Top 10 footballers of the decade
By Umaid Wasim
Like most people of my generation it was only at the turn of this century that I began to appreciate the beautiful game. Throughout the first decade of the 21st Century, there were many great players who lead their sides to greatness. From World Cup finals to domestic titles, these players were the best of the best. These players make this game great; keep us glued to our TV sets and even inspire us to have a kick around and during the last ten years, there has been a whole good lot of inspiration.

The first International World Student Games were held in Rome in 1910 and the first ever Academic Olympiads were staged in Warsaw in 1925. Seeing the success of the 4th International Students Championship in Darmstadt with over a 1000 participants from 33 countries, the International Union of Students (IUS) was founded in Prague in 1946 to foster fraternity and understanding amongst the youth through sports.

Pakistan made its mark on the international youth sports in the Moscow Universidad in 1973, where a contingent of seven players including two female tennis players, two athletes, two wrestlers and a swimmer was sent. Late Begum Razia Ali Beg accompanied the contingent as chef-de-mission. The contingent on the whole failed to win any medal in the competition.

This would have been good learning curve for young Pakistani athletes and administrators but the lessons learned were soon forgotten, and the higher ups of then University Grants Commission (UGC) later redesigned as Higher Education Commission (HEC) under pressure of its high ups hurriedly assembled a three member team to participate in 1975 Rome Universidad and the results were no different from 1973.

Pakistan's third representation in the world university games came in Bulgaria (Sofia) in 1977. The seven member contingent including a manager cum coach had nothing to cherish except for some exotic dinners at the house of Pakistani Ambassador, Commodore (Retd) Saleemi.

When the 1981 Bucharest (Romania) World University Summer Games were announced, the HEC decided to send its three best athletes. However, the trio of Ali Haider (NED University), Amir Hamza, shot put national champion now DG PSB and late Nabeel Ishtiaq who was national swimming champions also failed to make any mark during the competition.

The only consolation of the 1985 Kobe Universidad was the formal affiliation of HEC, then UGC, with International University Sports Federation (FISU) that opened the formal doors for Pakistan to regularly participate and benefits from World University games. The Zagreb 1987 Universidad would, however, be remembered due to the excellent performance of Naushaba Khan who qualified for the semis of 100-metre dash which was never repeated again by any other female athlete from Pakistan at that level.

The Universidad games from 1991 to date, with the exception of 2005-06 games in Turkey where a Pakistani University boxer manage to win a bronze medal, are testimony to the disappointing performance of Pakistan youth at University games.

A careful and in depth analysis of the Universidad reveals that the universities all over the world produce sportsperson of international calibre and the world university games is a platform where young athletes either equal, better or shatter the World and Olympic records.

It is a fact that universities play a pivotal role in formulating and finishing the best of human resource in any country. Sports are no exception, as universities around the world not only produce future world champions but also provide an atmosphere for sport related academic pursuits.

It is unfortunate that our university sports leaders, instead of focusing on the strength of sports programmes offered worldwide had either been complacent about paucity of funds or had focused on issues which added no value to their learning. The divergent activities of contingents from Pakistan and other developing counties become so obvious that organisers of 1977 Universidad at Bulgaria had to make a very interesting announcement that youth from some developing countries "must take care of their tiny hearts and emotion in having friendships with opposite sex, as games duration is short and international passport rules, visa and travelling restrictions may not allow them to see each other again". The remark is self explanatory and does not require further explanation.

The university sport in Pakistan has a long history. Initially these competitions were held by the universities at their own. Having been encouraged by the participation of various universities, a need was felt for a proper sports committee to be formed and thus Inter University Sports Bard (IUSB) was established in 1948. The IUSB comprised of director of sports of all the universities in Pakistan and a secretary was stationed in Islamabad to co-ordinate the operations.

Though the system was not programme-efficient, yet it can be rated satisfactory in terms of participation of sportsperson and spectators. The financial requirements of Inter-University Sports for holding tournaments, camps and tours were met through collateral financial contribution of participating universities as annual subscriptions.

The system prevailed till 1974 when UGC as established. After which the entire system was changed. The UGC from there onwards took over the responsibility of promoting sports in universities. In 1976, a spots academy was established at the Federal Government College in H/9 Islamabad with the support of Federal Education Minister. The facility was established with great interest but became inactive with the passage of time due to lack of capacity and poor sports programmes in colleges and universities.

Another soft area of university sports in Pakistan is its redundant degree and diploma program. The masterís degree in physical education that started in Gomal University in 1976-77 is perhaps the last choice of students opting for a post graduation.

The HEC has recently appointed Mr Talat Khursheed as DG Sports. With more than 5 million postgraduate students in 94 private and public universities of Pakistan, sports enthusiasts and high ups in HEC have high expectation from the stalwart. One hopes that HEC would now evolve a comprehensive University Sports Policy, start with master degree program in sport management, publish a quarterly sports journal of international standard, establish a research and development cell at its high altitude facility in Khanaspur, create proper training and coaching facilities for players, establish a transparent talent hunting system, and create private public partnerships for improvement of University sports in the country.

There is much more that can be done to improve the standard of University Sports in the Country for which Higher Education Commission has to put its priorities rights. The participation in International University competition and conferences should not only be a source of sight seeing, free joy rides and shopping trips but a real source of learning and achieving high standards in international sports. The nation's youth look up it its organisations and policy makers in HEC to deliver at this critical juncture so that they can make their mark at international level and win laurels for their country that they love.

It is an established fact in cricket that national selectors are for ever subjected to criticism as it is not possible to satisfy everybody. Fortunately over a period with good consistent execution of their tasks like the Australians, the team results prove their mettle. In Pakistan the senior team is having its troubles and the recent results in New Zealand are at best inconclusive. It is enough to say that we could have tried more youngsters and still produced the same outcome. We have opted to take Mohammad Sami to Australia. I hope I am wrong but this selection of a military medium pacer who has not been in favour in the recent past cannot be productive for the Australian wickets. This article, however, is meant to examine the selection of the Under 19 team which has been chosen for the forthcoming World Cup. In the present selection it appears that the tours to Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the recent regional tournament were the basis for the selections. The latest tournament was reduced to a one day affair instead of the normal three day games presumably to assist proper selections. It seems that we have decided that the longer version of the game is no longer relevant for the PCB! And also does not give the selectors a good basis for selection. How strange!

Logic and good cricket experience suggest that selections should be made to meet specific requirements of playing positions. This presumes that the fifteen would be made up of two openers, five middle order players, two allrounders, five bowlers and one wicketkeeper. Usually the teams like to opt for two spinners and three pace bowlers. An eye is kept open to choose one of the middle order players having the ability to go at the number three position. The allrounders adds to the medium pacers or to a part time spinner.

These criteria must always be safeguarded by ensuring that the best players are selected with no value being added for proportional representation of the regions or for the influence that the player can summon. If for instance we were to just select three players each from five regions then there would be no need for quality selectors and all and sundry could perform the 'election'. I am sad to say that I expected much more from the present chief selector and his team. The selected fifteen regrettably do not fit the bill of best selections.

The selectors have opted for a somewhat different make up of the team in that they have four openers, three middle order players, two allrounders, three spinners, two quick's and one wicketkeeper. So be it. One cannot really fault this make up and thus will keep our peace. The sad fact is that the back grounds of the players have contributed to keeping deserving players out of the chosen squad. Variously different basis have been used to select pre- elected players. A break-up of the fifteen shows that five of the players are products of the National Cricket Academy, four from Rawalpindi/Islamabad, two each from Lahore and Sialkot with one from Hyderabad. This in itself would not be any reason to take exception except that deserving players from Karachi and Hyderabad have lost out to less deserving players from the NCA and Islamabad. Worst still it appears there has been an attempt to balance influence by preferring backed players to deserving ones so that the selection committee retains its 'popularity'.

It is sad that two openers, one middle-order batsman, two quicks, one spinner and a wicketkeeper have been short changed. The names of these players are; Ammar Hassan, Umer Siddiqi, Bilal Munir, Muhammad Owais, Ahsan Jameel, Abdul Ameer and Maroof Aziz. The inconsistency in selection criteria screams out when you consider that in some cases the Zimbabwe tour has been given importance and combined with regional results to suit preferred selection, in others the Sri Lanka tour is given the same treatment and finally to confound it all in some cases the regional results are all that have been considered. Space does not allow me the facility to reproducing a table which proves the above but I would be happy to share it on demand.

The most glaring cases are: Two openers have been selected who never went to Zimbabwe or Sri Lanka based on their performances in the region. But these are not the best of those who participated with them.

One middle-order batsman has been deprived of his rightful place by one who only went to Sri Lanka and another who only participated in the regional games.

The point can be proven by runs scored or averages. Strangely even in these instances no one criterion has been used to selectively justify strange selections. The bowlers and the wicketkeeper fare no better in this comparison and unfortunately only further go to prove that the selection has been biased, not justified and does not meet the essential requirement of the best players in each specialisation from any where in Pakistan.

May I say to these honorable selectors that whilst we may overlook the strange decisions in the case of the senior team because at times those players are more sinning than sinned against in the Under 19 case we are playing with the future of the youth and of Pakistan cricket. Please, please give them a fair chance.

Top 10 footballers of the decade

Like most people of my generation it was only at the turn of this century that I began to appreciate the beautiful game. Throughout the first decade of the 21st Century, there were many great players who lead their sides to greatness. From World Cup finals to domestic titles, these players were the best of the best. These players make this game great; keep us glued to our TV sets and even inspire us to have a kick around and during the last ten years, there has been a whole good lot of inspiration.

As a passionate lover of the game of football, here is my countdown of the best ten players of the decade. I have taken into consideration individual performance and success, combined quality, longevity -- players who were associated for a good six years with the game, team success at club and international level, as well as overall influence and talent in the world of football. Leadership too was also a contributing factor.

Lionel Messi and Kaka miss out because their reign over a decade has not started as yet. England trio of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard failed to make the cut due to their failure to perform for England (missing out on Euro 2008). Honourable mentions as some of the best players of this decade go to the following: Andrei Shevchenko, Clarence Seerdorf, Raul, Ryan Giggs, Fernando Torres, Iker Casillas, Javier Zanetti, Luis Figo, Fabio Cannavaro and Roberto Carlos.

10. Cristiano Ronaldo

Still only 23, the World's most expensive player surely has his best years to come. Termed as 'waste' in his early years at Manchester United as a replacement for 'the David Beckham', the young Portuguese gave a new meaning to wing-play and has a uniquely successful way of taking free-kicks. Coupled with the physical prowess that made him a force in the air and one of the few who can run even faster with a ball at his feet than without, helped him plunder a preposterous 40 goals in the 2007-08 season en route to victory in the Premier League and Champions League. FIFA player of the Year and Ballon d'Or winner in 2008, the Portuguese has also been instrumental for his national side. An absolute masterclass and one of the best in the world, Ronaldo will also be a contender next decade if he stays fit.

9. Claude Makelele

Perhaps the biggest tactical trend for which this decade will be remembered is the widespread deployment of a defensive midfielder. Claude Makelele is widely considered the premier defensive midfielder of the modern game, which is often named after him, being called the "Makelele Role." After joining Real Madrid from Celta Vigo in 2000, the diminutive midfielder was one of Real's unheralded stars as the club won the Champions League in 2002 and the Spanish League in 2003. Not many realised his worth before he moved to Chelsea in 2003. Successive League titles with the London club followed in 2005 and 2006 before he came out of international retirement and helped France to reach the 2006 World Cup final.

8. Xavi

Widely considered among the finest playmakers in world football, Xavi is a lynchpin for both club and country. Barcelona through and through, the midfielder was named the official Man of the Match of the 2009 Champions League Final as he helped Barcelona defeat Manchester United to win their third European Cup. Earlier Champions League glory came Xavi's way in 2006. Xavi was also a part of the Spanish national side as they won Euro 2008 and was subsequently named Best Player of the tournament by UEFA.

7. Gianluigi Buffon

For the best part of this millennium, Buffon has been the best goalkeeper on earth. A key player for Italy during their successful world cup campaign in 2006 his magnificent performances saw them only concede two goals during the whole tournament. His consistency has seen him stay as Italy's number one for the whole decade. Buffon's performances for Juventus have too have been immense. After the match-fixing scandal that resulted in Juve's relegation, Buffon stuck with the Old Lady and took the club back to Serie A and the Champions League.

6. Samuel Eto'o

In June 2000, Eto'o won the African Cup of Nations with Cameroon. Now he is the captain of his national team. One of the best strikers in the world, Eto'o signed for Barcelona in 2004 and since then, there has been no stopping him. Champions League winner twice with the club -- and incidentally scoring in both the finals in 2006 and 2009, Eto'o has a class of his own. Three Spanish League titles and another African Cup of Nations title in 2002 follow those achievements.

5. Paolo Maldini

He is recognised as one of the greatest defenders of all time and his name is synonymous with AC Milan. A one-club man, Maldini captained the Rosseneri to Champions League glory in 2003 and 2007 along with winning the Serie A in 2004. Maldini is a symbol for AC Milan; his greatness exemplified by the fact that the Milan club retired Maldini's famous 'Number 3' jersey when he left the game in 2008.

4. Deco

When it comes to winning big trophies over the last decade, the Brazil-born Portuguese playmaker is amongst the leading players. Two Champions League crowns -- one with FC Porto (2004) and one with Barcelona (2006), a UEFA Cup with FC Porto (2003), two Spanish League titles, two Portuguese League titles and an FA Cup winners medals make Deco one of the most decorated players of the decade. Consistent throughout for club and his adopted country; according to his former coach Jose Mourinho, "He is a genius, just like Zidane!"

3. Thierry Henry

For Thierry Henry, the end to the decade came with an infamous handball against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier however; his goal-scoring dominance, brilliance, consistency, and leadership ability cannot be denied. In his peak, particularly during his years at Arsenal, Henry was the best striker and arguably the best player in the world. Part of Arsenal's invincibles of the 2003-04 season, Henry has stayed virtually injury free for the whole decade. In the last ten years he has won two Premiership titles, three FA Cups and the historic treble with Barcelona, as well as a European Championship with France in 2000. The fact that going into his 30's he is still a first team player, in arguably the best team this decade, says it all.

2. Zinedine Zidane

Quite simply, one of the greatest players of all time -- Zidane is right up there with Pele, Cruyff and Maradona. As far as his game is concerned, Zidane is without peer even if he only operated at full power for the first half of this decade. Zidane was an absolute midfield maestro that could dominate any opponent, create chances, and even score himself. Despite his best achievement coming in 1998 Zinedine Zidane saved his best performances for this millennium. 'The Monk' illuminated Euro 2000 and a dazzling goal in the Champions League final in 2002 won it for Real Madrid. When many had thought Zidane was past his peak at 34 years of age he turned back the clock with some truly world class performances for France, leading the all the way to the World Cup final in 2006. Only his violent actions in the game saw him lose out on winning the 2006 World Cup and the Numero Uno spot in this countdown.

1. Ronaldinho

More talent in his little toe than most professional players have in both feet, Ronaldinho became the most celebrated player on the planet in this decade. In two years at Paris St Germain he provided magical entertainment and then in 2002 he scored a fantastic free-kick against England while leading Brazil to the World Cup. In 2003, he took his show to Barcelona, and for most of the next four years he staged weekly festivals of flicks, dribbles and fabulous free-kicks, all backed up by visionary passing, ferocious competitiveness and explosive acceleration. On one famous occasion, while scoring twice in a 3-0 win at the Bernabeu, even Real Madrid fans were moved to acclaim a player who had the ability and audacity to do things that no one since Diego Maradona had even imagined possible. By the age of 26 he had won the World Cup, Champions League and FIFA World Player of the Year, twice -- in 2004 and 2005. When he really turned on the style, Ronaldinho ended making up new moves on the spot and played with a huge smile on his face. Was there ever a player who was more enjoyable to watch?