Sportsmen are considered ambassadors of friendship, goodwill and amity for the country they belong, but in the case of Pakistan spineless characters in the national sports never miss a chance to defame the country by indulging in activities prejudicial to the basic concept of gentlemanly behaviour. While such individuals, who bring disgrace to the nation and the country, cannot be pardoned for their indecent activities, the role of those who matter in the sports' controlling bodies is also questionable.
There are occasions when the cases of indiscipline by players were ignored by the authorities for one reason or the other, hence encouraging the "night birds" of the team to continue their off-the-field activities unchecked.
Examples are many, but the recent episode, involving a member of the Pakistan cricket team touring Down Under in an alleged rape case, and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar dancing with girls late in the night at a night club were highlighted by various Australian television channels.
The motive behind this campaign by the Australian media was nothing but to defame Pakistan and the players for obvious reasons.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ad hoc Committee Chairman Shaharyar M. Khan has rejected the allegations, saying the PCB had been informed by team manager Haroon Rashid that after a thorough inquiry, the allegations of raping a girl were found baseless.
But Shoaib Akhtar's pictures dancing with girls in a nightclub, which were published in some Pakistani newspapers, also speak the other way.
However, the sources in the PCB said the Cricket Board authorities had taken serious note of the off the field activities of the players, especially self-styled world's fastest bowler Shoaib Akhtar, damaging the country's image abroad.
Disturbed over the footage on various Australian television channels, showing Shoaib Akhtar involved in extra-cricket activities in the night clubs, the sources said the Cricket Board officials were furious over these footage and warned him to mend his ways and concentrate on his fitness and performance.
REPORT TO PCB: Meanwhile, touring team management, comprising manager Haroon Rashid, skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and coach Bob Woolmer, in its report to the PCB, expressed its reservations about Shoaib Akhtar's behaviour both on and off the field.
Reacting to the negative report of the team management, sources said, the PCB management had made it clear to the fast bowler that if he wanted to play in the all-important series against India, he should behave like a gentleman cricketer.
According to insiders, even the top government officials have stressed upon the PCB chief not to let the indisciplined players, irrespective of his calibre and connections, go unpunished.
They demanded stern action against such players, including Shoaib Akhtar, and enforce strict discipline in the team.
Least caring about the PCB's worries and warnings, it is believed that Shoaib Akhtar is not only spoiling his own career, but is also inciting junior players to indulge in such activities.
Though the PCB chief is reported to have recalled Shoaib Akhtar because of his alleged hamstring injury, the insiders said it were the extra-cricket activities of the fast bowler, which angered the Board chief.
The PCB chief, during his meeting with PCB chief patron President Pervez Musharraf, has reportedly briefed him on the repeated incidents of indiscipline by Shoaib Akhtar and the President has advised Shaharyar Khan to take disciplinary action against such players. While Shaharyar Khan is determined to give Shoaib Akhtar a last warning during his "hard talks" with Pakistan's most pampered player, Shoaib Akhtar denied the allegations and claimed that the Cricket Board was making him scapegoat for the team's dismal performance Down Under.
MEDICAL CHECK-UP: However, the PCB Ad hoc Committee chief is in no mood to leave Shoaib scot-free and asked him to undergo a thorough medical check-up by the PCB medical board so that the real causes of his repeated but mysterious injuries and fitness problem could be found.
Meanwhile, former pacers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus, who were also critical of Shoaib Akhtar's off the field activities, are of the view that he is no more a winner bowler.
Describing him a "show boy", Wasim said if Shoaib Akhtar wanted to be accepted as the world's fastest bowler and highest wicket-taker, he should concentrate on his fitness and form. Mere speed would not make him the world's fastest bowler. "It is the accuracy and maintenance of line and length which make him a successful bowler," he said. The two former speedsters have noticed that Shoaib has rarely exhausted his full quota of 10 over in one-dayers. After bowling a few overs, he usually got injured and declared himself unfit for rest of the game.
Wasim has rightly said no captain could rely on his main bowler, who after playing a match, seen resting in the dressing room for the remaining matches of the series.
However, Shoaib Akhtar should not forget that nobody is indispensable and every player has his replacement. During the current Test and VB One-day International (ODI) series, young pacers Rana Naveed-ul-Hassan and Mohammad Khalil have fared well, and at no stage Inzamam felt the absence of Shoaib Akhtar.
A LESSON TO SHOAIB: Had Shoaib Akhtar envied the experiences of his seniors like Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus, he could have been an integral part of the team.
Moreover, he should also lessons from Australian bowlers Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Brett Lee, who are far better than him in targeting the wickets.
Despite the age factor, McGrath (35), Kasprowicz (33), Lee (28) and Gillespie (30), have almost no fitness problem and are still faring well. Both Wasim and Waqar bitterly criticised not only Shoaib, but also expressed their disappointment over pacer Mohammad Sami's performance with the leather.
They believe that Sami, in following the footsteps of Shoaib in excelling in the speed, is out to destroy his career.
Not only Wasim and Waqar, even former captain Imran Khan was also critical of the wayward and inaccurate bowling of the two pacers.
LEVEL OF COACHING: So it is the level of coaching by high profile British coach Bob Woolmer, who, during his over six-month association with the team, failed to harness the best both from Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad.
Anyhow, looking at the present state of affairs, it is unlikely that Pakistan would be able to sustain pressures from teams like Australia, England and even India in the 2007 World Cup in West Indies.
Even the PCB chief himself reported to have told the Senate Standing Committee on Sports that it would take some two to three years for the team to come up to the expectations.
His reported views indicate that the PCB has written off the Pakistan team to click in the 2007 World Cup.