Should Pakistan stop focussing on Test cricket?

[jnaveen1980]

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).

This is an article from 9 years back. Crowd was never there for Tests in most places. But people were following Tests when Pakistan was doing well. Now even online fans give up mainly because Pakistan is not doing well. Economy is possibly another reason.

Empty stands: Pakistan-England series a reflection of Test cricket's flagging fortunes

When Pakistan and England opened their Test series, only 54 people watched the first day at the 20,000-capacity stadium.

www.dawn.com

Declining crowds for Tests is not restricted to the United Arab Emirates.

“There were never great crowds in Pakistan in modern times,” former England captain Bob Willis told Sky Sports.

“In India, all they want to see is one-day cricket. Once you lose a Test crowd, it's hard to get it back.

“Similarly in South Africa, only the Cape Town Test gets any crowd at all. People are concerned about the future of Tests — it's only in England and Australia where you still get large crowds.”

Pakistan have been forced to play their 'home' series in the UAE ever since the 2009 militant attack on the Sri Lankan team sparked an international boycott of tours to the country.

But even when Pakistan last hosted a Test against the Sri Lankans in Lahore six years ago, there were more policemen than fans in the stadium.

 

[Monday Morning]

Yes. Pakistan doesn't have the resources to invest in three (or even two formats). Just focus on doing well in T20s.

Look at Afghanistan. They're pretty much a one-format and are arguably better than Pakistan in that format.

 

[sweep_shot]

Pakistan should not stop focusing on Test cricket. Test is the elite format of the game. Also, Pakistan have a legacy in this format (Hanif Muhammad, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Younis Khan, Inzamam etc.).

 

[Cricket Warrior]

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

and the fact is that they are not doing anything good in franchise cridcket too lol

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan should not stop focusing on Test cricket. Test is the elite format of the game. Also, Pakistan have a legacy in this format (Hanif Muhammad, Zaheer Abbas, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Younis Khan, Inzamam etc.).

So basically that legacy came to an end in 2000 after YK's debut.

 

[sam_ahm]

They way it's going they can probably stop focussing on Cricket itself!