-A little about yourself?
My name is Hashim Ahmed. I was born on the 3rd of March 1984 at 9.30am in Kingston Hospital. I lived in sunny Kingston until the age of 8 when my family temporarily moved to Dubai where we lived for the next four years before moving back here.
I enjoy a great variety of music but tend to listen to rock. My favourite bands are The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Junoon, U2, Coldplay, REM and many more…plus I have been known to listen to our very own Pakistani legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (managed to convert my two ‘gora’ housemates at uni into avid fans too).
My other interests are cricket, cricket, cricket and a bit of partying/socialising/chilling out here and there too.
-Why did you choose History as your major?
It was the subject I was always best at in school and something which had always fascinated me. Probably in hindsight I should have gone for a more career based degree but then I would not have enjoyed my three years at Sussex uni nearly as much.
-If you had to pick b/w Wasim and Waqar, who do you think the most destructive bowler for Pakistan at his PEAK?
A very tough call but I will have to go with Wasim. Let’s not take anything away from Waqar…he was a great bowler too. But for me Wasim was completely out of this world. If people like Alan Border are saying ‘if I could be reborn as anyone I would be reborn as Wasim Akram’ then he has to something very very special.
Plus I always had a soft spot for Wasim after he gave me a slap across the cheek (an affectionate one!) when I was 9 attending a game at Sharjah!
-Your love for all things 'England' is legendary. Its origins?
I guess the origins are back in 1992 and 'that' tour. I remember even at the age of 8 being completely confused by the reaction of the Angraiz to being outplayed, outclassed and destroyed in such a beastly fashion. I am not JUST talking about the ball tampering allegations but everything...the 'stab the ****'s' chant that went up in Headingly (maybe that was in 1996? I have forgotten) the infamous pigs head that was thrown into the Pakistan supporters, the biased and inconsistent English umpiring (ofcoarse Devon Malcolm can bowl as many bouncers to our tail enders as he wants but the minute Aaqib tries it the umpire starts talking baqwaas to him)
Events since then have done nothing to change my perception of English cricket. The English media and cricketing establishment are the worst losers in the world. England never loses a game fair and square according to them. Already they are making excuses for the battering which they are likely to receive in India (the same excuses which they laughed at when they won the Ashes). Hypocrisy is such a fundamental part of English cricket (reverse/ball tampering, when Alec Stewart was accused of match fixing) and they seem to have this patronising attitude towards Pakistan in particular. Very few things give me more satisfaction than when we beat them (and we do more often than not).
-Overall views on the recent role of the PCB and marks out of 10?
I think the PCB is doing as good a job as we can expect at the moment. The one thing that Pakistan cricket has lacked in the past is consistency and continuity. When Bob took over the usual bashers were saying he would not last six months. Clearly they have been made to eat their words. Similarly Inzi has been captain since August 2003 and will continue to be hopefully until he retires.
There is a culture on PakPassion and amongst all cricket fans in Pakistan to just bash the PCB no matter what they do. This is something that really irritates and disappoints me. It is easy to criticise from your armchair but once you get out on the ground you will find that most jobs are a lot harder than they seem. It is very easy to criticise in hindsight.
I would give them 6.5/10. What I would like to see now is a full time/paid selection committee with proper scouts whose day job is to find cricketers who can play at international level.
-Do you think musharaff needs to be more ruthless with the people causing problems in Pakistan (i.e. mma, bugti etc)?
The one criticism I have of President General Pervaiz Musharaf is that he is sitting on the fence between democracy and dictatorship. I have no problem with dictatorship if it is in the interests of Pakistan. Democracy does not always work and currently in Pakistan the climate is not conducive to democracy. The 'masses', particularly if they are uneducated do not always know what is right for the country.
I think Musharaf should treat these people with an iron fist. The MMA seem very keen on organising mass rallies and demonstrations with people chanting and smashing up buildings that cost money to build. But no MMA 'sympathiser' has ever been able to answer this question...What have the MMA done to improve the quality of life for the common man? They even opposed Musharaf's plan to introduce free literacy centres because they said it would take kids away from their Madrassahs.
As for Bugti…I am sure once he (and his cronies) dies this whole thing will fizzle out. The Baluchi public (despite what Indians and the Indian media want to believe) do not want independence.
-What changes you think Pakistan need to implement to the one day team in order for them to stand a good chance of winning the world cup?
None
-Often you are left standing alone when Pakistan are losing and the rest of PP is in a defeatist mood. From whence came this belief in Pakistan?
When I love something as much as I love Pakistan cricket I cannot help but believe in it. And the last year has shown me that I have every reason to believe in this team. A couple of bad sessions in a test, or one ODI series defeat is not enough for me to go ballistic. What amazes me is that people on PakPassion always criticise the PCB for not showing continuity but it is the same people who make threads about sacking Inzi and Bob after our first series defeat in over a year.
-Have you ever met any cricketer in person?
I have met several. Imran Khan, Salim Altaf, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Basit Ali, Akram Raza, Aamir Sohail (unfortunately), Intikhab Alam (in Asda funnily enough), Abdul Razzaq, Inzi to name the Pakistanis off the top of my head. I have also had the pleasure of playing mini cricket with Ajay Jadeja and Venkatapathy Raju in the corridor of an apartment block in Dubai!
I have also met John Embury, Mike Gatting and Gladstone Small (who seemed a bit full of himself considering how rubbish a player he was....and I told him so!).
-First Cricketing match you watched live on TV or in person and your memories of it...
On TV it would have been the 1st Test of the 1992 series. I remember it being a high scoring draw but the 2nd Test was great. I did a lap of honour of my entire street with a Pakistan flag. The first game I watched live was a charity game against India at Crystal Palace. There was rioting in the crowd and pitch invasions left, right and centre. The match had to be abandoned! I don't remember much of the game itself!
-If you were given Saj's position in running pakpassion, which changes would you implement and why?
I would probably end up banning half of the members!
-Are there any circumstances in which you would support England?
If England winning would benefit Pakistan. For example if England had to win for Pakistan to qualify for the SF of the World Cup.
-Any other sports that Hash follows, and to what extent.
Football. Not as much as I use to but I am an fan of AFC Wimbledon in the Ryman League Premier Division. Just off the back of two League and cup Championships in a row! Currently three promotions away from League 2. Watch this space.....we will be back in the football league.
-Your five favorite posters on PP, apart from the Mods?
It would be easier for me to list my worst posters! There are too many good ones to list.
-Did u ever play cricket?
I played for my school at every level from U12 to the 1st XI. Opened the batting a few times but mainly a middle order batsman. I had my moments of brilliance (could be relied upon to score 20-40 most of the time) and my moments of pure rubbish too (going for wild swing and getting bowled for a 2nd ball duck when we had already lost early wickets will always remain in my memory sadly).
Would have liked to have played at uni but spent three years doing other things!
-Your favourite current West Indian, Australian, South African players and why
Brian Lara- I love watching lefties bat. There is just something about them which makes them look so flamboyant. Plus the fact that he is just about the greatest batsman alive.
McGrath. Great to see him still going at his age. A beautiful and clean action and uses his brain to get wickets. Fantastic cricketer.
Herchelle Gibbs. I am not a big fan of the South African team. I think they are probably one of the most boring teams around at the moment. But when Gibbs is in flow and hitting the ball from the middle of the bat it is always a treat to watch.
-You have a secular view when it comes to religion, how has it come about?
I believe in all human rights not just Muslim rights. The only way to ensure that all human rights are honoured is if religion is removed from the state. I know Islam is a religion that does look after minorities but let's face it, you can probably count the number of Muslim countries who do this on one hand. I do not believe hijab should be banned but at the same time I do not believe it should be compulsory. People should have the right to choose. And surely God would rather people chose to wear hijab than people only wearing it because it is illegal not to? Let people live the lifestyle they want......they will be answering to God for their own actions, not anyone else.
-What is your view on chumchey?
Not a very positive one obviously. But I suppose we just have to grit our teeth and put up with it. Nothing we can do. The chumchey are hear to stay and we will be hearing their voices on our TV sets for a long time. The most unfortunate thing is that even someone like Imran Khan (who IS very knowledgeable about cricket) was pandering to the Indian delusions after their pyjama series victory.
-Three biggest problems facing Pakistan in your opinion. And possible solutions?
Extremism is the biggest problem in my opinion. Unfortunately it seems to be far too easy for the insane nut heads like the MMA to get people on the streets. And this is what creates the negative media image of Pakistan. But they are a very vocal minority in my opinion. The vast majority of Pakistanis don't care about smashing up banks or KFCs; they only want to get food on the table for their families. The only solution is education.
Illiteracy is another. If people cannot read then they are not likely to find decent jobs or earn enough money to send their kids to school. Free literacy centres was a good idea by Musharaf but I do not know what happened to it because last I heard the MMA were making a fuss (they said it would take kids away from the madrassahs).
Corruption. Everything from the police, to the judiciary to the government is corrupt at least to a certain extent. This is sadly something that will probably never change. The only way one can deal with this is by imposing the harshest possible punishment on those that are corrupt. Make them think 'it isn't worth it' before they commit the act.
-Are you considered stubborn in real life?
Haha! Why? Am i considered stubborn on PakPassion? Ummmm, I have to say nobody has ever called me stubborn.
-Fav. Cricketing moment
Very tough to pick one moment. There have been many... Bangalore, Multan against England, Karachi against India, Edgbaston in the ICC Champs Trophy against India (I was there), Afridi’s 100 from 45 balls are all up there.
-Fav. player, current and all-time
All time- None other than Imran Khan. The most complete cricketer in the history of the sport. He had everything; batting, bowling, captaincy AND was able to deal with the media very well. Off the pitch I wish he stuck to his cancer hospital because he has become a typical bandwagon-jumping politician now.
Current- Inzi. The only 'all time great' we have in our team at the moment and the way he has led from the front and just captained Pakistan to an unbeaten year of cricket has been fantastic. When in full flow he makes batting look so easy. Inzi Zindabaad!
-Since when did u have an interest in politics?
Since a very young age. The Lib Dems at the moment are the party that most meet my views. They believe in scrapping tuition fees, higher taxes on those who earn more than £100,000 and they oppose the war on Iraq to name a few. The amazing thing is that they are suppose to be the 'middle' party with Labour on the left and the Tories on the right but at the moment they are the most left wing of the mainstream parties. I will continue to help them out during their election campaigns as long as it keeps the Tories out of my constituency.
-What makes you think this Pakistan team can bounce back. Especially against India
What makes anyone think they can't? Have a look at the last year. One pyjama series is not enough to change my opinion of the Pakistan team. We ARE one of the best sides in the world. Woolmer has worked wonders with the players and we now have the most united Pakistan team in cricketing history...no factions and no infighting. We have a mighty talented side with a mountain of resources in back up for our bowlers in particular. The only thing that we need to improve on is our fielding and the good thing is we have a year to sort that out before the world cup.
-Favourite international ground +why
Has to be Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. I have had the honour of seeing one game there. It was Pakistan vs. Bangladesh...the 3rd ODI of the series in 2003. Despite the team we were playing it was a fantastic atmosphere in beautiful surroundings. Always funny to see a game in Pakistan too with all the different characters you see/hear in the crowd.
-Views on Bob Woolmer?
I think Bob is brilliant. People often do not understand this but I believe technology is very important for modern day coaching. It helps to show a cricketer EXACTLY what he is doing wrong and what he is doing right and at the same time helps to work out weaknesses of opposition players which can be exploited. A few hours in the nets is not enough. It is also clear that the overall fitness of the Pakistan team has improved considerably since his arrival. The players seem very happy with him and ultimately that is what counts.
People criticise Bob a lot but when he finally does go they will realise that what we had was something really special. Long live Bob!
-Whats better a Shoaib Akhtar yorker sending middle stump cartwheeling or an Afridi six launching the ball out of the stadium?
I am normally too nervous when we bat to celebrate too wildly (until we hit the winning runs) but wickets are always bring the mad Hash out. When Sami bowled Ponting in Perth I jumped up and kicked over a vase. It completely smashed. Have to say the site of a middle stump cartwheeling is quite out of this world.
-Favourite ODI innings of all time?
Afridi 100 from 45 balls. That was quite unbelievable. The looks on the faces in the crowd were particularly hilarious and they alone made the innings worth it!
-Favourite Test innings of all time?
Has to be Kamran Akmal's century against India in Karachi. He comes in with his side 39 for 6 on the first morning of the deciding test in a series. The pitch was by no means a flat one. He batted under pressure and played a near flawless innings. It was more than a treat to watch. Have to say this kid will be one of the all time greats in the sport (certainly for Pakistan). Mark my words.
Pakistan are 9 wickets down, they need 60 from 5 overs to win the World Cup against England. You are batting at one end, who would you want to bat with and why?
There is only one person who could potentially do this and that is none other than Shahid Khan Afridi.
Your hunch or ideas on the upcoming talent in the Pak cricket scene? Any players yet to have played international cricket at the Senior level who you think would be the future superstars?
Obviously living in London I do not get to see any up and coming talent in the domestic circuit of Pakistan. But from the U19 boys Jamshed Ahmed particularly impressed me. Almost everything about him reminds me of Wasim. I will just quote Paul Allott....'You probably shouldn't put an 18 year old in the same bracket as the great Wasim but we might have the makings of another one here'. The fact that he is a leftie is an added bonus. I think he is probably already a much better bowler than Khalil will ever dream of being.
Akhtar Ayub (speed, fire, venom and movement) and Anwar Ali (banana swing) also look good but out of the three, Jamshed is the one that has impressed me the most.
-Where should religion fit in the Pakistani state considering its background (as quite a religious society that holds its beliefs dare and believes Pakistan was meant to be a Muslim state). How do we balance religion and the state given the ground realities?
Religion can still be part of a society without being part of the state itself. You can still go to your mosque, you can still grow your beard, you can still wear your hijab, you can still have Islam classes at school etc. The problem with mixing religion into the state is that it automatically means that one group of people are being looked after more than others. That for me is completely unacceptable in the 21st century. Religion should never be imposed on anyone. Religion is about believing in something with your heart and following it with your heart. You should not need the state to back up your beliefs if this is the case.
I am a very liberal minded person and I believe that people should be allowed to live their lives as they wish (as long as they do not harm others). This is the best way for a happy and productive society.
-Favourite historical episode, or a few historical episodes that interest you more than others?
I specialised in the African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s) at uni and that was a very interesting period to study. It is amazing how America is always harping on to the world about freedom and democracy. Perhaps they should take a long and hard look at themselves before they talk.
-------------------------
Thanks very much for the questions people. Sorry I could not answer them all but I am off for a month Thursday evening and have a few things to sort out.
My name is Hashim Ahmed. I was born on the 3rd of March 1984 at 9.30am in Kingston Hospital. I lived in sunny Kingston until the age of 8 when my family temporarily moved to Dubai where we lived for the next four years before moving back here.
I enjoy a great variety of music but tend to listen to rock. My favourite bands are The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Junoon, U2, Coldplay, REM and many more…plus I have been known to listen to our very own Pakistani legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (managed to convert my two ‘gora’ housemates at uni into avid fans too).
My other interests are cricket, cricket, cricket and a bit of partying/socialising/chilling out here and there too.
-Why did you choose History as your major?
It was the subject I was always best at in school and something which had always fascinated me. Probably in hindsight I should have gone for a more career based degree but then I would not have enjoyed my three years at Sussex uni nearly as much.
-If you had to pick b/w Wasim and Waqar, who do you think the most destructive bowler for Pakistan at his PEAK?
A very tough call but I will have to go with Wasim. Let’s not take anything away from Waqar…he was a great bowler too. But for me Wasim was completely out of this world. If people like Alan Border are saying ‘if I could be reborn as anyone I would be reborn as Wasim Akram’ then he has to something very very special.
Plus I always had a soft spot for Wasim after he gave me a slap across the cheek (an affectionate one!) when I was 9 attending a game at Sharjah!
-Your love for all things 'England' is legendary. Its origins?
I guess the origins are back in 1992 and 'that' tour. I remember even at the age of 8 being completely confused by the reaction of the Angraiz to being outplayed, outclassed and destroyed in such a beastly fashion. I am not JUST talking about the ball tampering allegations but everything...the 'stab the ****'s' chant that went up in Headingly (maybe that was in 1996? I have forgotten) the infamous pigs head that was thrown into the Pakistan supporters, the biased and inconsistent English umpiring (ofcoarse Devon Malcolm can bowl as many bouncers to our tail enders as he wants but the minute Aaqib tries it the umpire starts talking baqwaas to him)
Events since then have done nothing to change my perception of English cricket. The English media and cricketing establishment are the worst losers in the world. England never loses a game fair and square according to them. Already they are making excuses for the battering which they are likely to receive in India (the same excuses which they laughed at when they won the Ashes). Hypocrisy is such a fundamental part of English cricket (reverse/ball tampering, when Alec Stewart was accused of match fixing) and they seem to have this patronising attitude towards Pakistan in particular. Very few things give me more satisfaction than when we beat them (and we do more often than not).
-Overall views on the recent role of the PCB and marks out of 10?
I think the PCB is doing as good a job as we can expect at the moment. The one thing that Pakistan cricket has lacked in the past is consistency and continuity. When Bob took over the usual bashers were saying he would not last six months. Clearly they have been made to eat their words. Similarly Inzi has been captain since August 2003 and will continue to be hopefully until he retires.
There is a culture on PakPassion and amongst all cricket fans in Pakistan to just bash the PCB no matter what they do. This is something that really irritates and disappoints me. It is easy to criticise from your armchair but once you get out on the ground you will find that most jobs are a lot harder than they seem. It is very easy to criticise in hindsight.
I would give them 6.5/10. What I would like to see now is a full time/paid selection committee with proper scouts whose day job is to find cricketers who can play at international level.
-Do you think musharaff needs to be more ruthless with the people causing problems in Pakistan (i.e. mma, bugti etc)?
The one criticism I have of President General Pervaiz Musharaf is that he is sitting on the fence between democracy and dictatorship. I have no problem with dictatorship if it is in the interests of Pakistan. Democracy does not always work and currently in Pakistan the climate is not conducive to democracy. The 'masses', particularly if they are uneducated do not always know what is right for the country.
I think Musharaf should treat these people with an iron fist. The MMA seem very keen on organising mass rallies and demonstrations with people chanting and smashing up buildings that cost money to build. But no MMA 'sympathiser' has ever been able to answer this question...What have the MMA done to improve the quality of life for the common man? They even opposed Musharaf's plan to introduce free literacy centres because they said it would take kids away from their Madrassahs.
As for Bugti…I am sure once he (and his cronies) dies this whole thing will fizzle out. The Baluchi public (despite what Indians and the Indian media want to believe) do not want independence.
-What changes you think Pakistan need to implement to the one day team in order for them to stand a good chance of winning the world cup?
None
-Often you are left standing alone when Pakistan are losing and the rest of PP is in a defeatist mood. From whence came this belief in Pakistan?
When I love something as much as I love Pakistan cricket I cannot help but believe in it. And the last year has shown me that I have every reason to believe in this team. A couple of bad sessions in a test, or one ODI series defeat is not enough for me to go ballistic. What amazes me is that people on PakPassion always criticise the PCB for not showing continuity but it is the same people who make threads about sacking Inzi and Bob after our first series defeat in over a year.
-Have you ever met any cricketer in person?
I have met several. Imran Khan, Salim Altaf, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, Basit Ali, Akram Raza, Aamir Sohail (unfortunately), Intikhab Alam (in Asda funnily enough), Abdul Razzaq, Inzi to name the Pakistanis off the top of my head. I have also had the pleasure of playing mini cricket with Ajay Jadeja and Venkatapathy Raju in the corridor of an apartment block in Dubai!
I have also met John Embury, Mike Gatting and Gladstone Small (who seemed a bit full of himself considering how rubbish a player he was....and I told him so!).
-First Cricketing match you watched live on TV or in person and your memories of it...
On TV it would have been the 1st Test of the 1992 series. I remember it being a high scoring draw but the 2nd Test was great. I did a lap of honour of my entire street with a Pakistan flag. The first game I watched live was a charity game against India at Crystal Palace. There was rioting in the crowd and pitch invasions left, right and centre. The match had to be abandoned! I don't remember much of the game itself!
-If you were given Saj's position in running pakpassion, which changes would you implement and why?
I would probably end up banning half of the members!
-Are there any circumstances in which you would support England?
If England winning would benefit Pakistan. For example if England had to win for Pakistan to qualify for the SF of the World Cup.
-Any other sports that Hash follows, and to what extent.
Football. Not as much as I use to but I am an fan of AFC Wimbledon in the Ryman League Premier Division. Just off the back of two League and cup Championships in a row! Currently three promotions away from League 2. Watch this space.....we will be back in the football league.
-Your five favorite posters on PP, apart from the Mods?
It would be easier for me to list my worst posters! There are too many good ones to list.
-Did u ever play cricket?
I played for my school at every level from U12 to the 1st XI. Opened the batting a few times but mainly a middle order batsman. I had my moments of brilliance (could be relied upon to score 20-40 most of the time) and my moments of pure rubbish too (going for wild swing and getting bowled for a 2nd ball duck when we had already lost early wickets will always remain in my memory sadly).
Would have liked to have played at uni but spent three years doing other things!
-Your favourite current West Indian, Australian, South African players and why
Brian Lara- I love watching lefties bat. There is just something about them which makes them look so flamboyant. Plus the fact that he is just about the greatest batsman alive.
McGrath. Great to see him still going at his age. A beautiful and clean action and uses his brain to get wickets. Fantastic cricketer.
Herchelle Gibbs. I am not a big fan of the South African team. I think they are probably one of the most boring teams around at the moment. But when Gibbs is in flow and hitting the ball from the middle of the bat it is always a treat to watch.
-You have a secular view when it comes to religion, how has it come about?
I believe in all human rights not just Muslim rights. The only way to ensure that all human rights are honoured is if religion is removed from the state. I know Islam is a religion that does look after minorities but let's face it, you can probably count the number of Muslim countries who do this on one hand. I do not believe hijab should be banned but at the same time I do not believe it should be compulsory. People should have the right to choose. And surely God would rather people chose to wear hijab than people only wearing it because it is illegal not to? Let people live the lifestyle they want......they will be answering to God for their own actions, not anyone else.
-What is your view on chumchey?
Not a very positive one obviously. But I suppose we just have to grit our teeth and put up with it. Nothing we can do. The chumchey are hear to stay and we will be hearing their voices on our TV sets for a long time. The most unfortunate thing is that even someone like Imran Khan (who IS very knowledgeable about cricket) was pandering to the Indian delusions after their pyjama series victory.
-Three biggest problems facing Pakistan in your opinion. And possible solutions?
Extremism is the biggest problem in my opinion. Unfortunately it seems to be far too easy for the insane nut heads like the MMA to get people on the streets. And this is what creates the negative media image of Pakistan. But they are a very vocal minority in my opinion. The vast majority of Pakistanis don't care about smashing up banks or KFCs; they only want to get food on the table for their families. The only solution is education.
Illiteracy is another. If people cannot read then they are not likely to find decent jobs or earn enough money to send their kids to school. Free literacy centres was a good idea by Musharaf but I do not know what happened to it because last I heard the MMA were making a fuss (they said it would take kids away from the madrassahs).
Corruption. Everything from the police, to the judiciary to the government is corrupt at least to a certain extent. This is sadly something that will probably never change. The only way one can deal with this is by imposing the harshest possible punishment on those that are corrupt. Make them think 'it isn't worth it' before they commit the act.
-Are you considered stubborn in real life?
Haha! Why? Am i considered stubborn on PakPassion? Ummmm, I have to say nobody has ever called me stubborn.
-Fav. Cricketing moment
Very tough to pick one moment. There have been many... Bangalore, Multan against England, Karachi against India, Edgbaston in the ICC Champs Trophy against India (I was there), Afridi’s 100 from 45 balls are all up there.
-Fav. player, current and all-time
All time- None other than Imran Khan. The most complete cricketer in the history of the sport. He had everything; batting, bowling, captaincy AND was able to deal with the media very well. Off the pitch I wish he stuck to his cancer hospital because he has become a typical bandwagon-jumping politician now.
Current- Inzi. The only 'all time great' we have in our team at the moment and the way he has led from the front and just captained Pakistan to an unbeaten year of cricket has been fantastic. When in full flow he makes batting look so easy. Inzi Zindabaad!
-Since when did u have an interest in politics?
Since a very young age. The Lib Dems at the moment are the party that most meet my views. They believe in scrapping tuition fees, higher taxes on those who earn more than £100,000 and they oppose the war on Iraq to name a few. The amazing thing is that they are suppose to be the 'middle' party with Labour on the left and the Tories on the right but at the moment they are the most left wing of the mainstream parties. I will continue to help them out during their election campaigns as long as it keeps the Tories out of my constituency.
-What makes you think this Pakistan team can bounce back. Especially against India
What makes anyone think they can't? Have a look at the last year. One pyjama series is not enough to change my opinion of the Pakistan team. We ARE one of the best sides in the world. Woolmer has worked wonders with the players and we now have the most united Pakistan team in cricketing history...no factions and no infighting. We have a mighty talented side with a mountain of resources in back up for our bowlers in particular. The only thing that we need to improve on is our fielding and the good thing is we have a year to sort that out before the world cup.
-Favourite international ground +why
Has to be Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore. I have had the honour of seeing one game there. It was Pakistan vs. Bangladesh...the 3rd ODI of the series in 2003. Despite the team we were playing it was a fantastic atmosphere in beautiful surroundings. Always funny to see a game in Pakistan too with all the different characters you see/hear in the crowd.
-Views on Bob Woolmer?
I think Bob is brilliant. People often do not understand this but I believe technology is very important for modern day coaching. It helps to show a cricketer EXACTLY what he is doing wrong and what he is doing right and at the same time helps to work out weaknesses of opposition players which can be exploited. A few hours in the nets is not enough. It is also clear that the overall fitness of the Pakistan team has improved considerably since his arrival. The players seem very happy with him and ultimately that is what counts.
People criticise Bob a lot but when he finally does go they will realise that what we had was something really special. Long live Bob!
-Whats better a Shoaib Akhtar yorker sending middle stump cartwheeling or an Afridi six launching the ball out of the stadium?
I am normally too nervous when we bat to celebrate too wildly (until we hit the winning runs) but wickets are always bring the mad Hash out. When Sami bowled Ponting in Perth I jumped up and kicked over a vase. It completely smashed. Have to say the site of a middle stump cartwheeling is quite out of this world.
-Favourite ODI innings of all time?
Afridi 100 from 45 balls. That was quite unbelievable. The looks on the faces in the crowd were particularly hilarious and they alone made the innings worth it!
-Favourite Test innings of all time?
Has to be Kamran Akmal's century against India in Karachi. He comes in with his side 39 for 6 on the first morning of the deciding test in a series. The pitch was by no means a flat one. He batted under pressure and played a near flawless innings. It was more than a treat to watch. Have to say this kid will be one of the all time greats in the sport (certainly for Pakistan). Mark my words.
Pakistan are 9 wickets down, they need 60 from 5 overs to win the World Cup against England. You are batting at one end, who would you want to bat with and why?
There is only one person who could potentially do this and that is none other than Shahid Khan Afridi.
Your hunch or ideas on the upcoming talent in the Pak cricket scene? Any players yet to have played international cricket at the Senior level who you think would be the future superstars?
Obviously living in London I do not get to see any up and coming talent in the domestic circuit of Pakistan. But from the U19 boys Jamshed Ahmed particularly impressed me. Almost everything about him reminds me of Wasim. I will just quote Paul Allott....'You probably shouldn't put an 18 year old in the same bracket as the great Wasim but we might have the makings of another one here'. The fact that he is a leftie is an added bonus. I think he is probably already a much better bowler than Khalil will ever dream of being.
Akhtar Ayub (speed, fire, venom and movement) and Anwar Ali (banana swing) also look good but out of the three, Jamshed is the one that has impressed me the most.
-Where should religion fit in the Pakistani state considering its background (as quite a religious society that holds its beliefs dare and believes Pakistan was meant to be a Muslim state). How do we balance religion and the state given the ground realities?
Religion can still be part of a society without being part of the state itself. You can still go to your mosque, you can still grow your beard, you can still wear your hijab, you can still have Islam classes at school etc. The problem with mixing religion into the state is that it automatically means that one group of people are being looked after more than others. That for me is completely unacceptable in the 21st century. Religion should never be imposed on anyone. Religion is about believing in something with your heart and following it with your heart. You should not need the state to back up your beliefs if this is the case.
I am a very liberal minded person and I believe that people should be allowed to live their lives as they wish (as long as they do not harm others). This is the best way for a happy and productive society.
-Favourite historical episode, or a few historical episodes that interest you more than others?
I specialised in the African American Civil Rights Movement (1960s) at uni and that was a very interesting period to study. It is amazing how America is always harping on to the world about freedom and democracy. Perhaps they should take a long and hard look at themselves before they talk.
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Thanks very much for the questions people. Sorry I could not answer them all but I am off for a month Thursday evening and have a few things to sort out.
