NOT QUITE RIGHT

I watched some of the Test Match today. England had a good day, dismissing Pakistan for 72 and going on to make 112 for 2 at the close of play. It was entertaining from the point of view of an England supporter, but it made for painful viewing for those supporting Pakistan, either at Edgbaston, on tv or even back home in Pakistan.

Which brings me to my point. Now, we have all heard of the devastation caused by the monsoon floods in Pakistan - the worst for getting on for a century - with over 1600 dead, 12million affected and counting. It is a disaster of biblical proportions and quite rightly appeals have gone out for financial and practical aid to help those affected. It`s times like these that somehow bring the people of the world together and give us just a glimpse of what it might be like to belong to a truly worldwide community.

But a couple of things have disturbed me today. The first was the insistence of Pakistan President Zardari to continue his jaunt around Europe and meet David Cameron at Chequers to doubtless pursue their `meaningful discussions.` I did wonder whether President Zardari would not serve his country better by returning home and at least giving the impression of a caring, leading figurehead. I would like to believe that Cameron would not only understand but also agree where the priorities might lie.

The other thing that occurred to me, watching England`s demolition of the Pakistan cricket team, was whether they, the Pakistanis, really wanted to be here at all and whether their minds were not also back home and away from the cloistered environment that is cricket at whatever level the game is played. For cricket is a world of its own, away from the real world. It has its own rules, timetable, history, traditions, its own atmosphere and its own way of doing things. There are times when a cricket match is all embracing, locked in its own protective bubble and quite oblivious of the world beyond the boundary. Today, it seemed, was not one of those times.

Now it might just be that Pakistan are rubbish at cricket or that England have suddenly become world beaters. I have my doubts about either possibility, but I had the feeling today that the Pakistan team, rather than simply not wanting to be in Birmingham, should actually have been somewhere else anyway, where the need is greater and the priorities clear. They might, after all, do far more good back home than continue the relentless drubbing they are suffering over here. Playing yet another game of cricket somehow doesn`t feel quite right.