faces with solid chances of making the cut for the Dambulla-bound squad.
Shahzaib Hasan, the hard-hitting opener from Karachi, is expected to make the 15-man squad on the basis of his prolific form on the domestic circuit.
Shahzaib was a surprise inclusion in Pakistan’s team for the 2009 World Twenty20 in England but the youngster justified his place in the side by hitting a couple of good knocks in the event.
However, he was unable to retain his place in the team and was also overlooked for this year’s World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in spite of having the support of skipper Afridi.
Another top-order batter in line for a call-up is the 20-year-old Umar Amin.
National selectors and team officials believe that Umar deserves an opportunity and is likely to be a part of the Asia Cup squad. Also in contention is Karachi batsman Asad Shafiq.
Sources told ‘The News’ that Akhtar was unable to fully convince the national selectors about his ‘match fitness’ after bowling ten overs. But the controversial pacer, sources said, is still in with a ‘70 per cent chance’ of making the cut for the Asia Cup.
Malik, on the other hand, passed the fitness test but his selection depends on whether he is able to get the required support from Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi at a crucial meeting to be held at the PCB headquarters in Lahore on Thursday (today).
The former captain became available for the Asia Cup after a one-man appeal tribunal cleared him of a one-year ban imposed on him by the PCB last March for indiscipline. Malik has been blamed for hatching conspiracies against former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf.
However, sources said that Afridi doesn’t want Malik back, at least not for the Asia Cup, which is why he is unlikely to be selected today.
Sources said that the Board is under pressure from some influential quarters to bring Malik back in the team.
“There is a lot of pressure on the PCB to pick Malik for the Asia Cup but Afridi wants him to stay away. The captain believes that Malik should get this message that unless he changes his approach, he won’t be welcomed back in the team,” said a well-placed source.
Akhtar, in contrast, has Afridi’s support.
“Afridi believes that Pakistan can field Akhtar in crucial matches and give him regular rests between matches. He is of the view that Akhtar can still be a wicket-taking bowler in one-day and Twenty20 cricket.”
Sources said that there is a 30 percent chance that the national selectors might overlook Akhtar because of fitness concerns.
Shoaib bowled ten overs during the fitness test at the Gaddafi Stadium but was unable to maintain his pace towards the end of the exercise. “His pace went down and there was also this slight limp which left the selectors unconvinced.”
If Shoaib is overlooked, then the selectors and the team management are expected to select rookie fast bowler Mohammad Irfan in the Asia Cup squad. Irfan almost made it in Pakistan team for the World Twenty20 in the Caribbean and is now in contention for a place in the touring party for the Asia Cup.
Meanwhile, there are at least three new faces with solid chances of making the cut for the Dambulla-bound squad.
Shahzaib Hasan, the hard-hitting opener from Karachi, is expected to make the 15-man squad on the basis of his prolific form on the domestic circuit.
Shahzaib was a surprise inclusion in Pakistan’s team for the 2009 World Twenty20 in England but the youngster justified his place in the side by hitting a couple of good knocks in the event.
However, he was unable to retain his place in the team and was also overlooked for this year’s World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in spite of having the support of skipper Afridi.
Another top-order batter in line for a call-up is the 20-year-old Umar Amin.
National selectors and team officials believe that Umar deserves an opportunity and is likely to be a part of the Asia Cup squad. Also in contention is Karachi batsman Asad Shafiq.
Pakistan to send team for Asiad T20
KARACHI: Pakistan will send a team to contest the Twenty20 competition at this year’s Asian Games in China to help raise the game’s profile in the region, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Wednesday.
Cricket will make a bow in the 16th edition of the multi-sports event in Guangzhou with the popular Twenty20 format selected for the November 12-27 games.
“We will send a strong team for the games as we feel China has a viable commercial market for the sport,” PCB Director-General of cricket, Javed Miandad told Reuters.
Pakistan has been at the forefront of supporting the spread of cricket in China.
Miandad said that he was hopeful Pakistan would send a strong squad for the Games since Pakistan did not have any international commitments in November.
Cricket will make a bow in the 16th edition of the multi-sports event in Guangzhou with the popular Twenty20 format selected for the November 12-27 games.
“We will send a strong team for the games as we feel China has a viable commercial market for the sport,” PCB Director-General of cricket, Javed Miandad told Reuters.
Pakistan has been at the forefront of supporting the spread of cricket in China.
Miandad said that he was hopeful Pakistan would send a strong squad for the Games since Pakistan did not have any international commitments in November.
England tour crucial for Pakistan: Waqar
LAHORE: Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said on Wednesday next month’s England tour would be crucial for rebuilding the team, pinning his hopes on an influx of fresh blood to turn their fortunes around.
Pakistan face a hectic four months, starting with the four-nation Asia Cup in Sri Lanka from June 15, then playing Australia in two Twenty20 and two Tests in England before taking on their hosts in four Tests, two Twenty20 and five one-day games.
Waqar, who returned from Sydney on Tuesday, said he needs focus and unity from the team.
“We are starting a hectic period with the Asia Cup but I think the England tour is very important for the team, where we need to adopt a rotation policy and I think some new players will come into the fray,” Waqar told reporters.
Waqar, 40, took over as coach in March following Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia where the team lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 match. Under him Pakistan made the semi-final of the World Twenty20 last month.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 35-man preliminary squad for the Asia Cup and tour of England, including a number of newcomers. A final squad for the Asia Cup is expected to be announced on Thursday.
“I think the objective behind naming a number of youngsters is to encourage them and it is important that players be rotated because we have a series against South Africa in October-November this year as well,” said Waqar.
Waqar backed Shahid Afridi, who was last week named captain for the Asia Cup and tour of England.
“Afridi has not led Pakistan in Tests before,” said Waqar. “But he conducted himself well in the World Twenty20 and unity and fighting spirit would be the key to success and he can achieve both from the team.”
Waqar said ace batsman Mohammad Yousuf cannot be forced out of retirement.
“Yousuf seems to be adamant on his retirement and although we need him for Tests, we cannot force him out of retirement,” said Waqar.
Yousuf was one of seven players banned and fined by an inquiry committee in March soon after the Australia tour. He retired in protest while the other six players have appealed against the sanctions.
Shoaib Malik, one of the penalised players, had his one-year ban overturned last week and is now free to play for Pakistan.
Appeals against Younis Khan’s indefinite ban and a one-year ban on Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, plus fines on Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal are pending.
Pakistan face a hectic four months, starting with the four-nation Asia Cup in Sri Lanka from June 15, then playing Australia in two Twenty20 and two Tests in England before taking on their hosts in four Tests, two Twenty20 and five one-day games.
Waqar, who returned from Sydney on Tuesday, said he needs focus and unity from the team.
“We are starting a hectic period with the Asia Cup but I think the England tour is very important for the team, where we need to adopt a rotation policy and I think some new players will come into the fray,” Waqar told reporters.
Waqar, 40, took over as coach in March following Pakistan’s disastrous tour of Australia where the team lost all three Tests, five one-day and a Twenty20 match. Under him Pakistan made the semi-final of the World Twenty20 last month.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 35-man preliminary squad for the Asia Cup and tour of England, including a number of newcomers. A final squad for the Asia Cup is expected to be announced on Thursday.
“I think the objective behind naming a number of youngsters is to encourage them and it is important that players be rotated because we have a series against South Africa in October-November this year as well,” said Waqar.
Waqar backed Shahid Afridi, who was last week named captain for the Asia Cup and tour of England.
“Afridi has not led Pakistan in Tests before,” said Waqar. “But he conducted himself well in the World Twenty20 and unity and fighting spirit would be the key to success and he can achieve both from the team.”
Waqar said ace batsman Mohammad Yousuf cannot be forced out of retirement.
“Yousuf seems to be adamant on his retirement and although we need him for Tests, we cannot force him out of retirement,” said Waqar.
Yousuf was one of seven players banned and fined by an inquiry committee in March soon after the Australia tour. He retired in protest while the other six players have appealed against the sanctions.
Shoaib Malik, one of the penalised players, had his one-year ban overturned last week and is now free to play for Pakistan.
Appeals against Younis Khan’s indefinite ban and a one-year ban on Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, plus fines on Afridi, Kamran Akmal and Umar Akmal are pending.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
New York guv proposes ‘iPod tax’
New York: New York governor David Paterson’s first state budget threatens to affect just about every New Yorker. Even those online. Paterson is asking for a so-called “iPod tax” on downloaded music as one of 137 revenue-raising proposals to close the largest budget deficit in the state’s history.
Paterson proposed Tuesday a 2009-10 budget that would increase spending by 1.1%, or $1.3 billion, to create a $121.1 billion spending plan.
Haircuts, beer, cinema tickets, cigars, taxi rides, massages, and sugary soft drinks would also be targeted under the austerity budget aimed at closing the $15.4 billion shortfall caused by a collapse of tax revenues from Wall Street.
“The other day somebody threw a pair of shoes at President Bush,” governor David Paterson told legislators. “At the end of this budget presentation, if that’s the most severe punishment I get, I’ll sign for it now.” The proposed “iPod tax,” would tax the sale of downloaded music and other “digitally delivered entertainment services” by 4%, adding four cents to the cost of a 99-cent song for users whose iPod is registered to a New York address.
The idea was met with chagrin from many iPod fans. iPodmaker Apple made no comment. The “iPod tax” is one of a series of targeted measures sought by the governor in an effort to avoid broad-based tax increases, reported TimesOnline.
Among them is an unprecedented 18% “obesity tax” on sugary soft drinks. The tax would cover fruit drinks with less than 70% fruit juice, as well as “-ades, punches and certain fruit nectars.” Diet soft drinks would be exempt.
With one in four New York teenagers considered obese, the “obesity tax” aims to cut consumption of sugary drinks by 5% while raising $404 million in the next fiscal year.
Also hit by new taxes under the package would be “personal services” such as massages, pedicures and health-club memberships. All motorists would be required to get new “reflectorized” car licence plates at a fee of $25 each.
Paterson’s plan came under immediate fire from fellow Democrats and union leaders who accused him of making the young people and working families bear the brunt of tax increases.
The blind governor, installed after his predecessor fell victim to a prostitution scandal earlier this year, has battled a Democrat-led effort to raise the state income tax on millionaires, arguing it would just force them to leave New York. AGENCIES
Paterson proposed Tuesday a 2009-10 budget that would increase spending by 1.1%, or $1.3 billion, to create a $121.1 billion spending plan.
Haircuts, beer, cinema tickets, cigars, taxi rides, massages, and sugary soft drinks would also be targeted under the austerity budget aimed at closing the $15.4 billion shortfall caused by a collapse of tax revenues from Wall Street.
“The other day somebody threw a pair of shoes at President Bush,” governor David Paterson told legislators. “At the end of this budget presentation, if that’s the most severe punishment I get, I’ll sign for it now.” The proposed “iPod tax,” would tax the sale of downloaded music and other “digitally delivered entertainment services” by 4%, adding four cents to the cost of a 99-cent song for users whose iPod is registered to a New York address.
The idea was met with chagrin from many iPod fans. iPodmaker Apple made no comment. The “iPod tax” is one of a series of targeted measures sought by the governor in an effort to avoid broad-based tax increases, reported TimesOnline.
Among them is an unprecedented 18% “obesity tax” on sugary soft drinks. The tax would cover fruit drinks with less than 70% fruit juice, as well as “-ades, punches and certain fruit nectars.” Diet soft drinks would be exempt.
With one in four New York teenagers considered obese, the “obesity tax” aims to cut consumption of sugary drinks by 5% while raising $404 million in the next fiscal year.
Also hit by new taxes under the package would be “personal services” such as massages, pedicures and health-club memberships. All motorists would be required to get new “reflectorized” car licence plates at a fee of $25 each.
Paterson’s plan came under immediate fire from fellow Democrats and union leaders who accused him of making the young people and working families bear the brunt of tax increases.
The blind governor, installed after his predecessor fell victim to a prostitution scandal earlier this year, has battled a Democrat-led effort to raise the state income tax on millionaires, arguing it would just force them to leave New York. AGENCIES
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