Abdullah719
T20I Captain
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2013
- Runs
- 44,836
Thanks for the responses [MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION].
PakPassion.net: Can Wasim Khan deliver on his promise of reforming PCB?
Rana: It’s a difficult question. I believe that he certainly is capable of doing so as long as he is recognized for his ability to provide a quality service based on his extensive experience. This recognition must come from the PCB staff that is assigned to support him and the external staff/departments that have been serving Pakistan’s domestic circuit for a long time even before his appointment. As long as this trust is in place, the man will provide the PCB with reformations and achievements as he already has done so since being appointed. Already I have seen that he is successful in making good relations with the ECB, a very prestigious and powerful board of world cricket.
PakPassion.net: Misbah and Waqar - Dream team or a recipe for disaster?
Rana: Dream team for each other as they complement each other’s sub-standard coaching, but a recipe for disaster for any international standard side let alone Pakistan. Waqar was a better bowling coach for Pakistan when serving as head coach, his results have not been impressive working solely as the bowling coach now. As for Misbah, I would have liked the man to do a lot more coaching around the world, in the county circuits or with franchises such as Islamabad united before applying for such a huge responsibility. Very disappointed with this appointment because PCB really should have more professional standards.
PakPassion.net: What brings you to PakPassion?
Rana: Being kept up to date with news, developments in Pakistan cricket, news and developments in general. I love to follow Pakistan cricket and it really helps in providing insight into how things are shaping up on a daily basis. Plus, I love so much of the drama, arguments that go on regarding heated topics. It’s a highly opinionated forum with some very stubborn posters who would fight for their argument right to the very end.
PakPassion.net: Why you kept Brock Lesner pic in your profile?
Rana: Not sure what I am supposed to say, I need Paul Heyman to say something stupid. (I don’t know how to change it and can’t be bothered to change it either)
PakPassion.net: What should PCB do to climb up near to Big 3 boards? for example 4th biggest and powerful cricket board? Any ideas suggestions
Rana: I believe they already are the 4th, 5th biggest due to the number of international fans and appeal they have globally. ICC events are a testimony to this. However, the results of late and the poor rankings do not reflect this and why should it? You cannot have such a huge following and still produce terrible results. Overall, I believe Pakistan will stride into Big 3 importance once they are hosting teams regularly and are thumping teams at home in all three formats. But yes, you have to start winning tough away series that will make you stand out. Cannot continue with this horror show against Australia away. Besides results, I believe that there is a lack of portraying our brand in a modernized way due to poor broadcasting and professional outlook. For instance, the quality of sponsorship and the kit manufacturer etc. The Players also need to behave with a bit more class, professionalism and more importantly individualism instead of behaving like imitators and wannabes.
PakPassion.net: What would be your bowling attack and batting openers on Pakistan’s next assignment in tests/ODIs/T20s. (Assuming all games are being played in Pakistan).
Rana:
Test Cricket:
Abid+Shan (Imam replacement)
Naseem+ Shaheen (Abbas 1st change)
ODI:
Imam+ Abid (Fakhar replacement)
Amir+ Shaheen
T20i:
Fakhar+Babar (Asif Ali to replace Fakhar as an opener)
Amir+Naseem (Rauf 1st change+death over specialist)
PakPassion.net: What feels better, seeing Pakistan win or captaining SOAS to victory?
Rana: Obviously SOAS any day bro, we had LSE and Imperial snobs terrified of facing us back then.
PakPassion.net: If you were from India how would you view Pakistan?
Rana: I am trying my level best to imagine this. Knowing myself, my loyalty is 100% to my country (England), but I support Pakistan (country of birth and origin) to the best of my ability. In this case I would be the same for India. I believe I would be fair in my dislike for things Pakistan does, and I would also be truthfully appreciative of its positive aspects. Pakistan has a very poor track record when it comes to the treatment of minorities and I believe I would be very vocal about this. In terms of cricket, I’m not sure I would be following it because I would just be so occupied with the intense schedule of the Indian team.
PakPassion.net: What are your top three favourite matches of all time?
Rana:
1. Pakistan v India ODI in Karachi 2004
2. England v Pakistan 2019 Trent Bridge, World Cup
3. England v Australia 2005 at Old Trafford (Drawn Test)
PakPassion.net: Will Pakistan be able to produce great Test bowlers ever again or are they going to give up on Test cricket entirely to focus on shorter formats?
Rana: Pakistan will not and should not give up on Test cricket to focus on the shorter format no matter how the vast majority of the impatient fans feel about it. Pakistan has a couple of potential ATGs in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Both have the right ingredients and cricketing DNA to take 350-400+ Test Wickets provided Pakistan are playing this format as frequently as England, India and Australia. PCB need to be very smart with their central contract offers. Test cricket and 100% availability to it should constitute to 75% of the contract and make it clear to these youngsters that premature retirements could lead to no NOC’s being issued for other T20 leagues.
PakPassion.net: Any player who you had high expectations from but he couldn’t deliver accordingly?
Rana: I feel very much let down by Salman Butt. I really thought that he was a gifted player with a bright head on his shoulders. A delight to watch on song and he really knew how to pace his innings well. He was finally starting to mature into an ideal opener (ODI and T20 cricket) before he was caught in the spot-fixing scandal. Total waste of a good, intelligent young man who would have been a great asset to Pakistan in the coming years and maybe later as a coach or a reasonable voice in the media. I would term him the Ted Bundy of Pakistan cricket.
PakPassion.net: Who do you think is the best young Pakistani talent?
Rana: TBH I have not followed most of the youngsters in the u19s or the academies to make a fair and complete judgment. My obvious answer to this would be Naseem Shah as he really is a gem of a find as he will be the premier bowler for Pakistan in all three formats by the age of 22. However, besides the obvious, I am very happy to see a youngster like Umer Khan do so well in the PSL and the fact that he did so well against some of the biggest names in the competition. That was delightful to see and it’s only a matter of time when he will be playing for Pakistan in limited overs cricket.
PakPassion.net: Who is your all-time favourite cricketer?
Rana: I want to say that I am really proud of the achievements of someone like David Gower. Cricket is truly a gentleman’s game and Gower was one of the finest of Gentlemen to have played this wonderful game. He was an excellent student with excellent academic prospects who served his country as one of the most stylish batsmen of his era. Not only this but he also served as the captain of England for many years. To play 117 Test matches whilst scoring over 8000 runs at an average of 44. Gower also has over 26,000 domestic runs! The clear minded and eloquent style of expression was for all to see during his years as a wonderful commentator/analyst of the game. This is why I also admire the career of someone like Saeed Anwar and I sincerely hope that Pakistan continue to produce such gentleman in the game as this is thoroughly needed for their brand.
PakPassion.net: Can Wasim Khan deliver on his promise of reforming PCB?
Rana: It’s a difficult question. I believe that he certainly is capable of doing so as long as he is recognized for his ability to provide a quality service based on his extensive experience. This recognition must come from the PCB staff that is assigned to support him and the external staff/departments that have been serving Pakistan’s domestic circuit for a long time even before his appointment. As long as this trust is in place, the man will provide the PCB with reformations and achievements as he already has done so since being appointed. Already I have seen that he is successful in making good relations with the ECB, a very prestigious and powerful board of world cricket.
PakPassion.net: Misbah and Waqar - Dream team or a recipe for disaster?
Rana: Dream team for each other as they complement each other’s sub-standard coaching, but a recipe for disaster for any international standard side let alone Pakistan. Waqar was a better bowling coach for Pakistan when serving as head coach, his results have not been impressive working solely as the bowling coach now. As for Misbah, I would have liked the man to do a lot more coaching around the world, in the county circuits or with franchises such as Islamabad united before applying for such a huge responsibility. Very disappointed with this appointment because PCB really should have more professional standards.
PakPassion.net: What brings you to PakPassion?
Rana: Being kept up to date with news, developments in Pakistan cricket, news and developments in general. I love to follow Pakistan cricket and it really helps in providing insight into how things are shaping up on a daily basis. Plus, I love so much of the drama, arguments that go on regarding heated topics. It’s a highly opinionated forum with some very stubborn posters who would fight for their argument right to the very end.
PakPassion.net: Why you kept Brock Lesner pic in your profile?
Rana: Not sure what I am supposed to say, I need Paul Heyman to say something stupid. (I don’t know how to change it and can’t be bothered to change it either)
PakPassion.net: What should PCB do to climb up near to Big 3 boards? for example 4th biggest and powerful cricket board? Any ideas suggestions
Rana: I believe they already are the 4th, 5th biggest due to the number of international fans and appeal they have globally. ICC events are a testimony to this. However, the results of late and the poor rankings do not reflect this and why should it? You cannot have such a huge following and still produce terrible results. Overall, I believe Pakistan will stride into Big 3 importance once they are hosting teams regularly and are thumping teams at home in all three formats. But yes, you have to start winning tough away series that will make you stand out. Cannot continue with this horror show against Australia away. Besides results, I believe that there is a lack of portraying our brand in a modernized way due to poor broadcasting and professional outlook. For instance, the quality of sponsorship and the kit manufacturer etc. The Players also need to behave with a bit more class, professionalism and more importantly individualism instead of behaving like imitators and wannabes.
PakPassion.net: What would be your bowling attack and batting openers on Pakistan’s next assignment in tests/ODIs/T20s. (Assuming all games are being played in Pakistan).
Rana:
Test Cricket:
Abid+Shan (Imam replacement)
Naseem+ Shaheen (Abbas 1st change)
ODI:
Imam+ Abid (Fakhar replacement)
Amir+ Shaheen
T20i:
Fakhar+Babar (Asif Ali to replace Fakhar as an opener)
Amir+Naseem (Rauf 1st change+death over specialist)
PakPassion.net: What feels better, seeing Pakistan win or captaining SOAS to victory?
Rana: Obviously SOAS any day bro, we had LSE and Imperial snobs terrified of facing us back then.
PakPassion.net: If you were from India how would you view Pakistan?
Rana: I am trying my level best to imagine this. Knowing myself, my loyalty is 100% to my country (England), but I support Pakistan (country of birth and origin) to the best of my ability. In this case I would be the same for India. I believe I would be fair in my dislike for things Pakistan does, and I would also be truthfully appreciative of its positive aspects. Pakistan has a very poor track record when it comes to the treatment of minorities and I believe I would be very vocal about this. In terms of cricket, I’m not sure I would be following it because I would just be so occupied with the intense schedule of the Indian team.
PakPassion.net: What are your top three favourite matches of all time?
Rana:
1. Pakistan v India ODI in Karachi 2004
2. England v Pakistan 2019 Trent Bridge, World Cup
3. England v Australia 2005 at Old Trafford (Drawn Test)
PakPassion.net: Will Pakistan be able to produce great Test bowlers ever again or are they going to give up on Test cricket entirely to focus on shorter formats?
Rana: Pakistan will not and should not give up on Test cricket to focus on the shorter format no matter how the vast majority of the impatient fans feel about it. Pakistan has a couple of potential ATGs in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah. Both have the right ingredients and cricketing DNA to take 350-400+ Test Wickets provided Pakistan are playing this format as frequently as England, India and Australia. PCB need to be very smart with their central contract offers. Test cricket and 100% availability to it should constitute to 75% of the contract and make it clear to these youngsters that premature retirements could lead to no NOC’s being issued for other T20 leagues.
PakPassion.net: Any player who you had high expectations from but he couldn’t deliver accordingly?
Rana: I feel very much let down by Salman Butt. I really thought that he was a gifted player with a bright head on his shoulders. A delight to watch on song and he really knew how to pace his innings well. He was finally starting to mature into an ideal opener (ODI and T20 cricket) before he was caught in the spot-fixing scandal. Total waste of a good, intelligent young man who would have been a great asset to Pakistan in the coming years and maybe later as a coach or a reasonable voice in the media. I would term him the Ted Bundy of Pakistan cricket.
PakPassion.net: Who do you think is the best young Pakistani talent?
Rana: TBH I have not followed most of the youngsters in the u19s or the academies to make a fair and complete judgment. My obvious answer to this would be Naseem Shah as he really is a gem of a find as he will be the premier bowler for Pakistan in all three formats by the age of 22. However, besides the obvious, I am very happy to see a youngster like Umer Khan do so well in the PSL and the fact that he did so well against some of the biggest names in the competition. That was delightful to see and it’s only a matter of time when he will be playing for Pakistan in limited overs cricket.
PakPassion.net: Who is your all-time favourite cricketer?
Rana: I want to say that I am really proud of the achievements of someone like David Gower. Cricket is truly a gentleman’s game and Gower was one of the finest of Gentlemen to have played this wonderful game. He was an excellent student with excellent academic prospects who served his country as one of the most stylish batsmen of his era. Not only this but he also served as the captain of England for many years. To play 117 Test matches whilst scoring over 8000 runs at an average of 44. Gower also has over 26,000 domestic runs! The clear minded and eloquent style of expression was for all to see during his years as a wonderful commentator/analyst of the game. This is why I also admire the career of someone like Saeed Anwar and I sincerely hope that Pakistan continue to produce such gentleman in the game as this is thoroughly needed for their brand.
