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[PICTURES] PCB constructs Pakistan’s biggest High Performance Centre at National Stadium, Karachi

Abdullah719

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Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has constructed Pakistan’s biggest High Performance Centre (HPC) at National Stadium Karachi, in view to improved batsmen technique for foreign tours.


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A total of 23 pitches including a cement track and for the first time marble turf were also constructed in the facility. The facility was constructed under the ongoing first phase of mega renovation work in the National stadium.

Head of High Performance Center, Iqbal Qasim talking to media said the reason to construct such facility was to omit players’ excuses. They won’t have any excuse left once the centre became operational.

“For the first time we have experiment with the marble track. The ball will come on with more pace and bounce as compare to a regular cement pitch,” said Iqbal Qasim while commenting on the marble pitch.

“Javed Miandad was famous for such experiments. He used to practice by place marble pieces. We can call it a replica of his experiment,” Qasim revealed.


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Replying to a question, the former cricketer said, “Practicing on these tracks, would improve our batsmen footwork and performances on bouncy tracks in foreign condition particularly in New Zealand and Australia.”

Commenting on the idea of constructing such facility the HPC head said, “The idea was simple that we should have every kind of track available in the country at any given time.”

Giving time frame of completion of the project, Iqbal Qasim said, “The work has been completed from our end, now we are waiting for natural growth which will require another two, three weeks.”

With Pakistan Super League (PSL) just around the corner and West Indies tour to Pakistan next month, construction of such facility would come as a blessing in disguise.

https://www.brecorder.com/2018/02/21/400409/pcb-builds-pakistans-biggest-performance-centre/
 
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It costs big money to develop these things.
 
So all it takes to win is Australia is to place a marble on the ground?
 
So all it takes to win is Australia is to place a marble on the ground?

To be honest, we keep talking about our batting being responsible for our failures in Australia but it is our bowling which has let us down especially in the last series. The bowlers just don't know the right line/length to bowl there
 
To be honest, we keep talking about our batting being responsible for our failures in Australia but it is our bowling which has let us down especially in the last series. The bowlers just don't know the right line/length to bowl there

That's true... but also look at the bowlers we selected for that series and Yasir Shah on the orders of Misbah was bowling a legstump line throughout the series.
 
Well done PCB.

All efforts to improve cricket should be lauded. Whether marble pitches succeed or lose, experimentation and tinkering are at the heart of good sports teams. it's not like we have a winning record in Australia without it.

Now if they can start more A Tours...
 
Apart from that marble slab, I am not impressed with the adjacent wickets in other nets though; I hope they haven't completed task yet - it'll need a little bit more effort than putting a marble slab on wicket and take a photo shot for media.

However, I am not sure how academy & concrete slab can improve batting techniques if batsmen are playing complete different game in domestics on a different surface for rest of the year (& Basit Alis are going to instruct them). I am sure Poms & Aussies do practice lot on dry dust bowls before coming to IND/Asia while we practiced for a month on customized "bouncy" wickets against bowling machines at 150KM, before going to SAF, IND did that for decades, yet ....... I understand, PAK players are super talented in comparison, but instead of such photo shots, I would he loved to see Sui Southern Gas scoring 426/8 in a 105 overs days against WAPDA ...... at any random FC ground.......

Any way, my spirit got a bit damped reading the first name of the article - Iqbal Qasim, great guy who believes foot work is going to improve by practicing on marble, instead of natural grass with a bit of carry on it. It's like practicing spin play on glass, and expect that judgement of flight should improve .... but talent can overcome everything, so hope it happens for the best. Besides, looking at the 2nd picture, I hope they have rammed the earth enough below that thin marble slab, for the ball to bounce above knee from good length.

Good luck for the next SAF tour.
 
Useless and waste of money!!!! Instead of improving domestic pitches they are just making an eyewash pitches in a stadium.
 
To be honest, we keep talking about our batting being responsible for our failures in Australia but it is our bowling which has let us down especially in the last series. The bowlers just don't know the right line/length to bowl there

Agreed on this one mate. On the last tour it was thr bowling that dissappointed more
 
Absolute farcical

Looks like they've got some poles and stuck them in the ground , filled some hole with cement , and got some mazdur to place some marble slabs .

You don't prepare wickets like this u need to various soil clay make bullie mixture / cement bullie mixture for hard fast bouncy tracks / get proper drainage , covers , equipment to dry wickets etc , proper rollers grass cutters and a curator of the wickets who understands all the science and weather pattern and how it affects each track.
 
Absolute farcical

Looks like they've got some poles and stuck them in the ground , filled some hole with cement , and got some mazdur to place some marble slabs .

You don't prepare wickets like this u need to various soil clay make bullie mixture / cement bullie mixture for hard fast bouncy tracks / get proper drainage , covers , equipment to dry wickets etc , proper rollers grass cutters and a curator of the wickets who understands all the science and weather pattern and how it affects each track.


You have no idea how fun it’ll be for pacers to run on that bowling mark (in 1st picture), jump high & land on back leg, plant front foot, unleash a thunder bolt and follow-through ...... for 2X2 hours a day. PCB actually preparing pacers also for all condition.
 
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Apart from that marble slab, I am not impressed with the adjacent wickets in other nets though; I hope they haven't completed task yet - it'll need a little bit more effort than putting a marble slab on wicket and take a photo shot for media.
You should have read the article, he saying the pitches and grass around it needs 4/5weeks of natural growth for it to become playable. the nets and other things will be installed once the pitches and grass grows.

But i do agree this is not a high performance centre like the article is claiming, they've just made new nets at the stadium and put a marble pitch in one of the nets.
 
You should have read the article, he saying the pitches and grass around it needs 4/5weeks of natural growth for it to become playable. the nets and other things will be installed once the pitches and grass grows.

But i do agree this is not a high performance centre like the article is claiming, they've just made new nets at the stadium and put a marble pitch in one of the nets.

I actually have read the article by words. You think that bowling marks and the batting area under nets is just 2/3 weeks away from natural grass to grow?
 
Why didn't they share the photos of other 22 pitches they have laid? All I see is clay with grass on it.
 
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