Pakistan has been playing international cricket for 66+ years, yet there have only been 19 'A' tours

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Why do Pakistani batsmen struggle overseas? This could be one of the reasons - the last time Pakistan had 'A' tours:<br><br>Australia (2009)<br>New Zealand (1998)<br>South Africa (2003)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1083065863123714048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan has been playing international cricket for over 66 years, yet there have only been 19 'A' tours in that time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1083064444119384065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[table=class:grid][tr][td]Pakistan A tour to Zimbabwe 2016/17[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in England 2016[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2015[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in UAE 2014/15[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in West Indies 2010/11[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2010[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in United Arab Emirates 2009/10[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2009[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Australia 2009[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Namibia and Zimbabwe 2004/05[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2004/05[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Kenya 2004[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan Academy in South Africa 2003/04[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in United Arab Emirates 2002/03[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2001[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Kenya 2000[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in New Zealand 1998/99[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in England 1997[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 1991[/td][/tr][/table]

 

[Chokli]

I think every time Pakistan has a tour, Pakistan A should come along with them.


They can schedule matches against the other A side etc.

That Pakistan A tour of Australia in 2009 is where Umar Akmal impressed everyone.

 

[Fahdi]

The lack of A-tours is apalling really. I made this thread regarding A-tours recently titled "Take Pakistan A team along for tough tours like South Africa and Australia"

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...r-tough-tours-like-South-Africa-and-Australia

This is what I advocated

Looking at the way our batting is struggling any up and coming player would cherish the opportunity to have some prior experience on these tracks.

Also like last time Pakistan has had some problems with injuries and replacements if necessary will have to be flown in without any sort of opportunity to get used to the conditions.

So my suggestion is why not take your A-team along and play some A-games concurrently even if they are against low caliber teams. The captain and coach would certainly have liked it if Saud, Saad and Usman were playing a match on the side so one of them could be drafted in to replace Haris Sohail.

There is also the case of those on the bench being able to get some extra practice games while they're at it. Shaheen got to play the A-games in the UAE instead of warming the bench and it seems that helped him out. We can see the benefit of the A-team in Shan Masood this series.

I think this is the best strategy that can be implemented quickly to improve Pakistan cricket. Invest heavily in the A-team. Instead of a direct path to the national team most players should come through the A-team. Your performances and potential get you picked for the A-team where you get tested in a variety of conditions against good units. The level of cricket will certainly be higher than anything Pakistan can offer and hence A-team performances are a lot more reliable. This has been proven on multiple occasions as well. The most recent example is Shan Masood who put is very good performances on behalf of the A-team and has been able to reciprocate them at the international level against SA, Shaheen Afridi took 7 wickets against the Engand Lions. Some other examples are Babar Azam and Haris Sohail who scored hundreds in the tour match against Australia back in 2014, which demonstrated their potential and it's no wonder they were able to make the leap towards international cricket. Saad Ali and Usman Salahudin have also scored heavily against England Lions hence it's disappointing to see neither of them are in the squad considering that A-team.

 

[Savak]

This applies to the U-19 team as well. There should be a minimum of 2-3 Pakistan A tours abroad every year.

 

[Buffet]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Why do Pakistani batsmen struggle overseas? This could be one of the reasons - the last time Pakistan had 'A' tours:<br><br>Australia (2009)<br>New Zealand (1998)<br>South Africa (2003)<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1083065863123714048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pakistan has been playing international cricket for over 66 years, yet there have only been 19 'A' tours in that time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1083064444119384065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[table=class:grid][tr][td]Pakistan A tour to Zimbabwe 2016/17[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in England 2016[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2015[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in UAE 2014/15[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in West Indies 2010/11[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2010[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in United Arab Emirates 2009/10[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2009[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Australia 2009[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Namibia and Zimbabwe 2004/05[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2004/05[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Kenya 2004[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan Academy in South Africa 2003/04[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in United Arab Emirates 2002/03[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 2001[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Kenya 2000[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in New Zealand 1998/99[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in England 1997[/td][/tr]
[tr][td]Pakistan A in Sri Lanka 1991[/td][/tr][/table]

It seems heavy on SL and Kenya? Any specific reason?

 

[Abdullah719]

It seems heavy on SL and Kenya? Any specific reason?

Low costs? Who knows...

 

[Mamoon]

I think the importance of A tours is overstated. Touring a country every few years for a few matches is hardly going to help you acclimatize with the conditions.

Even now, accomplished Test batsmen who played everywhere multiple times need practice games before a series starts.

Unless our domestic pitches improve so that our matches don’t end in 3 days with sub 200 scores, these A tours every 2-3 years is hardly going to make a difference when it comes to the temperament and techniques of the batsmen.

 

[Hasan123]

If you could produce pitches for all conditions for domestic cricket , you won't need to worry about A tours.

 

[Savak]

I think the importance of A tours is overstated. Touring a country every few years for a few matches is hardly going to help you acclimatize with the conditions.

Even now, accomplished Test batsmen who played everywhere multiple times need practice games before a series starts.

Unless our domestic pitches improve so that our matches don’t end in 3 days with sub 200 scores, these A tours every 2-3 years is hardly going to make a difference when it comes to the temperament and techniques of the batsmen.

What are you talking about, A tours and U-19 tours are vital. This is where the selectors have the opportunity to differentiate between boys and men. The players involved get a real flavor of international competition and to bolster their chances of pushing for national team selection. It is not every few years, the Big 5 have atleast 2-3 A team and U-19 tours every year.

 

[The Viper]

More tours really should be encouraged. It would give an insight on which players can do well in certain conditions which are tough for our batsman like SAF.

 

[Mamoon]

What are you talking about, A tours and U-19 tours are vital. This is where the selectors have the opportunity to differentiate between boys and men. The players involved get a real flavor of international competition and to bolster their chances of pushing for national team selection. It is not every few years, the Big 5 have atleast 2-3 A team and U-19 tours every year.

A tours are beneficial for teams with strong domestic cricket, but it will hardly make a difference for a team like Pakistan as long as our F/C cricket is in the dumps. Batsmen are made in domestic cricket, not A tours.

 

[hadi123]

A tours are beneficial for teams with strong domestic cricket, but it will hardly make a difference for a team like Pakistan as long as our F/C cricket is in the dumps. Batsmen are made in domestic cricket, not A tours.

You are true to some extent, but I still think A tours in tough countries will definitely benefit any team

 

[indianpanacea]

Better to prepare Pakistan A and Pakistan under 25 and make them play a series at different venues in country... At least 5 test matches and must be televised... Champions should play Pakistan seniors... And based on this performance new comers should make to senior team

 

[indianpanacea]

This shall give best quality...

 

[TeymurBlake]

There should definitely be more A tours for Pakistan. Always a good way to transition players into the international team, also great to performing youngsters a chance.

 

[indianpanacea]

Pakistan A
Shaan masood
Abid Ali
Saad 1
Usman
Saad 2
Rizwan
Leg spinner
Offspinner
Wahab
Junaid
Shinwari
Pakistan under 25
Imam
Sami aslam
Babar
Talat hussain
Batter
Rohail nazir
Leg spinner
Off spinner
Naseem shah
Shaheen afridi
Musa

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Only solution to Pakistan’s overseas batting woes is more A tours overseas. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakCricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakCricket</a></p>— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) <a href="https://twitter.com/sanjaymanjrekar/status/1084288707991990272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If Pakistan cricket is serious about being competitive in Tests in places like Aus & S Africa:<br>Quality over quantity in domestic cricket<br>Give First-class cricket priority over T20 & 50-over tournaments<br>More 'A' tours to Aus, S Africa, NZ & England<br>Select Test specialists<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1084872765243645952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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[Savak]

Lol, Pak fans will never be happy. All 3 formats have to be respected and prioritized equally. Everyone was complaining over our low ODI and T-20 rankings under Waqar and Misbah and implored the PCB to focus more on the shorter versions of the game and not bask in the glory of the No 1 or No 2 Test ranking.

Everything has fallen flat now. All formats have to be respected.

 

[Markhor]

It takes long-term schedule planning, ability to develop close relations with other boards and spending money on something that won't provide any immediate financial return - so PCB haven't bothered for the most part.

However even when A team squads are announced, places are taken up by National Team Rejects like Rahat Ali and Khurram Manzoor so the developmental opportunity of A tours are wasted.

If our youngsters can't get exposure to foreign conditions through A tours, we should ensure a variety of pitches in domestic cricket are prepared, which is what India have done. Some venues can be traditional Asian turners, others can be English/NZ-style seamers, and have couple of hard, pacy tracks akin to SAF/AUS pitches.