Hungry Ganguly leading from the front

I am writing my first column after a long time with mixed feelings. Only a few hours away from our first Indian T20 championship game against Hyderabad, I surely have a few butterflies in my stomach as bowling consultant of the Kolkata team. But my heart is heavy seeing the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket and hockey.

If the recent happenings in Pakistan cricket made us a laughing stock, finishing last in World Cup hockey in Delhi was like adding chilly powder to injury. This is surely one of the worst chapters in our sporting history.

I understand the hockey team has decided to resign. Well, on the face of it, it's an appropriate decision but it could be a preemptive move to avoid the severe backlash expected back home. Hockey is as popular as cricket and the defeat to India will surely not help.

I don't want to talk about hockey when our cricket is in such a sad state. Fortunately for me, the Indian T20 championship and my involvement with Shah Rukh's team have kept me away from the madhouse that the PCB has become. The idea of banning players for indefinite periods is a crazy decision. Thankfully, I was not part of this PCB probe panel, although I was one of its members.

I am probably the only Pakistani connect in the T20 showpiece starting in Mumbai tonight. Frankly, as a cricketer, I am happy to be around and I wish some of our players could have played as well. But then there are certain things one cannot control.

I am happy to be part of the Kolkata team. First of all, Shah Rukh's role has to be appreciated. He is a professional and does not interfere in cricketing affairs. The team management comprising the coach (Dav Whatmore), captain (Sourav Ganguly) and myself has been handed all the power.

That makes the Kolkata team a more motivated lot. Ganguly, as I have seen him in his heydays as skipper, has been in the thick of action. He has lost weight, looks hungry and wants to prove a point. Ganguly has got a few runs in first-class matches and that is indication enough that he is still good at his game.

A good captain has a halo effect. The team members start walking 10 feet tall. Confidence is key to good performance and a good start against Hyderabad will be crucial. Almost all sides are equally matched. Hyderabad is a good side and so are we. I don't want to do a man-to-man comparison. I would rather concentrate on my team and make sure we do the right things at the right moment. The best thing is every one is aware of his responsibilities.

I think we have the best coach in the championship. Dav has a lot of experience coaching sub-continental sides, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. He has been my coach in Lancashire and together we have formed a great unit. Dav's experience with the Indian National Cricket Academy will also be a plus. Methodical and a hard task-master, Kolkata's youngsters are bound to deliver under the Aussie boss.

It was wonderful working with Ishant (Sharma), (Ashok) Dinda, Lamxi (Ratan Shukla) and the likes. I have told them a few things and let's hope the plans will work. We still haven't seen Shane Bond. He is likely to miss our first two games. Bond is a world class performer and the team is surely banking on him. There are questions about Bond's fitness, but in T20 cricket, I don't think fitness is going to be an overwhelming factor. Players have and can even play with niggles.

It surely is going to be big night for every body. The Indian T20 series has been a trendsetter. It's great that the tournament is back in India. The stage is set, and Inshallah, Kolkata will come out trumps.