As we all know that Pakistan is due to play Australia in few days time which will be the daunting task but still manageable if we plays with big heart and not gave it away in last moments like Edgbaston and Hamilton tests, we should bore better results than anyone expecting from this team after horror Newzealand tour, So the following are Pakistan upcoming tests till 2018 and more will be added as the time passes by;
1- Pakistan tour to Windies March 2017 4 tests
2- Pakistan tour to Bangladesh August 2017 2 tests
3- Pakistan vs Srilanka in UAE october 2017 3 tests
4- Pakistan tour to UK May 2018 2 tests
5- Pakistan tour to zimbabwe August 2018 2 tests
6- Pakistan vs Australia in UAE September-October 2018 4 tests
7- Pakistan vs NZ in UAE November- December 2018 3 tests
8- Pakistan tour to RSA December- January 3 Tests
So we have to built new team around these 8 series, too gave them experience in different condition in this cycle...
What your views guys, Misbah has to stay or not????
Much better than 2010-2014 period & this is without considering IND - Distant chance, but I would always dream for an Ashes like 5 Test Series (BUT in IND or UK, but never in UAE or PAK, then Test cricket 'll die earlier from the disgust of few fans left for the format).
However, I would like to see few adjustments -
2. That BD-PAK Series should be at least 3 Tests, if not. PAK-BD 2002 Series had 3 Tests, since then the gap between two teams has reduced significantly. I think, BD at home'll compete with every team now, hence 3 Tests is minimum - since both PAK & BD are striving for more Test, I won't mind 4 Tests actually. AUG-SEP is not a busy period either.
4. That UK Tour must have 3 Tests, otherwise PCB should convert it to an ODI tour. It's a shame for PAK as a cricket Nation that those 2 Tests will be used for the practice of ENG team before playing a 5 Test Series with India. There should be minimum feel of dignity for PCB's part; even SRL played 3 Test this year. If ECB is spell bound to play 7 Tests in a summer, then they should target teams like WI, BD or ZIM for that.
8. PAK Tour of SAF must have 4 Tests. If everything goes as per plan, in 2 years time PAK should have a very good Test team with Misbah, YK, MoHa, Sohail, Wahab, Imran etc...... are replaced by fitter & younger players.
Besides, PCB should try to bring ZIM, BD & SRL for more Tests within this period outside FTP.
Apart from 2 Tests in UK, PAK is again entering a period with lots of matches in Asia - which will inevitably followed by tours of SAF, NZ, AUS, UK, WI & that time it might not be only 2 Tests in NZ
. If PCB is to fix UAE as their home - THEY MUST work on the wickets & out-field there. Those UAE out-fields are obsolete in modern days - even club games in BD or SRL are played on faster out-field.
And for the wickets - I understand, it will never be green in desert; but, it can have bounce & pace, lots of it. Perth has almost similar weather like UAE (may be a bit wet, which is manageable by proper sprinkling), but it had the fastest & hardest wicket on earth.
I have mentioned it many times that PCB doesn't exercise it's power when it comes to deal with UAE - without PAK hosting their matches, those 3 grounds has future in Masters League & in every 5 years few IPL match - that too if it over-laps Election. It's time that PCB demands their groundsman to have the final say on the wickets there (not the farmers back at home - PCB can appoint an Aussie Chief curator to look after the 3 grounds with the existing groundsmen there; BCB operates like that - a National Curator - Lankan born Aussie, under whom the locals manages the grounds).
If the soil content is changed (ideally 85%+ clay content makes compact wickets - that clay can be found even in UAE in sea bed or 2/3 layers below the sand, or they have to import it from Punjab) & wicket is built on solid, hard, compact base (these are cricket special grounds, not multipurpose - they can use concrete slabs 1 metre below the top surface to strengthen the base) - it's possible to make hard, bouncy wickets with a bit of green grass to start with - it'll turn brown in a day, but the hardness will crack the wicket, bounce will become uneven, & top surface will crumble in Day 4/5 - therefore bowlers will have a chance for all 5 days. In general it's a batting paradise for stroke makers, with scoring rate around 3.5-4, if the outfield is fast enough; but genuine pacers/swing bowlers/spinners will have their own period during the course of 5 days as well.
Next time, touring teams will be prepared for UAE - if the wickets remain same, by 2020 (after another round of out of Asia tours), PAK'll match their ODI ranking in Test as well - please someone mark this post. Exactly 50 months later, after next AUS tour, on 31st JAN 2021, we'll revisit this thread, Inshallah .
