Small steps that the PCB needs to take to improve the long-term outlook of Pakistan cricket

[iniqbal223]

Its a proven fact that PCB is the most unorganized and highly mismanaged institution in sporting world. And the hue and cry for the correction is justified as always. But there are small simple steps that can be done to at least channelize good players:

1) Why chief selector is not selecting U-19 , U-16 teams. Why we need separate individuals to do the same task in a worse possible manner. Its a known fact , Chief selector is paid very high salary, and its time to get more output from him. There are many advantages of this
--> This will at least force him to get to know young players, that will help him to know which young player is almost ready or are in pipeline for senior team
--> This will also give him different angle to look beyond TTFs for national team
--> At least he will be made to work on field, for the high salary he got paid

2) Similarly, whoever is the assistant coach, be it Steve Rixon or Azhar Mahmood. They should also be calling these U-19, U-16 players in every NCA or training camps.I mean, PCB are not even utilizing their services, in the off season they go back to Australia/England. Even they have rights to give holidays but during training season they should be managing larger pool of players, not only 15/16 tour probables.

3) Quota system : Sadly I have to advocate this. Its high time, we have merit and age based quota system in our national teams especially fro T20 and ODI. Out of 16 players, have 5/6 who are under 20 years of age, and no player of 33/34 years of age to be allowed in national team. Unless, they are proven performer or better captain as in the case of Misbah or Younis.

4) For god sake get rid of TTF: I have had heard enough praise of Akmals, Butts, Hafeez, Malik. If these are our best batsman, then god save our batting.

I have few cricket followers friends from India, and they like these TTF's. And they reason it that because of these TTF's Pakistan's chances of winning reduces drastically, and they enjoy to see how badly these TTF's sink their own ship. As passionate Pakistan's fans do we deserve these TTFs??

In this regard, at least Mickey Arthur is right. He don't want any TTF in the team.

 

[Mamoon]

You are right, but nothing is going to happen. People have been saying this for years and they will probably say it for years to come.

I think it is time for us to accept our fate. The future is going to be dark and the gap between us and the top teams will continue to become widen - will probably never be a top team again.

 

[iniqbal223]

5) Curb the media pressure: I know media care a lot about state of pakistan's cricket. But what happens is: Suppose PCB has decided that player X will play instead of player Y, and suppose again player X fails to perform in 2 games, then media builds a lot of pressure, and then they have to shelve the idea and change tracks to do things differently.
In short, PCB's every single move or process is monitored closely by media, and they don't spare a single chance to critique it, no matter whether that was an intermediate result or not.

6) Player Contracts: This could be useful. Instead of categorizing to A,B,C,D,E,F.. categories. Simply have category A and category B contracts for yearly contracts. I will explain how it will work better:

Major divide in team, be it past, recent past is about to become more powerful, to become captain or to earn better contract with PCB. Now if, PCB places only 25 handful cricketers in category A and B with very less salary difference ( instead of keeping a pool of 40-50 players), there could be many advantages:

--> Taking a leaf out from successful organizations in developed countries: There exists very less salary difference among employees. This ensures everyone is satisfied with their earnings, they need to work hard to keep the contract for next year or for next 6 months, and they can't abuse the time or opportunity given to them to invoke infighting or do rubbish within the team.
--> Self starters will emerge: Now, since their is no additional incentive to become captain. This can ensure, individual with natural leadership skills will emerge automatically.Those who have multiple capabilities will raise their hands, while people with limited skill set will work hard to retain the contract. Because there won't be downgrade to C/D/E category. It will simply be out of contract. Right now non-performers, think that ok if PCB won't put them in category B , then they are happy to be in D/E category. This broods mediocrity.

 

[shah_1]

India have world class cricket infrastructure even in second & 3rd tier cities. Also Sachin has inspired so many youngsters in India to dream big and play for national team. We had no true batting superstar, even with Inzamam,Younis and Yousuf in the team, they never became the inspiration for youngsters like Sachin has been. Our youngsters idiolized tullaybaz Afridi, producing legside hacks

PCB needs to realize that time is over when you had talented cricketers playing for PCT out of nowhere. You need solid investment at grass root level

 

[zeer]

The root cause of problems in Pakistan Cricket

changing faces in PCB won't change anything, unless you overhaul the whole structure and put a new system in place to get our cricket back on track.
The main problem lies within the grassroots which needs to be address.
Need to give the access to the deserving talented players, which starts from club level cricket the product which inducted to the system is important whether they are selecting a deserving player or not?
That is where all of Pakistan cricket problem begins.
The pathway for the deserving players should goes as follow:
Club/school/collage/University to District to Zone to Region to Department to Pakistan A and finally to National team.(Fast track those who has extra ordinary talent who can match the criteria to play for national team Plus fitness)
One can not do anything if you are selecting a player who doesn't deserve to play and the same player comes through the system to national team then the results will be the same what we are facing at the moment.
All the other problems are just geographical.

 

[in_cutter]

Not enough investment. Too much corruption. The state of cricket will not improve until the country itself improves. Pak will always show flashes of brilliance because of the natural talent. But that’s it.

 

[Fahdi]

Our cricket is a reflection of our country's politics and regime. The effort is not to improve rather be popular. The priority is the big and flashy projects not the small improvements which matter a whole lot more. The chairman wants to have matches in Pakistan and concentrate on the PSL so that he can thump his chest in front of the media. The average cricket fan who doesn't follow cricket with the same intensity as the Pakpassion community won't know about the state of domestic pitches, the horrible FC structure and other stuff. He will just look at Sethi Sahab's "achievements" and go "Wah! Wah!". This is what goes on in our politics as well. The exports imports gap is increasing, the health system is a mess, our best university is not even among the first 350 in the world but people are going ga ga over Metro Buses and Highways. We were talking about how the CT victory gave a lifeline to seniors, the administrators of cricket will also use it as a lifeline by reminding us of 'the khadim's contribution'. And changing the faces will not change much, it will be new faces doing the same thing. What needs to change is the mentality of the nation as a whole.

 

[Amirforpresident]

Our cricket is a reflection of our country's politics and regime. The effort is not to improve rather be popular. The priority is the big and flashy projects not the small improvements which matter a whole lot more. The chairman wants to have matches in Pakistan and concentrate on the PSL so that he can thump his chest in front of the media. The average cricket fan who doesn't follow cricket with the same intensity as the Pakpassion community won't know about the state of domestic pitches, the horrible FC structure and other stuff. He will just look at Sethi Sahab's "achievements" and go "Wah! Wah!". This is what goes on in our politics as well. The exports imports gap is increasing, the health system is a mess, our best university is not even among the first 350 in the world but people are going ga ga over Metro Buses and Highways. We were talking about how the CT victory gave a lifeline to seniors, the administrators of cricket will also use it as a lifeline by reminding us of 'the khadim's contribution'. And changing the faces will not change much, it will be new faces doing the same thing. What needs to change is the mentality of the nation as a whole.

Why yu du dis?

But srsly POTW

 

[MMHS]

May be one more point is to make sure biological 16/17 years old kids are given proper batting trainings. Learning curve doesn’t help much for batsmen slogging around tape ball till early 20s, and then go to junior coaching system reducing 5 years of age.

 

[shariqnoor]

The more a sport emphasizes fitness and science over talent, the more Pakistan is going to fail. And I say this for every sport, not just cricket.

Till the end of the 90s, technology and fitness played little role in the success of a team and talent/skills dominated. That is what allowed the Pakistan team to succeed at the international level because they had quality skills. Back in the day teams like Australia, NZ, England had players like David Boon, Rod Latham, Graham Gooch etc who had potbellies. No way would they make it to their teams in the modern game. Now the game is modernized and a lot of focus is on fitness and technology. Pakistan is a third world country and does not have the resources to compete with other teams on the level of fitness and technology. We provide fitness programs when these guys are IN the national team. Australia, England, NZ, are all developed countries where they have a lot of money to dispense on the grassroots. India is fast becoming an economic giant in the world and with their money infusion post 2000 they have also adapted towards fitness and technology. It's no surprise that the underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, Zimbabwe are the ones at the bottom of the ladder.

In short the more cricket and any sport in general relies less on talent and more on the scientific aspect of the game, the more Pakistan will struggle. A classic example is hockey. Till the time, hockey was played on grass, Pakistan ruled the world because grass allowed dribblers from Pakistan to showcase their talent. When hockey was moved to astroturf, we were successful for a short while because the older players were still playing but overtime we were quickly found out and could not cope up with the modern style of playing hockey.

Pakistan would need to holistically adopt technology right from the U13s and for that you need money. You cannot rely on talent to win you games anymore.

 

[MMHS]

The more a sport emphasizes fitness and science over talent, the more Pakistan is going to fail. And I say this for every sport, not just cricket.

Till the end of the 90s, technology and fitness played little role in the success of a team and talent/skills dominated. That is what allowed the Pakistan team to succeed at the international level because they had quality skills. Back in the day teams like Australia, NZ, England had players like David Boon, Rod Latham, Graham Gooch etc who had potbellies. No way would they make it to their teams in the modern game. Now the game is modernized and a lot of focus is on fitness and technology. Pakistan is a third world country and does not have the resources to compete with other teams on the level of fitness and technology. We provide fitness programs when these guys are IN the national team. Australia, England, NZ, are all developed countries where they have a lot of money to dispense on the grassroots. India is fast becoming an economic giant in the world and with their money infusion post 2000 they have also adapted towards fitness and technology. It's no surprise that the underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies, Zimbabwe are the ones at the bottom of the ladder.

In short the more cricket and any sport in general relies less on talent and more on the scientific aspect of the game, the more Pakistan will struggle. A classic example is hockey. Till the time, hockey was played on grass, Pakistan ruled the world because grass allowed dribblers from Pakistan to showcase their talent. When hockey was moved to astroturf, we were successful for a short while because the older players were still playing but overtime we were quickly found out and could not cope up with the modern style of playing hockey.

Pakistan would need to holistically adopt technology right from the U13s and for that you need money. You cannot rely on talent to win you games anymore.

I don’t disagree your theme, but the examples are not appropriate for cricket. It’s still a skill based game and fitness for batsman is different (not saying you become Ul Haq or Saeed). In contrary, pacers of 70s & 80s were much fitter because of the amount of overs they used to bowl in FC cricket. For example, Imran was fitter than any fast bowler of modern times and his body was what gold gym won’t produce - he bowled over 2000 overs relentlessly hostile, in a calendar year for 5/6 years without much trouble before reaching 30s. We can argue if it was 150K or 140k, but for sure batsmen facing him found too fast & relentless, even in his 25th over of the day - that too after batting for 2 hours previous afternoon.

Coming to your post, other parts are accepted - more or less true for every sports. But, in cricket fielding & fitness is a thankless job - you have to be passionate about that. Even for a first world country, it’s not possible to provide every kid the standard facilities. Fitness (& fielding) has to come from inside - players have to feel for it. Instead of pointing system for everything, you should look at your WK-Captain who can’t resist Ammi ke hath me bana hua biryani ... that’s indicative enough.

Rest part I agree - top pro sportsmen are product of system, not nationality or race or genetics.

 

[shariqnoor]

I don’t disagree your theme, but the examples are not appropriate for cricket. It’s still a skill based game and fitness for batsman is different (not saying you become Ul Haq or Saeed). In contrary, pacers of 70s & 80s were much fitter because of the amount of overs they used to bowl in FC cricket. For example, Imran was fitter than any fast bowler of modern times and his body was what gold gym won’t produce - he bowled over 2000 overs relentlessly hostile, in a calendar year for 5/6 years without much trouble before reaching 30s. We can argue if it was 150K or 140k, but for sure batsmen facing him found too fast & relentless, even in his 25th over of the day - that too after batting for 2 hours previous afternoon.

Coming to your post, other parts are accepted - more or less true for every sports. But, in cricket fielding & fitness is a thankless job - you have to be passionate about that. Even for a first world country, it’s not possible to provide every kid the standard facilities. Fitness (& fielding) has to come from inside - players have to feel for it. Instead of pointing system for everything, you should look at your WK-Captain who can’t resist Ammi ke hath me bana hua biryani ... that’s indicative enough.

Rest part I agree - top pro sportsmen are product of system, not nationality or race or genetics.

Yes of course, skill will always remain a big part of cricket. You will not see a guy who is a fitness beast but has very limited cricketing skills succeeding in cricket. But the relative importance of skill and talent in today's game has reduced as compared to lets say the 80's or the 90's.

I totally agree that fitness is something that should come from within. But the thing is, Pakistani kids who are growing up have no concept of fitness and the scientific aspects of the game. These are kids who have been brought up on nihari, biryani, haleem and are not coached at all. Even when they are coached, they are coached on the skill side of things. No youth coach in Pakistan has ever trained a Pakistani cricketer in the mind. They make it to the big stage simply based on their talent. In the 90's it sort of worked because talent could win 80% of the matches. Technical analysis wasn't there at the time so other teams would not work out how Waqar and Wasim were reverse swinging the ball or the technical deficiencies of Brian Lara. Today, talent could win you only 50% of the matches maybe.

People would probably balk and crucify me for this, but I believe Wasim, Waqar, Ambrose, Walsh etc would not take as many wickets in this day and age as they did when they played despite the quality of batsmen today being inferior. Today nobody fears reverse swing and we hardly see collapses due to reverse swing. It's because the game has evolved scientifically and teams have countered the skills aspect through technology. Pakistan is still stuck in the "haal" mode.

 

[Sarwar89]

It is the county cricket which our players are lacking, instead of playing these crap franchise leagues, our first team members shall play county cricket each year.

 

[DRsohail]

You are right, but nothing is going to happen. People have been saying this for years and they will probably say it for years to come.

I think it is time for us to accept our fate. The future is going to be dark and the gap between us and the top teams will continue to become widen - will probably never be a top team again.

yes you are right and it will be speedy if we have this guy Najam sethi who does not know abc of cricket.

 

[ManFan]

yes you are right and it will be speedy if we have this guy Najam sethi who does not know abc of cricket.

One last hope for PAK's cricketing future is the 2018 elections. I know it's not a popular opinion but that is the reality.

 

[babajee]

Sack Inzi and make Mickey CS. Arrange a camp of top performing domestic players who have NOT represented Pakistan before and let him choose the player pool he wants.

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

Get out of the uae ASAP
im not sure will England Allow them after Fixing saga
but if they can convince them they should make it happen.

 

[Hasan123]

I like number 2 and 3 but sadly these steps will never happen.

 

[ManFan]

People pointing at the head when the entire body is sick with a troublesome virus. The change will never happen from bottom to top but vice versa. Only in Pakistan.

 

[iniqbal223]

That's true!

But at least small and minor changes can make a big difference. We all know what PCB is capable of , and can't expect them to take any big steps.

PCB is such a pathetic institute which can't look after things which earn them $$. Its a real shame!

 

[iniqbal223]

That could help!

In last 2 years, except of few handful players such as Shadab,Fakhar,Faheem, and Amir. He didn't select any new players.

What is Inzi's role? Can't attend proper domestic matches(only visits during finals)? Can't give proper chances to young players? Keep selecting his favorites : Akmals,Malik,Hafeez by giving excuses such as we need a blend of experience and youngsters.

If it was not for Mickey's insistence, we would still have the following team:

K Amal
Butt
Hafeez
Malik
A Razzak [at one time he even suggested that Razzak can still make a comeback, thats y Razzak has not retired yet]
U Akmal
Wahab Riaz
Umar Gul
Ajmal
Zulfiqar Babar

 

[iniqbal223]

One thing I didn't understand : Inzi is the first to take credit and when it comes to losses he hides, and say team management is taking their decisions.

Although we won CT , the type of team he sent first up including U Akmal, What Riaz, what the hell was that.Had Akmal not failed the fitness test, we would have been out of the tournament.He made sure we start at worse possible scenario.

And when team management and players pulled it off, this guy Inzi was gifted 1 crore for doing nothing. and the people who really worked hard to lift the spirits of team, got much less that Inzi. What a pathetic unfair system.

 

[iniqbal223]

even that will not help if Inzi keep on selecting TTF.

 

[iniqbal223]

If PCB is getting almost 120 mn $ every year from ICC. Why they don't have money.Even if one stage every single match in UAE for 365 days they can still have more than half of it.

Its not like they are investing $ in domestic, neither they are investing in PSL. Where this whole lot of money goes?

 

[iHammad]

Najam Sethi out

 

[ManFan]

If PCB is getting almost 120 mn $ every year from ICC. Why they don't have money.Even if one stage every single match in UAE for 365 days they can still have more than half of it.

Its not like they are investing $ in domestic, neither they are investing in PSL. Where this whole lot of money goes?

In the endless pits a.k.a their tummies.

 

[Syed1]

I don't buy too much into this superstar logic.... Ok if for a second we accept that Sachin is the reason India keeps producing batsmen then what was the reason that led to the production of Sachin? Or what was the reason that led to the emergence of Imran or Wasim or Waqar??


It is just a bahana to hide your short comings and say "oh kids don't have a batting legend to look up to so all of them are bowling left arm medium fast"

 

[iniqbal223]

Absolutely, there simply can not be any justification for not producing great batsman.

Modern cricket has changed so much you need many very good batters. Unfortunately, we don't have any.

I seriously dislike Akhtar's comments about Fakhar Zaman. Has Shoaib won any of the Final match for Pakistan. No never! He was just a C grade bollywood actor. Who always had problems with management, PCB, captain, was unfit always. Rarely completed his quota of 10 overs. He was good bowler under the tutelage of Wasim and Waqar, who bowled tight for him to take wickets. After retirement of W&W this guy was found out completely.

This is also the reason Shoaib Akhtar like players such as Akmal brothers. Both having similar attitude. Both flourished when they had seniors who could bail out if these perform badly. But once they were given senior role/more responsibility, they simply could not deliver. And then blamed management , captain, coach, PCB, xyzzy for their own short comings

 

[iniqbal223]

Representing Pakistan is a serious business, not your galli team where anyone can do what they want to.

Really annoyed, when Shoaib said Fakhar don't have ability to play in NZ, and his heart bleeds that Akmal brothers and Hafeez were not in the team.

 

[iniqbal223]

Another small step PCB can take:

Get a good curator from England/Australia/NZ/SAF and let them relay the pitches for domestic games. Improve the conditions of grounds, which are at least functional. Before every tour be it NZ, England players should play few games on these good sporting pitches.

In Ranji System what happens:
Every Cricket Association has their own look after of the entire stadium, and pitches there are well famous for the type of swing, pace, spin it provides.
Example : Mumbai has 2 different stadiums : Wankhere --> its small and batting surface
Brabourne --> its known for spin from ball one. They have kept the identities of the pitches same for longer period of time.

So whenever India tours outside for 50 overs tournament (where sporting pitches are provided) they do practice on Wankhede, so that they can acclimatize better.

 

[CanadianG00se]

If PCB is getting almost 120 mn $ every year from ICC. Why they don't have money.Even if one stage every single match in UAE for 365 days they can still have more than half of it.

Its not like they are investing $ in domestic, neither they are investing in PSL. Where this whole lot of money goes?

Im pretty sure PCB is not getting $120M every year, What they are actually getting is $120M for period of 8 years, so thats around $15M per year

 

[Madplayer]

1) Either get the heck out of UAE Or at least Play ALL ODIs and T20Is in Sharjah only. No to Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi should be banned as a cricket venue.

2) Fix pitches in domestic. Play domestic tournaments in warmer season rather than winter.

3)Involve recent retired players in domestic cricket. Invest in their training and development AS COACHES eg. By sending them overseas for coaching courses etc.

4) Indentify players from 12 years of age and the ones who are identified must be taken special care of. Classic case is Babar Azam who was identified at a very young age. Well he might not be the next bradman but at least he can hold his own unlike other players.

5) Try to revive school, college , university cricket and select players from there as well. Increase the numbers of potential players. These guys will be educated too and perhaps will have better game awareness as well.