Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,825
Pakistan’s former captain, coach and second-highest Test run-scorer explains to Saj (for isport) why the current skipper is in desperate need of a helping hand.
Pakistan legend Javed Miandad says the team’s coaches “need to earn their salaries” to help the struggling tourists out of their slump.
For the country’s second-highest Test run-scorer, Pakistan’s struggling duo of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are in desperate need of a helping hand.
“Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have received criticism for their recent performances, but it’s too soon to drop them,” he said.
“The Pakistan coaching staff need to earn their salaries and work on restoring Azhar and Asad’s confidence and I’m sure better results will follow for both players.”
Azhar’s tactics during the Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes run-chase in the first-Test defeat to England at Old Trafford were heavily criticised. Azhar’s appointment points to a flawed selection process when it comes to choosing Pakistani captains, Miandad says.
“Azhar Ali has been given the captaincy due to a lack of other candidates which isn’t the right way to go about this,” he said.
”The problem is that in Pakistan, captaincy seems to be given to individuals based upon whim and leaders are never groomed as they are in England. The result is that a Pakistan captain learns on the job instead of using his knowledge and experience, which is totally incorrect and people who have poor leadership skills are elevated into this role.
“Our domestic system used to produce good captains but the way the new changes are going, this will become much more difficult to achieve.”
The constant interruptions due to bad light in the second Test was not the greatest advertisement for Test cricket and former Pakistan skipper Miandad says that versatility and a fresh approach is needed by the International Cricket Council to remedy this recurring problem.
“The ICC needs to show some creativity and adopt a modern approach by adjusting the hours of play, instead of this rigid approach,” Miandad said. “The priorities and requirements of cricketing audiences around the world are changing and the ICC needs to take this into account before more fans are disheartened and stop watching cricket.
“There has to be versatility in the playing conditions and playing hours and I suggest that play should start earlier in some countries or finish later where possible, according to the climate.
“I see no sense in a fixed 11am to 6pm day in England when play could even start at 10am. Those that run the game really need to start thinking out of the box regarding playing conditions, the use of pink cricket balls, the quality of floodlights, as well as drainage and playing area covers and facilities at grounds, before cricket becomes an even bigger laughing stock.”
Joe Root’s leadership skills in the ongoing series against Pakistan have had mixed reviews, but Miandad, who captained Pakistan in 34 Tests, is a big admirer of the 29-year-old Yorkshireman.
“England has regularly produced captains who have been well-groomed to do the job and this is a lesson for other nations as well,” he said. “There is something special about Root and I find his attention to detail similar to that of Sir Geoffrey Boycott.
“During my playing days with Glamorgan we had a game against Yorkshire and Boycott was dismissed early. He immediately walked over to the nets and started batting again for hours because he felt he hadn’t batted long enough and needed more practice.
“He was so dedicated and I see the same traits in Root. England are fortunate to have a captain like Joe Root.”
England have lost the services of Ben Stokes, due to personal reasons, but not before his performance with the ball in the first Test against Pakistan helped turn the tide in his side’s favour. Time and again he has performed heroics and Miandad feels that Stokes is the envy of other sides.
“Any country would want a player like Ben Stokes. You can put him at any position with the bat and he delivers. Give him the ball at any point and he will rattle the opposition. There aren’t many players currently who have this capability and Stokes really is a complete cricketer. He has energy, determination and aggression and quite rightly is regarded as an elite cricketer.”
Despite their struggles, Miandad thinks this Pakistan side have the ability to take the fight to England and level the series.
“Pakistan must not feel that they are out of this series,” he said. “They made some mistakes in the first Test and lost from a winning position.
“But, as long as the Pakistani batsmen can learn from their mistakes and put up fighting totals, this Pakistan bowling attack has the edge over England’s batsmen, so don’t be surprised if this series finishes 1-1.”
https://inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/p...dad-interview-england-test-tour-series-582994
Pakistan legend Javed Miandad says the team’s coaches “need to earn their salaries” to help the struggling tourists out of their slump.
For the country’s second-highest Test run-scorer, Pakistan’s struggling duo of Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq are in desperate need of a helping hand.
“Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have received criticism for their recent performances, but it’s too soon to drop them,” he said.
“The Pakistan coaching staff need to earn their salaries and work on restoring Azhar and Asad’s confidence and I’m sure better results will follow for both players.”
Azhar’s tactics during the Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes run-chase in the first-Test defeat to England at Old Trafford were heavily criticised. Azhar’s appointment points to a flawed selection process when it comes to choosing Pakistani captains, Miandad says.
“Azhar Ali has been given the captaincy due to a lack of other candidates which isn’t the right way to go about this,” he said.
”The problem is that in Pakistan, captaincy seems to be given to individuals based upon whim and leaders are never groomed as they are in England. The result is that a Pakistan captain learns on the job instead of using his knowledge and experience, which is totally incorrect and people who have poor leadership skills are elevated into this role.
“Our domestic system used to produce good captains but the way the new changes are going, this will become much more difficult to achieve.”
The constant interruptions due to bad light in the second Test was not the greatest advertisement for Test cricket and former Pakistan skipper Miandad says that versatility and a fresh approach is needed by the International Cricket Council to remedy this recurring problem.
“The ICC needs to show some creativity and adopt a modern approach by adjusting the hours of play, instead of this rigid approach,” Miandad said. “The priorities and requirements of cricketing audiences around the world are changing and the ICC needs to take this into account before more fans are disheartened and stop watching cricket.
“There has to be versatility in the playing conditions and playing hours and I suggest that play should start earlier in some countries or finish later where possible, according to the climate.
“I see no sense in a fixed 11am to 6pm day in England when play could even start at 10am. Those that run the game really need to start thinking out of the box regarding playing conditions, the use of pink cricket balls, the quality of floodlights, as well as drainage and playing area covers and facilities at grounds, before cricket becomes an even bigger laughing stock.”
Joe Root’s leadership skills in the ongoing series against Pakistan have had mixed reviews, but Miandad, who captained Pakistan in 34 Tests, is a big admirer of the 29-year-old Yorkshireman.
“England has regularly produced captains who have been well-groomed to do the job and this is a lesson for other nations as well,” he said. “There is something special about Root and I find his attention to detail similar to that of Sir Geoffrey Boycott.
“During my playing days with Glamorgan we had a game against Yorkshire and Boycott was dismissed early. He immediately walked over to the nets and started batting again for hours because he felt he hadn’t batted long enough and needed more practice.
“He was so dedicated and I see the same traits in Root. England are fortunate to have a captain like Joe Root.”
England have lost the services of Ben Stokes, due to personal reasons, but not before his performance with the ball in the first Test against Pakistan helped turn the tide in his side’s favour. Time and again he has performed heroics and Miandad feels that Stokes is the envy of other sides.
“Any country would want a player like Ben Stokes. You can put him at any position with the bat and he delivers. Give him the ball at any point and he will rattle the opposition. There aren’t many players currently who have this capability and Stokes really is a complete cricketer. He has energy, determination and aggression and quite rightly is regarded as an elite cricketer.”
Despite their struggles, Miandad thinks this Pakistan side have the ability to take the fight to England and level the series.
“Pakistan must not feel that they are out of this series,” he said. “They made some mistakes in the first Test and lost from a winning position.
“But, as long as the Pakistani batsmen can learn from their mistakes and put up fighting totals, this Pakistan bowling attack has the edge over England’s batsmen, so don’t be surprised if this series finishes 1-1.”
https://inews.co.uk/sport/cricket/p...dad-interview-england-test-tour-series-582994
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