IN the last 20 years, Karachi’s cricket has seen a marked deterioration in standards. In fact, it has almost totally lost its glory mainly due to poor planning, lack of infrastructure and incompetent people running the affairs of the game.

Now once again, as the Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) polls near, the cricket mafias are scheming to take over things.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has completed the club scrutiny in Karachi, and although the dates for the KCCA polls is yet to be announced, the zonal elections are all set to be held on Oct 23 and 24.

It is significant, in my opinion, that the cricket mafias be removed from the zonal levels if Karachi cricket is to return to its original track and standard. Unfortunately, however, these mafias are very powerful and as many as 95% of the zonal seats are in control of the same set of people who are running and managing Karachi cricket for the last twenty years.

It is no secret that the entire Pakistan cricket has been suffering due to the poor standard of club cricket in the country. The haphazard system in place continues to help these people at the helm. They enjoy a certain hold on the clubs which ultimately influences the regions and the associations. These peoples have done their home work very well and are ready to dictate their terms in the coming KCCA elections.

On the other hand, the genuine cricket lovers, the experts of the game as well as the former Test cricketers are helpless despite their earnest wish to bring a change in the present KCCA setup.

If Karachi cricket is once again going to be captured by incompetent people, it will be a great setback for the fair-minded, sincere and passionate people who want to see the game thriving in this mega city.

The procedure for the KCCA election depends upon the votes of three office bearers of each zone (chairman, secretary, treasurer). Karachi has a total of seven cricketing zones and hence a total of 21 votes will decide the fate of Karachi cricket.

In my opinion, all the PCB affiliated clubs in Karachi (161) should cast their vote directly for KCCA election, just like the PCB chairman’s elections which are to be decided by the votes of the General Body. That will minimize the power and control of the vested interests.

Under the current circumstances, light at the end of the tunnel is seen due to the presence of Nadeem Omar who has announced to contest the KCCA presidential elections. His candidature is great news for Karachi cricket although it will not be an easy task for him to win the upcoming elections despite the fact that he has announced a very logical and far-reaching program for the revival of Karachi cricket.

Everybody who believes in Karachi cricket and feels for it is supporting Nadeem because he appears sincere to the cause of bringing a positive change to the game and its set-up in the metropolis.

However, I must warn him that vested interests are not going to support him and will not cooperate with him in the polls. Surprisingly, one prominent figure of Karachi cricket and a leading cricket organizer who enjoys very close relations with Nadeem is not prepared to support him openly and is following the policy of ‘wait and see’. Isn’t this an opportunist’s approach?

Some of the ex-players attached with the game in one way or the other are happy with what they are doing for Karachi cricket in their own style. But that is not enough because cricket in Karachi cricket will not improve unless one becomes part of the KCCA which has a majority of clubs affiliated with it. Only if we are able to enhance the quality, standard, infrastructure of club cricket, a definite change will come in Pakistan cricket.

Surely, the contest of presidential elections of the KCCA is going to be very tough and close. Zone-I, IV & VI are supporting Nadeem as candidate while Ejaz Faruqi enjoys a fair control over Zone-II, III and V. The fate of KCCA presidency, however, lies with Zone VII which is supposed to be under the control of Iqbal Waris, the patron of Asifabad Sports.

Thus a very interesting situation has developed now with both candidates eager to bring Zone-VII in their favour. Iqbal, however, has said that he will support only those who have a very clear vision and program for the development of Karachi cricket and as well as for building infrastructure.

The other factors that can play a vital role in the election include the

Siraj Bukhari factor since he still has a few solid votes in his bag.

There is, of course, the money factor which can play a very strong role in the KCCA polls. A lot also will be depending on the contacts that the candidates have at the right places.

The writer is a former Test cricketer and coach