hadi123
Test Debutant
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- Oct 19, 2010
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"Lack of success can be attributed to absence of a stable domestic cricket structure" : Imran Khan
Why has Pakistani cricket declined after your exit from the game?
Even though Pakistan has won the World Cup, I’m still not satisfied with the internal structure of the sport, a major reason why several talented cricketers fail to make it to the national team. Back in 1992, I tried to build a team that could lift the World Cup. The team’s lack of success after that can be attributed to the absence of a stable domestic cricket structure. Unless we develop that, we can’t be successful. For years, Australian teams have been built around just that. India, for example, has so many domestic tournaments apart from the Indian Premier League. Security is also a problem — highlighted by the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.
What are your views on the resumption of Indo-Pak sporting ties?
There’ll be nothing better than India and Pakistan playing cricket again. That must be extended to other sports as well. Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi have shown that can be done, gelling so well on the tennis court and winning trophies. Sports and cultural ties must be revived. It’s sad that after the Lahore attack, no one wants to play cricket in Pakistan. I am, however, trying to get international cricket back to Pakistan.
Why has Pakistani cricket declined after your exit from the game?
Even though Pakistan has won the World Cup, I’m still not satisfied with the internal structure of the sport, a major reason why several talented cricketers fail to make it to the national team. Back in 1992, I tried to build a team that could lift the World Cup. The team’s lack of success after that can be attributed to the absence of a stable domestic cricket structure. Unless we develop that, we can’t be successful. For years, Australian teams have been built around just that. India, for example, has so many domestic tournaments apart from the Indian Premier League. Security is also a problem — highlighted by the attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.
What are your views on the resumption of Indo-Pak sporting ties?
There’ll be nothing better than India and Pakistan playing cricket again. That must be extended to other sports as well. Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi have shown that can be done, gelling so well on the tennis court and winning trophies. Sports and cultural ties must be revived. It’s sad that after the Lahore attack, no one wants to play cricket in Pakistan. I am, however, trying to get international cricket back to Pakistan.