Pakistan, PJ and reports, all denied

That Jamil goes around with the popular nickname ‘PJ’ isn’t a coincidence. It started with the controversy over Pakistan players speaking in Urdu. Among the various reasons the team management put forward — national language, president’s orders, players being comfortable — for this language change there was one that drew a few smirks. As PJ informed us: “This is the year of Pakistan tourism and speaking in Urdu will help us promote our nation.”

Things stirred up when Inzamam spoke the Queen’s language at the award ceremony on the field after the first game and this was seen by many as ICC’s arm-twisting. It was time for PJ to issue a denial: “It was a mutual understanding between ICC and PCB, there is no truth in these reports.”

The day before the game against Ireland, and before the cameras were set up and recorders switched on, Inzamam tried to dismiss the language issue in his own style. “Bhai aap logon ka masla kya hai. President ke order hain aur main aur yeh kuch nahi kar sakte. Mujhe English thik se nahi aati,” he said.

As the mood lightened temporarily, PJ, sitting on the dais with the skipper, got a call from an ICC official. He was trying to explain how a quote attributed to him in a dope-testing story was totally fabricated. The report said how the ICC target testing method was a human rights violation. As PJ’s conversation with the ICC official continued, holding up the press conference, Inzamam asked his media manager to deal with it later.

At the end of the briefing, it was time for PJ to issue another denial. “We totally support what the ICC is doing, and we have nothing against their dope testing methods,” he said.

This came a day after he had denied a report where it was suggested that the Pakistan players were not allowed by the management to accept lunch and dinner invitations from locals.

Finally, the good old post-defeat bread and butter story. The simplistic analysis for the defeat: infighting and factionalism in the Pakistan camp. Second reason? You guessed it right: captain and coach don’t get along.

And by the way, the coach has apparently packed his bags, ready to leave Pakistan. PJ didn’t have to deny the last one, as PCB chairman Nasim Ashraf himself has done so.

Coach Bob Woolmer too seems exasperated by the reports, as he is seen explaining to one journalist to at least give him one call before filing those palace intrigue stories.

Ask Inzamam about it and he has a profound take on the whole issue. “I would have been shocked in case there was no such talk after the defeat,” he says. And adds with a smile, “Mein used to hun, ab se nahi, 17 saal ho gayen hai. Yeh bilkul pareshani ki baat nahi hai, aur sare apni jagah sahi kaam kar rahe hain.”

PJ for once didn’t have to go in to the denial mode.