Bias in Cricket: Sports Journalist Qamar Javed’s Life Experience

News Desk

Karachi: Veteran sports journalist and international cricket commentator, Qamar Javed, warned this week that ball-tampering has existed since early days of cricket.

However, western cricket teams and boards have consistently accused Pakistani and other Asian players. This bias is still prevalent today.

Speaking at an event hosted by Liaquat National Hospital in Karachi, Ahmed emphasized that match fixing is not limited to any specific region, it is a global issue. He stated that Asia, particularly Pakistan, is the one to face harsh criticism, while western umpires have a history of biased decisions.

Looking back at his 55 year old career, detailed in his autobiography “Far More Than a Game”, he mentioned freelancing for BC and major international news outlets.

Ahmed praised legends such as Wsim Akram and Waqar Younis as the most feared bowlers in the world. He also highlighted Mohammad Zahid’s pace, along with Hanif Mohammed, Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, and Majid Khan as among the finest batsmen.

Ahmed vividly described his personal experiences beyond cricket. This included a game with former British Prime Minister John Major, meeting film icons like Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, and once serving chicken for Indian skipper Mohammad Azharruddin in New Zealand, an act that led to legal action.

He also shared childhood memories from the 1950s, when his father treated prisoners, including future Prime Minister Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, from the Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case.

He remembered how Miandad hit two tons and a fifty in a match in response to Imran Khan questioning his ability to score centuries, in a game against West Indies.

He concluded with admiration for Zaheer Abbas’s record breaking feat of 108 centuries while recalling Majid Khan’s flair. Ahmed offered a sweeping reflection on cricket’s past and present, underlining the continuous discrimination and the enduring spirit of the game and its players.