Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,836
PakPassion.net: How did you discover PakPassion?
mak36: I thought this question might come up, and the honest answer is I don’t remember! I think it was through Saj’s tweets and articles, and initially I only used PP for the interviews and talent spotters. As time went on, I discovered the Cricket Forum and eventually got involved. The rest, as they say, is history. I have a learnt a lot about the game from my fellow posters, many of whom are very knowledgeable, and I hope to continue to learn from them.
@Saj, [MENTION=93712]MenInG[/MENTION] and the rest of admin team do a great job in keeping this site active and relevant- long may it continue! Special shout out to [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] who is seemingly always at hand to help out/offer his guidance (and is an excellent poster to boot).
PakPassion.net: What explains Pakistan's struggles in the UAE?
mak36: Pakistan’s stellar T20I record speaks for itself so I will exclude that format from this question.
In terms of Pakistan’s recent struggles in the UAE, some of the factors are format specific, some of the factors apply across the board. I think the most important in terms of the latter is the fact the UAE is Pakistan’s adopted home. It is very easy to forget that. Pakistani players have a double hurdle; they need to learn how to play well in domestic cricket and once they have done that they then have to learn how to play in alien conditions in the UAE; that is a hurdle no other international team has to face. That’s before you even factor in the fact the team is practically living out of suitcases for the whole year, year in, year out. In short, there is no such thing as “home” advantage when it comes to Pakistan. People may try and say that Pakistan has been playing in the UAE long enough now, but answer me this: how much experience does the current crop of players (with a few notable exceptions) have of UAE conditions?
In terms of ODIs, Pakistan’s struggles in the UAE are nothing new. This is why I was surprised when people said Pakistan were front-runners for the Asia Cup. The UAE may well be Pakistan’s adopted home, but it has not been a welcoming host by any means when it comes to ODIs (feel free to check.) As I touched on above, the other factor worth remembering is that Pakistan haven’t played too many ODIs in the UAE since Mickey took over and the team is therefore pretty young and inexperienced in UAE conditions. In terms of the Asia Cup, the squad didn’t really suit UAE conditions and the management were a little slow (and arguably still are) on realising the need to select a squad suited to UAE conditions. There have been signs of improvement in the NZ series and I hope that continues, but I still think adding a “proper” second spinner like Zafar or Irfan (leg-spinner) to the squad would work wonders; [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] wrote an excellent post on this which is well worth a read if you haven’t done so already (“spin is king…”).
I will say there are clear shortcomings in the ODI team that need addressing, in particular some of the skill levels (especially of the batsmen). People often complain that Pakistan has too many accumulators, but that misses the point. In ODIs, you need batsmen who can play run a ball cricket for long periods. The problem is that some of the “accumulators” in the side aren’t particularly good at accumulating anything other than dots! There are plenty of alternatives, but that requires the selectors/management to take the initiative, select young talent and nurture it.
I also feel that there are too many “all-rounders” in the team. There is still a role for specialist players in the modern game! It is absolutely criminal Haris has not featured in ODIs more consistently, and I am happy to see that is now changing (better late than never I suppose).
In terms of Tests, Pakistan are on an upward trend. Sarfaraz has grown into the Test captaincy and I expect this team will only get better. The loss to Sri Lanka was unexpected but not completely surprising; Pakistan had just lost the two lynch-pins of their batting line up as well as a very effective Test captain in Misbah. If you go back and watch the highlights of those games, you will realise they ended up being very close games. Add in the fact that Pakistan lost the toss in both those matches and you start to see that Pakistan were a little unfortunate. Since then, Pakistan has played pretty well; winning the Australia Test series was a good result, but I was a little disappointed the first Test was drawn. I am pleased the management has finally started playing two spinners in the UAE, and I hope they continue to select a playing XI suited to the conditions. The upcoming New Zealand series shall certainly make for interesting viewing.
PakPassion.net: When do you foresee international cricket returning to Pakistan?
mak36: It’s difficult to say, but one would hope sooner rather than later. The PSL will be key to bringing cricket back to Pakistan, but to achieve long term success the priority has to be normalising cricket matches in Pakistan, rather than making it an ‘event’.
PakPassion.net: Do Pakistan deserve the Number 7 ranking in Tests?
mak36: No. They will rise up the rankings, and quickly. Only eleven points separate number two and Pakistan; just to illustrate how close the rankings are, Pakistan could rise up as high as third after the New Zealand Test series.
The number seven ranking is explained by a few factors:
a) The lack of Tests Pakistan play (difficult to stay in rhythm, difficult to gain points)
b) Expectations v experience: at the end of the day, people have short memories; because it “feels” like a long time since MisYou retired fans are less forgiving and expect more from the team. That is all well and good but if you look at the number of Tests Pakistan has actually played since MisYou retired, you may be surprised at how low the number is. This is very much an inexperienced team that is still in a transition period.
As I have touched on above, I think the Test team is on upwards curve and I am looking forward to tracking its progress under Sarfaraz (so far his record is 1 series loss, 1 series win and 1 tough away series draw). I should add in light of the unnecessary controversy created by Mohsin Khan, Sarfaraz is absolutely the right man to lead the Test team.
PakPassion.net: Do you think Sarfaraz Ahmad is the right choice to lead Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup?
mak36: Yes. For me, he is one of the best captains in the world currently. However much his critics try to underplay it, winning the Champions Trophy was a remarkable feat and all the experts (including the likes of Atherton and Nasser) were unanimous in praising his captaincy and saying it was instrumental in Pakistan’s victory. The fact WC19 is also in England makes Sarfaraz the obvious choice.
People may point to the fact that ODI results in 2018 haven’t been brilliant so far, but I am yet to see anyone explain why Sarfaraz’s captaincy was the cause of that. The reasons for the 5-0 loss to New Zealand was because Pakistan were out-skilled by a team that is very strong at home; Pakistan's batsmen in particular failed to deliver (which made Haris’s omission until the series was lost all the more puzzling).
Coming back to the question, I will never forget the stark difference in energy when Pakistan played England in ODIs in 2016 under Azhar Ali as compared to the same group of players under Sarfaraz’s captaincy in the T20 of the same tour; the turnaround was remarkable. The point I am trying to make is the players look energised under Sarfaraz and they are pulling together as one team. As long as that drive and energy is there in the team, then Sarfaraz is absolutely the right man to lead the team. Yes there will be bumps along the way but I would say that is because this is a young, inexperienced team that is finding its way, rather than anything to do with the captaincy. It’s worth adding the Men in Green gave a good account of themselves in the recent New Zealand series, even though rain prevented Pakistan securing the 2-1 win.
There is a wider point at stake here. Even if you don’t like Sarfaraz as captain, this management has successfully nurtured a professional environment where there are standards, consistency in selection and an internal logic to the decisions they make. All of which means Pakistan, for once, has actually planned for a World Cup (perish the thought!) Why risk undoing all of that just to placate certain elements of the media desperate to create chaos in the team? Fundamentally, this a choice between supporting the management (and its right to choose its captain and team) vs a media whose only interest is to sell newspapers and furthering their agendas (e.g. pushing for players they support to be selected). I know which option I would choose…
PakPassion.net: How do you see Babar Azam? What does he have to do, to get to the next level?
mak36: Babar will finish as one of Pakistan’s greatest batsmen. In terms of what he has to do to get to the next level, I think he is already doing it. He has shown improvements in his power game and in the recent series vs Australia he has shown a developing shot range, including the ramp shot and the sweep/slog sweep. Babar's recent comments about Virat were pleasing to me for two reasons:
a) He recognised the importance of Virat's body language, and if you re-watch the recent matches Babar’s own body language on the field has been a lot better.
b) He talked about Virat’s hunger for runs, and the importance of starting again for each innings (even if you scored a century in the previous game). Having an insatiable hunger for runs will serve Babar well in the future.
One other thing that I was happy to read was how Babar refused to accept being demoted by KK (in their attempt to retain all their star players.) It shows he knows his worth but more importantly shows he is willing to challenge anyone who says otherwise; those are the actions of someone who is confident and assertive (both qualities which will help him get to the next level).
Other than that, he just needs to put on some muscle!
PakPassion.net: Who are your favourite upcoming players in the Pakistan team and domestics? Who are 3 young dynamic batsmen who you think can represent Pakistan for a long time?
mak36: Zeeshan Malik, Saud Shakeel and Umair Yousuf are three young batsmen I am looking forward to see progress. I have written a lot about them on PP, so I won’t repeat why I rate them so highly. There are plenty of other batsmen I am looking forward to see progress across all formats, such as Saif Badar, Danish Aziz, Nasir Nawaz and Saad Ali (Tests). I am also pleased to see Ahsan Ali has rediscovered his form this season. The point is there is plenty of talent, but one needs to have a proper domestic system in place for it to flourish. (Side note: NBP and PTV deserve credit for giving chances to so many youngsters at the domestic level).
For me, judging character is as important as judging technical ability and skill when it comes to identifying talent, but sometimes people make the mistake of judging solely on technical ability. Fakhar Zaman is just one example of someone who was written off by people who only judge on technique/skill. Most will be familiar with the fact I rate Asif Ali highly; he obviously has skill but I think his character sets him apart and that is one of the reasons I have said he has great potential as a match winner.
PakPassion.net: You seem to follow domestic cricket in Pakistan avidly. What things do you think can be improved in order to ensure the right talent comes up through the ranks?
mak36: People far more knowledgeable than me have written on this and I do hope the plan Bazid Khan and his father came up with is given due consideration by the PCB. That said, I would suggest the following:
The most basic, but fundamental, thing that needs to change are the pitches (particularly in FC cricket). Some of them are beyond terrible.
Beyond that, whilst it is a trite observation to say there is plenty of talent in Pakistan, that is no justification for having a very poor domestic structure. Regional cricket has to be strengthened but rather than getting rid of departments per se, I do think there is a case for the departments to be ‘re-branded’ as the regions. That way you have the best of both worlds; the administration expertise/structure of the departments coupled up with the regional name (which is important to draw public interest).
I do hope domestic cricket reform is a priority for the PCB. Whilst setting up a committee to look at this issue was a good idea, appointing Mohsin Khan has turned out to have been a serious mistake. More than anything else though, once the PCB formulates a clear plan/strategy it has to stick to it and give the new structure time to settle, rather than change the domestic structure year in, year out.
PakPassion.net: Do you think Pakistani newcomers have recently shown a trend of having short peaks before regressing rather than improving? What might be the reason for this?
mak36: No, I don’t think so. I do think this was true in the past though which was as a result of previous managements lacking any kind of strategy/forward planning. Instead there was a short term approach where decisions were made on a whim/on the basis of media pressure. This chaotic approach is what used to make squad announcements so exciting but also frightening; a player could do well but be dropped, whilst a good player could struggle for form and suddenly find himself left out in the cold never to play for Pakistan again (this also helped create a culture of fear and selfish play). It’s no wonder Pakistan developed a reputation for recycling the same old players.
Thankfully, this reactionary approach has not been followed by this management (and by that I mean the coaches and the selectors). Every player goes through changes in form. With the amount of video analysis done on players these days, the “surprise” element doesn’t last too long and players have to adapt and evolve in order to succeed (as an aside, this over-reliance on technology has meant teams are often blindsided by players they have never seen before which is something to consider in the run up to WC19).
Once the honeymoon period is over, every player has to up-skill in order to survive; going through this stage successfully is what makes players even better. In terms of the current newcomers, many of them joined the team at the same time and so they are going through this “adjustment” period at the same time which can obviously affect the form of the team. The key is being patient; those good enough will come out of it as better players.
This is also why I don’t think you should blindly follow stats. Stats without context are meaningless. Investing in talent often means investing in someone’s potential rather than their numbers. The key to investing in players is being patient and giving them the tools to succeed. That is something Pakistan has struggled to do in the past, but something this management seems to understand (which is why squad selections are so predictable nowadays!) The approach taken with Babar Azam in Tests is just one illustration of this. Those who blindly follow stats will say his 99 vs Australia is when he finally made a mark in Test cricket but that simply isn’t true; his 90* vs New Zealand and his 68 vs England were far better knocks in the circumstances. The point is newcomers have to be given a long rope, rather than be pushed out the moment things go wrong.
PakPassion.net: Which of the young quicks in Pakistan cricket do you rate the highest?
mak36: In terms of the current team, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been a revelation and someone I really enjoy watching bowl.
In terms of bowlers who are yet to debut, if I had to choose one bowler I would say Naseem Shah; he looks a real find and he is exactly the type of bowler the team needs right now.
Beyond that, Arshad Iqbal looks like he will be a very good bowler, especially in Tests. I haven’t seen any decent footage of Mohammad Hasnain but by all accounts he’s worth keeping an eye out. Musa has the natural aggression a fast bowler needs, but his height could hold him back. Ghulam Mudassar and Ahmed Bashir have been performing well at the domestic level and deserve to be selected for any upcoming A tours.
I do think Pakistan need to develop a tall right arm option, and to that end I hope Shaur Ahmed is someone the management takes under their wing.
PakPassion.net: How is PSL different from IPL?
mak36: Let me start by saying the IPL is clearly the wealthiest league and its crowds are a sight to behold. But that isn’t the only measure of success, and for me the PSL is the best league in the world simply by virtue of the fact it’s the one I enjoy watching the most and the one I feel most invested in. The day we start judging cricket on the basis of anything else, the game dies.
There’s a lot to be said about how the PSL has transformed Pakistan cricket (to list a few examples, the PSL has: helped players deal with pressure situations; produced a platform for young talent; helped to bring merit in selection; allowed players to work with world class coaches and learn from players across the globe; produced players ready for selection; generated revenue for the PCB and brought cricket back to Pakistan etc.) but that’s for another time.
PakPassion.net: Your favourite batsman and why.
mak36: Inzamam-ul-Haq was a clutch player and someone who soaked up pressure like it was nothing; as long as he was at the crease, you always felt Pakistan had a chance. Yousuf was a delight to watch, and he used to make batting look so easy. I enjoyed watching the great Australia team, and particularly enjoyed watching Ricky Ponting, Matt Hayden and Adam Gilchrist. In terms of the current Pakistan team, I love watching Haris bat. His elegance reminds me of Yousuf, and I could honestly watch him bat all day. Out of the big four I respect Virat’s work ethic and hunger for runs, but personally I prefer watching Steve Smith or Kane Williamson.
PakPassion.net: Is Test match cricket sustainable in the long run?
mak36: Yes. This would need an essay to explore properly so I will leave it at that!
PakPassion ODI XI
mak36: A star studded line up (apologies if I have missed anyone):
1. [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]- the Geoffrey Boycott of the team, an experienced campaigner who speaks his mind
2. [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION]- unflappable captain and all-conditions opener (C)
3. [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION]- dependable number three, level headed and considered in his thoughts
4. [MENTION=129948]Bilal7[/MENTION]- the KP of PP, a dynamic number four who is always looking for a chance to get on top of the bowlers
5. [MENTION=134981]Bhaag Viru Bhaag[/MENTION]- no nonsense number five, good luck if you bowl badly at him
6. [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]- solid all-rounder, someone who quietly goes about his business in an effective fashion
7. [MENTION=100918]Square Drive[/MENTION]- solid all-rounder, always lifts the team’s spirits
8. [MENTION=143023]SarfiBabarHaris[/MENTION]- keeper and vice-captain, very perceptive and wise beyond his years (VC/WK)
9. [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION]- the Shahid Afridi of PP and official sledger (opponents don’t stand a chance)
10. [MENTION=141557]Chief Destroyer[/MENTION]- lethal opening bowler who can also clear the ground for fun, expect an education on all things cricket
11. [MENTION=141843]The Googly[/MENTION]- wily leg-spinner with lots of tricks up his sleeve
Bench: [MENTION=70365]Ahson8[/MENTION], [MENTION=143344]babajee[/MENTION], [MENTION=142782]Darkrai[/MENTION], [MENTION=81]Monsee[/MENTION], [MENTION=383]ataullah[/MENTION], [MENTION=1906]hailian[/MENTION]
Thanks to admin for arranging this interview. For those who have got this far, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
mak36: I thought this question might come up, and the honest answer is I don’t remember! I think it was through Saj’s tweets and articles, and initially I only used PP for the interviews and talent spotters. As time went on, I discovered the Cricket Forum and eventually got involved. The rest, as they say, is history. I have a learnt a lot about the game from my fellow posters, many of whom are very knowledgeable, and I hope to continue to learn from them.
@Saj, [MENTION=93712]MenInG[/MENTION] and the rest of admin team do a great job in keeping this site active and relevant- long may it continue! Special shout out to [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] who is seemingly always at hand to help out/offer his guidance (and is an excellent poster to boot).
PakPassion.net: What explains Pakistan's struggles in the UAE?
mak36: Pakistan’s stellar T20I record speaks for itself so I will exclude that format from this question.
In terms of Pakistan’s recent struggles in the UAE, some of the factors are format specific, some of the factors apply across the board. I think the most important in terms of the latter is the fact the UAE is Pakistan’s adopted home. It is very easy to forget that. Pakistani players have a double hurdle; they need to learn how to play well in domestic cricket and once they have done that they then have to learn how to play in alien conditions in the UAE; that is a hurdle no other international team has to face. That’s before you even factor in the fact the team is practically living out of suitcases for the whole year, year in, year out. In short, there is no such thing as “home” advantage when it comes to Pakistan. People may try and say that Pakistan has been playing in the UAE long enough now, but answer me this: how much experience does the current crop of players (with a few notable exceptions) have of UAE conditions?
In terms of ODIs, Pakistan’s struggles in the UAE are nothing new. This is why I was surprised when people said Pakistan were front-runners for the Asia Cup. The UAE may well be Pakistan’s adopted home, but it has not been a welcoming host by any means when it comes to ODIs (feel free to check.) As I touched on above, the other factor worth remembering is that Pakistan haven’t played too many ODIs in the UAE since Mickey took over and the team is therefore pretty young and inexperienced in UAE conditions. In terms of the Asia Cup, the squad didn’t really suit UAE conditions and the management were a little slow (and arguably still are) on realising the need to select a squad suited to UAE conditions. There have been signs of improvement in the NZ series and I hope that continues, but I still think adding a “proper” second spinner like Zafar or Irfan (leg-spinner) to the squad would work wonders; [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] wrote an excellent post on this which is well worth a read if you haven’t done so already (“spin is king…”).
I will say there are clear shortcomings in the ODI team that need addressing, in particular some of the skill levels (especially of the batsmen). People often complain that Pakistan has too many accumulators, but that misses the point. In ODIs, you need batsmen who can play run a ball cricket for long periods. The problem is that some of the “accumulators” in the side aren’t particularly good at accumulating anything other than dots! There are plenty of alternatives, but that requires the selectors/management to take the initiative, select young talent and nurture it.
I also feel that there are too many “all-rounders” in the team. There is still a role for specialist players in the modern game! It is absolutely criminal Haris has not featured in ODIs more consistently, and I am happy to see that is now changing (better late than never I suppose).
In terms of Tests, Pakistan are on an upward trend. Sarfaraz has grown into the Test captaincy and I expect this team will only get better. The loss to Sri Lanka was unexpected but not completely surprising; Pakistan had just lost the two lynch-pins of their batting line up as well as a very effective Test captain in Misbah. If you go back and watch the highlights of those games, you will realise they ended up being very close games. Add in the fact that Pakistan lost the toss in both those matches and you start to see that Pakistan were a little unfortunate. Since then, Pakistan has played pretty well; winning the Australia Test series was a good result, but I was a little disappointed the first Test was drawn. I am pleased the management has finally started playing two spinners in the UAE, and I hope they continue to select a playing XI suited to the conditions. The upcoming New Zealand series shall certainly make for interesting viewing.
PakPassion.net: When do you foresee international cricket returning to Pakistan?
mak36: It’s difficult to say, but one would hope sooner rather than later. The PSL will be key to bringing cricket back to Pakistan, but to achieve long term success the priority has to be normalising cricket matches in Pakistan, rather than making it an ‘event’.
PakPassion.net: Do Pakistan deserve the Number 7 ranking in Tests?
mak36: No. They will rise up the rankings, and quickly. Only eleven points separate number two and Pakistan; just to illustrate how close the rankings are, Pakistan could rise up as high as third after the New Zealand Test series.
The number seven ranking is explained by a few factors:
a) The lack of Tests Pakistan play (difficult to stay in rhythm, difficult to gain points)
b) Expectations v experience: at the end of the day, people have short memories; because it “feels” like a long time since MisYou retired fans are less forgiving and expect more from the team. That is all well and good but if you look at the number of Tests Pakistan has actually played since MisYou retired, you may be surprised at how low the number is. This is very much an inexperienced team that is still in a transition period.
As I have touched on above, I think the Test team is on upwards curve and I am looking forward to tracking its progress under Sarfaraz (so far his record is 1 series loss, 1 series win and 1 tough away series draw). I should add in light of the unnecessary controversy created by Mohsin Khan, Sarfaraz is absolutely the right man to lead the Test team.
PakPassion.net: Do you think Sarfaraz Ahmad is the right choice to lead Pakistan in the 2019 World Cup?
mak36: Yes. For me, he is one of the best captains in the world currently. However much his critics try to underplay it, winning the Champions Trophy was a remarkable feat and all the experts (including the likes of Atherton and Nasser) were unanimous in praising his captaincy and saying it was instrumental in Pakistan’s victory. The fact WC19 is also in England makes Sarfaraz the obvious choice.
People may point to the fact that ODI results in 2018 haven’t been brilliant so far, but I am yet to see anyone explain why Sarfaraz’s captaincy was the cause of that. The reasons for the 5-0 loss to New Zealand was because Pakistan were out-skilled by a team that is very strong at home; Pakistan's batsmen in particular failed to deliver (which made Haris’s omission until the series was lost all the more puzzling).
Coming back to the question, I will never forget the stark difference in energy when Pakistan played England in ODIs in 2016 under Azhar Ali as compared to the same group of players under Sarfaraz’s captaincy in the T20 of the same tour; the turnaround was remarkable. The point I am trying to make is the players look energised under Sarfaraz and they are pulling together as one team. As long as that drive and energy is there in the team, then Sarfaraz is absolutely the right man to lead the team. Yes there will be bumps along the way but I would say that is because this is a young, inexperienced team that is finding its way, rather than anything to do with the captaincy. It’s worth adding the Men in Green gave a good account of themselves in the recent New Zealand series, even though rain prevented Pakistan securing the 2-1 win.
There is a wider point at stake here. Even if you don’t like Sarfaraz as captain, this management has successfully nurtured a professional environment where there are standards, consistency in selection and an internal logic to the decisions they make. All of which means Pakistan, for once, has actually planned for a World Cup (perish the thought!) Why risk undoing all of that just to placate certain elements of the media desperate to create chaos in the team? Fundamentally, this a choice between supporting the management (and its right to choose its captain and team) vs a media whose only interest is to sell newspapers and furthering their agendas (e.g. pushing for players they support to be selected). I know which option I would choose…
PakPassion.net: How do you see Babar Azam? What does he have to do, to get to the next level?
mak36: Babar will finish as one of Pakistan’s greatest batsmen. In terms of what he has to do to get to the next level, I think he is already doing it. He has shown improvements in his power game and in the recent series vs Australia he has shown a developing shot range, including the ramp shot and the sweep/slog sweep. Babar's recent comments about Virat were pleasing to me for two reasons:
a) He recognised the importance of Virat's body language, and if you re-watch the recent matches Babar’s own body language on the field has been a lot better.
b) He talked about Virat’s hunger for runs, and the importance of starting again for each innings (even if you scored a century in the previous game). Having an insatiable hunger for runs will serve Babar well in the future.
One other thing that I was happy to read was how Babar refused to accept being demoted by KK (in their attempt to retain all their star players.) It shows he knows his worth but more importantly shows he is willing to challenge anyone who says otherwise; those are the actions of someone who is confident and assertive (both qualities which will help him get to the next level).
Other than that, he just needs to put on some muscle!
PakPassion.net: Who are your favourite upcoming players in the Pakistan team and domestics? Who are 3 young dynamic batsmen who you think can represent Pakistan for a long time?
mak36: Zeeshan Malik, Saud Shakeel and Umair Yousuf are three young batsmen I am looking forward to see progress. I have written a lot about them on PP, so I won’t repeat why I rate them so highly. There are plenty of other batsmen I am looking forward to see progress across all formats, such as Saif Badar, Danish Aziz, Nasir Nawaz and Saad Ali (Tests). I am also pleased to see Ahsan Ali has rediscovered his form this season. The point is there is plenty of talent, but one needs to have a proper domestic system in place for it to flourish. (Side note: NBP and PTV deserve credit for giving chances to so many youngsters at the domestic level).
For me, judging character is as important as judging technical ability and skill when it comes to identifying talent, but sometimes people make the mistake of judging solely on technical ability. Fakhar Zaman is just one example of someone who was written off by people who only judge on technique/skill. Most will be familiar with the fact I rate Asif Ali highly; he obviously has skill but I think his character sets him apart and that is one of the reasons I have said he has great potential as a match winner.
PakPassion.net: You seem to follow domestic cricket in Pakistan avidly. What things do you think can be improved in order to ensure the right talent comes up through the ranks?
mak36: People far more knowledgeable than me have written on this and I do hope the plan Bazid Khan and his father came up with is given due consideration by the PCB. That said, I would suggest the following:
The most basic, but fundamental, thing that needs to change are the pitches (particularly in FC cricket). Some of them are beyond terrible.
Beyond that, whilst it is a trite observation to say there is plenty of talent in Pakistan, that is no justification for having a very poor domestic structure. Regional cricket has to be strengthened but rather than getting rid of departments per se, I do think there is a case for the departments to be ‘re-branded’ as the regions. That way you have the best of both worlds; the administration expertise/structure of the departments coupled up with the regional name (which is important to draw public interest).
I do hope domestic cricket reform is a priority for the PCB. Whilst setting up a committee to look at this issue was a good idea, appointing Mohsin Khan has turned out to have been a serious mistake. More than anything else though, once the PCB formulates a clear plan/strategy it has to stick to it and give the new structure time to settle, rather than change the domestic structure year in, year out.
PakPassion.net: Do you think Pakistani newcomers have recently shown a trend of having short peaks before regressing rather than improving? What might be the reason for this?
mak36: No, I don’t think so. I do think this was true in the past though which was as a result of previous managements lacking any kind of strategy/forward planning. Instead there was a short term approach where decisions were made on a whim/on the basis of media pressure. This chaotic approach is what used to make squad announcements so exciting but also frightening; a player could do well but be dropped, whilst a good player could struggle for form and suddenly find himself left out in the cold never to play for Pakistan again (this also helped create a culture of fear and selfish play). It’s no wonder Pakistan developed a reputation for recycling the same old players.
Thankfully, this reactionary approach has not been followed by this management (and by that I mean the coaches and the selectors). Every player goes through changes in form. With the amount of video analysis done on players these days, the “surprise” element doesn’t last too long and players have to adapt and evolve in order to succeed (as an aside, this over-reliance on technology has meant teams are often blindsided by players they have never seen before which is something to consider in the run up to WC19).
Once the honeymoon period is over, every player has to up-skill in order to survive; going through this stage successfully is what makes players even better. In terms of the current newcomers, many of them joined the team at the same time and so they are going through this “adjustment” period at the same time which can obviously affect the form of the team. The key is being patient; those good enough will come out of it as better players.
This is also why I don’t think you should blindly follow stats. Stats without context are meaningless. Investing in talent often means investing in someone’s potential rather than their numbers. The key to investing in players is being patient and giving them the tools to succeed. That is something Pakistan has struggled to do in the past, but something this management seems to understand (which is why squad selections are so predictable nowadays!) The approach taken with Babar Azam in Tests is just one illustration of this. Those who blindly follow stats will say his 99 vs Australia is when he finally made a mark in Test cricket but that simply isn’t true; his 90* vs New Zealand and his 68 vs England were far better knocks in the circumstances. The point is newcomers have to be given a long rope, rather than be pushed out the moment things go wrong.
PakPassion.net: Which of the young quicks in Pakistan cricket do you rate the highest?
mak36: In terms of the current team, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been a revelation and someone I really enjoy watching bowl.
In terms of bowlers who are yet to debut, if I had to choose one bowler I would say Naseem Shah; he looks a real find and he is exactly the type of bowler the team needs right now.
Beyond that, Arshad Iqbal looks like he will be a very good bowler, especially in Tests. I haven’t seen any decent footage of Mohammad Hasnain but by all accounts he’s worth keeping an eye out. Musa has the natural aggression a fast bowler needs, but his height could hold him back. Ghulam Mudassar and Ahmed Bashir have been performing well at the domestic level and deserve to be selected for any upcoming A tours.
I do think Pakistan need to develop a tall right arm option, and to that end I hope Shaur Ahmed is someone the management takes under their wing.
PakPassion.net: How is PSL different from IPL?
mak36: Let me start by saying the IPL is clearly the wealthiest league and its crowds are a sight to behold. But that isn’t the only measure of success, and for me the PSL is the best league in the world simply by virtue of the fact it’s the one I enjoy watching the most and the one I feel most invested in. The day we start judging cricket on the basis of anything else, the game dies.
There’s a lot to be said about how the PSL has transformed Pakistan cricket (to list a few examples, the PSL has: helped players deal with pressure situations; produced a platform for young talent; helped to bring merit in selection; allowed players to work with world class coaches and learn from players across the globe; produced players ready for selection; generated revenue for the PCB and brought cricket back to Pakistan etc.) but that’s for another time.
PakPassion.net: Your favourite batsman and why.
mak36: Inzamam-ul-Haq was a clutch player and someone who soaked up pressure like it was nothing; as long as he was at the crease, you always felt Pakistan had a chance. Yousuf was a delight to watch, and he used to make batting look so easy. I enjoyed watching the great Australia team, and particularly enjoyed watching Ricky Ponting, Matt Hayden and Adam Gilchrist. In terms of the current Pakistan team, I love watching Haris bat. His elegance reminds me of Yousuf, and I could honestly watch him bat all day. Out of the big four I respect Virat’s work ethic and hunger for runs, but personally I prefer watching Steve Smith or Kane Williamson.
PakPassion.net: Is Test match cricket sustainable in the long run?
mak36: Yes. This would need an essay to explore properly so I will leave it at that!
PakPassion ODI XI
mak36: A star studded line up (apologies if I have missed anyone):
1. [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]- the Geoffrey Boycott of the team, an experienced campaigner who speaks his mind
2. [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION]- unflappable captain and all-conditions opener (C)
3. [MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION]- dependable number three, level headed and considered in his thoughts
4. [MENTION=129948]Bilal7[/MENTION]- the KP of PP, a dynamic number four who is always looking for a chance to get on top of the bowlers
5. [MENTION=134981]Bhaag Viru Bhaag[/MENTION]- no nonsense number five, good luck if you bowl badly at him
6. [MENTION=142432]Titan24[/MENTION]- solid all-rounder, someone who quietly goes about his business in an effective fashion
7. [MENTION=100918]Square Drive[/MENTION]- solid all-rounder, always lifts the team’s spirits
8. [MENTION=143023]SarfiBabarHaris[/MENTION]- keeper and vice-captain, very perceptive and wise beyond his years (VC/WK)
9. [MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION]- the Shahid Afridi of PP and official sledger (opponents don’t stand a chance)
10. [MENTION=141557]Chief Destroyer[/MENTION]- lethal opening bowler who can also clear the ground for fun, expect an education on all things cricket
11. [MENTION=141843]The Googly[/MENTION]- wily leg-spinner with lots of tricks up his sleeve
Bench: [MENTION=70365]Ahson8[/MENTION], [MENTION=143344]babajee[/MENTION], [MENTION=142782]Darkrai[/MENTION], [MENTION=81]Monsee[/MENTION], [MENTION=383]ataullah[/MENTION], [MENTION=1906]hailian[/MENTION]
Thanks to admin for arranging this interview. For those who have got this far, I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
