NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

'Nobody will select me. I'd be selecting myself'

Ashish Shukla

Neatly attired in a light cream suit, Bill Synrich looks pretty suave, the effect only marred by the odd eyes and a rather blunt nose. But despite efforts at being non-judgmental, it was difficult to feel any sympathy for Synrich's conduct.

Synrich, vice-president of International Management Group, was in no mood to allow Friday's press conference to "degenerate" into something where journalists could raise all those questions they have in recent times and which, due to a lack of proper resolution, only tends to compound the confusion.

There were many issues of course: The match-fixing row in Pakistan. The credentials Aamir Sohail had to lead the team. Javed Miandad's possible return to the international arena. The changed geo-political reality of the sub-continent and its likely effect on the series. The security of the players. India's utter failure to send top team to Toronto; the losses it meant to all the organs of the organising committee; and whether indeed the top Indians in Kuala Lumpur would return in time to stoke the proceedings at this venue.

Welcome speeches over, Synrich invited questions from the assembled media. There was a certain pause at this invitation which prompted Synrich to say in mock relief: "No questions? Thank you. Let's attend the important business of lunch."

But then, a local journalist of local origin stepped into the breach.

"I address you Mr Miandad. You have talked of discipline so regularly in recent times. What do you think is going to be the morale of the side which has two members who have been indicted by the probe committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board?" The gentleman was obviously referring to Salim Malik and Ijaz Ahmed and wondering why they were still in the team.

"Who's guilty? They are not guilty," Miandad said in that high-pitched voice of his. "These are all rumours."

Aamir Sohail, sitting next to him pursed his lips -- wasn't it he who blew the whistle on these guys originally?

Synrich butted in: "I don't think this is the right forum to discuss the issue here. Let's limit our questions to the Sahara Cup only." One felt it was too abrupt an interjection and needed reply.

"I don't think, Mr. Synrich, you could separate these two issues so neatly," I ventured.

"Maybe not, but what's the point?" said Synrich, his voice rising warningly. I backed off.

Sohail, having recovered his poise very neatly sidestepped the issue when asked about it.

"We are here to play cricket. If there is an issue, it is for the Pakistan Cricket Board to settle. They are the most important cricketing body in Pakistan. We only play with the 14 who are selected to do the duty for the country."

Next was the important issue of media movement in the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling club.

"How free was one to move?" asked a journalist. Ravi Krishnan, an important member of IMG's India operations, was typically curt.

"The media will only be allowed access to where they need to." By inference, it meant, only in the areas where IMG does not have any objection. The tournament must be seen and reported as the IMG wishes it to be seen and reported. It was again Sohail who fielded the next question:

"Aamir, how do you think you are going to control this side? I have personally seen you lose your temper in Australia a couple of seasons ago. Do you think you are the right man to be the leader of Pakistan, given the short fuse you have?"

Even as the question was being completed, Miandad was seen whispering something in Sohail's ear.

"Excuse me," asked the journalist, a little nettled. And Sohail turned on him.

"Is he (Miandad) not allowed to speak to me?" asked Sohail a little threateningly. "Can't he speak to me? Is it not permitted?"

The journalist backed off and it was left at that.

The next query was about Miandad's chances of returning to international cricket.

"What can I say?" said Miandad "I think these guys (Sohail and company) will perform well and that they won't allow me to return to the crease."

So who would judge their performance and who would be the authority selecting Miandad?

"Nobody will select me. I'd be selecting myself. I've been given a free hand by the Pakistan Cricket Board in this regard. It is me who would decide whether I should play or not."

The focus turned to Sohail again.

"No century has been scored in the Sahara Cup so far. Your comments."

"Somebody will score a century this time," drawled Sohail. That caused some laughter to run around the room.

"No, I mean is it because of the wicket here," the questioner persisted.

"I wouldn't say so. Indeed, the wicket this time around is good. At least, it appears good to me," said Sohail. "Raising cricket off the ground is not easy. It takes time for the system to come good."

The Indian camp was represented by Mohammed Azharuddin, Saurav Ganguly and Anshuman Gaekwad. Azhar looked relaxed. He looks better than he has in a long time. Asked whether it was a less-than-full strength team and whether Tendulkar would join the team after the 15th, Azharuddin said these matters were best left to the Board.

"We are here to play with the team the Board chooses for us."

And what did he think would be the on-field relations between the two teams, given the other tensions on the sub-continent?

Azhar replied: "The effort of cricketers in the two country should be to promote good relations. We have the example of South Africa -- how major a role cricket played in bringing it back into the international fold."

And then the gathering retired for lunch.