A long gap between Test matches for Pakistan is unacceptable

[Savak]

Having to wait ten months for Pakistan's next test match in October is simply unacceptable. The PCB needs to think long term just like the BCCI selectors have done with their team. I understand that the players are human and would love to have rest after being on a long journey with 15 ODI's and T-20's to play and then the ODI WC in England, this is why the PCB needs to adopt a rotation policy for the captain, the senior players and most importantly the pacers.

I would personally like the PCB to invite the likes of Zimbabwe, Kenya or Afghanistan to play a 2-3 test match series, ODI and T-20 series and field a second eleven. Use your bench strength and top domestic performers in that series and plan for the future. Surely one of these teams will be willing to come and even if the series is not profitable or where the PCB has to shell out some cash then so be it.

The other issue I have with this long gap is that Azhar Ali's pathetic tailender like batting will be forgotten by October 2019. Hope the PCB is proactive

 

[Chokli]

when would they schedule it?

we have odis versus aus and eng coming up and then the world cup.

boys need a month or two rest.

september/october we have lankan series no?

 

[JibranAnsari]

I think there will be some test championship matches from july. Pakistan have to play home and away matches with 6 teams in two years , even if each series is two matches pakistan will have to play 24 matches from july 2019 to july 2021.

 

[JibranAnsari]

I think there will be some test championship matches from july. Pakistan have to play home and away matches with 6 teams in two years , even if each series is two matches pakistan will have to play 24 matches from july 2019 to july 2021.

Sorry i got it wrong.

Each team will play 3 series at home and away each and the minimum number of test in each series is 2. So pakistans gonna play at least 12 matches between july 2019 to march 31 2021.

 

[Savak]

when would they schedule it?

we have odis versus aus and eng coming up and then the world cup.

boys need a month or two rest.

september/october we have lankan series no?

I meant after the WC, and that's why I said field a bench 11.

 

[hitthestump]

Pakistan are jam-packed until the World Cup, there are no time for tests.

 

[hadi123]

It's not all Pakistan's fault. NZ's series against us was their first Tests since March IIRC

 

[topspin]

It's to keep the players in ODI or LOIs mode in the first half of 2019 prior to the WC.

 

[Gotham Cronie]

when would they schedule it?

we have odis versus aus and eng coming up and then the world cup.

boys need a month or two rest.

september/october we have lankan series no?

I meant after the WC, and that's why I said field a bench 11.

Pakistan are jam-packed until the World Cup, there are no time for tests.

The have about a two and a half month break between mid July and October.

Kenya does not have Test status as OP recommended.

Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are playing each other.

Bangladesh, Ireland, and South Africa are really the only teams that are free during that period.

 

[Chokli]

The have about a two and a half month break between mid July and October.

Kenya does not have Test status as OP recommended.

Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are playing each other.

Bangladesh, Ireland, and South Africa are really the only teams that are free during that period.

a test series against ireland would be sweet.

 

[King Khan]

Chill dude, its a World Cup year!

We should be focusing on white ball cricket from now on. Can't criticise the board for this.

Considering how bad we have been at red ball cricket, it maybe a good idea to have a long break from it so that we can come back with better approach, (ie drop test captain, drop batting coach, etc)

Also players like Azhar and Asad can see if they can get individual coaching or play some First class cricket in other cricketing nations (although who would take them??).

 

[Syed1]

I hope the gap goes on for several years, we embarrass ourselves whenever we play

 

[aloo paratha]

We should invite Ireland to Pakistan for 1 test (preferably 2 but that's not gonna happen) 3 ODIs and a T20 in late August/early September. The whole tour could be done in under 3 weeks, and there is a better chance that Ireland might even consider it.

 

[Markhor]

The schedule for the first half of 2019 is perfect. 15 ODIs against top teams before the World Cup, including 5 in the host country !

The second half is a problem, not that there's only two Test series but that they both consist only of two Tests. Surely the Sri Lanka series can be converted to three Tests ? Gives us more margin for error if we mess up in one.

We can thank master administrator Sethi for agreeing to so few Tests in the FTP.

 

[Bilal7]

This is a World Cup year. Every team is playing less test matches than normal.

 

[Pakhs]

Its acceptable in a WC year.

 

[Pete Rose]

The schedule for the first half of 2019 is perfect. 15 ODIs against top teams before the World Cup, including 5 in the host country !

The second half is a problem, not that there's only two Test series but that they both consist only of two Tests. Surely the Sri Lanka series can be converted to three Tests ? Gives us more margin for error if we mess up in one.

We can thank master administrator Sethi for agreeing to so few Tests in the FTP.

I think the FTP is the issue here. it reflects the reality of the big 3 (and a half). We will only get two tests, against most teams. Only India, England, Australia will play more tests. And India will not play test against Pakistan, so we actually have fewer tests and bigger gaps.
I have been talking about this in other threads. The way that the FTP is set up right now is between haves and have nots. Its two tiered and structured in such a way that the teams that play more games are more like to be be contention for the world test championship.
Having said all that, the only team that should feel truly upset by this New Zealand - they actually deserve more tests, vs. say Pakistan which basically squanders goodwill everywhere it goes.
A second issue is that you cant have 32 - 34 years old batsmen sitting on the sidelines of 9 months until serious cricket shows up. It happened in 2017 as well. Azhar at least has county cricket (whatever hte merits of his future selection is another issue). Shafiq basically will be doing nothing over the next 9 months and come end of year might find himself playing in australia with only two test matches and probably one warm up game.
These are institutionalized advantages to make sure the test championship will only feature the big three (and may the saffers) in contention.

 

[Varun]

Bite the bullet, Pakistan.

Drop the ego and invite Bangladesh for a 3-Test + 5 ODI + 1 T20 series in the UAE, preferably in the latter half of the year.

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Bite the bullet, Pakistan.

Drop the ego and invite Bangladesh for a 3-Test + 5 ODI + 1 T20 series in the UAE, preferably in the latter half of the year.

No chance, can’t have us being whitewashed by Bangladesh.

 

[RyanRyan10]

Having to wait ten months for Pakistan's next test match in October is simply unacceptable. The PCB needs to think long term just like the BCCI selectors have done with their team. I understand that the players are human and would love to have rest after being on a long journey with 15 ODI's and T-20's to play and then the ODI WC in England, this is why the PCB needs to adopt a rotation policy for the captain, the senior players and most importantly the pacers.

I would personally like the PCB to invite the likes of Zimbabwe, Kenya or Afghanistan to play a 2-3 test match series, ODI and T-20 series and field a second eleven. Use your bench strength and top domestic performers in that series and plan for the future. Surely one of these teams will be willing to come and even if the series is not profitable or where the PCB has to shell out some cash then so be it.

The other issue I have with this long gap is that Azhar Ali's pathetic tailender like batting will be forgotten by October 2019. Hope the PCB is proactive

Kenya don't have test status,now they don't even have Odi status

You can add Bangladesh to the list

Even Ireland
Niall O'Brien had shown interest in touring Pakistan for tests during their inaugural test

 

[unemployedgm]

Pakistan Cricket has always struggled to schedule a season in an appropriate manner.

 

[Hasan123]

I think this time it's due to the WC which we have good preparation for. But let's be honest PCB doesn't really care about test cricket.

 

[Mp812]

The have about a two and a half month break between mid July and October.

Kenya does not have Test status as OP recommended.

Zimbabwe and Afghanistan are playing each other.

Bangladesh, Ireland, and South Africa are really the only teams that are free during that period.

So a tour can be arranged to south Africa to avenge recent 3 nil loss in tests

 

[MMHS]

9 months is nothing, PCB’s standard is much higher. To my memory (have to check, no time), apart from few years self exile by Mughabe’s ZIM, PAK is the only team in last 35 or so years not to play a single Test in a whole calendar year (2008).

I’ll be happy if they don’t convert the SRL series to single Test and 7 T20s....

 

[PakLFC]

That's okay. At the moment we need to concentrate on the coming WC. I don't want any excuses of injured players when the tournament arrives like having just played a test series.

 

[Abdullah719]

Bite the bullet, Pakistan.

Drop the ego and invite Bangladesh for a 3-Test + 5 ODI + 1 T20 series in the UAE, preferably in the latter half of the year.

Pakistan are actually scheduled to play a 'home' series against Bangladesh just about a year from now. Late Jan-Feb 2020. 2 Tests (WTC) and 3 T20Is.

 

[Varun]

Pakistan are actually scheduled to play a 'home' series against Bangladesh just about a year from now. Late Jan-Feb 2020. 2 Tests (WTC) and 3 T20Is.

Outside the Asia Cup, Pakistan and Bangladesh haven't played each other since the two boards began their face-off so whether the series in question will go ahead is still moot.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Bite the bullet, Pakistan.

Drop the ego and invite Bangladesh for a 3-Test + 5 ODI + 1 T20 series in the UAE, preferably in the latter half of the year.

Pakistan are scheduled to play bangladesh in 2020 according to FTP (away)

 

[JibranAnsari]

TBH I would not be too sad if pakistan stuck to t20s and ODIs from now on. Pakistan will mostly be playing 2 match meaningless test series with the teams and our brand of test cricket is not much exciting either. Work hard in the other two formats and make strong teams.