Player AI

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Player AI

Muhammad Omar Iftikhar

Daastan Publishing 2024

First Published in Pakistan by Daastan PVT LTD

House # A-41, Madni Street, Lala Rukh, Wah Cantt, Punjab 47040

www.daastan.com

www.meraqissa.com

Text copyrights © Muhammad Omar Iftikhar

Cover Image Credit: Image by Vilius Kukanauskas from Pixabay

Edited by: Mariam Rizvi

The moral rights of the writer, illustrator, and editor have been asserted.

All rights reserved

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or distributed in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

ISBN 978-969-696-955-6

eISBN 978-969-696-956-3

Player AI

The crisp crackling sound echoed across the cricket ground the moment the ball connected with the bat. Yasir Ehsan, the skipper of the Pakistan T20 team, struck his seventh boundary. Pakistan was engaged in a decisive match against Sri Lanka, the third encounter in the one-on-one T20 series. It was being played in Lahore.

Despite feeling dizzy for a couple of days, Yasir resolved to play the match, attributing his unsteadiness to the jet lag he and his team were experiencing. The spectators cheered fervently for Yasir as he accumulated single and double runs, keeping the scoreboard moving—one run at a time. With Pakistan needing 27 runs to win in 3 overs, Yasir managed to score 17 runs in 11 balls. Pakistan won the match with three deliveries to spare.

The jubilant Pakistan squad rushed to the center of the pitch to lift their captain, who had led them to the team’s third consecutive series win and the second consecutive on home soil within fourteen months. As Yasir sat on the shoulders of his wicketkeeper, savoring the moment, he suddenly felt his neck strain under the weight, causing his head to tilt backward. His weight shifted sideways, and he tumbled off the shoulders of perhaps the strongest player on the team. Others quickly grabbed Yasir and escorted him to the pavilion. Although the cameras failed to fully capture the moment, speculation arose that Yasir may have intentionally jumped off from the wicketkeeper's shoulders.

“You should have informed us about the dizziness you were experiencing!” remarked the CEO of the Pakistan Cricket Alliance (PCA), Qasim Ahmed Jamal.

“It's nothing, just overexertion, that's all,” Yasir replied as he rose from the chair after having his blood pressure checked at the medical facility.

“The blood pressure seems normal,” stated the team doctor.

“He needs a complete body checkup,” insisted the PCA chairman.

“I'm fine, nothing to worry about!” exclaimed Yasir.

Ignoring Yasir's reassurance, the PCA Chief ordered the team doctor to schedule a medical checkup for Yasir as soon as possible.

***

Yasir felt the intensity of the morning sun crisper than what he experienced a week ago when he was playing the final T20 match against Sri Lanka. Today, he was practicing in the nets. His team was preparing for the T20 World Cup scheduled to begin in Australia in about two months. Yasir decided to begin his practice session several hours before the rest of the team arrived.

 “That's a fine shot!” exclaimed Faraz Malik, the performance analyst. He had to ensure the players did not leave any room for error. Malik’s role involved analyzing players' shots in matches by watching the recordings and rectifying shortcomings during practice sessions such as the one Yasir was playing.

Yasir informed the coach he would be playing fifteen overs before taking a breather and would resume the practice with his team. Yasir aspired to lead his team to victory in the T20 World Cup and hoped to add another feather to his cap.

Three years ago, the PCA appointed Yasir as the captain of Pakistan’s T20 squad, and he successfully revitalized the team by empowering his players. He even stood his ground in front of the selectors to include two promising players - a leg spinner and a fast bowler - whom he believed had the potential to become great. The media reflected positive notes for Yasir, heralding him for greatness. Harris Usman, the team manager of the Pakistan Cricket Alliance, and Faraz Malik were closely monitoring every move of Yasir and other players for many weeks to send the best team for the World Cup.

However, fate had other plans. In the eighth over during the practice session, Yasir felt nauseated before falling to one knee. The bowler at the other end became a blur as Yasir attempted to balance himself, placing his right arm on the pitch. His colleagues rushed towards him. He blacked out.

“Are you sure about this?” Faraz asked Harris, both exchanging glances with evident fear in their eyes.

“I am pretty sure, the doctor confirmed it,” Harris replied. Faraz was not willing to accept what had transpired over the last three hours. “When do you think we should inform the team?”

Harris asked concern etched on his face.

“Not until we receive the reports,” Faraz replied. They contemplated how to break the news to Pakistan’s National T20 Cricket Team. Qasim rushed to the hospital as soon as he was informed. Yasir’s sudden illness was a concern for PCA, as the management was preparing for the upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup scheduled to begin in Australia in 57 days.

“We have less than two months; he can recover by then,” Harris sounded hopeful.

“I hope so,” said Faraz.

“Are you with Yasir Ehsan?” a voice came from behind. It was the doctor attending to Yasir’s case.

“Yes, we are with Yasir. How...how is he?” Faraz asked.

“He is out of danger for the time being. He collapsed due to anxiety. He has been under stress, hasn’t he, after he heard about…”

“Of course, he is under stress because of the World Cup!” Qasim interjected hastily.

“He is the team captain,” he continued, looking rather nervous.

“We have asked him to take it easy, but he insists on being the first to enter the field for practice sessions and leaves when everyone else has gone.”

“This has to change!” the doctor asserted.

“What do you mean?” Harris asked.

“If you want him to recover, he needs at least three to four months of rest!”

“But the World Cup is...” the doctor interrupted Faraz.