Does our national setup lack basics such as bowling machines?

[Kaka4pope]

In another thread, Masood is interviewed and mentions that intense 3-4 hour practice sessions in England, day after day, were rare back in Pakistan.

“Gary [Palmer] bases his coaching around hours and hours of repetition. He gets you to bat for three hours – something I have not done before in a session.”

Another poster [MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION] said that even at NCA level in Pak, you get net bowlers, no bowling machine... a fundamental for batting practice at the higher levels.

is this really the case?

 

[iPakistani]

Well I mean you would have to get that information from a respected source that works at the NCA not a poster on PakPassion.

 

[Savak]

Cricket has become an expensive game. Was just watching on tv where a youngster complained that just buying 1-2 hard balls, a cricket bat, pads, gloves cost him Rs 20,000. Rs 20,000 is more than what some of these guys make in a month. The PCB on its own is taking care of too many cricketers who will never ever play for Pakistan, Departments are taking care of too many players who will never ever play for Pakistan, there has to be a stream lining process, only 11 players can play for the country and they have to be the best in the country, another 22 for bench strength, another 22 for U-19 A team purposes.

I would say there should be no more than 300 cricketers in the system, the others if they are just not good enough should not have the right to make a living in Pakistan Cricket and hog spots unnecessarily, they should learn some other skills. Pakistan Cricket is not and should not a welfare state. Whatever funds the PCB has needs to be spent efficiently.

 

[Varun]

The PCB needs modernization, out of the box thinking, get listed on a stock exchange, launch a donation drive requesting passionate Pakistan fans for donations for the uplift of Pakistan Cricket, launching its own HD TV channel giving it the exclusive broadcast rights to televise Pakistan International, Domestic matches and the PSL.

Now that's better, is it not? The PCB should focus on doing each of those things rather than whining that India of all people aren't keeping promises to Pakistan. *shock* *horror*

 

[Savak]

Now that's better, is it not? The PCB should focus on doing each of those things rather than whining that India of all people aren't keeping promises to Pakistan. *shock* *horror*

But the rest of the world if faced with the same problems as the PCB right now would struggle equally badly. Every other board has a ready bail out in the form of playing a series against India at home while the PCB hasn't had the same fortune since 2006

 

[Kaka4pope]

Really has nothing to do with India, just us as a cricket nation and our expectations on players to compete with the very best - without having basics....

I mean, forget even a coach, even if batting pairs had a bowling machine to load up and work between them - they'd at least have a consistent session.

Checked online - machines go for around 500 pounds, its not outrageously expensive.

Here in the UK, have used nets at Edgbaston (can hire them) - teenagers belonging to Warwickshire i presume, working with a machine....EVEN a local gym decided to cater for cricket with a net and the option of using a bowling machine...

 

[Ganju Baba]

and no international team is willing to play in Pakistan.

There's your answer.

 

[Savak]

Really has nothing to do with India, just us as a cricket nation and our expectations on players to compete with the very best - without having basics....

I mean, forget even a coach, even if batting pairs had a bowling machine to load up and work between them - they'd at least have a consistent session.

Checked online - machines go for around 500 pounds, its not outrageously expensive.

Here in the UK, have used nets at Edgbaston (can hire them) - teenagers belonging to Warwickshire i presume, working with a machine....EVEN a local gym decided to cater for cricket with a net and the option of using a bowling machine...

I suspect the bowling machines that the likes of Australia, England, NZ, South Africa, India have in proliferation all across their country are like state of the art. Gautam Gambhir in a video session mentioned he was able to practice against a machine for 4-6 hours at a stretch with a helper feeding balls into the machine and the buttons in the machine would allow you to dictate pace, swing, length. Incredible how the rest of the world has used technology to get so far ahead while Pakistan Cricket is stuck in the 80's and 90's.

 

[Savak]

There's your answer.

There has to be an end at some point. Will the PCB be punished for eternity for what happened on 9/11 and in 2009?

 

[Ganju Baba]

There has to be an end at some point. Will the PCB be punished for eternity for what happened on 9/11 and in 2009?

It was a security and intelligence failure on Pakistan's part and lives were lost. Attempts to brush it under the carpet didn't help either.

No well off board will ask its players to risk their lives, no matter the amount of security provided unless the players and staff themselves agree. And why would they agree? It's not like they are going to get paid millions of dollars each.

International cricket will return to Pakistan, just not anytime soon.

 

[BaankeJi]

I suspect the bowling machines that the likes of Australia, England, NZ, South Africa, India have in proliferation all across their country are like state of the art. Gautam Gambhir in a video session mentioned he was able to practice against a machine for 4-6 hours at a stretch with a helper feeding balls into the machine and the buttons in the machine would allow you to dictate pace, swing, length. Incredible how the rest of the world has used technology to get so far ahead while Pakistan Cricket is stuck in the 80's and 90's.

Even I have used it in USA. Just need a friend who can feed the ball into machine.
And then I have to do same for my friend.

It makes a lot of difference.

 

[MenInG]

Thread is about PCB, leave India out of it

 

[Kaka4pope]

Thread is about PCB, leave India out of it

Agreed. Still staggered that it appears NCA level players and above don't have routine access to bowling machines - this before anything else - warm up matches, arriving early, county stints..

 

[Mamoon]

Bowling machines are not that expensive. The top earning players can easily afford a personal one if they think it is going to improve their game.

 

[Kaka4pope]

I suspect the bowling machines that the likes of Australia, England, NZ, South Africa, India have in proliferation all across their country are like state of the art. Gautam Gambhir in a video session mentioned he was able to practice against a machine for 4-6 hours at a stretch with a helper feeding balls into the machine and the buttons in the machine would allow you to dictate pace, swing, length. Incredible how the rest of the world has used technology to get so far ahead while Pakistan Cricket is stuck in the 80's and 90's.

It surprises me, even as someone who hasn't played cricket outside of school - I know that a bowling machine is bread and butter practice for professionals in the UK - to think our NCA struggles to cater for those they aspire to represent our national side...joke really.

 

[Kaka4pope]

Even I have used it in USA. Just need a friend who can feed the ball into machine.
And then I have to do same for my friend.

It makes a lot of difference.

Same here, just for fun - good fun too, staggered at the lack of them.

 

[Savak]

This is what the PCB has to focus on as part of a long term plan for the next 10 years atleast.