Chishty the anchorman in Pakistan cricket
In Colombo currently, commentating on the Sri Lanka vs Pakistan series is a charming, affable, easy-going personality from Karachi, who counts forty 47-years behind the microphone. His diction is clear and precise and is probably the result of his Cambridge background.
Apart from his longevity as a broadcaster, Chishty Mujahid held the all-important post of Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Cricket. Under his stewardship, Pakistan went in for off shore cricket as the situation is his country was not conducive to visits by foreign sportsmen. Accordingly, Pakistan played a Test against Steve Waugh’s Australians at the P. Sara Oval and followed it up with another in Sharjah. Thus Pakistan became the only country to play home Tests abroad.
Chishty Muhajid
Chishty confides that his first choice as an off-shore venue was Sri Lanka and, secondly, Malaysia. To his regret, his suggestion was not well received. After just one year in the hot seat, he resigned. He has been away from base for five years, having served as the Regional Director of SEARLE (a pharmaceutical Company) in Sri Lanka. The job also entailed time spent in Bangladesh, the Maldives and Vietnam. Further his base was Karachi while the Pakistan Cricket Board was in Lahore, a distance of 800 miles.
Talking of some of the low points under his aegis, Chishty points to the first round exit at the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. They were also bowled out for 53 and 51 in a Test in Sharjah and lost by a big margin. Waqar Younis was the captain and Pakistan Cricket was in turmoil reaching the semi-final of the 2011. World Cup showed that some progress has been achieved. Third in the rankings now brings satisfaction. However he feels Pakistan can do better in the Twenty20s
Chishty feels that the Pakistani Board is not settled. Chairmen come and go regularly. Preferably a chairman should not have been a cricketer. If he had been one, he’ll certainly carry some baggage with him. He will try to impose his ideas on current cricketers and fail.
Jagmohan Dalmiya, according to him, was the best head of the ICC. Eshan Mani, Malcolm Gray and David Morgan were also very good.His panacea for all the circulating ills is very simple. Administrators should be men of proven experience. Experts in marketing and accountancy should handle marketing matters. Former cricketers of repute should be in charge of the cricketing aspect.
His views on the current team are of interest. These are the best lot of cricketers going. Inquiries and matters outside cricket have robbed the team of the services of Mohamed Irfan and Umar Gul. The banned Mohamed Asif was the finest swing bowler in recent times. Amir was coming along very well, while Salman Butt – the skipper- had a great future ahead of him.
Yet, he comes down hard on the wrong doers. If you are old enough to commit a crime, you are also old enough to suffer the consequences.
Skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, says Chishty, is criticised unfairly-clam, dignified, intelligent and educated he has gelled the team into a unit. He picked them up from the Ashes of 2010. He led his side to a 3-0 triumph over England in the UAE. Misbah is the one consistent performers in a brittle Pakistani middle order. He needs continuity.
Pakistan badly needs a solid opening pair, he is hopeful that Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq will come good, Shan Masood is also a talented, left handed opener, wicketkeeper Sharfraz Ahmed is not a good keeper at the moment, but he can improve and reach the standard of a Mark Boucher or a Prasanna Jayawaredna. Above all else, Pakistan desperately needs an Angelo Mathews.
In conclusion, asked to mention the high-points of his stewardship, Chishty says “modesty does not allow me to mention them”.