It's crazy for Pakistan to host Asian teams in UAE

[Junaids]

Why, oh why, has Pakistan done this?

The long unbeaten run in the UAE is largely built on beating non-Asian teams who struggle to adapt to the conditions on a short tour.

But even then, in the 3-0 victory over England five years ago England was actually the better team, and in the 2-0 win over England more recently again England was the better team until the last two days of the series.

And three years ago, New Zealand drew a series in the UAE - and was the only team that could have won the drawn Test match.

There is a clear pattern here.

UAE Tests often start off as boring bat-fests in which huge scores are possible. Then, on Days 4 and 5, the dry pitch starts to crumble after 4-5 days in the sun with no grass on it, and the spinners take over.

That's all very well against England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies or South Africa. They are not used to these conditions.

But it's a recipe for disaster against not just India, but even Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. If they win the toss in the UAE and bat, they are pretty likely to catch Pakistan on a crumbling fourth wicket track and beat them.

It makes no sense at all to me.

Pakistan's only important Test assignments in the next 18 months are away series in England and South Africa. Two series for which they will probably turn up unprepared at the last minute, just as they did in New Zealand 11 months ago.

It costs a fortune to host Sri Lanka in the UAE. The hotel rooms cost well over US$250 per night per player, which is double the going rate in South Africa. And the attendances are even lower in the UAE.

South Africa just hosted a Test v Bangladesh in Potchefstroom. Why aren't Pakistan hosting their "home" Tests against Asian teams in places like Potchefstroom, Benoni, Bloemfontein and East London in South Africa (not to mention taking every opportunity to play Ireland in Ireland in their summer months)?

Pakistan would thump Sri Lanka in South Africa. But hosting them in the UAE just concedes home advantage, and costs a fortune.

 

[Buffet]

Let's first settle if SL has reached a new low.

Or they have reached a new low only when playing outside Asia?

 

[Convict]

I really don't understand what you mean by this.

The PCB isn't a position to go round picking and choosing where they want to play. Its much better for organisational reasons to use the same stadiums again and again.
Pakistan lost to Sri Lanka because Sri Lanka played better. Rather than going around and thinking oh we should play in England to get an advantage how about playing better than Sri Lanka next time?

If Sri Lanka are as bad as you say that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Dingolfy]

Why, oh why, has Pakistan done this?

The long unbeaten run in the UAE is largely built on beating non-Asian teams who struggle to adapt to the conditions on a short tour.

But even then, in the 3-0 victory over England five years ago England was actually the better team, and in the 2-0 win over England more recently again England was the better team until the last two days of the series.

And three years ago, New Zealand drew a series in the UAE - and was the only team that could have won the drawn Test match.

There is a clear pattern here.

UAE Tests often start off as boring bat-fests in which huge scores are possible. Then, on Days 4 and 5, the dry pitch starts to crumble after 4-5 days in the sun with no grass on it, and the spinners take over.

That's all very well against England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies or South Africa. They are not used to these conditions.

But it's a recipe for disaster against not just India, but even Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. If they win the toss in the UAE and bat, they are pretty likely to catch Pakistan on a crumbling fourth wicket track and beat them.

It makes no sense at all to me.

Pakistan's only important Test assignments in the next 18 months are away series in England and South Africa. Two series for which they will probably turn up unprepared at the last minute, just as they did in New Zealand 11 months ago.

It costs a fortune to host Sri Lanka in the UAE. The hotel rooms cost well over US$250 per night per player, which is double the going rate in South Africa. And the attendances are even lower in the UAE.

South Africa just hosted a Test v Bangladesh in Potchefstroom. Why aren't Pakistan hosting their "home" Tests against Asian teams in places like Potchefstroom, Benoni, Bloemfontein and East London in South Africa (not to mention taking every opportunity to play Ireland in Ireland in their summer months)?

Pakistan would thump Sri Lanka in South Africa. But hosting them in the UAE just concedes home advantage, and costs a fortune.

Oh yeah, sure.They couldn't even handle SL pacers in hot and dry UAE and not withstanding what they have done against India,SL batsmen are technically much more adept against pace than yours.

 

[Cric1234]

Simply put if you lose you aren't good enough great teams have to win all over in all conditions there's no excuse really.

 

[ipl_fan]

You want them to host Asian teams in Siberia, Iceland and Papua New Guniea ??

 

[Someone]

SL won because they are good... Pakistan lost they are not good as SL.. accept it and move on.. no need to give poor excuses.

 

[KyoOne]

If South Africa allows, would be a great decision, at least we'll have interesting matches on pitches with true bounce.

PCB doesnt have such foresight, nor would Pakistani captains, traditionally batsmen, be happy about to have South Africa our home

 

[Varun]

Why use the plural - "Asian Teams"? It's only Lanka. Bangladesh and India have never toured the UAE.

And if you as a cricket team cannot beat Lanka you're not too flash.

 

[sachin100]

Even bigger question is why is pak playing srilanka when runs and wickets against them doesn't count for anything?

 

[Tusker]

[MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

Since when did runs against Sri Lanka begin to count ? My take is somewhere in the last 48 hours or so

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Man, if it were up to us, the Pakistanis/PCB/even players, we would play our 'home' games in Pakistan or SL or England...

 

[cricketjoshila]

After the defeat,clutching onto straws.

 

[Gubol123]

Why, oh why, has Pakistan done this?

The long unbeaten run in the UAE is largely built on beating non-Asian teams who struggle to adapt to the conditions on a short tour.

But even then, in the 3-0 victory over England five years ago England was actually the better team, and in the 2-0 win over England more recently again England was the better team until the last two days of the series.

And three years ago, New Zealand drew a series in the UAE - and was the only team that could have won the drawn Test match.

There is a clear pattern here.

UAE Tests often start off as boring bat-fests in which huge scores are possible. Then, on Days 4 and 5, the dry pitch starts to crumble after 4-5 days in the sun with no grass on it, and the spinners take over.

That's all very well against England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies or South Africa. They are not used to these conditions.

But it's a recipe for disaster against not just India, but even Bangladesh or Sri Lanka. If they win the toss in the UAE and bat, they are pretty likely to catch Pakistan on a crumbling fourth wicket track and beat them.

It makes no sense at all to me.

Pakistan's only important Test assignments in the next 18 months are away series in England and South Africa. Two series for which they will probably turn up unprepared at the last minute, just as they did in New Zealand 11 months ago.

It costs a fortune to host Sri Lanka in the UAE. The hotel rooms cost well over US$250 per night per player, which is double the going rate in South Africa. And the attendances are even lower in the UAE.

South Africa just hosted a Test v Bangladesh in Potchefstroom. Why aren't Pakistan hosting their "home" Tests against Asian teams in places like Potchefstroom, Benoni, Bloemfontein and East London in South Africa (not to mention taking every opportunity to play Ireland in Ireland in their summer months)?

Pakistan would thump Sri Lanka in South Africa. But hosting them in the UAE just concedes home advantage, and costs a fortune.

This is the most crazy money wasting idea I ever heard. One of our learned friends recently had a divine revelation. It was revealed to him that there is nothing to be gained by playing against hapless Sri Lanka team and any runs and wickets against them will not mean much in the overall scheme of things. Universe will completely ignore any achievement against Sri Lanka. Pakistan should go by that revelation and refuse to waste it's time playing against lowly teams like Sri Lanka

 

[Tusker]

Let's first settle if SL has reached a new low.

Or they have reached a new low only when playing outside Asia?

New low was achieved in August. Oct it's a different story. Will be different again next month. ... I will let you connect the dots.

 

[Junaids]

Obviously India is a significantly better team than Pakistan currently. I don't contest that.

My issue in this thread is the blind acceptance of playing in the UAE.

It's expensive - much more expensive than playing in South Africa - and any Asian team decent at batting and bowling spin can win by batting first.

 

[Buffet]

Obviously India is a significantly better team than Pakistan currently. I don't contest that.

My issue in this thread is the blind acceptance of playing in the UAE.

It's expensive - much more expensive than playing in South Africa - and any Asian team decent at batting and bowling spin can win by batting first.

There is only one Asian team which plays against Pakistan in UAE. I also think that Pakistan will win more often against SL. It was a poor performance by Pakistan, nothing more. Pakistan should win 5-6 out of 10 tests in UAE with some draws and some losses against SL.

Now if you were talking about not playing in UAE in general due to dull pitches or crowd then it applies to all teams, including non-asian teams, then it's fine.

 

[Tusker]

Obviously India is a significantly better team than Pakistan currently. I don't contest that.

My issue in this thread is the blind acceptance of playing in the UAE.

It's expensive - much more expensive than playing in South Africa - and any Asian team decent at batting and bowling spin can win by batting.

India has never lost a single Test match to SL at home . EVER. Pakistan have lost 8 and this includes better Pak teams than the current one.

 

[troodon]

Pak pitches are even bigger roads than UAE ones. I remember the pitches when India toured Pak and the pitches were total highways.

If Pak was playing the same Lankan team on Pak pitches, all Tests will be a draw.

 

[Hasan123]

UAE conditions don't suit Pakistan regardless of who we play. Ball doesn't come onto the bat for our batters and there's nothing in the pitch for the bowlers.

 

[cricketworm]

Pak pitches are even bigger roads than UAE ones. I remember the pitches when India toured Pak and the pitches were total highways.

If Pak was playing the same Lankan team on Pak pitches, all Tests will be a draw.

Agreed 100%. UAE pitches actually suits Pakistan bowlers and helping them win test series, playing in Pakistan would actually create draw-fest after draw-fest.

UAE being pak's home is unfortunate but blessing in disguise for pakistan test side achievement.

 

[Big Mac]

And three years ago, New Zealand drew a series in the UAE - and was the only team that could have won the drawn Test match.

Yeah, because they won a game that nobody cared about and should have been cancelled when Phil Hughes died. How embarrasing to draw that series.

But even then, in the 3-0 victory over England five years ago England was actually the better team, and in the 2-0 win over England more recently again England was the better team until the last two days of the series.

There's something crazy going on but playing in the UAE isn't it.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Then both England and Australia should stop playing in Asia.