Just how much did not playing at home for 10 years hurt Pakistan cricket?

[Saj]

To not be able to play in your home conditions for 10 years would have killed cricket in some countries. But to Pakistan's credit, they kept on producing players and competing at the highest level.

It's difficult to pinpoint just how much it hurt Pakistan cricket and its player development but sometimes the numbers speak for themselves.

Here's one stat that people may not know and shows just how strong Pakistan have been at home over the years:

Best win/loss ratios at home venues, in the history of Test cricket:

Pakistan 2.681
Australia 2.445
India 2.038
England 1.813
Sri Lanka 1.487
South Africa 1.466
West Indies 1.384
New Zealand 1.062

 

[Mueez]

Damn, that’s a interesting stat...

Glad we are back at home. Hopefully it will inspire the youngsters to pick the bats and ball again and become our next “Wasim” or “Miandad”.

 

[JattMaula]

The hardest place to win away was always Pakistan. Past cricketers always have horror stories of their Pakistan tours.

Time to reclaim that legacy for this Pakistan team. Good luck.

 

[Saj]

Oh and I firmly believe that playing in UAE for 8 damn years did nothing for the development of Pakistan cricket and its players.

 

[Savak]

There is no doubt about it. Pakistani wickets in comparison to the UAE are a lot more sporting. A quality hit the deck, bend his back pacy bowler or a bowler with reverse swing skills can get wickets, batsmen can play their strokes, spinners get good bounce and can come into play.

 

[Artaxerxes]

Pakistan cricket regressed due to playing in empty stadiums on lifeless wickets.PCB should have chosen a different venue but I guess the reason for playing in UAE was the cost factor and logistics.

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan’s record in Pakistan has been abysmal since the mid 90’s. Before that, Pakistan was very strong at home which is reflected in the historic W/L ratio at home.

In terms of results in the last decade, not playing in Pakistan didn’t hurt our results at all.

UAE wickets suited us very well. There is a reason why we became the number 1 side in 2016, and it had everything to do with UAE pitches.

The argument that Pakistan was handicapped by not playing at home would have merit if Pakistan did not win UAE Tests.

Nothing will change now that we are back in Pakistan. Pakistan will against most sides at home if it produces turning wickets and will keep getting smashed outside Asia.

 

[Mamoon]

There is no doubt about it. Pakistani wickets in comparison to the UAE are a lot more sporting. A quality hit the deck, bend his back pacy bowler or a bowler with reverse swing skills can get wickets, batsmen can play their strokes, spinners get good bounce and can come into play.

It is a double-edged sword. Pakistani pitches are better for pacers and batsmen but that also means that teams like Australia, England, New Zealand etc. have a better chance of winning in Pakistan compared to winning in UAE, where Pakistan’s mediocre batting and pace bowling was not exposed to a great extent.

There is a reason why Pakistan was a weak home team in the 2000s before becoming formidable in the 2010s after moving to UAE.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

To not be able to play in your home conditions for 10 years would have killed cricket in some countries. But to Pakistan's credit, they kept on producing players and competing at the highest level.

It's difficult to pinpoint just how much it hurt Pakistan cricket and its player development but sometimes the numbers speak for themselves.

Here's one stat that people may not know and shows just how strong Pakistan have been at home over the years:

Best win/loss ratios at home venues, in the history of Test cricket:

Pakistan 2.681
Australia 2.445
India 2.038
England 1.813
Sri Lanka 1.487
South Africa 1.466
West Indies 1.384
New Zealand 1.062

It hurt Pakistan badly. It slowly affected Pakistan, gradually our player pool got smaller & smaller, till Pakistan was unable to field even a half decent side as we all saw on last Australian tour, that was the worst Pakistan ever to tour Australia. UAE pitches changed the way we played cricket especially how the bowlers bowled.

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan cricket regressed due to playing in empty stadiums on lifeless wickets.PCB should have chosen a different venue but I guess the reason for playing in UAE was the cost factor and logistics.

Those lifeless wickets helped Pakistan become the number 1 team in 2016. What regression?

UAE pitches were the only thing that saved Pakistan cricket in the last decade. The regression happened due to other factors, not because of UAE pitches.

 

[Rana]

SENA teams must be more comfortable touring UAE as its still a holiday destination unlike boring Pakistan. That is a massive factor also

 

[shariqnoor]

Not playing in Pakistan hurt England and Australia the most. Any series held in Pakistan, England and Australia would wipe the floor with Pakistan.

Playing in the UAE with Misbah as captain was the biggest blessing Pakistan had from 2010-2017. Now that that advantage is gone, Big 4 teams will defeat Pakistan easily in Pakistan.

Pakistani pitches easily allow you to score runs at 3.5-4 RPO which plays right into the hands of some of the English and Aussie batsmen. Pakistan is the only place in the sub-continent where the ball doesn't spin as much as it does in the other 3 countries. We don't produce dust bowls and it hurts us.

Trust England and Australia, if they come to Pakistan in 2022, to win the Test series handsomely.

 

[ElRaja]

the uae was good to get to number 1 but we had arguably paks best test batsmen, and chuck ajmal ably supported by abdur rehman. then yasir shah came and did his bit. whichever team had good spinners could challenge pak, sri lanka had a good record in uae and india never played. nz won more than they lost in uae.

but against teams without decent spinners thats all pak needed to win on those tracks. didnt need quicks or proficient openers, just attritional grinding cricket.

 

[szrana007]

Not playing in Pakistan hurt England and Australia the most. Any series held in Pakistan, England and Australia would wipe the floor with Pakistan.

Playing in the UAE with Misbah as captain was the biggest blessing Pakistan had from 2010-2017. Now that that advantage is gone, Big 4 teams will defeat Pakistan easily in Pakistan.

Pakistani pitches easily allow you to score runs at 3.5-4 RPO which plays right into the hands of some of the English and Aussie batsmen. Pakistan is the only place in the sub-continent where the ball doesn't spin as much as it does in the other 3 countries. We don't produce dust bowls and it hurts us.

Trust England and Australia, if they come to Pakistan in 2022, to win the Test series handsomely.

We have been hearing since 2005 that England will thrash Pakistan away, but they have been hammered in every away series since 2005. Australia anyways last toured Pakistan in 1998, when they finally won a test match in Pakistan after 40 years, lol. England have won only 2 tests in Pakistan in their history and Australia have won only 3. So lets see what they will do when they come to Pak next.

 

[szrana007]

the uae was good to get to number 1 but we had arguably paks best test batsmen, and chuck ajmal ably supported by abdur rehman. then yasir shah came and did his bit. whichever team had good spinners could challenge pak, sri lanka had a good record in uae and india never played. nz won more than they lost in uae.

but against teams without decent spinners thats all pak needed to win on those tracks. didnt need quicks or proficient openers, just attritional grinding cricket.

Australia had Nathan Lyon, but he was hammered to the moon in the UAE.

 

[Heisenberg111]

The hardest place to win away was always Pakistan. Past cricketers always have horror stories of their Pakistan tours.

Time to reclaim that legacy for this Pakistan team. Good luck.

Thats so true, up until 1995, Pakistan and West Indies, were by far the hardest places to tour. West Indies's W/L ratio at home till 1995 used to be amongst top two teams, but now their W/L ratio at home is amongst the bottom two teams. Pakistan still has the best W/L ratio at home though, but it will be a challenge for this current Pakistan team to maintain or even improve it.

 

[ElRaja]

Australia had Nathan Lyon, but he was hammered to the moon in the UAE.

he didnt understand how to bowl in uae, he bowled with a lot of top spin like what worked on bouncy aussie tracks, on uae tracks it made it easier to hit him cos lack of side spin and variations of pace made his bowling a lot more predictable.

this is what younis khan told him after the series, and his stats in asian condititons after that series improved significantly. he averaged 50 in asian conditions before that point, after that he averaged 25.

aus managed one draw in the second series he played in the uae, and he took 12 wickets in 2 tests i think.

 

[Rana]

Not playing in Pakistan hurt England and Australia the most. Any series held in Pakistan, England and Australia would wipe the floor with Pakistan.

Playing in the UAE with Misbah as captain was the biggest blessing Pakistan had from 2010-2017. Now that that advantage is gone, Big 4 teams will defeat Pakistan easily in Pakistan.

Pakistani pitches easily allow you to score runs at 3.5-4 RPO which plays right into the hands of some of the English and Aussie batsmen. Pakistan is the only place in the sub-continent where the ball doesn't spin as much as it does in the other 3 countries. We don't produce dust bowls and it hurts us.

Trust England and Australia, if they come to Pakistan in 2022, to win the Test series handsomely.

Based on what? Is this the prediction of some peer baba?

 

[szrana007]

Based on what? Is this the prediction of some peer baba?

Looks like that,lol. England haven't won a test match let alone a series against Pakistan away since 2000 and Australia last beat Pakistan away in UAE in 2002.

 

[szrana007]

he didnt understand how to bowl in uae, he bowled with a lot of top spin like what worked on bouncy aussie tracks, on uae tracks it made it easier to hit him cos lack of side spin and variations of pace made his bowling a lot more predictable.

this is what younis khan told him after the series, and his stats in asian condititons after that series improved significantly. he averaged 50 in asian conditions before that point, after that he averaged 25.

aus managed one draw in the second series he played in the uae, and he took 12 wickets in 2 tests i think.

You are right, but Lyon still averaged 33 in that series in 2018, not a great average by any means.

 

[szrana007]

It is a double-edged sword. Pakistani pitches are better for pacers and batsmen but that also means that teams like Australia, England, New Zealand etc. have a better chance of winning in Pakistan compared to winning in UAE, where Pakistan’s mediocre batting and pace bowling was not exposed to a great extent.

There is a reason why Pakistan was a weak home team in the 2000s before becoming formidable in the 2010s after moving to UAE.

Pakistan only lost 2 series in Pakistan since 2001, so Pakistan was not a weak home team in 2000's. But from 1995-2000, they were surely a weak home team.

 

[Yk313]

To not be able to play in your home conditions for 10 years would have killed cricket in some countries. But to Pakistan's credit, they kept on producing players and competing at the highest level.

It's difficult to pinpoint just how much it hurt Pakistan cricket and its player development but sometimes the numbers speak for themselves.

Here's one stat that people may not know and shows just how strong Pakistan have been at home over the years:

Best win/loss ratios at home venues, in the history of Test cricket:

Pakistan 2.681
Australia 2.445
India 2.038
England 1.813
Sri Lanka 1.487
South Africa 1.466
West Indies 1.384
New Zealand 1.062

Depends how people want to answer this.

If this is to be answered purely in terms of statistics then PAK touched the zenith, albeit fleetingly, when they became No.1. Tautologically, they could not have superseded that apart from perhaps maintaining that position. But even so, the fall from grace coincided with the retirements of two cornerstones of our line-up or else we could have perhaps maintained/reclaimed the position.

Peeling away the mirage the UAE statistics may conjure, we can start to question whether stroke making ability in our up-and-coming batsmen would have been just as poor had we played in PAK for the last 10 years? Would we have had the exact same “talent” pool of pacers which failed to exploit (reasonably) favourable conditions in PAK today or away on recent tours? Would the captaincy dynamics (and the subsequent ascension to coach/selector) have played out in PAK precisely as they did in UAE? Likewise, would our spin stocks have been as high? Would Ajmal, Shah, Rehman have played as many games?

I get your point about the overall benefit of playing at home but there are just too many interdependent variables at play such that every answer will be rife with speculation.

More importantly, PAK find themselves in a situation where they are now likely to play pacers but do not have the stocks to deploy them in reasonably helpful conditions. Not to mention two batsmen in the line-up whose attritional brand could be patented for the arid grounds of UAE; who knows, they may enjoy playing their shots in PAK if they take a fancy to overseas bowlers.

Would be interesting to see how PAK go about over the next few years and what kind of players come through now.

 

[ElRaja]

You are right, but Lyon still averaged 33 in that series in 2018, not a great average by any means.

not to demean his achievements, hes a good spinner but he would have averaged 3 or 4 runs higher if he played in the 90s or early 00s against west indies or asian teams. good players of spin should not struggle too much against him imo.

 

[Buffet]

To not be able to play in your home conditions for 10 years would have killed cricket in some countries. But to Pakistan's credit, they kept on producing players and competing at the highest level.

It's difficult to pinpoint just how much it hurt Pakistan cricket and its player development but sometimes the numbers speak for themselves.

Here's one stat that people may not know and shows just how strong Pakistan have been at home over the years:

Best win/loss ratios at home venues, in the history of Test cricket:

Pakistan 2.681
Australia 2.445
India 2.038
England 1.813
Sri Lanka 1.487
South Africa 1.466
West Indies 1.384
New Zealand 1.062

----------------------------------

Home record before 1995: WI and Pak top 2


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Home record since 1995: WI and Pak bottom 2



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In the last 25 years, Pakistan and WI both have declined. The last 25 years of numbers of both teams look a whole lot different when compared to simply taking an overall history from day 1. From top 2 to bottom 2.

To judge the performance in recent decades, we should see how the team did in recent decades.

The development of players will surely be impacted. Young kids watching international players is a whole lot different than watching only on TV. When it comes to actual performance, I am not sure about it having an impact.

 

[Saj]

In the last 25 years, Pakistan and WI both have declined. The last 25 years of numbers of both teams look a whole lot different when compared to simply taking an overall history from day 1. From top 2 to bottom 2.

To judge the performance in recent decades, we should see how the team did in recent decades.

The development of players will surely be impacted. Young kids watching international players is a whole lot different than watching only on TV. When it comes to actual performance, I am not sure about it having an impact.

5 years, 10 years, 25 years or 35 years - it makes no difference.

There is nothing quite like playing at home, in front of your fans, in your own conditions. It's a win-win situation for players and for fans, for young kids seeing their heroes and becoming future players.

 

[sshakir411]

Pakistan’s record in Pakistan has been abysmal since the mid 90’s. Before that, Pakistan was very strong at home which is reflected in the historic W/L ratio at home.

In terms of results in the last decade, not playing in Pakistan didn’t hurt our results at all.

UAE wickets suited us very well. There is a reason why we became the number 1 side in 2016, and it had everything to do with UAE pitches.

The argument that Pakistan was handicapped by not playing at home would have merit if Pakistan did not win UAE Tests.

Nothing will change now that we are back in Pakistan. Pakistan will against most sides at home if it produces turning wickets and will keep getting smashed outside Asia.

I don’t fully agree with your argument here. We became the number 1 test team by relying heavily on our spinners in the UAE. The batsmen always struggled and we always needed a miraculous innings by the “experienced” players to give the spinners a chance to win. Compare this to playing in Pakistan, the players play on grounds and pitches they grew up on. There’s a very different comfort playing in your backyard than playing somewhere that has your backyard feeling.

 

[Zaz]

5 years, 10 years, 25 years or 35 years - it makes no difference.

There is nothing quite like playing at home, in front of your fans, in your own conditions. It's a win-win situation for players and for fans, for young kids seeing their heroes and becoming future players.

Yes More than winning or losing its about fans seeing their heroes and being inspired, players being cheered on and gaining confidence from the crowd, Not being on the road months away from the family living in alien conditions

All these factors are hard to quantify but have hurt pakistan cricket and cricketers immensely

 

[szrana007]

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Home record before 1995: WI and Pak top 2

View attachment 106567
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Home record since 1995: WI and Pak bottom 2

View attachment 106568

--------------------------------------


In the last 25 years, Pakistan and WI both have declined. The last 25 years of numbers of both teams look a whole lot different when compared to simply taking an overall history from day 1. From top 2 to bottom 2.

To judge the performance in recent decades, we should see how the team did in recent decades.

The development of players will surely be impacted. Young kids watching international players is a whole lot different than watching only on TV. When it comes to actual performance, I am not sure about it having an impact.

Good post, but Overall Pakistan still have the best W/L ratio at home. WI is now at 7th in terms of W/L ratio, they used to be 2nd though. Pakistan, still though have managed to maintain their no.1 rank in terms of W/L ratio at home despite the horror run at home from 1995-2000.

 

[mastimasti]

Interesting question....Pakistan has produced some very good cricketers in the last decade, been ranked no.1 in tests and T20s, won a global tournament, been competitive in two world cups, and gone undefeated in 7 test series home/away twice and popularised the PSL.

What more could have happened? Maybe a better W/L ratio, possibly better opportunities for more players and an easing in for younger players. I am assuming financials may also have been better too.

 

[Amjid Javed]

We have been hearing since 2005 that England will thrash Pakistan away, but they have been hammered in every away series since 2005. Australia anyways last toured Pakistan in 1998, when they finally won a test match in Pakistan after 40 years, lol. England have won only 2 tests in Pakistan in their history and Australia have won only 3. So lets see what they will do when they come to Pak next.

Brilliant post some people seem to think Aus and eng have cake walked games and series in pakistan and they simply havent.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Pakistan’s record in Pakistan has been abysmal since the mid 90’s. Before that, Pakistan was very strong at home which is reflected in the historic W/L ratio at home.

In terms of results in the last decade, not playing in Pakistan didn’t hurt our results at all.

UAE wickets suited us very well. There is a reason why we became the number 1 side in 2016, and it had everything to do with UAE pitches.

The argument that Pakistan was handicapped by not playing at home would have merit if Pakistan did not win UAE Tests.

Nothing will change now that we are back in Pakistan. Pakistan will against most sides at home if it produces turning wickets and will keep getting smashed outside Asia.

I agree, the UAE wickets facilitated some of our best performances in test cricket, and Misbah used those conditions extremely well to take us to the No.1 ranking.

The good part about playing in Pakistan is that domestic performers who have played at specific grounds (ie. Fawad and NSK) will be more comfortable when introduced to the team.

For at least the next few years, Pakistan needs to produce spinning tracks to wreck England, New Zealand, and the rest.

Our performances overseas will gradually improve once we establish a working team combination, and this transition will take a few years. It won't come easily, but it will take time, so we need to remain patient so that we can assess where we stand.

 

[szrana007]

Brilliant post some people seem to think Aus and eng have cake walked games and series in pakistan and they simply havent.

Yup, before winning a test match in Pakistan in 1998, Australia last won a test match in Pakistan in 1959. Same goes for England, England won their 1st test in Pakistan in 1961, but then had to wait nearly 40 years for their next test win in Pakistan in 2000.

In short, Australia and England simply have found it very tough in Pakistan, historically.

 

[Pakpak]

Yup, before winning a test match in Pakistan in 1998, Australia last won a test match in Pakistan in 1959. Same goes for England, England won their 1st test in Pakistan in 1961, but then had to wait nearly 40 years for their next test win in Pakistan in 2000.

In short, Australia and England simply have found it very tough in Pakistan, historically.

Exactly. After every Ashes series recently which England would win and then tour Pakistan right after we'd hear how they'd easily beat us. But everytime they'd be battered, borderline humiliated in some games.

 

[Major]

Pakistan’s record in Pakistan has been abysmal since the mid 90’s. Before that, Pakistan was very strong at home which is reflected in the historic W/L ratio at home.

In terms of results in the last decade, not playing in Pakistan didn’t hurt our results at all.

UAE wickets suited us very well. There is a reason why we became the number 1 side in 2016, and it had everything to do with UAE pitches.

The argument that Pakistan was handicapped by not playing at home would have merit if Pakistan did not win UAE Tests.

Nothing will change now that we are back in Pakistan. Pakistan will against most sides at home if it produces turning wickets and will keep getting smashed outside Asia.

I disagree.

1. It was not UAE that helped us win. It was Misbah's captaincy.
We used to get similar wickets in grounds like Faisalabad and other grounds in pakistan, but the likes of inzamam never dared playing 2 spinners. They had this false myth taht we are a pace bowling nation thus play 3 pacers on such wickets. Most of these captains did not know how to captain spin bowlers.

If these guys were captaining in UAE, trust me we would had done very badly.

2. Players were affected alot mentally. After Amir decided to spot fix and make illegal money and was caught red handed, the team was under curfew all the time in UAE during when South Africa came.

3. Many players did not get a chance, UAE players benefitted alot.
Usually when a team tours, there are many side matches and practise sessions. If there is a match in rawalpindi, than the best club bowlers get invited to give practise session to the local national team and the foreing team.

These UAE players benefitted alot, as most of there young talent got a chance to bowl. There was this guy called Abdul Haq, a truck driver who bowled in practise sessions to Pakistan team. He impressed them and got a SNGPL contract in Pakistan.

 

[Major]

ANother problem was the limited visa issued. Often we had a player who was injured and Misbah would request to have more spinners in the squad. Guys like IqbalQasim and Moin Khan were filled with ego and were never redy to compromise.

I think it was yasir who got injured and Misbah's request for an additional spinner was approved alst minute only for the guy not to get visa and the otehr replacement missing flight.

In pakistan, you always have back up playerts ready

 

[Saj]

Playing in UAE did help Pakistan reach number 1 in the Test rankings, but the long-term damage far exceeded that ranking position.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Playing in UAE did help Pakistan reach number 1 in the Test rankings, but the long-term damage far exceeded that ranking position.

As you pointed out, the greatest loss has been in public interest and subsequent player development.

It makes you think, a generation of young lads who could not truly access their national team. I'm sure there would have been quite a few who couldn't watch Pakistan on TV during these years. And the ones that could, had to see the team play in empty, lifeless stadiums in the UAE. A whole generation missed out on that 'buzz' of when a foreign team visits, and you not only get to see your own national heroes but visiting superstars as well.

Hopefully InshAllah, in terms of public investment, player interest and development, it'll improve from here on in.

 

[Markhor]

UAE helped our revival in Test cricket. The slow, low surfaces made it easier for our batsmen to occupy the crease for long periods.

However it was awful for our white ball formats development. While par scores shot up all over the world, the slow surfaces and outfields produced attritional 90s style cricket. Batsmen don't get value for their shots, and made us too reliant on spin.

As for the atmosphere, even a morgue has more life than UAE grounds. However UAE served its purpose of providing us a home in our darkest era so one cannot be too critical I guess.

 

[sweep_shot]

Playing at home is a huge advantage and Pakistan definitely missed it.

I don't consider UAE pitches as good pitches.

 

[Titan24]

It hurt Pakistan cricket a lot without a doubt, much more than many realize and I have mentioned it in other threads as well. Imagine taking away playing in Australia from Australia, New Zealand from New Zealand or playing in England from England for over a decade.

It didnt cost Pak much in terms of performances rather Pak did decently in UAE but those performances in UAE came at a lot of hidden costs.

Cricket at home works in numerous ways in terms of natural development the sport. It obviously generates much more interest and popularity of the sport in the country, more revenue, bigger crowds as well as young players get opportunity to debut in conditions where they have been playing domestic cricket.

Not to forget the side matches which can happen in a normal world where players can be tested against top teams. Furthermore, pacers also come into play with better wickets and batsman also learn to play good pace bowling on surfaces which can offer something in comparison UAE which was completely dead and slow.

So it impacted in terms of all round development of players, took pacers almost out of the home games, batsmen got used to playing in those slow surfaces where they completely nullified the threats of pacers like Steyn, Anderson etc. without actually adapting and learning to play them on better surfaces in Pak which might not have given them extraordinary support but provided enough pace and leverage to be a threat and thus allowing batsman to grow their game. While our pacers became just support bowlers while spinners took wickets which didnt help young pacers to learn and understanding pf how to be the aggressor and set up the batsman to take wickets.

Hopefully with cricket back, the side effects of playing in UAE will slowly start to diminish and some visiting teams might be more competitive in Pakistan but that would be better from cricket in Pakistan as a whole.

 

[topspin]

I disagree.

1. It was not UAE that helped us win. It was Misbah's captaincy.
We used to get similar wickets in grounds like Faisalabad and other grounds in pakistan, but the likes of inzamam never dared playing 2 spinners. They had this false myth taht we are a pace bowling nation thus play 3 pacers on such wickets. Most of these captains did not know how to captain spin bowlers.

If these guys were captaining in UAE, trust me we would had done very badly.

2. Players were affected alot mentally. After Amir decided to spot fix and make illegal money and was caught red handed, the team was under curfew all the time in UAE during when South Africa came.

3. Many players did not get a chance, UAE players benefitted alot.
Usually when a team tours, there are many side matches and practise sessions. If there is a match in rawalpindi, than the best club bowlers get invited to give practise session to the local national team and the foreing team.

These UAE players benefitted alot, as most of there young talent got a chance to bowl. There was this guy called Abdul Haq, a truck driver who bowled in practise sessions to Pakistan team. He impressed them and got a SNGPL contract in Pakistan.

Again more cheerleading nonsense.

If Younis Khan was captain, I'd argue Pakistan would have won even more tests in UAE. Unlike Misbah, this guy actually had a decent cricketing mind.

Misbah was very fortunate to have Younis carry Pakistan's batting in UAE and have the spinners that he had at his disposal. He relied on individual brilliance rather than focus on succession planning and player development.

The way he left Fawad Alam out of the team was nothing short of disgraceful.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

As you pointed out, the greatest loss has been in public interest and subsequent player development.

It makes you think, a generation of young lads who could not truly access their national team. I'm sure there would have been quite a few who couldn't watch Pakistan on TV during these years. And the ones that could, had to see the team play in empty, lifeless stadiums in the UAE. A whole generation missed out on that 'buzz' of when a foreign team visits, and you not only get to see your own national heroes but visiting superstars as well.

Hopefully InshAllah, in terms of public investment, player interest and development, it'll improve from here on in.

Its clear to see the impact, the stadiums are rotting and infrastructure is bare. In a country riddled with corruption, life can be hard and to make a comeback in cricket is even harder.

Main thing right now is to get the revenues up and go through a normal FTP cycle and reinvest in grass roots and stadiums. Good job PCB has been reformed, there were a lot of crooks siphoning off revenue so maybe its good things have been quiet. PCB seems to be a lot more transparent and we will see genuine investment.

We should aim by year 5 to be a consistent top 4 team. Its going to be hard to become better than India and OZ as they now have 20 years on us so a lot of catch up. But we can become consistently better than NZ and SA and slot in behind India,OZ and England. That should be in 5 years time. We will probably have 2 more players at Babar's level by then. The climb up will slow but this time its going to be for good.