My Middlesex friend (not Cleasby!) went to Uxbridge today and watched Middlesex beat Derby. While there, the rumour circulating among the members in the know was that Shahzad was due to sign the dotted line any time soon.
It's the first I've heard of this particular story but I do believe he has not yet signed a new contract tying him to Yorkshire. Someone out there, please reassure me that this is nonsense and that there is no way he would want to play for Angus Frazer's team at the headquarters of cricket where he can help drag Middlesex from the depths of Division 2 and earn the attention of people more influential, even, than Steve Oldham.
It wouldn't surprise me. Cricketers are different these days - more ego-centric, money-oriented and focused on establishing England careers, rather than turning out for their counties. Perhaps Shahzad has been influnced by Naved.
Besides, Yorkshire are a team on the decline, so it's not big news that some of the players would want to leave a sinking ship, without direction or leadership.
"Cricketers are different these days - more ego-centric, money-oriented and focused on establishing England careers, rather than turning out for their counties."
Curse them for wanting to further their careers.
Sorry, these are human beings we're talking about, not performing monkeys. If a cricketer/accountant/shop assistant thinks their career is better served with another company, so be it. If "John" worked in the Co-op but felt that it was a dead-end job and went to work for Sainsbury's instead, would we criticise him because Mrs Jenkins from round the corner thought he was nice and wanted him to stay at the Co-op? Never, never criticise the players for wanting to move on. Criticise the set-up that makes them unhappy in the first place.
Personally, I love my job, and I love where I work. But it's a slightly anachronistic place in this day and age. If a more modern (sic) company calls me tomorrow in some highly unlikely headhunting mission, I'll be off with few qualms. I'm getting married next year (Perhaps. Who knows, in the off-season you may here more), and I have to be practical. Thus Capitalism.
At this point we could start blaming everybody who voted for that woman in the 1980s, but I suspect that that would politicise things rather more than we need. Obviously we at Yorkshire hate politicisation...
Shahzad doesn't look happy at Yorkshire - and I think he feels that a move would help him realise his potential elsewhere. It's a shame - but I think he's probably right. He's been "promising" for a few years now and perhaps he needs a change if he's going to move up to the next level. It works for some (Lumb) but not for others (Lawson/Wood). It's his choice and we shouldn't blame him for wanting to better himself - much better to see it as an opportunity for Patterson/Hannon-Dalby et al.
Can I be the first to say that I'm looking forward to hearing more about CravanShaker's wedding plans during the close season! It's going to be along cold Winter and we must find solace where we can...
Sorry but this isn't the usual player moving on ... Shahzad has been 'promising' because whenever we've needed him Ajmal has been injured. Now as soon as the lad finally gets fit he's rumoured to be leaving the team who'se paid him for years .... sounds similar to a certain Mr G**gh.
p.s. There was a rumour at one of the Scarborough games that Shahzad was going to be capped ... it didn't happen, but would this have helped in making his mind up
This message has been edited by dpressed on Sep 14, 2009 10:26 AM
The latest position is that Shazza has received three definite offers from Warwickshire,Surrey and of course Middlesex.
Middlesex Managing Directot of cricket Gus Fraser has had several discussions with him and his parents,and is extremely pro-active in securing his signature,whilst we know big money boys,Warwicks and Surrey automatically bid for everyone out of contract.
He's Yorkshire born and bred and as oft stated his love for his county of birth,but he is an ambitious young man,who says,''I want to play for a county that will give me the best opportunity of playing for England''.
Relegation for Yorkshire may well influence his final decsision.
Time will tell,but whatever his future we should wish him all the very best.
I hope massive effort is being put in to retain Shazad`s services. Cap him, pay him extra, do anything it takes to retain him. We simply can not afford to lose him.
It is a dangerous precedent to give players what ever they want,and certainly one to be avoided.
To be effectively black-mailed into meeting an individual player's demands,is wrong.
Where a wage structure is in place as is the case at Yorkshire and most other counties,then that should be adhered to,as to avoid dissent and resentment.
No doubt that Shazza is an asset to the club and we have already made him an improved offer.
Hopefully he'll stay at Yorkshire,but a club can only do so much,but in financial terms will never compete with some others.
I wonder if some of the players are spotting all the money being spent around the ground on new drainage systems, new pavilions and other ground developments and thinking that they are being taken for granted?
I doubt we are the worst payers (as presumably the size of the membership is much greater than other counties which in turn helps finance wages) and we must have saved some money by not having to pay Vaughan and Rana for half the season.
However we did get Hoggys costs back this year but this could be offset next year by Bres and Rashid having incremental ECB contracts.
catch 22 scenario - give a bit more to Hoggy and Shahzad to persuade them to stay or throw even more at a more expensive overseas strike bowler and hack them both off? We have not exactly had great success with our overseas bowlers in the past so I think I would make sure we have kept Shahzad and Hoggy and see what we have left for the overseas option.
If we sign an overseas strike bowler before we sign Hoggy and Shahzad, they will both assume they are not the "man" and it will probably mean that one or both will be off to other teams.
I think Hoggy will sign, but Shahzad seems to have little emotional connection with the Tykes, and as is the fashion these days he'll probably put his own interests before the team's interests. Besides, he's pretty young and still relatively unproven to be holding management's hand to the fire over this. I have a sneaky feeling he'll be gone as soon after the season ends. I hope I'm wrong.
But Sir Geoff was a Tyke for his entire career. Even after he was sacked in 1986, he refused big-money offers from Notts and Derbyshire. He always showed up for the Tykes. Ajmal will follow the money.
boycott was a relatively rich man with a long test career behind him shavad is a young uncapped county player who has to look to his future. there is no reason why he cant do that with yorkshire but he must look at his options. and by the way boycott always looked after himself as well.
let's not critical of anyone who "follows the money". Isn't that what we all do? Isn't that the basis of anyone's career?
It's a short career - he has to make as much money as he can WHILE he can. Whatver he decides - there is NO reason for anyone on this Forum to criticise him..
Agreed and it will be a shame if we cannot match the best financial offer he receives from elsewhere anyway in view of our revenue streams and salary savings elsewhere.
Whilst I agree following the money is the fashion these days and player movement is more prevalent than it ever used to be, i think there is still some expectation of loyalty and payback for the club supporting Ajmal in previous seasons through a number of injuries. This season he has gone from promising and often injured youngster to first team regular (with no injuries).
Capping him would hopefully solve the problems and give both player and club a satisfactory outcome. Surely some of Kruis's salary could then go Ajmals way?
If Yorkshire had have told Shaahzad to get lost a couple of years ago no one would have taken him on ... Yorkshire persivered because of the obvious talent ... now its time for 'pay back' ..... or would Steve C be willing to pay for someone to be trained only to be told 'goodbye' when the person started earning good money?
People wonder why I was so against G**gh ... well Yorks kep D*rr*n on when he had major injuries ... & even picked him over Ryan Sidebottom to get him match fit .... G**gh responded by signing for Essex (admittedly due to Byas returning) after Ryan had left to get first team cricket.
"....or would Steve C be willing to pay for someone to be trained only to be told 'goodbye' when the person started earning good money? "
Yes i would.
This happens in every industry - it's a fact of life. How many people are expected to stay with an employer for the rest of their career simply because they got their first job with them....
if the real issue here is about money for Shahzad then why are we unable to compete with Middlesex and Warwickshire for his signature? where is our money on salaries going and are we suffering from having so many players on the books which spreads the salary budget more thinly and would we be better with a lower headcount but pay them more? Would this jeapordise our recent success in the 2nds and Academy teams?
What is the players relationship like with Moxon and Oldham? Has Oldham coached him for so long now that Shahzad needs a new challenge? Would a new coach or bowling coach freshen up Shahzads interests in staying?
Apart from money, why else might Middlesex and Warks sound more appealing? Is it because they openly court his services whereas Yorkshire do it behind the scenes??
Steve is right ... but some employers have 'golden handcuffs' where an employee is expected to stay for a certain time to pay back their training if it takes a long time.
As for pay ... there have been rumours that Yorks are below average when it comes to player remunaration