- Joined
- Oct 2, 2004
- Runs
- 217,832
Many thanks to [MENTION=142169]PakLFC[/MENTION] for his very detailed (and entertaining) answers to member questions.
PakPassion.net: What brings you to PakPassion?
PakLFC: My love for everything Pakistani, especially Cricket and Politics. This website needs a sane and sensible voice like mine!
PakPassion.net: Why is Pakistan so poor in bilateral white-ball series both home and away, and why are they all of a sudden awake in big tournaments?
PakLFC: We don't have the players to succeed at the white ball version of the game. I am all for giving chances to players and understand that sometimes they are simply out of form. The real question is why does Pakistan perform poorly compared to other top sides? Can't say as I never watch domestic Cricket nonetheless our ex-players are always fighting on TV. This attitude has been a curse on Pak Cricket for years where there is disunity at every level. Pak Cricket has no stability rather it's a game of musical chairs. There will never be success without stability in any walk of life. Just to say we are hardly great at Test Cricket either.
PakPassion.net: Has the T20 format destroyed cricket as we know it?
PakLFC: I call T20 "immature Cricket" that anyone can really play as no technique is required. Even tail enders regularly hit sixers for heaven sake! Michael Holding said it best that he doesn't consider it to be Cricket at all. All said, today life is fast and furious so the public demands instant entertainment. We see that most Test's are played in empty stadiums leaving the ICC with little choice. I don't think the T20 is responsible for destroying Test Cricket, rather it's just something that doesn't excite me.
PakPassion.net:Your thoughts on Najam Sethi as Chairman of the PCB? Good for Pakistan cricket or will he prove to be a disaster?
PakLFC:Horses for courses. Najam is not a Cricket man and never was. Perhaps he's a good administrator or something like, more likely is that the PCB wanted a "yes sir" man like him. I see a liar and cheat every time I look at him so no I don't think he's gonna do well for us at all. He was a political commentator who probably got the job due to some contacts within the PCB. At least Ramiz was a Cricket man.
PakPassion.net:Your thoughts on Haroon Rasheed's appointment as Chief Selector?
PakLFC:He can only pick from what is in front off him. What he has isn't much as Ramiz mentioned some time back. We have seen many times how so many of our players who perform well domestically just don't do it at international level. Without expecting miracles he'll do okay much like he was as a player. Let the circus continue!
PakPassion.net:What future do you see of Shubman Gill in Test cricket?
PakLFC:Another classy batsmen produced by India who will deliver for sure. The lad has everything in his game to be a rousing success. Good technique and temperament this boy given time will be world class. Only thing is that Indian fans are just like us, if not worse who will want him out after a few poor scores. He's only 23 with much time on his side.
PakPassion.net:Can Pakistan win a World Cup this decade?
PakLFC:Sure we can. If a few key players like Babar and Shaheen are kept fit then we have a good chance especially in the subcontinent conditions. I am an eternal optimist, never say die. "Impossible is Nothing".
PakPassion.net: Should Pakistan boycott the 2023 World Cup in India if India refuses to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup?
PakLFC: No. We have to remember that the World Cup, unlike the Asia Cup, is an ICC competition. I would much prefer that the Asia Cup was cancelled as a whole so everyone is happy. Only the Indo-Pak match really matters in this meaningless competition. The World Cup without an Indo-Pak match will be terrible for all Cricket fans.
PakPassion.net: What are the reasons in your opinion for Pakistan's horrid home Test form?
PakLFC: Poor batting is the main reason. Our batsmen forever struggle to put 300 on the board when other teams walk to over 400. At Test Cricket those teams who score heavy runs win the match more often than not. Our boy's lack the technique to play long innings required to make a telling difference at Test's. We don't have a Miandad, Inzi or Younis Khan anymore who can bat for two days.
PakPassion.net: If you were made the PCB chairman for 1 month with full autonomy, what are some of the immediate steps you will take to steer this lost ship into the right direction?
PakLFC:Seeing the time given to me is only a month any player not performing in two consecutive matches will be given an ear bashing. Those players who for whatever reason are not 100% fit are out of the team. I will bring in proper coaches like Wasim Akram for bowling, Inzamam-ul-Haq for batting and perhaps Jonty Rhodes for fielding. Not a believer in all this psychologist rubbish to pamper the players more than needed. May consider bringing in drop in pitches if we are playing at home as well as giving away some free tickets to bring more fan's in. I think we sometimes do this already.
PakPassion.net:What is your view on what should be the perfect pitch for Tests in the sub-continental conditions?
PakLFC:Like what we have in Australia! I love the exciting brand of Cricket played in Australia, even New Zealand with the ball flying around to all parts. That will also make our players brush up on their technique as well. Ultimately there has to be a balance between bat and ball where both have an equal chance. No one wants to see a Test finished in two days as often is the case these days. Realistically speaking as a Pak fan we have to play to our strengths at home that is producing low bounce boring pitches because our batsmen can't handle high bouncing conditions.
PakPassion.net:Where do you see Pakistan in 10 years? Do you think Imran Khan will come back into power?
PakLFC:Whereas I criticize Imran Khan here when I disagree with him, the man is still the most honest politician we have. I am serious as sin when I say that Pak will be a wonderful place in ten years. Yes we are going through a very difficult period but this cleansing process is needed for us to filter out the garbage. Sometimes we have to take some steps backward to go forwards as is the case here. As the Qur'an says 94.5 "After each hardship there is ease". Yeah for sure IK will be our PM again later on this year after the elections, Insha Allah.
PakPassion.net: Will there be open borders between India Pakistan in the next 20 years?
PakLFC: Entire subcontinent will appear very different in the next twenty years. The geography of the region will change. I feel particularly in India due to war's, natural disasters and China playing games in the region. The entire world will appear very different with old borders being reformed or a world without borders. Yeah there will be open borders between Pak and India although not like we know them at present.
PakPassion.net: Where does Mohamed Salah rank with the Premier League Greats?
PakLFC: He has been a great signing for us no doubt about it. For whatever reason after Mane's departure he has been underperforming for one reason or another. As good as he has been for us, I rank him lower then Henry and Ronaldo. On his day a world class player though sadly those days are few and far between now.
PakPassion.net: . Why do you think Liverpool have suffered this year? Is Klopp’s job on the line as no money to spend with a Champions League qualification looking a tough ask?
PakLFC: We are shopping at the corner store when the likes of Chelsea and Man city now even Man United and Arsenal are doing so are the costliest places. We need to spend at least £300 million net to even have a chance of competing with the aforementioned teams. If the owners don't sell the club or find major investors to finance the side Jurgen Klopp could very well walk away in the summer before he is sacked.
PakPassion.net: What brings you to PakPassion?
PakLFC: My love for everything Pakistani, especially Cricket and Politics. This website needs a sane and sensible voice like mine!
PakPassion.net: Why is Pakistan so poor in bilateral white-ball series both home and away, and why are they all of a sudden awake in big tournaments?
PakLFC: We don't have the players to succeed at the white ball version of the game. I am all for giving chances to players and understand that sometimes they are simply out of form. The real question is why does Pakistan perform poorly compared to other top sides? Can't say as I never watch domestic Cricket nonetheless our ex-players are always fighting on TV. This attitude has been a curse on Pak Cricket for years where there is disunity at every level. Pak Cricket has no stability rather it's a game of musical chairs. There will never be success without stability in any walk of life. Just to say we are hardly great at Test Cricket either.
PakPassion.net: Has the T20 format destroyed cricket as we know it?
PakLFC: I call T20 "immature Cricket" that anyone can really play as no technique is required. Even tail enders regularly hit sixers for heaven sake! Michael Holding said it best that he doesn't consider it to be Cricket at all. All said, today life is fast and furious so the public demands instant entertainment. We see that most Test's are played in empty stadiums leaving the ICC with little choice. I don't think the T20 is responsible for destroying Test Cricket, rather it's just something that doesn't excite me.
PakPassion.net:Your thoughts on Najam Sethi as Chairman of the PCB? Good for Pakistan cricket or will he prove to be a disaster?
PakLFC:Horses for courses. Najam is not a Cricket man and never was. Perhaps he's a good administrator or something like, more likely is that the PCB wanted a "yes sir" man like him. I see a liar and cheat every time I look at him so no I don't think he's gonna do well for us at all. He was a political commentator who probably got the job due to some contacts within the PCB. At least Ramiz was a Cricket man.
PakPassion.net:Your thoughts on Haroon Rasheed's appointment as Chief Selector?
PakLFC:He can only pick from what is in front off him. What he has isn't much as Ramiz mentioned some time back. We have seen many times how so many of our players who perform well domestically just don't do it at international level. Without expecting miracles he'll do okay much like he was as a player. Let the circus continue!
PakPassion.net:What future do you see of Shubman Gill in Test cricket?
PakLFC:Another classy batsmen produced by India who will deliver for sure. The lad has everything in his game to be a rousing success. Good technique and temperament this boy given time will be world class. Only thing is that Indian fans are just like us, if not worse who will want him out after a few poor scores. He's only 23 with much time on his side.
PakPassion.net:Can Pakistan win a World Cup this decade?
PakLFC:Sure we can. If a few key players like Babar and Shaheen are kept fit then we have a good chance especially in the subcontinent conditions. I am an eternal optimist, never say die. "Impossible is Nothing".
PakPassion.net: Should Pakistan boycott the 2023 World Cup in India if India refuses to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup?
PakLFC: No. We have to remember that the World Cup, unlike the Asia Cup, is an ICC competition. I would much prefer that the Asia Cup was cancelled as a whole so everyone is happy. Only the Indo-Pak match really matters in this meaningless competition. The World Cup without an Indo-Pak match will be terrible for all Cricket fans.
PakPassion.net: What are the reasons in your opinion for Pakistan's horrid home Test form?
PakLFC: Poor batting is the main reason. Our batsmen forever struggle to put 300 on the board when other teams walk to over 400. At Test Cricket those teams who score heavy runs win the match more often than not. Our boy's lack the technique to play long innings required to make a telling difference at Test's. We don't have a Miandad, Inzi or Younis Khan anymore who can bat for two days.
PakPassion.net: If you were made the PCB chairman for 1 month with full autonomy, what are some of the immediate steps you will take to steer this lost ship into the right direction?
PakLFC:Seeing the time given to me is only a month any player not performing in two consecutive matches will be given an ear bashing. Those players who for whatever reason are not 100% fit are out of the team. I will bring in proper coaches like Wasim Akram for bowling, Inzamam-ul-Haq for batting and perhaps Jonty Rhodes for fielding. Not a believer in all this psychologist rubbish to pamper the players more than needed. May consider bringing in drop in pitches if we are playing at home as well as giving away some free tickets to bring more fan's in. I think we sometimes do this already.
PakPassion.net:What is your view on what should be the perfect pitch for Tests in the sub-continental conditions?
PakLFC:Like what we have in Australia! I love the exciting brand of Cricket played in Australia, even New Zealand with the ball flying around to all parts. That will also make our players brush up on their technique as well. Ultimately there has to be a balance between bat and ball where both have an equal chance. No one wants to see a Test finished in two days as often is the case these days. Realistically speaking as a Pak fan we have to play to our strengths at home that is producing low bounce boring pitches because our batsmen can't handle high bouncing conditions.
PakPassion.net:Where do you see Pakistan in 10 years? Do you think Imran Khan will come back into power?
PakLFC:Whereas I criticize Imran Khan here when I disagree with him, the man is still the most honest politician we have. I am serious as sin when I say that Pak will be a wonderful place in ten years. Yes we are going through a very difficult period but this cleansing process is needed for us to filter out the garbage. Sometimes we have to take some steps backward to go forwards as is the case here. As the Qur'an says 94.5 "After each hardship there is ease". Yeah for sure IK will be our PM again later on this year after the elections, Insha Allah.
PakPassion.net: Will there be open borders between India Pakistan in the next 20 years?
PakLFC: Entire subcontinent will appear very different in the next twenty years. The geography of the region will change. I feel particularly in India due to war's, natural disasters and China playing games in the region. The entire world will appear very different with old borders being reformed or a world without borders. Yeah there will be open borders between Pak and India although not like we know them at present.
PakPassion.net: Where does Mohamed Salah rank with the Premier League Greats?
PakLFC: He has been a great signing for us no doubt about it. For whatever reason after Mane's departure he has been underperforming for one reason or another. As good as he has been for us, I rank him lower then Henry and Ronaldo. On his day a world class player though sadly those days are few and far between now.
PakPassion.net: . Why do you think Liverpool have suffered this year? Is Klopp’s job on the line as no money to spend with a Champions League qualification looking a tough ask?
PakLFC: We are shopping at the corner store when the likes of Chelsea and Man city now even Man United and Arsenal are doing so are the costliest places. We need to spend at least £300 million net to even have a chance of competing with the aforementioned teams. If the owners don't sell the club or find major investors to finance the side Jurgen Klopp could very well walk away in the summer before he is sacked.
