Should Pakistan stop focussing on Test cricket?

[DeadlyVenom]

Let me be clear - I am still a fan of the format but I don't think we have the cricketing culture or talent to produce long term success in the format. The following reasons convince me that its time to move our priorities elsewhere :

Our FC structure is dire - we can go back 10 years of threads on this forum regarding future talents and the next best thing but they all inevitably flop. There is very little talent that is being produced and more youngsters are inclined to give T20 cricket a go and hopefully make big money.

There is a lack of innovative leadership in our FC cricket - Previously our players came through either street smart or through an excellent finishing school in English county cricket. Now our players do not have the intellectual capability to flourish in FC cricket and test cricket. We produce rabbits that inevitably get caught in the headlights.

There is a lack of appreciation for test cricket in Pakistan - If you talk to the average fan they don't really care about tests and view it as a boring and out dated format.

It is costly to host foreign tours - A T20 or ODI tour can be finished in a week and life goes on in major Pakistani cities that crumble when put under lockdown for presidential level security.

And finally, while it may be hard to hear for purists - test cricket is a dying and commercially unviable format. For a largely poor country like Pakistan is makes no sense to place such a focus on something that won't generate revenue. There is not even the possibility of hosting iconic series like the Ashes, Aus v Eng, Aus V SA because India won't play us and we aren't good enough to compete outside of Asia.

It is better we focus solely on T20 and ODI where a few sparks of individual brilliance can occasionally bring some glory.

 

[sweep_shot]

Stopping focus on Test? I don't think that's the solution. It is the premier format regardless of T20's popularity.

 

[ElRaja]

im gonna mishmash ur post to address the common themes.

Let me be clear - I am still a fan of the format but I don't think we have the cricketing culture or talent to produce long term success in the format. The following reasons convince me that its time to move our priorities elsewhere :

Our FC structure is dire - we can go back 10 years of threads on this forum regarding future talents and the next best thing but they all inevitably flop. There is very little talent that is being produced and more youngsters are inclined to give T20 cricket a go and hopefully make big money.

There is a lack of innovative leadership in our FC cricket - Previously our players came through either street smart or through an excellent finishing school in English county cricket. Now our players do not have the intellectual capability to flourish in FC cricket and test cricket. We produce rabbits that inevitably get caught in the headlights.

the lack of quality is a huge problem, and fundamentally because pak dont play enough long format cricket. I'm guessing under fc level most of the club cricket is at most a two day fare.

the biggest issue is lack of player engagement in the off season, this can be sorted with A team tours, even tho this isnt on Rambo's agenda. its not a massive investment, 4 or 5 extra first class games with the A team, and an average of 10 to 12 tests a year would see paks quality improve significantly, imo.

the lack of intellectual capacity isnt a cricket issue, Pakistan is one of the most poorly educated countries in the world, the cricket team reflects that.

It is costly to host foreign tours - A T20 or ODI tour can be finished in a week and life goes on in major Pakistani cities that crumble when put under lockdown for presidential level security.

cricket is not just cricket, its also an advertisement for the country, yes its costly, but it wont always be so, eventually pak will be stable enough for tours to return to what they used to be. rambo has a two year timeline for security costs coming down.

There is a lack of appreciation for test cricket in Pakistan - If you talk to the average fan they don't really care about tests and view it as a boring and out dated format.

And finally, while it may be hard to hear for purists - test cricket is a dying and commercially unviable format. For a largely poor country like Pakistan is makes no sense to place such a focus on something that won't generate revenue. There is not even the possibility of hosting iconic series like the Ashes, Aus v Eng, Aus V SA because India won't play us and we aren't good enough to compete outside of Asia.

It is better we focus solely on T20 and ODI where a few sparks of individual brilliance can occasionally bring some glory.

if test cricket is commercially dead in pak, its dead in every country other than the big three. u might be right, but if the format is worth fighting for then Pakistan is absolutely vital to keep it going.

whilst proportionally there may be fewer test fans in pak than the big 3, a population of 240 million means there is pbly still a large enough number to monetise.

 

[SamNJ]

Isn't that already the case ?

 

[Abdullah]

We actually do well despite all the issues we have.
Issue is we need our best eleven on the park. We are getting to a stage where we have a decent eleven but nothing beyond.
Saud has been a big plus ,and we need to hope Abrar has some longevity.
We are ahead in this series had we Shaheen in the eleven and we are all talking differently then.
The issue is there is NOTHING beyond the first eleven where all the structure issues with first class come in.
The batting is coming along nicely now we finally got rid of Azhar ( does Babar get any credit for this)

Abdullah
Imam
Shan/ I say get Hurraira in the mix from now
Babar
Saud
Rizwan
Faheem
All rounder/ Nawaz
Shaheen
Spinner-hoping Abrar can lock this position down
Naseem

The above team is easily competing Vs big 3 at home and home and away against all others.

our main issue is depth - which is actually laughable. But that is a medium term issue which Ramiz needs to get a hold of.
For now we can compete against the best but only if we have our first eleven

 

[Cricket-lion]

Pakistan just needs to sort a few things out, the team isn't too bad. They competed against England well in this test match.

 

[90MPH]

Hell no. Test cricket is still the pinnacle format of the game.

What encouraged me was the crowds at Rawalpindi in particular as well as Multan. Without Tests cricket will become nothing more than another version of baseball so this format needs to part of the makeup if not priority. If it needs to be subsided so be it. Not everything in life is about profit or immediate success.

The results are of course disappointing but England played the better cricket. Pakistan performed reasonably well all things considered but they need better spinners for this format.

 

[u0sama]

Relax be patient, Baber Azam era will bring glory. Cricket is now data driven, we need to use it and select horses for courses. Safraz should have played on every spin wickets data would had support that. Similarly we need to create database for domestic cricket, we will then know whom to play on what surface and opposition. England is on backend using data along with bazball.

 

[Pollack]

Yes, Pakistan is a minnow in test format.

 

[sam_ahm]

A few days back, I think in that "ODIs are just a drag" thread I mentioned that Test cricket is already dead in many countries like WI, SL, Zim, while Ire and Afg never took off... Even NZ barely play 2 match series so do Pak and Ban.... So eventually other than the Big 3 no one would prefer test cricket and it will die out. Even Big 3 fans will be bored of watching each other play all the time.

This is why I said for all the talking of these boards that Test cricket is the pinnacle and all, they do zilch about it and so do the players.

Tests will eventually die. Sad and I hope to be proved wrong but that's the way it is going.

 

[Majestic]

So, the most followed sport in Pakistan is cricket and you want to stop focussing on Test cricket even in that?

Look at other countries- they have multiple sports yet they do well in cricket too. And here you want Pakistan to only focus on LOI cricket and not even cricket on whole?

 

[superfan]

Would you support the idea of Pakistan renouncing the 3rd Test?

It is not necessarily about winning all the time, but more about the manner in which you win or lose. A team that is visiting your country should not have dominated you the way they did. Can you imagine the way 2nd test would've ended if you didn't have a debutant take 11 wickets. You lost the test series to Australia who visit Pakistan after 24 years. One can argue that the Pakistani team put up a better fight again Australia, but nonetheless, the final results were still disappointing. Now, the series to England has been lost as well. Forget Test Championship, you had a great chance to make your mark as one of the best teams in the world. You had a great chance to prove that your accomplishments were not just limited to T20 Cricket.

Furthermore, you had a great chance to show other top teams that they better bring their A game and be prepared to put up a fight in your own backyard. Except, both England and Australia did bring their A game and had you on the back foot throughout both series. We witnessed the same incompetence and all the usual of a key wicket falling right when someone was expected to step up. It's like you always knew that another collapse was awaiting every time a key wicket fell at crucial times.

I simply refuse to buy any excuses. At this point I rather Pakistan show some pride and just concede the third test without playing given the way they've been dominated, pressured and bullied. Can we also please stop comparing Babar to Kohli. One thing is for sure, this coaching staff needs to go and we need a professional mental therapist with the team full time.

 

[Robert]

No. Pakistan were not far off winning the second test. They should pull their socks up, regroup and beat England at Karachi.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Declare both innings?

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

This has got to be the dumbest post out of many dumb posts I've ever seen here.

 

[ethan hunt]

So your answer to being dominated and bullied is to concede lol ?

 

[sweep_shot]

No. Renouncing the 3rd Test is a terrible idea.

They should try to win the final game to avoid a home whitewash.

 

[James]

No. Pakistan were not far off winning the second test. They should pull their socks up, regroup and beat England at Karachi.

Spot on.

England have already excelled themselves on this tour. We’ve got what we came for, which was the series win. Time to rotate some players.

I’d expect a Pakistan comeback at Karachi and a consolation Test match win.

 

[Mamoon]

I would not want Pakistan to opt out of the third Test & let England complete a whitewash by default.

I want Pakistan to lose the third Test so that England can do a proper whitewash.

Also, PCB is not focusing on Test cricket anyway. I’m not sure if it can get any worse.

 

[topspin]

I think Test cricket in its current format (with about dozen test nations) will die out by 2030.

By then I think tests will either die out completely or be solely played by the Big 3.

Pakistan should focus on winning the ODI World Cup and World T20s.

 

[Robert]

Spot on.

England have already excelled themselves on this tour. We’ve got what we came for, which was the series win. Time to rotate some players.

I’d expect a Pakistan comeback at Karachi and a consolation Test match win.

Maybe give Old Man Jimmy a rest and bring in Ovaries.

 

[Savak]

The PCB needs to follow the ECB and Cricket Australia model where they are making T-20 Cricket a specialized format where they usually play their fringe players from county cricket and natwest league. Have a seperate T-20 captain, coach and players and let your ear market players play domestic 4 day cricket, A team tours e.t.c.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

im gonna mishmash ur post to address the common themes.



the lack of quality is a huge problem, and fundamentally because pak dont play enough long format cricket. I'm guessing under fc level most of the club cricket is at most a two day fare.

the biggest issue is lack of player engagement in the off season, this can be sorted with A team tours, even tho this isnt on Rambo's agenda. its not a massive investment, 4 or 5 extra first class games with the A team, and an average of 10 to 12 tests a year would see paks quality improve significantly, imo.

The sad reality is that Pakistan cannot afford to play several series at home and is not a big enough draw to consistently play long test series abroad. A phainta awaits us in SENA and it just isn't worth it for these boards to play us regularly. Playing against Bang, WI, SL and Zim doesn't attract our fans so I don't see this changing any time soon.

the lack of intellectual capacity isnt a cricket issue, Pakistan is one of the most poorly educated countries in the world, the cricket team reflects that.

Agreed its not just a cricket issue but it has an affect on the long term stability of the game if the players do not have a deep interest in it ( beyond making scores for themselves) and the general public doesn't have the appetite for it either.

cricket is not just cricket, its also an advertisement for the country, yes its costly, but it wont always be so, eventually pak will be stable enough for tours to return to what they used to be. rambo has a two year timeline for security costs coming down.

The advertisement for the country can still come with LOI tours. To joe public sitting in the west an England tour of Pakistan is an England tour of Pakistan no matter the format.

I don't think a 2 year time frame is achieveable for bringing down the security costs. In my opinion it will be a 2-3 tours for each country before its totally normal. Plus with the potential for a major world cricket event in 2025 in the form of the champions trophy I don't see security being dialled down any time soon. At least not until the CT is over and done with.

if test cricket is commercially dead in pak, its dead in every country other than the big three. u might be right, but if the format is worth fighting for then Pakistan is absolutely vital to keep it going.

whilst proportionally there may be fewer test fans in pak than the big 3, a population of 240 million means there is pbly still a large enough number to monetise.

I do think its dead in every other barring the big 3 but the rest of them are able to make money from India and don't have delusions of grandeur about their country. NZ hardly plays tests and is letting players walk away from central contracts, it won't be long before South Africa do the same and the WIndies are already finished.

Pakistan on the contrary thinks it is as big as the big 3 without really bringing anything to the table apart from a sense of entitlement. I fear by pointlessly flogging a soon to be dead horse in test cricket that we are just doing what we as a people do culturally and that is to spend more than we have in order to appear to be one of the big ones.

I think an alternative path where Pakistan ruthlessly pursue ODI and T20 dominance plus make our players key to the franchise game ( and hopefully receive quid pro quo benefits from those leagues/countries) is the key to ensuring the security of the game in the country.

 

[Ami]

Pakistan are a fine test team when they get their bowlers back...
I think they need a new coaching set up to coach them into a better understanding, better application and better thought processes to fine tune the arts that are required to win a test match.
Possibly, people like Flower, Moody, even McCullum, the sort of coaches who are innovative, think on their feet and want their art to be recognized.
Not someone like Mickey, who was more of a mentor than a coach or peer saabs (spiritual guides) in Saqlain and Co.

 

[Rana]

Yeah I think it’s a fair call. We are valuing T20 cricket as our Mecca/Test cricket anyways.

The future ATGs of Pakistan who will be household names are those who achieve good stats in T20 cricket

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

I think Test cricket in its current format (with about dozen test nations) will die out by 2030.

By then I think tests will either die out completely or be solely played by the Big 3.

Not a chance.

 

[James]

Maybe give Old Man Jimmy a rest and bring in Ovaries.

They reckon WhyAye will be fatigued because of how many >90MPH overs he bowled in his first red ball game since March.
I think:

Creepy
QuackQuack
Pontiff
66
Arry
Captain Fantastic*
BTF+
JOvaries
Faberge Egg
The Graduate
Old Man Jimmy

 

[Zaz]

Pakistan needs to focus more on tests not less

The answer isnt to give up on something but work hard and improve on it

Tests is the pinnacle format and the most prestigious Babar shaheen and co arent gonna become great players without doing well in tests

Pakistan needs to start sorting its issues out and the more tests they play the better they will become.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Tests are increasingly loss making. Better to focus on white ball strengths which PAK has in abundance and which is also commercially viable.

 

[Markhor]

We've been hearing about the demise of Test cricket for decades.

While it'll probably become increasingly marginalised (we already see 2 Test series being commonplace), the doomsday forecasts haven't been realised.

Therefore as long as Test cricket exists, we ought to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. That means not fast-tracking players with no FC pedigree, not using the broadcasts for T20 style product placement, improving the appalling state of our Test venues, and ensure we host Tests in our prime months not in DEC when we constsntly struggle to complete the overs.

 

[ElRaja]

The sad reality is that Pakistan cannot afford to play several series at home and is not a big enough draw to consistently play long test series abroad. A phainta awaits us in SENA and it just isn't worth it for these boards to play us regularly. Playing against Bang, WI, SL and Zim doesn't attract our fans so I don't see this changing any time soon.

you dont need several home series, two a year, 3 test a pop is enough, pak will get 3 or 4 away tests a year, and a tours are not super expensive, its just excessive gaps without any long form cricket which stunts player development.

The advertisement for the country can still come with LOI tours. To joe public sitting in the west an England tour of Pakistan is an England tour of Pakistan no matter the format.

I don't think a 2 year time frame is achieveable for bringing down the security costs. In my opinion it will be a 2-3 tours for each country before its totally normal. Plus with the potential for a major world cricket event in 2025 in the form of the champions trophy I don't see security being dialled down any time soon. At least not until the CT is over and done with.

doesn't have to be dialed down completely, but i can totally see them trialing lower security protocols for lower profile tours in future.

I do think its dead in every other barring the big 3 but the rest of them are able to make money from India and don't have delusions of grandeur about their country. NZ hardly plays tests and is letting players walk away from central contracts, it won't be long before South Africa do the same and the WIndies are already finished.

Pakistan on the contrary thinks it is as big as the big 3 without really bringing anything to the table apart from a sense of entitlement. I fear by pointlessly flogging a soon to be dead horse in test cricket that we are just doing what we as a people do culturally and that is to spend more than we have in order to appear to be one of the big ones.

I think an alternative path where Pakistan ruthlessly pursue ODI and T20 dominance plus make our players key to the franchise game ( and hopefully receive quid pro quo benefits from those leagues/countries) is the key to ensuring the security of the game in the country.

your looking at Pakistan as it is, Pakistan might always be a basket case, but it only takes a small amount to go right for a 200 mill cricket market to suddenly actually be worth something. maybe I'm looking at the glass half full but you cannot doubt pakistans potential as a cricket market, outside of the big 3 it is the only country which would sustain the sport economically, with or without india.

seems a bit defeatist to give up tests just cos india dont play pak. pcb have made money despite india doing its most to marginalise it. if anything pak should give up ODIs if they need to lower costs.

 

[topspin]

Not a chance.

What makes you so optimistic about the future of test cricket to remain in its current format with around dozen sides competing for it?

For the teams outside the big 3, tests played amongst themselves i.e. non-big 3 test side vs another non-big 3 test side incurs a loss so really and truly it's just a matter of time before it finally dies in its entirety or becomes a 3 team event contested between Australia, England and India. ]

I love Test cricket and have been watching it since 2000 but I've come to terms that the 2020s will be the last decade of what I call the " Global Test Era"

[MENTION=53290]Markhor[/MENTION] I've just seen your post (#30) and would also like to get your thoughts on this as well.

 

[indianpanacea]

No, without Pak cricket will be boring,but Pak need to have exclusive test team with may may be only 2-3 players playing white ball format also.i have been following QEA trophy and I bet Pakistan had enough talent to have exclusive test team,but only fair selection and will to pick players on merit should prevail..
My exclusive team will be
Shafique
Shaan
Usman salahuddin
Babar
Saud shakeel
Kamran ghulam
Sarfaraz
Abrar
Zafar gouhar
M Abbas
Shaheen Afridi
Reserves
Hassan Ali
Rohail Nazir
Ghulam mudassar
Yasir Shah
Tayyab tahir

 

[Robert]

Spot on.

England have already excelled themselves on this tour. We’ve got what we came for, which was the series win. Time to rotate some players.

I’d expect a Pakistan comeback at Karachi and a consolation Test match win.

The extraordinary thing is that Stokes’ England have beaten Pakistan away two tests - as many as all the England sides put together in sixty years.

Some top England outfits have gone to Pakistan or UAE and got thumped - Vaughan’s boys who defeated the Aussie ATG team, and Strausser’s mob with KP and Swann - yet this unfancied crew lacking an established opening pair, with an attack led by a 40-year-old, have won the series in the fastest way.

 

[Savak]

The extraordinary thing is that Stokes’ England have beaten Pakistan away two tests - as many as all the England sides put together in sixty years.

Some top England outfits have gone to Pakistan or UAE and got thumped - Vaughan’s boys who defeated the Aussie ATG team, and Strausser’s mob with KP and Swann - yet this unfancied crew lacking an established opening pair, with an attack led by a 40-year-old, have won the series in the fastest way.

Vaughan's team would have likely beaten Pakistan in 2005 had it not been for one guy ie Shoaib Akhtar.

 

[Mamoon]

The extraordinary thing is that Stokes’ England have beaten Pakistan away two tests - as many as all the England sides put together in sixty years.

Some top England outfits have gone to Pakistan or UAE and got thumped - Vaughan’s boys who defeated the Aussie ATG team, and Strausser’s mob with KP and Swann - yet this unfancied crew lacking an established opening pair, with an attack led by a 40-year-old, have won the series in the fastest way.

They have also not played against such a pathetic Pakistan side before. Every single Pakistan side that beat England previously would comfortably beat the current Pakistan team.

Vaughan & Strauss’ England would comfortably trounce this Pakistan team in any conditions.

 

[Robert]

They reckon WhyAye will be fatigued because of how many >90MPH overs he bowled in his first red ball game since March.
I think:

Creepy
QuackQuack
Pontiff
66
Arry
Captain Fantastic*
BTF+
JOvaries
Faberge Egg
The Graduate
Old Man Jimmy

)

 

[Robert]

They have also not played against such a pathetic Pakistan side before. Every single Pakistan side that beat England previously would comfortably beat the current Pakistan team.

Vaughan & Strauss’ England would comfortably trounce this Pakistan team in any conditions.

The 1978 PKN team was awful, shorn of its Packer boys.

 

[shamaan]

No, without Pak cricket will be boring,but Pak need to have exclusive test team with may may be only 2-3 players playing white ball format also.i have been following QEA trophy and I bet Pakistan had enough talent to have exclusive test team,but only fair selection and will to pick players on merit should prevail..
My exclusive team will be
Shafique
Shaan
Usman salahuddin
Babar
Saud shakeel
Kamran ghulam
Sarfaraz
Abrar
Zafar gouhar
M Abbas
Shaheen Afridi
Reserves
Hassan Ali
Rohail Nazir
Ghulam mudassar
Yasir Shah
Tayyab tahir

Hurraira should definitely be in the squad.
Sameen Gull,Mir Hamza should be considered.

 

[James]

)

You came up with most of these!

I used to be happy enough adding a “y” onto the end of their names.

You’ve since inspired me to take my nicknaming to the next level.

 

[shamaan]

Pakistan need to play the following squad in tests in asain conditions

Imaam
Abdullah
Hurraira
Babar
Saud Shakeel
Rizwan
Mubasir
Gohar
Abrar
Shaheen
Sameen Gull

Fahim Ashraf,Kamran Ghullam,Sarfraz,


In SENA conditions
Shan Masood
Abdullah
Babar Azam
Saud Shakeel
Kamran Ghulam
Rizwan
Fahim Ashraf
Gohar
Shaheen
Sameen Gull
Naseem

Ihsanullah,Mubasir,Hurraira,Rohail Nazir,Mir Hamza

 

[Saj]

I thought this is already the policy for the last few years?

 

[MenInG]

Just 2 Tests vs Sri Lanka - why?

 

[CricketingMinds]

Just 2 Tests vs Sri Lanka - why?

Not much revenue generated from Tests for PCB and SLC

 

[Kianig89]

Hopefully we will win the Test Series against Srilanka by convincing margins to stamp our authority as Top Test nation

 

[U$ofA]

Not much revenue generated from Tests for PCB and SLC

What about all the posters on this forum advocating for test cricket? Test cricket is best, test cricket is supreme, test cricket is cricket etc.?

This forum is filled with them. Where do they go? Do they not show up? Can they not generate revenue?

 

[gibsyhesperis]

What about all the posters on this forum advocating for test cricket? Test cricket is best, test cricket is supreme, test cricket is cricket etc.?

This forum is filled with them. Where do they go? Do they not show up? Can they not generate revenue?

Pakistan do not focus on Test cricket and haven’t really for years.
The players don’t seem that keen on it (eg Rauf) and the fans can’t be bothered.
Contrast this with England where the players are passionate about Test cricket and grounds are regularly sold out.
Even against Ireland, Lords was about 60% full for the first couple of days.
It’s why I admire Kohli — despite all his white ball successes, he has always stated that Test cricket is the pinnacle of the sport.
The inevitability is that only India, Aus and Pak (maybe NZ) will play Test cricket, the lesser nations will play only white ball cricket.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Just 2 Tests vs Sri Lanka - why?

I loved the wtc final and will be watching every ball of the ashes.

But I'd prefer if this particular 2 test series was a 0 test series.

Seems a waste of time in a world cup year.

 

[hitthestump]

Test cricket will eventually be a format played only by the Pig 3 nations.

The future TikTok generation will have no interest in a game lasting 5 days where they can earn only a fraction of what is available in t20 cricket.

We can see from yet another mediocre two test series that Pakistan just go through the motions. The PCB don't care either. Why would they?

 

[Champ_Pal]

Pakistan are scared to lose. If they prepare turning tracks, then their spinners can win tests for them easily at home. That will be a start for Pak Test Cricket.

 

[Fenrir]

T20 is not real cricket.Test cricket is the real deal.It tests players’ skills,fitness,stamina,judgment etc.It is like a game of chess.The first test of the Ashes series has been excellent.The ground was packed on every day.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

High time Pakistan stopped giving a damn about Tests.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

High time Pakistan stopped giving a damn about Tests.

I think we already have stopped.

We just like to pretend we care.

 

[Hikaru]

Agreed, forget Tests. Pakistan should pick the format with least competition and the highest luck-factor. Given most teams don't take T20 bilaterals seriously, it could actually be the ideal format to bully.

Once that's done, PCB needs to start pushing for more and more associates as full-time members, it does two things -

1) PCB get smaller board goodwill for the gesture, hence earning more fans.

2) PCB can arrange more bilaterals against these sides, maintaining Brand Babar and Shaheen while creating a whole new army of superstars. Most records will be held and broken by Pakistanis, and this creates HYPE.

3) Then you milk the hype to bring in more sponsors and money. Money is good.

If the roadmap is followed with sincerity, I see a prosperous future for Pakistan Cricket. <3

 

[Shafi]

High time Pakistan stopped giving a damn about Tests.

Pakistan is finished regardless format.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Wow here is a thread with foresight

 

[jnaveen1980]

High time Pakistan stopped giving a damn about Tests.

They did. Check the thread Tests vs T20s. They started embracing T20s exclusively. But they hit the lowest point in T20 when they were knocked out by USA in world cup. You cannot support a team just for T20 unless your team is an associate team.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan is finished regardless format.

There's still hope in white ball cricket. ODI's and T20's , PAK can at least compete with the best.

Champions Cup + PSL +AI based selection will ensure that there is at least a Top 6 level white ball side.

Test cricket is a waste of PAK resources

 

[Dantheone]

Why only test cricket, with the recent performance in other formats, might as well give up cricket for some years.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

There's still hope in white ball cricket. ODI's and T20's , PAK can at least compete with the best.

Champions Cup + PSL +AI based selection will ensure that there is at least a Top 6 level white ball side.

Test cricket is a waste of PAK resources

“Top 6 level white ball side”

A lofty ambition indeed for a country of 250 million in which cricket is the predominant sport….

 

[RyanRyan10]

Will be suicidal

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

They will scrap tests and ODI soon.

 

[Buffet]

Pakistan has been focusing on T20 for a while now.

Ignoring longer format may result is losing bowling/batting skills which are needed even in shorter formats.

 

[Mesozoic]

I don't know why the boards outside of the Big3 come together and just say "Enough! We do not want to play this format anymore. You three carry on.. we're good." and just be done with it once and for all.

If Test cricket is a loss making business for all of them , why even bother beating the dead horse? Ego? Commitments to the ICC?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

“Top 6 level white ball side”

A lofty ambition indeed for a country of 250 million in which cricket is the predominant sport….

I said "at least" . That's still enough to have a shot at winning ICC tournaments.

I don't see PAK ever become a true Top 2/3 Test side ever again.

 

[Mesozoic]

They will scrap tests and ODI soon.

I don't know who "they" are but Tests aren't going anywhere for atleast the next 2 decades atleast in India, Australia and England. These countries will keep the format alive and thriving with Ashes and the BGT.

 

[mominsaigol]

Pakistan should not destroy test cricket?

The focus on t20 is what destroyed Pakistan in odi in the first place? The pacers did not have the stamina to bowl 10 overs as we saw in odi wc.

Heck the reason why the test circuit is so pathetically poor is because we haven't played test.

To top it off not playing fakhar in test is also what ruined him somewhat. He could have fixed his inconsistent nature if he played test frequently.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

I said "at least" . That's still enough to have a shot at winning ICC tournaments.

I don't see PAK ever become a true Top 2/3 Test side ever again.

Who knows in a 100 years or 50 years. It's unlikely but you never know.

 

[ads101]

We already have. Tests is already an afterthought with the players. And its understandable. LOI is more profitable, more fans watch it, less risk of injuries. In nearly every aspect it is preferable for both most players and most fans. Yes some hardcore fans but this in the grand scheme of things is the much smaller minority. Especially in a country in Pakistan where this percentage is smaller to say for example Australia or England where they have at least the alure of the Ashes.

I think the way to go is to pick a separate set of pacers for Tests than LOI. Or only play LOI pacers in tests that can comfortably play 3 formats (likely to be slower bowlers). I keep seeing our pacers trying to preserve themselves in tests. Either they flat out refuse to play test like Haris Rauf. Or they do what Amir did in the past, purposely bowl slower in tests. Also most of these pacers dont bowl in a way suited for tests, just bowl like they do in LOI and hope it works. As it isn't worth the time commitment to learn a different style for tests. Much better just to bring in bowlers who are test specialists who will focus solely on tests. This is exactly what Mohammed Abbas was, who was our last really good test fast bowler in a very long time (probably best since Asif).

 

[mominsaigol]

Who knows in a 100 years or 50 years. It's unlikely but you never know.

50 or 100? No one can predict that long obviously

 

[Cricket Warrior]

They need to focus even more on red-ball cricket otherwise in the next few years they won’t be anywhere near the top 10 playing nations.

 

[RexRex]

It seems like Pakistanis have lost interest in test cricket, by their own admission.

So I'd restrict the format to just four nations - India, Eng, SA and Aus and open the other two formats to the entire world with some kind of relegation/qualifier system for the ICC tournaments.

 

[GLORY OF '92]

It seems like Pakistanis have lost interest in test cricket, by their own admission.

So I'd restrict the format to just four nations - India, Eng, SA and Aus and open the other two formats to the entire world with some kind of relegation/qualifier system for the ICC tournaments.

Lol please. Pakistan is essential. Otherwise a aport with only 3 contenders is worthless and unwatchable.

 

[RexRex]

Lol please. Pakistan is essential. Otherwise a aport with only 3 contenders is worthless and unwatchable.

Pakistan is essential I agree but many of your own fans say they have no interest in test cricket anymore. I guess it's just a phase then.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Pakistan is essential I agree but many of your own fans say they have no interest in test cricket anymore. I guess it's just a phase then.

"NO interest" is a result of series of failures rather than they actually lost interest. WHat else subcontinent fans have? THey just have cricket. You can't play T20 year around ignoring other formats. T20 internationals are boring anyway compared to T20 league cricket. Moment Pakistan starts doing well in Tests, fans will be back to liking tests.

 

[RexRex]

"NO interest" is a result of series of failures rather than they actually lost interest. WHat else subcontinent fans have? THey just have cricket. You can't play T20 year around ignoring other formats. T20 internationals are boring anyway compared to T20 league cricket. Moment Pakistan starts doing well in Tests, fans will be back to liking tests.

Perhaps you are right. It will be interesting to see the tv audience numbers. If they can't sell the TV rights for a decent fee, that is the end of the test format for them.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

It seems like Pakistanis have lost interest in test cricket, by their own admission.

So I'd restrict the format to just four nations - India, Eng, SA and Aus and open the other two formats to the entire world with some kind of relegation/qualifier system for the ICC tournaments.

The stands are empty for majority of tests and ODI around the world. Some of the T20 world cup matches had shocking low attendance.

Look I am a cricket purist but this a problem.

They need to focus, instead of T20 it should be T30. Start experimenting with matches asap with 30 over innings. This should replace tests and ODI and cricket should homogenize to this format.

You may cite examples of Ashes but this is a one off tradition.

Every world cup should be T30 every 4 years with a league, promotion and relegation in between. Every 2 years we get a Asia cup, SENA cup and minnow cup.

 

[RexRex]

The stands are empty for majority of tests and ODI around the world. Some of the T20 world cup matches had shocking low attendance.

Look I am a cricket purist but this a problem.

They need to focus, instead of T20 it should be T30. Start experimenting with matches asap with 30 over innings. This should replace tests and ODI and cricket should homogenize to this format.

You may cite examples of Ashes but this is a one off tradition.

Every world cup should be T30 every 4 years with a league, promotion and relegation in between. Every 2 years we get a Asia cup, SENA cup and minnow cup.

Nah I don't agree with T30, I think the current formats are okay .. just play lesser bilateral ODIs and t20s is any at all and tests should be played only by 4-5 countries. People like the variety of having 3 formats. T30 could get pretty stale and monotonous quickly after the initial novelty wears off.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan can improve their overall game by focusing on cricket. The charm and lure of franchise cricket has just ruined them

 

[DeadlyVenom]

"NO interest" is a result of series of failures rather than they actually lost interest. WHat else subcontinent fans have? THey just have cricket. You can't play T20 year around ignoring other formats. T20 internationals are boring anyway compared to T20 league cricket. Moment Pakistan starts doing well in Tests, fans will be back to liking tests.

We have passed that stage.

Test doesn't engage the masses nor does it engage the players.

You are never going to pack a stadium for a test match in Pakistan ever again. And you are never going to get the elite players to a level where they value test caps more than others ( in the same way that top tier Australia, India or England players do).