"Not like some Maradona is sitting on the bench..." Ramiz Raja on Pakistan's middle-order issues

[MenInG]

"Not like some Maradona is sitting on the bench..." Ramiz Raja on Pakistan's middle-order issues

Ramiz speaking on fans forum

“In T20Is you need youthful exuberance, but I agree that in 50 overs we need batters who can occupy the crease and bat sensibly in the middle overs. But as of now, we have limited options. It’s not like some Maradona is sitting on the bench and we are playing a local footballer instead of him."

"We definitely need improvement in the middle-order and consistency as well. No doubt about that.”

“Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team”

“If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That’s very risky. One of the big reasons why we have won nearly 80 percent of matches recently is because of our strong opening pair. You can have reservations with their style of play, but there is a plan in place."

"Our style is a good case study for the world that you can win T20Is this way as well. Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team.”

 

[Bewal Express]

Ramiz speaking on fans forum

“In T20Is you need youthful exuberance, but I agree that in 50 overs we need batters who can occupy the crease and bat sensibly in the middle overs. But as of now, we have limited options. It’s not like some Maradona is sitting on the bench and we are playing a local footballer instead of him."

"We definitely need improvement in the middle-order and consistency as well. No doubt about that.”

“Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team”

“If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That’s very risky. One of the big reasons why we have won nearly 80 percent of matches recently is because of our strong opening pair. You can have reservations with their style of play, but there is a plan in place."

"Our style is a good case study for the world that you can win T20Is this way as well. Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team.”

Rambo is right that the bench strength is pathetic and we have been reduced to selecting the likes of AA, Khusdil and Chacha Ifti. In the 2000s we have only produced one World Class batsman in Babar and that is an indictment of the PCB and its poor priorities.

 

[Madplayer]

Kamran Ghulam should have been added to the squad as a middle order batsman. However, there is a dearth of lower middle order hitters.

Khushdil and Asif are liabilities.

The only hope i have is that maybe Asif will enjoy the bounce in Australia. But it is a hope against hope.

 

[Rana]

Average comments from an average individual

Shoaib Akhtar is right about these types of individuals.

 

[Kroll]

Ramiz speaking on fans forum

“In T20Is you need youthful exuberance, but I agree that in 50 overs we need batters who can occupy the crease and bat sensibly in the middle overs. But as of now, we have limited options. It’s not like some Maradona is sitting on the bench and we are playing a local footballer instead of him."

"We definitely need improvement in the middle-order and consistency as well. No doubt about that.”

“Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team”

“If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That’s very risky. One of the big reasons why we have won nearly 80 percent of matches recently is because of our strong opening pair. You can have reservations with their style of play, but there is a plan in place."

"Our style is a good case study for the world that you can win T20Is this way as well. Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team.”

What exactly has your organisation being doing for the last or three years to fix the problem? No one is asking for Maradona. Classic attempts at absolving all responsibility.

 

[Bewal Express]

What exactly has your organisation being doing for the last or three years to fix the problem? No one is asking for Maradona. Classic attempts at absolving all responsibility.

You cant produce batsman in 3 years, its years of talent spotting, good structure including good wickets and competitive cricket to produce batsman.

 

[Rana]

You cant produce batsman in 3 years, its years of talent spotting, good structure including good wickets and competitive cricket to produce batsman.

Brevis and Stubbs who are not in South Africa’s squad are better than all of our T20 batsmen in the World Cup squad

Let that sink in.

Tom Banton is also better than the entire Pakistan team batting.

 

[Usman]

Kamran Ghulam should have been added to the squad as a middle order batsman. However, there is a dearth of lower middle order hitters.

Khushdil and Asif are liabilities.

The only hope i have is that maybe Asif will enjoy the bounce in Australia. But it is a hope against hope.

Asif can’t play the pull shot, so I have some doubts that he’ll enjoy the bounce! He likes the ball in the slot and hasn’t got too many answers if it’s not there. His inability to play anything short, and his inability to even read spin never mind play it, is just shocking.

That said, in the last t20 World Cup he did win us a couple of games by hitting 6s when bowlers came under pressure and missed their lengths. Let’s hope he can repeat that.

 

[shamaan]

Kamran Ghulam should have been added to the squad as a middle order batsman. However, there is a dearth of lower middle order hitters.

Khushdil and Asif are liabilities.

The only hope i have is that maybe Asif will enjoy the bounce in Australia. But it is a hope against hope.

If your going to pick Kamran you might aswell keep this squad.

 

[Kroll]

You cant produce batsman in 3 years, its years of talent spotting, good structure including good wickets and competitive cricket to produce batsman.

That's what I mean, why can't a huge cricketing power like Pakistan have at least a couple of batsmen for the middle order instead of bits and pieces that aren't even any good.

 

[Bewal Express]

That's what I mean, why can't a huge cricketing power like Pakistan have at least a couple of batsmen for the middle order instead of bits and pieces that aren't even any good.

Fair point and I don't know

 

[Markhor]

The last year is a case study in how it's easier as a pundit to give populist statements about a vision of fearless, attacking cricket - than actually implementing it once in a position of authority.

 

[Bewal Express]

Brevis and Stubbs who are not in South Africa’s squad are better than all of our T20 batsmen in the World Cup squad

Let that sink in.

Tom Banton is also better than the entire Pakistan team batting.

No they are not. They maybe be better hitters but we don't play Baseball. Hitting ability is important but against the likes Bumrah and others, it won't work very often. So calm down.

 

[Gayle_Force]

That's what I mean, why can't a huge cricketing power like Pakistan have at least a couple of batsmen for the middle order instead of bits and pieces that aren't even any good.

Pakistan was pretty much isolated for 10 years of cricket. The fact that we still have a competitive team is nothing short of a miracle. The second thing is the middle order spots were largely fixed for a number of years with Malik and Hafeez.

 

[Rana]

No they are not. They maybe be better hitters but we don't play Baseball. Hitting ability is important but against the likes Bumrah and others, it won't work very often. So calm down.

What works against Bumrah and co? Elaborate

 

[MenInG]

M Wasim when asked about middle order:

Latif, however, further pressed Wasim on the lack of an experienced player in the middle-order. “But it isn't like you only had to hit fours and sixes. You need an experienced player as well. We missed a player who can build a game in the Asia Cup as well. I just don't get that, (Mohammad) Hafeez had retired and Malik isn't there.. wasn't our middle-order weak?” asked the former Pakistan captain.

Wasim then reiterated that the selection was made considering the best combination for Pakistan, adding that it would be a little harsh to assume that the current middle-order hasn't won matches for the side. “When you make a team, you have to take these decisions. We have selected the best combination. To say that middle-order hasn't really performed would be harsh, because the middle-order batters have won matches for Pakistan,” said Wasim.

 

[alone1213]

LOL This guy used to talk about fearless cricket and all that stuff and now he is being so defensive.

Every single batsman and even some tailenders are better than that useless khushdil Shah and iftikhar Ahmed.

Asif Ali can't even play a part time spinner although he can still play in the team as he doesn't waste many balls other than that he is quite useless as well.

 

[Kroll]

Pakistan was pretty much isolated for 10 years of cricket. The fact that we still have a competitive team is nothing short of a miracle. The second thing is the middle order spots were largely fixed for a number of years with Malik and Hafeez.

I understand about the isolation aspect but were still playing cricket not completely banned. It's a failure from the grass roots right through to the coaches that we can't integrate and develop players. Couple that with corruption and favouritism.

Aside from all these excuses, it's still unacceptable that there is no middle order. And look at SA when they were banned, still had a top team when they came into the 92 WC.

 

[Bewal Express]

What works against Bumrah and co? Elaborate

Are you serious? You need to told.

 

[Rana]

Are you serious? You need to told.

Bewal

No matter how hard you try, the cat is out of the bag. The countdown has begun

A storm is coming

 

[Bewal Express]

The last year is a case study in how it's easier as a pundit to give populist statements about a vision of fearless, attacking cricket - than actually implementing it once in a position of authority.

If you have the players, it's easier to be fearless.

 

[Bewal Express]

Bewal

No matter how hard you try, the cat is out of the bag. The countdown has begun

A storm is coming

I got no idea what you are saying but if it's anything like what you have posted before, it's probably for the best.

 

[muqarrab]

Ramiz speaking on fans forum

“In T20Is you need youthful exuberance, but I agree that in 50 overs we need batters who can occupy the crease and bat sensibly in the middle overs. But as of now, we have limited options. It’s not like some Maradona is sitting on the bench and we are playing a local footballer instead of him."

"We definitely need improvement in the middle-order and consistency as well. No doubt about that.”

“Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team”

“If it ain't broke, don't fix it. That’s very risky. One of the big reasons why we have won nearly 80 percent of matches recently is because of our strong opening pair. You can have reservations with their style of play, but there is a plan in place."

"Our style is a good case study for the world that you can win T20Is this way as well. Separating the opening pair will spoil the DNA of the team.”

Rameez acts like a youtuber, certainly behaves like one and definitely seems hungry for views like one. Is he the right guy for pcb? We need someone to make decisions, not click on bell icon and subscribe dude.

 

[PakEngFan]

I can’t believe I am saying this but for the first time I agree with Ramiz. Seems like he has more sense then aqib, akhtar etc.

 

[Gayle_Force]

I understand about the isolation aspect but were still playing cricket not completely banned. It's a failure from the grass roots right through to the coaches that we can't integrate and develop players. Couple that with corruption and favouritism.

Aside from all these excuses, it's still unacceptable that there is no middle order. And look at SA when they were banned, still had a top team when they came into the 92 WC.

Definitely there are several issues in the domestic level that need to be addressed there is no doubt about it. As an outsider I do feel things have gone in a better direction over the last few years. I think it is also a bit unfair from fans to expect Pakistan to be the number one team in all formats when they don’t have the resources India, Australia & England have.

 

[Madplayer]

If your going to pick Kamran you might aswell keep this squad.

I'd pick him over Iftikhar tbh..he bowls spin too iirc

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Asif can’t play the pull shot, so I have some doubts that he’ll enjoy the bounce! He likes the ball in the slot and hasn’t got too many answers if it’s not there. His inability to play anything short, and his inability to even read spin never mind play it, is just shocking.

That said, in the last t20 World Cup he did win us a couple of games by hitting 6s when bowlers came under pressure and missed their lengths. Let’s hope he can repeat that.

He is a mug with the bat, even balls put on slot at 140+ he will get bowled


Against the top teams or teams ranked equal or higher than Pakistan he has failed so far, the sample size is enough to discard him forever

Same goes to Khusdil shah

I would keep playing Hafeez and Malik if the replacements are AA and KS

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Why nobody asked him about hiring qualified head coaches

Srilanka though being bankrupt can rope in Chris Silverwood.

Afghanis got klusener , Trott, Bangladesh have Donald , Russel

 

[Bewal Express]

Why nobody asked him about hiring qualified head coaches

Srilanka though being bankrupt can rope in Chris Silverwood.

Afghanis got klusener , Trott, Bangladesh have Donald , Russel

The Foreign coach is a waste of money. Ours is a structural problem going back decades and that wont change unless the PCB itself changes from being a self serving organisation to an organisation that spends its resources to promoting cricket. Spend money on paying players better, improved practice facilities, better wickets and more First Class.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

The Foreign coach is a waste of money. Ours is a structural problem going back decades and that wont change unless the PCB itself changes from being a self serving organisation to an organisation that spends its resources to promoting cricket. Spend money on paying players better, improved practice facilities, better wickets and more First Class.

Could you elaborate on what they’re currently doing wrong? I agree on your points that will beneficial, but they can only work with the income they get. I understand that they’ve increased the contract amounts this year, and the first class structure is currently more coherent than it’s ever been (until it reverts back to departmental). They’ve tried to bring in foreign curators to train local curators, but it’s not clear if that has worked. The number and quality of practice facilities absolutely can be improved.

 

[SamNJ]

That's an easy way out Ramiz sir.
What is being done to address this problem ?
Are coaches working at grass root level on war footing with a group of u-16 and u-19 batsmen to improve their technical skills ?

 

[Ashmal]

Fair point and I don't know

Pakistan is paying the price for persisting with two forty-year olds in the middle-order for far too long.

 

[Kroll]

That's an easy way out Ramiz sir.
What is being done to address this problem ?
Are coaches working at grass root level on war footing with a group of u-16 and u-19 batsmen to improve their technical skills ?

Notice how they always makes these childish statements but never offer any solutions or what's being done about it.

 

[Bewal Express]

Pakistan is paying the price for persisting with two forty-year olds in the middle-order for far too long.

I have made that point on many occasions. Both should have gone 10 years ago but they didn't. And here we are today guys equally as poor and very little to offer.

 

[Ashmal]

That's an easy way out Ramiz sir.
What is being done to address this problem ?
Are coaches working at grass root level on war footing with a group of u-16 and u-19 batsmen to improve their technical skills ?

They have brought in some foreign coaches to work with U19 guys.

 

[Bewal Express]

Notice how they always makes these childish statements but never offer any solutions or what's being done about it.

That would require proper hard work, develop systems that work and filter talent through to the national team. The fact that we rely on talent hunts to find players tells you all you need to know about our appalling systems over decades

 

[Bewal Express]

They have brought in some foreign coaches to work with U19 guys.

Waste of time and money but as its sponsored, I won't critique it too much

 

[Ashmal]

I have made that point on many occasions. Both should have gone 10 years ago but they didn't. And here we are today guys equally as poor and very little to offer.

The irony is that we still have plenty calling for the comeback of the 'saviours'.

 

[hitthestump]

What exactly has your organisation being doing for the last or three years to fix the problem? No one is asking for Maradona. Classic attempts at absolving all responsibility.

I'm genuinely convinced you don't watch cricket which makes me wonder what you are doing here.

In the last 3 years every single possible middle order batsman has been tried. Names include Maqsood, Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Danish Aziz plus the ones we have now. That led us back to Hafeez and Malik last year because they were all rubbish. You keep deflecting blame and finding new excuses but all you are doing is showing that you are clueless about the reality of our cricket.

Your latest argument is that the PCB should be finding some short term measure to develop middle order batsmen. Lol why stop there? You should complain that they haven't produced Bradman 2.0 in this magical lab you think they should have.

For all their shortcomings Khushdil and Chacha are the best in domestics. Nobody else really comes close. The best plan the PCB have got is to hope these two can translate some of that to internationals. Randomly plucking nobodies from domestics to get the same or worse results is just reactionary and emotional. If only there was a World Cup for that as that's something Pakistani's can say they are #1 at.

 

[Savak]

Lovely stuff from Ramiz. The likes of Khusdil, Asif should not be blamed for the selfishness of Rizwan, Babar, Fakhar and Iftikhar.

 

[Bewal Express]

The irony is that we still have plenty calling for the comeback of the 'saviours'.

I know, and that's why we don't move forward. The chances of us winning the WC is very low, and fully expect all of our middle to be sacked after the WC. Tbh I don't see the point of picking Babar or Riz after the WC because normal International T20 games have no value and should be used a route to introducing new talent. It will be a good time to get Haseebullah, Qasim Akram, Sam Ayub and others into the team with the next T20 WC 4 years away. Whether our fans have the maturity to understand that is another thing.

 

[Zaz]

This is one of the most unprofessional comments ive ever heard

I dont think Ramiz realises hes the pcb chairman not a youtuber

For one if your on the bench or peripheral of the team how would you feel if yoi heard this scathing "analysis" of your skill set

Surely he should be giving confidence to the squad members not putting them down like this

2nd ramiz needs to stop waffling and get professional You wouldnt hear another countrys chairman use words and talk so unprofessionally Why is it ok for pakistans?

 

[TheSultan]

This statement is the height of stupidity. In one sentence he has basically said we don’t have any batsmen and the ones that have been selected are clearly not good enough but we don’t have anyone else that is.

In one sentence he’s also managed to offend all domestic middle order players as well as the ones who will be representing him in middle during a World Cup.

It may or may not be true, but an idiotic statement to make for someone who’s chairman of the board.

 

[Kroll]

I'm genuinely convinced you don't watch cricket which makes me wonder what you are doing here.

In the last 3 years every single possible middle order batsman has been tried. Names include Maqsood, Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Danish Aziz plus the ones we have now. That led us back to Hafeez and Malik last year because they were all rubbish. You keep deflecting blame and finding new excuses but all you are doing is showing that you are clueless about the reality of our cricket.

Your latest argument is that the PCB should be finding some short term measure to develop middle order batsmen. Lol why stop there? You should complain that they haven't produced Bradman 2.0 in this magical lab you think they should have.

For all their shortcomings Khushdil and Chacha are the best in domestics. Nobody else really comes close. The best plan the PCB have got is to hope these two can translate some of that to internationals. Randomly plucking nobodies from domestics to get the same or worse results is just reactionary and emotional. If only there was a World Cup for that as that's something Pakistani's can say they are #1 at.

You’re the one who should be kicked off these forums for continually resorting to your personal attacks. If you don’t like my views, don’t respond if it bothers you we so much.

Haider Ali hasn’t been given a proper run and neither was that Danish guy. Others have been earmarked like Ghulam but not been given a chance be it any format.

I’m within my right question that no proper players have been developed for the middle order.

If you’re such an expert and happy with mediocrity then good for you.

 

[TheSultan]

For all their shortcomings Khushdil and Chacha are the best in domestics. Nobody else really comes close. The best plan the PCB have got is to hope these two can translate some of that to internationals. Randomly plucking nobodies from domestics to get the same or worse results is just reactionary and emotional. If only there was a World Cup for that as that's something Pakistani's can say they are #1 at.

I’m sorry that is laughable - these two are not the best. Haidar is much better than both combined. I get sometimes you may want to risk Asif ali and Khushdil but they should be in at 6 and 7, not taking the place of a middle order bat

 

[PakEngFan]

You’re the one who should be kicked off these forums for continually resorting to your personal attacks. If you don’t like my views, don’t respond if it bothers you we so much.

Haider Ali hasn’t been given a proper run and neither was that Danish guy. Others have been earmarked like Ghulam but not been given a chance be it any format.

I’m within my right question that no proper players have been developed for the middle order.

If you’re such an expert and happy with mediocrity then good for you.

Danish aziz is so bad that he can’t even make the domestic team. In fact he’s not even good enough for domestics. Kamran Ghulam is not a t20 player evident by his stats and Haider should have never been dropped.

 

[PakEngFan]

I’m sorry that is laughable - these two are not the best. Haidar is much better than both combined. I get sometimes you may want to risk Asif ali and Khushdil but they should be in at 6 and 7, not taking the place of a middle order bat

I know it sounds laughable but it’s a fact they are the best performers by far so imagine the other ones how bad they will be?

 

[TheSultan]

I know it sounds laughable but it’s a fact they are the best performers by far so imagine the other ones how bad they will be?

I think this is a defeatist mindset. Let’s for arguments sake say everyone is as bad or worse than them (I don’t actually believe so). But fine, let’s go with that. These two have failed over and over in international cricket.

Try some other bad players then. You can’t keep picking failures with the excuse “there’s no one better”. If they’ve sunk, maybe someone else will swim. History is littered with players who haven’t done very well domestically but they take to international cricket like a duck to water. You will never know unless you try.

 

[Usman Chadda]

No way are Iftikhar and Khushdil the best we have in domestic cricket. Khushdil doesn’t even play as a proper middle-order bat for his PSL franchise, and here he is being shoved down our throats in the national team.

 

[Moiz14]

1 Shan
2 Babar
3 Haider
4 Rizwan(Rizwan by no means is an opener, even while opening, he starts scoring when powerplay is about to end because with field up, teams pick offstump channel and if ball is swinging even a CM, he becomes clueless.. He can be our best middle order bat as then he can manoeuvre off side balls to third man and have his leg side fun also ball also stops swinging by then.he is also good sweeper to spinners)
Haris Sohail
Sohaib Maqsood/Iftikhar (Khushdil and asif are mud against bouncers, that also in Australia )
Nawaz
Shadab
Naseem
Shaheen
Haris

 

[Mamoon]

Totally agree with Ramiz. Pakistan is a talentless country, 99% of the players are deeply mediocre.

The fans are delusional and cannot accept the reality, so they always think there is a messiah waiting in the corner who will turn things around for us.

As usual, whoever is not in the team seems to be the solution. If you want to raise your stock among Pakistan cricket fans, spend some time out of the team.

The failures of those who play will automatically make you look like a better player.

 

[Rana]

How enlightening! I’m sure this is the first time I’ve read this from you. So happy you enlighten us with new messages every day

Only he knows if we have Maradonna or Pele sitting on our bench and he will tell us when it is needed

 

[Saj]

I would have fancied Maradona to do better than some of our batters any day of the week

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

What a motivational comment by Rameez Raja.

 

[Energy]

That's abysmal from Ramiz. There are constructive ways to defend selections too, with numbers or hard domestic performances etc.

He's made the entire group of hard working batsmen grinding in first class circuit, look mediocre and classless.

What a loser.

 

[Major]

Pakistani cricket fans: anyone sitting on the bench is the next best thing.

 

[Kroll]

I’m sorry that is laughable - these two are not the best. Haidar is much better than both combined. I get sometimes you may want to risk Asif ali and Khushdil but they should be in at 6 and 7, not taking the place of a middle order bat

No way are Iftikhar and Khushdil the best we have in domestic cricket. Khushdil doesn’t even play as a proper middle-order bat for his PSL franchise, and here he is being shoved down our throats in the national team.

Stump will be soon round to tell you that you don't watch cricket and you're not welcome on these boards.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

Deluded Chairman

Unfortunately we have no Maradona as a chairman , chief selector, coach or captain. This delusion needs to stop in order for us to move forward with the modern game. had we scored 70 - 80 runs in the first six in the Asia cup final we would have won. if you play with fear of loosing your wicket you will never win games of cricket.

This approach and mindset needs to change as a matter of urgency. Even with 11 Maradona's , Messi s , Ronaldo's or pele s you are not going to win with 40 - 45 runs in first 6.

other teams don't set out looking for miracles every game blaming the middle order for not scoring 50 - 60 runs in last 5.

We as supporters just want to see the Pakistan team flourish and win trophies for the nation.

 

[ex-q-zit]

If your going to pick Kamran you might aswell keep this squad.

I think Shoaib Maqsood at no. 5 will not be a bad choice considering he can hit the big shots against both spin and fast bowling. AA and KS both suck against spin.

 

[ex-q-zit]

Pakistan was pretty much isolated for 10 years of cricket. The fact that we still have a competitive team is nothing short of a miracle. The second thing is the middle order spots were largely fixed for a number of years with Malik and Hafeez.

Oh come on we have heard enough of this 10 year isolation excuse. Atleast pakistan played competitive cricket during those 10 years but when South Africa made a come back in 90s they were totally banned with no competitive cricket whatsoever but still produced great cricketers both immediately as well as the next couple of decades though currently they are on the downslide thanks to the quota system.

Your second point is true that those 2 spots were filled by Hafeez and malik for almost 15 years. But then pak have themselves to blame as they played their A team against every team be it Zimbabwe, namibia, netherlands or the c team of SL. never gave opportunity to youngsters even in dead rubbers or meaningless bilaterals.

 

[TheSultan]

Oh come on we have heard enough of this 10 year isolation excuse. Atleast pakistan played competitive cricket during those 10 years but when South Africa made a come back in 90s they were totally banned with no competitive cricket whatsoever but still produced great cricketers both immediately as well as the next couple of decades though currently they are on the downslide thanks to the quota system.

Your second point is true that those 2 spots were filled by Hafeez and malik for almost 15 years. But then pak have themselves to blame as they played their A team against every team be it Zimbabwe, namibia, netherlands or the c team of SL. never gave opportunity to youngsters even in dead rubbers or meaningless bilaterals.

Great points.

They are doing the same thing now - even when they played against Hong Kong or the dead rubber against SL before the final - they continued to play the same batting line up and I think I know why. They just want some of these pathetic middle order players to somehow squeak out a score against weaker or less motivated opposition to give some validity to their selection.

It pretty much worked for Khushdil against Hong Kong - those 4 sixes were the only thing he did in the whole tournament and gave him some rope.

And this is just a continuation with what they did with the likes of playing malik and hafeez against minnows. Hope they somehow make some runs to give them some validity.

 

[Mamoon]

Pakistan was pretty much isolated for 10 years of cricket. The fact that we still have a competitive team is nothing short of a miracle. The second thing is the middle order spots were largely fixed for a number of years with Malik and Hafeez.

Isolation? What isolation?

Pakistan regularly played cricket against all teams except India (post 2013). Playing your home matches in a different country (and similar conditions that gave Pakistan home advantage against non-Asian teams) is not isolation.

Isolation is not playing any cricket. Isolation what happened to South Africa from 1971 to 1991.

Pakistani fans will come up with the lamest excuses to justify the lack of talent in the country.

 

[Kroll]

Isolation? What isolation?

Pakistan regularly played cricket against all teams except India (post 2013). Playing your home matches in a different country (and similar conditions that gave Pakistan home advantage against non-Asian teams) is not isolation.

Isolation is not playing any cricket. Isolation what happened to South Africa from 1971 to 1991.

Pakistani fans will come up with the lamest excuses to justify the lack of talent in the country.

Whatever justifies playing the holy trinity of Iftikhar, Khushdil and Asif.

 

[Rana]

Whatever justifies playing the holy trinity of Iftikhar, Khushdil and Asif.

Get ready for the Trimurti of Babar, Rizwan, Shan.

You never know if Imam may soon join them at 4.

 

[Kroll]

Get ready for the Trimurti of Babar, Rizwan, Shan.

You never know if Imam may soon join them at 4.

Ah yes, more piety at the top of the order, free from any criticism or accountability.

 

[Gayle_Force]

Oh come on we have heard enough of this 10 year isolation excuse. Atleast pakistan played competitive cricket during those 10 years but when South Africa made a come back in 90s they were totally banned with no competitive cricket whatsoever but still produced great cricketers both immediately as well as the next couple of decades though currently they are on the downslide thanks to the quota system.

Your second point is true that those 2 spots were filled by Hafeez and malik for almost 15 years. But then pak have themselves to blame as they played their A team against every team be it Zimbabwe, namibia, netherlands or the c team of SL. never gave opportunity to youngsters even in dead rubbers or meaningless bilaterals.

I was talking about Pakistan the country not the team. Not having high quality cricket at home grounds is very beneficial to encourage and develop young talent. Also, it provides great opportunity to test out new and young players in conditions they are familiar with so that they gain some confidence. Comparing Pakistan situation to South Africa in 1970-1990 is a bit unfair. Cricket 30 years ago was largely skills based. It has completely changed now with India, Australia & England having far greater resources than other teams.

Also, your second point is a symptom of the first. It is completely different to bring in your new talent in home ground conditions than sending them overseas to debut. Pakistan tried several middle order players like Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Harris Sohail, Farwad Alan etc but ultimately had to go back to Hafeez and Malik as they provided the best opportunity for a winning combination. You have to also remember Pakistan played far fewer international games compared to top teams. In order to continue to demonstrate results they had to resort to experience.

 

[Kianig89]

Ramiz Raja analysis after Triseries final defeat

Pak lost twice to NZ shows the gap in quality of teams

Pak bowlers are pedestrian and batters workmanlike

ICC will make pitches for CT

Jazba/passion and willpower can drive Pakustan in CT


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basically a homeopathic type analysis from RAMIZ