"Misbah used to practice at the NCA all day long and went home only to sleep” : Mudassar Nazar

[MenInG]

KARACHI: The National Cricket Academy (NCA) of Pakistan is not up to the standards of other top academies around the world, Director NCA Mudassar Nazar has admitted.

Lahore-based NCA is considered by far the best cricket academy in the country, but even it is well below international standards, per Mudassar.

The former Test cricketer made the revelation during a visit to Karachi’s Hanif Muhammad High-Performance Center (HPC). “We don’t have all the facilities in any of our academies, not even the NCA in Lahore,” Mudassar told The Express Tribune. “I have been trying to establish a chain of academies across the country but so far the academies we have a missing element.”

The NCA serves as the hub of national cricketers and has produced many a talent, including Misbahul Haq, Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal and Salman Butt, but there is still major room for improvement. “It has produced many big names but if you talk about the available facilities over there, we are missing some elements which should be covered within the premises of the academy,” said Mudassar.

The 61-year-old further elaborated: “NCA has a good gym and coaches but we don’t have our own ground to practice on. Whenever we have to do some practice we have to request to the management of Gaddafi Stadium, who eventually approve but it’s still a painstaking process.”

Mudassar believes that if the NCA gets granted a dedicated ground to practice upon a la the Hanif Muhammad HPC, it can be even more productive.

It doesn’t, however, mean that the Hanif Muhammad HPC doesn’t have shortcomings of its own.

“The Hanif Muhammad HPC has the ground of National stadium as well as a large area for practice, which is a plus point, but then the gym here is not fully equipped, which again makes it a sub-standard HPC,” Mudassar opined.

The reason Mudassar stresses on the need for world class academies is the end result such facilities can produce. “I know the importance of academies,” he said. “Big names are produced when they get to use the best facilities and equipment.”

But academies alone are not the answer. Players have to be willing to put in the work too to make this work — something Nazar feels Misbah did plenty of during his time at the NCA.

“I remember Misbah used to practice there all day long and went home only to sleep,” he recalled. “There are many others who trained at the same academy but they were not able to become Misbah or Younis, which shows that interest and ability are an important part of the equation too.”

https://tribune.com.pk/story/1497443/world-class-players-need-world-class-academies/

 

[MenInG]

The NCA doesnt have a ground of its own which is odd - even the ICC academy facility has its own grounds!

And the Misbah comment - wow - totally believable and should be an example for the newer guys (and some older ones like UA)

 

[Yaasir]

Misbah was a very limited batsman with limited natural ability. But it was his unbelievable dedication, extreme hard work and never say die attitude that made him the great player he eventually became.

 

[Abdul]

There's only dedication only losers need motivation you gotta take the steps to become the best.

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Misbah was obviously a hard worker. That was evident.

If only we got him in his twenties and early thirties versus later in his career, we could have seen the best version of him.

 

[Saj]

Dedication. A word that some of the fake Pakistani superstars need to understand.

 

[backfootpunch]

Dedication. A word that some of the fake Pakistani superstars need to understand.

Can only imagine Umar Akmal being implied here

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Both Younus and Misbah are great examples. Even at 37 + they would do more than the youngster beauties.

This is exactly why these guys could play till their 40th or even above while the careers of Yousuf/Razzaq ended early. In professional sports its all about hard work once the honeymoon period is over.

 

[Saj]

Reminds me of a former Pak player telling me about Wasim and Waqar - when the rest of the players would be back in the changing rooms after practice, Wasim and Waqar would be doing more laps around the ground in hot conditions.

Greatness does not come easy.

 

[shaz619]

The first one in and the last one out Misbah is the type of fighter who's working the heavy bag even when the lights go out.

This man was never naturally gifted but by god almighty he maximised every second of his time to squeeze every last bit of success he could manage through his hard work, determination, sacrifice and grit.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Reminds me of a former Pak player telling me about Wasim and Waqar - when the rest of the players would be back in the changing rooms after practice, Wasim and Waqar would be doing more laps around the ground in hot conditions.

Greatness does not come easy.

Well said.

I remember an Indian commentator saying on air that during Sharjah PakvInd in 90s: 2Ws used to bowl a spell right before game started and hence they were accurate and on fire from ball one.

 

[style_guru]

I remember watching a documentary prior to 2011 WC, where Imran was telling that before the 1992 WC, he had become a work Horse, and he along with Wasim, would take several laps of the ground even before the team started practise, and would end their day with doing another round of several laps after the practise.

In another programme, I heard Wasim saying that he was told by Imran that the more a fast bowler runs & bowls, the better they become. Hence he used to try & reach the ground before everyone & used to sprint until the coach had to call him for practise. He said that watching his work ethic, Waqar too joined him & both W's used to run for several hours a day. He also said that unlike bowlers of today, he used to try & bowl as many deliveries in practise as possible. His theory was that the more you bowl, the more your muscles develop. Compare that to today's bowlers who feel that they should preserve their shoulders & bowl only a x no. of balls during practise.

Dont know how much of this is true but I hardly saw Imran, Waqar & even Wasim panting on the field unlike some of our modern superstars.

 

[adil_909]

If Misbah was English or Aussie, he would go down as a legend and all time great. But in Pakistani culture, everyone thinks of themselves like Shahid Afridi. Flashy, emotional, dramatic, do minimal work but get maximum reward. Always looking for shortcuts and will do anything other than put in the hard work to get ahead. Our entire country is built on this premise and thus is so dysfunctional. Maybe in a few generations our people will understand the value of hard work

 

[moghul]

Tried his best to hide his age but badly exposed on the tour of New Zealand and Australia.

 

[Mainul]

Will really miss Misbah.

 

[Junaids]

And the Misbah comment - wow - totally believable and should be an example for the newer guys (and some older ones like UA)

Emphatically NO!

A man in his prime who trains hard is to be admired - think of Cristiano Ronaldo.

But old men who have one dimensional lives and fear boredom in retirement are not to be admired, or even respected. They underperform - Misbah failed to reach 40 in his last eight innings in Australia and New Zealand - and they knowingly and willingly compromise the team for their own selfish motives.

Misbah was not Cristiano Ronaldo. He was Arsene Wenger: a man far past his use-by date who selfishly went on and on and on because he was afraid of life after sport.

Until Misbah disgraced himself by selecting himself at Sydney I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But when he lacked the courage and decency to do what Mike Denness did in 74-75 I decided to never again pull any punches and to instead just tell it as it is.

There is nothing positive to be said about an old man blocking the development of his team and obstructing a younger man just because he is scared of life after sport.

I know that Pakistani culture includes a weird deference to age and seniority, but in sport indulging that deference is a form of self-harm.

Look at football's World Cup qualifiers. France and Germany and Belgium are flying because they dumped their seniors and picked guys in their early twenties.

While the Netherlands keep picking Robben and Sneijder, and won't even qualify.

Sport has no hiding place for old men. And old men who practise hard need to be shown the door.

 

[Abdullah719]

Emphatically NO!

A man in his prime who trains hard is to be admired - think of Cristiano Ronaldo.

But old men who have one dimensional lives and fear boredom in retirement are not to be admired, or even respected. They underperform - Misbah failed to reach 40 in his last eight innings in Australia and New Zealand - and they knowingly and willingly compromise the team for their own selfish motives.

Misbah was not Cristiano Ronaldo. He was Arsene Wenger: a man far past his use-by date who selfishly went on and on and on because he was afraid of life after sport.

Until Misbah disgraced himself by selecting himself at Sydney I gave him the benefit of the doubt. But when he lacked the courage and decency to do what Mike Denness did in 74-75 I decided to never again pull any punches and to instead just tell it as it is.

There is nothing positive to be said about an old man blocking the development of his team and obstructing a younger man just because he is scared of life after sport.

I know that Pakistani culture includes a weird deference to age and seniority, but in sport indulging that deference is a form of self-harm.

Look at football's World Cup qualifiers. France and Germany and Belgium are flying because they dumped their seniors and picked guys in their early twenties.

While the Netherlands keep picking Robben and Sneijder, and won't even qualify.

Sport has no hiding place for old men. And old men who practise hard need to be shown the door.

Pakistan Cricket Board Urges Misbah-ul-Haq to Delay His Retirement Plans​

29 October 2015

Karachi: Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has been asked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to continue in his role for next year's tour to England and put off any retirement plans.

PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan told the media in Lahore that Misbah would inform the Board about his retirement plans after the Test series against England ends next month.

"We have told him to delay his retirement for a year if he is thinking on those lines," Khan said.

"We feel his presence as captain and senior player will be invaluable to the team for the Test tours to England and Australia next year," he added.

Misbah, 41, has said in recent media interactions that he will take a decision on his retirement after the Test series with England in the UAE.

Misbah, who has become Pakistan's most successful Test captain after leading Pakistan to victory over England in the second match in Dubai last week, has said he remains undecided about his future.

The middle-order batsman has been the Test captain since late 2010 but has not got the opportunity to lead the team in the longest format in England, Australia or India.

Pakistan will tour England next summer for a four-match series after 2010 while it last played Tests in Australia also in early 2010.
The PCB chief also made it clear that he had not as yet approved the final squad for the one-day series against England.

"I have had a discussion with the selectors on the ODI squad but nothing is final as yet. It is the job of the selectors and team management to see which is the best possible combination for the matches against England," he stated.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/pak...-ul-haq-to-delay-his-retirement-plans-1491724

 

[Junaids]

So it's okay for a has-been 42 year old to ruin his team's performances because an 83 year old administrator asked him to?

Pakistan needs to introduce strict age limits:

One batsman over 30 allowed, maximum age 34.

One quick bowler over 30 allowed, maximum age 32.

Maximum age for national coach = 55

Maximum age for PCB Chairman = 55.

Compulsory retirement from PCB at age 55.

 

[Abdullah719]

So it's okay for a has-been 42 year old to ruin his team's performances because an 83 year old administrator asked him to?

Nope but the blame needs to be shared. PCB deserve blame for not grooming someone to take over (essentially for not trusting Sarfaraz with the job earlier when he should clearly have been next in line), and for believing that the likes of Azhar, Shafiq and Sarfaraz are kids.

Putting it all on Misbah is unfair.

As for the age limits, I am yet to hear of any cricket board applying such criteria and PCB certainly won't be the first. And rightfully so.

However, it is time that we move on from the philosophy of 'old is gold' and valuing experience and seniority above everything else.

 

[Yaasir]

People I suggest not to reply to blind haters. Let the haters burn.

 

[Suleiman]

My goal in life is to work hard like Misbah and play hard like Afridi.

 

[Saj]

I think some of the modern day Pakistani cricketers believe that hard work is all about how many twitter followers or facebook followers you have. These guys don't even know the meaning of hard work.

 

[Savak]

What good is it if i practice 24/7 and still am not able to produce the goods at my primary discipline. I would still get booted.

 

[Savak]

To be honest, Azhar Ali is a better example of hard work. You compare the guy to when he first started his career and compare his batting today and you can tell the difference.