[EXCLUSIVE] "When Mickey Arthur was the coach, fitness was prioritized above skills": Sohail Tanvir

[Asad T]

Former Pakistan all-rounder Sohail Tanvir, who is now serving as coach in the Junior Selection Committee, joins Saj for an exclusive interview about:

1. Which emerging players have caught his eye?
2. Should U19 players play in the PSL?
3. The role of the NCA in developing bowling actions of young pacers
4. On Haris Rauf's central contract being revoked
5. On the fitness standards of Pakistani players
7. Pakistan's chances in the T20 World Cup and much more

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Agree with his views on U19 guys. I think Ali Raza certainly is a future star for Pakistan. Not sure about Mohammad Zeeshan.

 

[mazkhan]

So he is giving a contradictory viewpoint on the professor hafeez who has recently been running his mouth against Arthur.

Well done naqvi

Your next p45 should be for that wahabbi who is also clueless , great physique but amounted to nothing more a poor cheap imitation version of Mitchell johnson .


Did anyone really believe saffers and aussies don't take fitness seriously

 

[Savak]

So he is giving a contradictory viewpoint on the professor hafeez who has recently been running his mouth against Arthur.

Well done naqvi

Your next p45 should be for that wahabbi who is also clueless , great physique but amounted to nothing more a poor cheap imitation version of Mitchell johnson .


Did anyone really believe saffers and aussies don't take fitness seriously

The Pakistani team was perhaps the most unfit in the ODI WC 2023. A lot of players were heavier and had fat faces especially Imam ul Haq.

Hafeez is not lying, the evidence is out there. Arthur in his second tenure did not seem that invested in comparison to his first tenure.

 

[hassan918]

I agree with him that it is not a good idea to try to change a bowler's bowling action at u19 level. Their action should be developed at a much younger level.

 

[Professionalismandflair]

Fitness is something you can do something about. Neglecting basics like fitness and fielding are why we lose marginal games.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Tanvir is talking about Mickey's CT17 era tenure?

 

[Markhor]

These conniving ex-pros need to get their stories straight. Either Mickey was too strict on fitness or was too lax.

Such absurd remarks from a coach on the junior selection committee demonstrate why we've stagnated as a cricket nation for years. It's especially disturbing that our junior players hear this guff from their seniors.

Why is asking players to meet basic fitness criteria such a hardship ? A bus driver needs a license to drive, a dentist needs qualifications to practise, and a professional cricketer should be fit. It's not a hard concept.

If anything Mickey wasn't tough enough in his second tenure.

Nobody's saying select grossly unskilled cricketers on the basis of fitness alone, but fitness enhances skill. It allows bowlers to maintain their efficacy for longer, batsmen to play longer innings and fielders to cover bigger spaces. If we paid more attention to these one percenters - maybe our recent results wouldn't be so dire.

 

[Savak]

These conniving ex-pros need to get their stories straight. Either Mickey was too strict on fitness or was too lax.

Such absurd remarks from a coach on the junior selection committee demonstrate why we've stagnated as a cricket nation for years. It's especially disturbing that our junior players hear this guff from their seniors.

Why is asking players to meet basic fitness criteria such a hardship ? A bus driver needs a license to drive, a dentist needs qualifications to practise, and a professional cricketer should be fit. It's not a hard concept.

If anything Mickey wasn't tough enough in his second tenure.

Nobody's saying select grossly unskilled cricketers on the basis of fitness alone, but fitness enhances skill. It allows bowlers to maintain their efficacy for longer, batsmen to play longer innings and fielders to cover bigger spaces. If we paid more attention to these one percenters - maybe our recent results wouldn't be so dire.

Mickey was definitely strict in his tenure from 2016 to 2019, his job with the PCB was his only job therefore there was a lot on the line for him.

However the Mickey in 2023 was different and had a lot loss at stake therefore there was less passion involved.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

How Pakistani ex-cricketers make statements:


1. Pick the Coach/Player you would like to discuss
2. Randomly pick from the following topics - Fitness, Nutrition, Friend Group, Chances, Confidence, Aggression, Passion
3. Randomly pick the following descriptors for the topic selected from the list above - Too Much, Not Enough, Consistent, Inconsistent.

Make your statement.

 

[Asad T]

How Pakistani ex-cricketers make statements:


1. Pick the Coach/Player you would like to discuss
2. Randomly pick from the following topics - Fitness, Nutrition, Friend Group, Chances, Confidence, Aggression, Passion
3. Randomly pick the following descriptors for the topic selected from the list above - Too Much, Not Enough, Consistent, Inconsistent.

Make your statement.

This reminds me of that VICE news spoof video:

But tbh I was quite impressed with the way Tanvir spoke and with his insights. With the way his bowling action was, I thought he'd not be a serious thinker of the game haha. Particularly, I think what he said about the WC made sense about our spinners. We really need to get our spin bowling sorted because that's going to be more important than pace. It's good to see Mir get some control, Abrar is bowling well too, and Shadab looks better. I'm a bit more optimistic about this department now after seeing them perform in the PSL. But let's see if they can keep it up.

 

[Saj]

To be fit, athletic, agile and in great shape as a cricketer, shouldn't need emphasising by the coach. It is something that as a professional sportsperson should come naturally to you.

Sadly, you only have to look at some of the current Pakistani cricketers and realise how unfit they are.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Lack of proper fitness, a continuous headache for Pakistan.

 

[Savak]

To be fit, athletic, agile and in great shape as a cricketer, shouldn't need emphasising by the coach. It is something that as a professional sportsperson should come naturally to you.

Sadly, you only have to look at some of the current Pakistani cricketers and realise how unfit they are.

Pakistan as a nation operates on the Stick, Danda. Our players are too indisciplined and unprofessional to be left alone to their own devices, they respond best to hard taskmasters

 

[Cricket Warrior]

I agree with him that it is not a good idea to try to change a bowler's bowling action at u19 level. Their action should be developed at a much younger level.

Yeah very true because the same thing happened with Anwar Ali when coaches tried to modify his action and as a result he ended up losing all his swing and pace which we seen at his U-19 levels.

 

[Saj]

Pakistan as a nation operates on the Stick, Danda. Our players are too indisciplined and unprofessional to be left alone to their own devices, they respond best to hard taskmasters

But when the stick appears, some players go running to the PCB for protection.

 

[MenInG]

Strange that some, like Hafeez, do not think much of Mickey Arthur or his fitness regime?

 

[FearlessRoar]

Sohail Tanvir's blistering cameo comes to a close, scoring a rapid 33 off just 17 deliveries!

 

[FearlessRoar]

Sohail Tanvir spoke to a local channel ahead of the final against India in WCL 2024:

“We got a great opportunity to combine with all the players we shared dressing room with for years and when you play cricket professionally, then you try to be competitive.”

“There was a great disappointment for people due to Pakistan’s performance in ICC T20 World Cup 2024, so we talked that the Legends league may not have the same level but people will be happy. We saw the response and got the motivation that people are following this league."

“When we came here, Younis [Khan] bhai, Shahid [Afridi] bhai and all the other players, we talked that people in Pakistan are crazy for cricket, so our goal was to bring happiness to those who were watching us play, I mean it couldn’t be the same as World Cup but it would be something, that was and is our motivation."

“Now we have one step left. India vs Pakistan final will always be huge no matter where it is played and which league, people will watch. We won the pool match against them but the final is final. I still haven’t forgotten the final against India in 2007. So, let’s see what happens tomorrow, we will do our best to be on the victorious side.”

 

[FearlessRoar]

Former Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir became the first player to claim a 5-wicket haul in the Nepal Premier League 2024. The left-arm seamer achieved the feat during Kathmandu Gurkhas vs Chitwan Rhinos match.

 

[BouncerGuy]

62 ODIs, 57 T20Is and two Test matches
130 international wickets
2009 T20 World Cup winner

Happy birthday to Sohail Tanvir!

 

[mominsaigol]

62 ODIs, 57 T20Is and two Test matches
130 international wickets
2009 T20 World Cup winner

Happy birthday to Sohail Tanvir!

Underrated t20 bowler. Crap odi bowler.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Sohail Tanvir has been sensational with the new ball, setting the tone for the Chitwan Rhinos in NPL 2024

 

[FearlessRoar]

Sohail Tanvir finished as one of the top 3 wicket takers in the NPL 2024 as the tournament concluded.