"Pakistan players are lacking in talent and are mentally weak" : Abdul Razzaq

[Abdullah719]

Dubai. Abdul Razzaq, one of Pakistan’s fittest and finest all-rounders, revealed that it will be painful for him to watch if Pakistan will have to play in the qualifying round to clinch a slot in the 2019 World Cup.

Pakistan is in danger of failing to qualify directly to the World Cup in the United Kingdom unless they record some impressive victories in the coming days.

Speaking to Gulf News during the launch of the Masters Champions League (MCL) Cricket Academy where he will be coaching youngsters, Razzaq said: “As a player who played for Pakistan it is very painful to see the present situation. Pakistan to reach such a stage of being not sure of qualifying for the World Cup is bad and if they do not get a direct qualification, the whole team will feel the pain. I only hope that in the coming days they win matches and not go through the process of having to play in the qualifying round.”

Razzaq was the utility man of the Pakistan team since his international debut in 1996. He could bat at any position and through his accurate medium pace pick timely wickets.

When asked what the present Pakistan team lacked from the days he played, Razzaq said: “They are lacking in talent. There aren’t player of the excellent calibre like in the past. To add to this the players are mentally weak. It’s no longer the real Pakistan team. If they all did play as a team surely Pakistan ranking would have been high.”

To a query whether absence of good all-rounders could be one of the reasons, Razzaq said: “In the past God had gifted Pakistan with many all-rounders. Unfortunately it is lacking today. Since we have a dearth of all-rounders they should have given the task of grooming all-rounders to players like Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram and myself. We would have tried to produce some good all-rounders.”

Razzaq is against blaming Pakistan team captains for the recent defeats. “No one should blame captaincy for the recent defeats. Captaincy would work only if you have a good talented team with good all-rounders and players with skills. Add to it the conditions in Australia are very hard and that’s why we could not perform well.”

Talking about the next captain after Misbah Ul Haq, Razzaq said: “It’s a matter for the Pakistan Cricket Board to decide but it is a good chance for Sarfraz Ahmad. I feel if the captaincy is given to Sarfraz he might do a good job.”

Razzaq wants to pass on the lessons he learnt as a cricketer to youngsters in the role of a coach here. “We learn a lot while playing international especially when playing alongside world class players. I want to share that experience with the youngsters,” said Razzaq, who also wants youngsters to get inspired by his fitness level at the age of 37. Interestingly, Razzaq has not yet announced his retirement and hence is still eligible for selection but is taking up coaching seriously.

“I like to do something which is beneficial for cricket. Those who want to learn the game, academies like MCL academy are essential. It is important to learn about the basics of the game and even more important is to have awareness about the game and that is what I will aim to do. Once a youngster understands the basics then he will understand cricket better.”

http://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/pakistan/it-s-painful-to-see-pakistan-s-present-state-1.1969838

 

[Syed1]

This thread won't be complete if I don't post this. What a hitter this guy was. Pakistani teams of today cannot even dream of such annihilation.

 

[Madplayer]

This thread won't be complete if I don't post this. What a hitter this guy was. Pakistani teams of today cannot even dream of such annihilation.

And mentally strong. This man had nerves of steel. Has single handedly won Pakistan so many matches in the death overs be it a quick fire 30 or a bigger contribution, batting first or second. Not to mention his bowling at his peak. He would have been playing even today if he had a good work ethic.

 

[Pete Rose]

He is half right. Pakistani players are as mentally as the ones from his era (him included): a few random innings doesn't mask a mediocre average.

Also this quite a U turn from 'Shehzad is more talented than Tendulkar'

 

[Buffet]

He is half right. Pakistani players are as mentally as the ones from his era (him included): a few random innings doesn't mask a mediocre average.

Also this quite a U turn from 'Shehzad is more talented than Tendulkar'

So his views are not consistent and meaningless.

 

[Hawkeye]

He is half right. Pakistani players are as mentally as the ones from his era (him included): a few random innings doesn't mask a mediocre average.

Also this quite a U turn from 'Shehzad is more talented than Tendulkar'

We all make mistakes, so I don't think he'd want to repeat those words again.

 

[Hawkeye]

So his views are not consistent and also useless.

Or maybe he was just wrong. Don't tell me you haven't made wrong predictions.

 

[Buffet]

Or maybe he was just wrong. Don't tell me you haven't made wrong predictions.

Oh, I make plenty of mistake in predicting, but he wasn't predicting anything here. He was saying it as matter of fact that Shehzad is more talented than SRT. It's same as saying Dean Elgar is more talented than Viv. That's not prediction.

 

[Syed1]

We all make mistakes, so I don't think he'd want to repeat those words again.

We all know who was initially compared to SRT and how he has turned out


#Talent #Too fat to bat

 

[Madplayer]

Oh, I make plenty of mistake in predicting, but he wasn't predicting anything here. He was saying it as matter of fact that Shehzad is more talented than SRT. It's same as saying Dean Elgar is more talented than Viv. That's not prediction.

He was wrong there. Like we all were in steve Smith's case when some even called him worse than chris martin.

 

[Justcrazy]

Razzak was one of his kind , what a gun player he was.

 

[Markhor]

Dubai. Abdul Razzaq, one of Pakistan’s fittest and finest all-rounders

Article loses credibility with that first line. Razzaq was one of our most unfit players.

These ex-players constantly bemoan the state of our cricket sitting in the comfort of TV studios but won't lift a finger to actually do something productive. Go work in our domestic/youth cricket and change these issues you speak of.

 

[Pete Rose]

Razzak was one of his kind , what a gun player he was.

Gun players have averages that reflect that. The rest is fluff.
Razzaq is afridi+

 

[msb314]

Dubai. Abdul Razzaq, one of Pakistan’s fittest and finest all-rounders, revealed that it will be painful for him to watch if Pakistan will have to play in the qualifying round to clinch a slot in the 2019 World Cup.

Pakistan is in danger of failing to qualify directly to the World Cup in the United Kingdom unless they record some impressive victories in the coming days.

Speaking to Gulf News during the launch of the Masters Champions League (MCL) Cricket Academy where he will be coaching youngsters, Razzaq said: “As a player who played for Pakistan it is very painful to see the present situation. Pakistan to reach such a stage of being not sure of qualifying for the World Cup is bad and if they do not get a direct qualification, the whole team will feel the pain. I only hope that in the coming days they win matches and not go through the process of having to play in the qualifying round.”

Razzaq was the utility man of the Pakistan team since his international debut in 1996. He could bat at any position and through his accurate medium pace pick timely wickets.

When asked what the present Pakistan team lacked from the days he played, Razzaq said: “They are lacking in talent. There aren’t player of the excellent calibre like in the past. To add to this the players are mentally weak. It’s no longer the real Pakistan team. If they all did play as a team surely Pakistan ranking would have been high.”

To a query whether absence of good all-rounders could be one of the reasons, Razzaq said: “In the past God had gifted Pakistan with many all-rounders. Unfortunately it is lacking today. Since we have a dearth of all-rounders they should have given the task of grooming all-rounders to players like Azhar Mahmood, Wasim Akram and myself. We would have tried to produce some good all-rounders.”

Razzaq is against blaming Pakistan team captains for the recent defeats. “No one should blame captaincy for the recent defeats. Captaincy would work only if you have a good talented team with good all-rounders and players with skills. Add to it the conditions in Australia are very hard and that’s why we could not perform well.”

Talking about the next captain after Misbah Ul Haq, Razzaq said: “It’s a matter for the Pakistan Cricket Board to decide but it is a good chance for Sarfraz Ahmad. I feel if the captaincy is given to Sarfraz he might do a good job.”

Razzaq wants to pass on the lessons he learnt as a cricketer to youngsters in the role of a coach here. “We learn a lot while playing international especially when playing alongside world class players. I want to share that experience with the youngsters,” said Razzaq, who also wants youngsters to get inspired by his fitness level at the age of 37. Interestingly, Razzaq has not yet announced his retirement and hence is still eligible for selection but is taking up coaching seriously.

“I like to do something which is beneficial for cricket. Those who want to learn the game, academies like MCL academy are essential. It is important to learn about the basics of the game and even more important is to have awareness about the game and that is what I will aim to do. Once a youngster understands the basics then he will understand cricket better.”

http://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/pakistan/it-s-painful-to-see-pakistan-s-present-state-1.1969838

May I ask how?

This guy had one of the worse fitness levels around even during his peak years (2000-2004)

 

[msb314]

Article loses credibility with that first line. Razzaq was one of our most unfit players.

These ex-players constantly bemoan the state of our cricket sitting in the comfort of TV studios but won't lift a finger to actually do something productive. Go work in our domestic/youth cricket and change these issues you speak of.

Exactly what I thought!

 

[English August]

We all know who was initially compared to SRT and how he has turned out


#Talent #Too fat to bat

Actually Umar Akmal wasn't the first one to be compared to SRT, it was in fact Inzi. And by none other than Imran Khan himself. So let's go easy on Razzaq.

 

[ExplicitAI]

He's wrong about the talent bit, we'll always churn out world-class talent but the management in Pak cricket is beyond the worst in both domestic and international. The mentality is also terrible which I will agree with. Also he was beyond unfit and couldn't even field properly, the guy dropped catches before you know.

 

[khurram39]

No doubt about that mentally, physically unfit team and no hitting ability. If one guy had that ability then he don't know how and when he is required to hit. Such a misery.

 

[waleed88]

Have to agree with him, the best finisher of ODIs Pakistan ever produced...

If anyone can spot a mentally weak player its him...

The guy should be teaching our allrounders/batsmen how to chase down totals without getting bogged down by pressure

 

[PakLFC]

Not really lacking in talent rather the talent is not being polished. It's like in the the old days after buying a bat one had to apply some oil before using it. We are not doing that with our Cricketers. As for being mentally weak that has always been the case with us mostly due to the poor domestic structure that doesn't put players to the test. Well, I still remember Razzaq dropping Tendulkar in a world cup match that was crucial. He should remember his own faults too.

 

[Ilan Bluestone]

Hello,

My name is *insert retired Pakistani player's name* and I want to speak about my current thoughts about Pakistani cricket. I was once a respected member of the team, maybe even a countries all time great, but unfortunately I need to keep myself relevant, and the best method to do so is say outlandish and ridiculous statements so people do not forget me. In Pakistan elders must be given respect, it is irrelevant that it is meant to be earned, because that is the hypocrisy we hold ourselves proudly to, so please do not question the hypocritical statements which could easily have been applied to me in my day, I am an elder, I am to be respected.

I was a fantastic cricketer, so even if the respect notion does turn to deaf ears, my words have weight, even if they are baseless, have no merit or proof, and really are self serving to myself or those whom I was close with.

It is a shame Pakistan cricket is no longer what it was when I was there, and oh I forgot, Imran Khan is the greatest thing that ever existed, and no one will ever meet his prowess, despite the fact he is one of the most overrated players of all time. Also, Misbah is awful.

Sincerely,

Retired Pakistani player.

 

[Robert]

Article loses credibility with that first line. Razzaq was one of our most unfit players.

These ex-players constantly bemoan the state of our cricket sitting in the comfort of TV studios but won't lift a finger to actually do something productive. Go work in our domestic/youth cricket and change these issues you speak of.

Yep. I think he could have bowled quicker than he did, and become a test match #6 and opening bowler. IMO he was a bit lazy, and did not fulfill his ability.