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In this exclusive PakPassion interview, former Pakistan Test bowler Abdur Rauf delivers a forensic critique of the state of Pakistan cricket. Drawing on his 16-year first-class career and current coaching experience, Rauf dissects the systemic failures behind Pakistan's struggles in ICC events, the damaging prioritization of T20 cricket, and the biomechanical crisis affecting fast bowlers. He offers blunt truths about player mentality, PCB mismanagement, and the erosion of the domestic first-class structure.
Key Revelations from the Interview
System Self-Sabotage: "They are cutting the branch they are sitting on. When you leave the long format, it will damage your technique." - Abdul Rauf opined on abandoning Test cricket. Prioritizing short-format cricket (T20) over Test cricket removes the crucial foundation for developing essential technique, temperament, and endurance, leading to a systemic weakening of technically sound players.
PCB Funding Failure: "Pakistan Cricket Board does not fund a rupee. It does not even take a ball." - On the lack of investment in club cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) provides zero financial or material support to grassroots club cricket, which acts as the nursery for talent. This lack of investment starves the player pipeline and neglects essential infrastructure according to Rauf.
Bowling Biomechanics Crisis: "Your biomechanics are all wrong... That’s why you run away from first class cricket." - Why modern bowlers break down. Incorrect bowling actions (flawed biomechanics) cause excessive strain, leading to frequent injuries and shortened careers. This physical breakdown forces bowlers to avoid the more demanding First Class matches, hindering their development.
Format Priority Error: "T20 is basically a youngster's game... Our Cricket Board is doing the opposite." - On misusing senior players. The Board is criticized for over-relying on senior players in T20 leagues. This mismanagement neglects their form and fitness for the more important Test and ODI formats, misaligning player deployment with strategic needs.
ICC Event Humiliation: "We even lost to a team like USA... This is a continuity in the ICC events." - On consistent tournament failures. The shock loss to the USA is cited as the latest example in a long-term, predictable pattern of underperformance and failure in major global ICC tournaments.
The Financial Pull: "We run towards where we get money." - The root cause of the short-format focus. Rauf believes that the underlying diagnosis is that the focus on T20 and short-format cricket is not a strategic choice but is driven purely by the irresistible financial incentives and money offered by global leagues.
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
Key Revelations from the Interview
System Self-Sabotage: "They are cutting the branch they are sitting on. When you leave the long format, it will damage your technique." - Abdul Rauf opined on abandoning Test cricket. Prioritizing short-format cricket (T20) over Test cricket removes the crucial foundation for developing essential technique, temperament, and endurance, leading to a systemic weakening of technically sound players.
PCB Funding Failure: "Pakistan Cricket Board does not fund a rupee. It does not even take a ball." - On the lack of investment in club cricket. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) provides zero financial or material support to grassroots club cricket, which acts as the nursery for talent. This lack of investment starves the player pipeline and neglects essential infrastructure according to Rauf.
Bowling Biomechanics Crisis: "Your biomechanics are all wrong... That’s why you run away from first class cricket." - Why modern bowlers break down. Incorrect bowling actions (flawed biomechanics) cause excessive strain, leading to frequent injuries and shortened careers. This physical breakdown forces bowlers to avoid the more demanding First Class matches, hindering their development.
Format Priority Error: "T20 is basically a youngster's game... Our Cricket Board is doing the opposite." - On misusing senior players. The Board is criticized for over-relying on senior players in T20 leagues. This mismanagement neglects their form and fitness for the more important Test and ODI formats, misaligning player deployment with strategic needs.
ICC Event Humiliation: "We even lost to a team like USA... This is a continuity in the ICC events." - On consistent tournament failures. The shock loss to the USA is cited as the latest example in a long-term, predictable pattern of underperformance and failure in major global ICC tournaments.
The Financial Pull: "We run towards where we get money." - The root cause of the short-format focus. Rauf believes that the underlying diagnosis is that the focus on T20 and short-format cricket is not a strategic choice but is driven purely by the irresistible financial incentives and money offered by global leagues.
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
