The ever increasing gap between Pakistan Cricket and the Big 5 in the last 10 years

[Savak]

My theory is that while Pakistani Cricket suffered after the 2009 Sri Lankan attacks and had to live within their means since then, teams like India, Australia, England, New Zealand and even South Africa took their batsmenship, batting stroke play, strike rates to a completely new level. Heck even the bowlers especially in the limited overs format seemed to have developed defensive bowling skills, different variations and strategies for getting batsmen out.

Pakistani Cricket in comparison is still very stagnant, under Misbah captaincy and now coaching, the batting strategy of the team is W G Grace inspired, players are punished for being aggressive dashing with the bat whereas boring, unexpressive Azhar Ali type grinders are preferred from top to bottom. You have fast bowlers coming through the ranks who can't swing/seam the new ball, can't reverse swing the old ball, can't maintain the pace, intensity in their second/third spells, can't bowl long spells. Bowlers still just running in hoping and praying to the almighty for success without any planning, research on how to target an opponents weak areas. Less said about the fitness of Pakistani players in general and their exercising, dieting habits in comparison to the players of the Big 5.

I have seen Misbah in many interviews talk about playing an aggressive brand of cricket, about the team needing match winners but like cmon who is he really kidding, the manner in which the team is playing i.e. slow defensive tuk tuk batting, his safe team selections clearly tell you what you will get out of him.

Our rankings in the last 10 years have been close to the bottom 3 and that is a fair reflection of where our cricket really stands. Players personally do not adopt a high performance culture and are instead happy to stick to their comfort zones and similarly the PCB hasn't taken action against players unwilling to buy into the high performance culture.

Not being able to play consistent international cricket at home for the last 10 years and not being able to play in the IPL consistently in the last 12-13 years has definitely hurt the development of the Pakistani players because lets face it, the level of intensity, pressure, skills on display at the IPL combined surpass all the T-20 leagues in the world including PSL with the exception of Big Bash and Natwest T-20 to some extent.

I think maybe the PCB can look to what the ECB or Cricket Australia have done where they have appointed a director of cricket to take complete charge of decisions regarding the coaching panel, selection panel, cricket captaincy, vice captaincy and to give that person the complete responsibility.

It takes just one right person to change the fortunes of the Cricket team like in India's case we have seen under Ganguly, Dhoni and now Kohli. Similarly Misbah in comparison has just left a legacy of defensive achay bachay type cricketers and captains.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Re: Indian cricket team - also Dravid, I think more influential than Kohli in setting up the next generation of Indian cricket.

Overall I would say Ganguly, then Dhoni, then Dravid chronologically speaking.

This is important because we need to focus on our emerging U19 players, otherwise we’ll keep looking for a 25 year old Shubman Gill but we don’t have one.

 

[shah_1]

I feel cricket is directly related to how well the country is doing. This is the exact reason why SA won't be the next Zimbabwe. It is not PCB job to develop infrastructure at tehsil(township) level, it is the job of provinces. Cricket stadiums and academies are not developed, because politicans think it doesn't get them votes. Only KPK govermemt has shown some effort but still not enough


Nothing to do with Misbah, there are bigger issues than Misbah

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

I think it's also a case of maximising ones resources as well. Historically we have a habit of churning through talented players, without building the structures within them that encourages longevity. This is specially true in our management of our quicks.

It's true that there is a gap between us and the big 5 at present. But, at least at first team level, we can be more than the sum of our parts, through strategy and man management, to challenge them more often. Having those responsibilities given to a Misbah, who has failed to inspire, means that the team, at best, plays 'to' their own level, rather than 'above' their own level.

Also, I firmly agree on [MENTION=151892]Thunderbolt14[/MENTION] 's comment on breeding skills in our younger lot via a better quality of coaching. I think it's time to provide a more modern and better quality of coach than Ijaz Ahmed for these lot. Apparently Younis Khan will be more involved with young ones post NZ. It'll be interesting to see how that goes.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I think it's also a case of maximising ones resources as well. Historically we have a habit of churning through talented players, without building the structures within them that encourages longevity. This is specially true in our management of our quicks.

It's true that there is a gap between us and the big 5 at present. But, at least at first team level, we can be more than the sum of our parts, through strategy and man management, to challenge them more often. Having those responsibilities given to a Misbah, who has failed to inspire, means that the team, at best, plays 'to' their own level, rather than 'above' their own level.

Also, I firmly agree on [MENTION=151892]Thunderbolt14[/MENTION] 's comment on breeding skills in our younger lot via a better quality of coaching. I think it's time to provide a more modern and better quality of coach than Ijaz Ahmed for these lot. Apparently Younis Khan will be more involved with young ones post NZ. It'll be interesting to see how that goes.

MoYo starting January 4 is working with the current crop of U19 kids (for the 2022 world cup). Abdul Faseeh, Maaz Sadaqat, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Mubashar Ali, Aun Shehzad, Abbas Ali, Ghazi Ghouri, Mohammad Waqas, Haseebullah Khan, Rizwan Mehmood - keep an eye on these names, all of them are batsmen.

He’ll be working with them along with Ijaz Ahmed, Atiq uz Zaman, Saqlain Mushtaq, Grant Bradburn, and Umar Rashid.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

As an outsider what i see the most alarming thing is that expressiveness and flair.. a typical Pakistan cricket trait has been missing.
The 2017 Champions trophy was built on that. Fakhar, Amir, Hassan Ali played with a lot of flair after losing the first match to India. It looked a different team.
Between 2010 and 2020, only one tournament where players expressed themselves with flair.
It is not the talent issue in case of Pakistan. Cricket has become more well analysed, planned and well thought out game.
Prime example, Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Ali.. They had great starts, but obviously like every player had some weaknesses. They were planned against and Pakistan management did not help these players in that case, as well as players not having the acumen to work on there weaknesses.
Only Babar is different.
So either produce more once in generation Babar.. or overhaul your structure, build academies and bring school cricket back.
School Cricket is the backbone of great cricketing systems in my opinion.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

The gap was much larger in the 2010-2015 period. Take out those 2 chuckers in Hafeez and Ajmal and Pakistan were a trash side. They only had 1 SENA tour to SA in 2013 and got obliterated like no tomorrow and would have been whitewashed by Zimbabwe if it were not for Younis Khan playing a blinder.

The massive gap is only with the Australian system. Their system of scouting and gauging talent,grassroots level coaching etc. is well ahead of every other Test-playing nation. SA have to take into account talent drain, quotas , NZ depend on Saffer imports these days and their talent pool will always be limited. Not sure Pakistan are so far behind the curve as they were in that 2010-2015 period.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

The gap was much larger in the 2010-2015 period. Take out those 2 chuckers in Hafeez and Ajmal and Pakistan were a trash side. They only had 1 SENA tour to SA in 2013 and got obliterated like no tomorrow and would have been whitewashed by Zimbabwe if it were not for Younis Khan playing a blinder.

The massive gap is only with the Australian system. Their system of scouting and gauging talent,grassroots level coaching etc. is well ahead of every other Test-playing nation. SA have to take into account talent drain, quotas , NZ depend on Saffer imports these days and their talent pool will always be limited. Not sure Pakistan are so far behind the curve as they were in that 2010-2015 period.

Can’t we say the same about India without Bhajji or Lanka without Murali? We still refer to those as ATG Asian sides. Also, in 2010-2015 period we had a very solid Test batting core in Younis, Misbah, Azhar, Asad. Right now we only have Babar who can consistently be expected to score in double digits.

Also, massive gap is with all systems because we don’t have school cricket- that’s where India, Saffers, England leave us behind too.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Can’t we say the same about India without Bhajji or Lanka without Murali? We still refer to those as ATG Asian sides. Also, in 2010-2015 period we had a very solid Test batting core in Younis, Misbah, Azhar, Asad. Right now we only have Babar who can consistently be expected to score in double digits.

Also, massive gap is with all systems because we don’t have school cricket- that’s where India, Saffers, England leave us behind too.

Why has school cricket gone missing in Pakistan ? What has changed ?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Can’t we say the same about India without Bhajji or Lanka without Murali? We still refer to those as ATG Asian sides. Also, in 2010-2015 period we had a very solid Test batting core in Younis, Misbah, Azhar, Asad. Right now we only have Babar who can consistently be expected to score in double digits.

Also, massive gap is with all systems because we don’t have school cricket- that’s where India, Saffers, England leave us behind too.

Bhajji did not carry that lineup. We anyway had Kumble until about 2008 and Ashwin emerged in 2011. Pakistan's test fortunes in that period were often dependent on Ajmal having a good match regardless of how the batting performed. He and Hafeez were the difference between 3-0 to England and 3-0 to Pakistan imho. That lineup was a monster lineup against weak oppositions in the UAE but lost twice in SL as well. Even in the UAE, SA(twice) and SL held them to draws.

 

[sharmaji]

Defeat makes things look worse than they really are. After the first test defeat, I felt that everything is wrong with Indian team and it is behind every other test playing nation. Today, it feels different.

Pakistan needs a few wins, and it certainly has the players of high calibre; any team would love to have Babar, Shaheen Afridi and Rizwan in their XI. Be patient and trust your players, things will turn around.

 

[gazza619]

Defeat makes things look worse than they really are. After the first test defeat, I felt that everything is wrong with Indian team and it is behind every other test playing nation. Today, it feels different.

Pakistan needs a few wins, and it certainly has the players of high calibre; any team would love to have Babar, Shaheen Afridi and Rizwan in their XI. Be patient and trust your players, things will turn around.

Thanks for the positivity but Misbah/Waqar have made so many blunders that i have lost hope.

 

[MP2011]

Thanks for the positivity but Misbah/Waqar have made so many blunders that i have lost hope.

It's astonishing to see these 2 still calling shots in Pakistan cricket. I mean, Misbah has already been much maligned for how he used to approach his own cricket as a cricketer himself. How come is he then entrusted with so many responsibilities?

As for Waqar, when was he your bowling coach before this stint? I guess several years earlier. How come is he still relevant in Pakistan cricket especially when it's been proved beyond doubt that he is a terrible bowling coach?

 

[sweep_shot]

There are currently four groups.

Group 1: India, Australia, England.
Group 2: South Africa and NZ.
Group 3: Pakistan, West Indies, SL.
Group 4: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe.

I agree that gap between Pakistan and top 5 teams is increasing.

 

[hitthestump]

There are currently four groups.

Group 1: India, Australia, England.
Group 2: South Africa and NZ.
Group 3: Pakistan, West Indies, SL.
Group 4: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe.

I agree that gap between Pakistan and top 5 teams is increasing.

In my opinion NZ are in the top group. SA are probably in a league of their own below them, and then it's Pakistan, Windies, SL and Bangla all at the same level.

All Pakistan can hope for at this point is to be the 'best of the rest. I'd say it's something we were comfortably in Mickey's era, but since Misbah took over he has taken us backwards right into the thick of it.

 

[owais1]

Misbah happened. His extremely defensive mindset doesn't match our players. From Fakhar Zaman to Haider Ali, and from Shaheen to Naseem, they must be given the freedom to play their aggressive game. Our bowlers can do so much better than what we are seeing.

Furthermore, because of Misbahs love for tha age category 30-40, we haven't been able to develop players. We haven't sent them to SENA for A tours or domestic cricket. If we replaced Saud Shakeel with Asad Shafiq, and Usman Salahuddin with Azar Ali, we would have been good enough.

Cricket in Pakistan is not dying, the only thing that's dying is the fact that good players get no chance to compete in first class games, forget international cricket. The same TTFs remain playing in our rotten domestic FC structure.

 

[El Generico]

There are currently four groups.

Group 1: India, Australia, England.
Group 2: South Africa and NZ.
Group 3: Pakistan, West Indies, SL.
Group 4: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe.

I agree that gap between Pakistan and top 5 teams is increasing.

NZ whitewashed India few months ago. I think they deserve to be a part of the first group.

 

[Pakpak]

I feel cricket is directly related to how well the country is doing. This is the exact reason why SA won't be the next Zimbabwe. It is not PCB job to develop infrastructure at tehsil(township) level, it is the job of provinces. Cricket stadiums and academies are not developed, because politicans think it doesn't get them votes. Only KPK govermemt has shown some effort but still not enough


Nothing to do with Misbah, there are bigger issues than Misbah

Yeah, Misbah is only the coach. So nothing AT ALL on him. You should apply to be a coach too for the national side. Don't worry, it's nothing to do with the coach.

 

[szrana007]

The gap was much larger in the 2010-2015 period. Take out those 2 chuckers in Hafeez and Ajmal and Pakistan were a trash side.
They only had 1 SENA tour to SA in 2013 and got obliterated like no tomorrow and would have been whitewashed by Zimbabwe if it were not for Younis Khan playing a blinder.

The massive gap is only with the Australian system. Their system of scouting and gauging talent,grassroots level coaching etc. is well ahead of every other Test-playing nation. SA have to take into account talent drain, quotas , NZ depend on Saffer imports these days and their talent pool will always be limited. Not sure Pakistan are so far behind the curve as they were in that 2010-2015 period.

Pakistan also toured NZL in 2011 and won there, so SA 2013 wasn't the only SENA tour. Plus Pakistan was consistently in the top 4 in the rankings in the period you have mentioned.

 

[Titan24]

Yes Pak team has struggled over the last decade.

However, if fans are worried about performances against big 5 in last few years then we also have to take into account that there havent been much home series against big 5 in recent times. I am not saying Pak is going to blow to big 5 away at home but, factually Pak has only lost one home series (in UAE) against big 5 in last 9 or so years. Every team is stronger at home and obviously Pak hasnt been strong enough to compete with some top teams away.

It would be really interesting how Pak performs against SA at home. Year 2022 will also be a big one as well with Pak hosting Aus, Eng and NZ.

While the big 4 obviously compete away better than Pak but, even all top teams have struggled on away tours more often than not. Having said that obviously there are lot of issues which needs to be sorted with Pak team. Struggling in away series is not an issue but, not showing much fight definitely shows there are some big issues and those were reflected in the home series loss against NZ (The only one at home against big 5 in last decade) as well.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan also toured NZL in 2011 and won there, so SA 2013 wasn't the only SENA tour. Plus Pakistan was consistently in the top 4 in the rankings in the period you have mentioned.

That NZ side was extremely weak in both batting and bowling.

 

[Mahee]

Pakistan is actually a much better team than what they seem to be... it's actually a temporary loss of form...i think they will win or at least draw the NZ series.

 

[szrana007]

That NZ side was extremely weak in both batting and bowling.

Yes, but you still have to beat them as India also did in NZL in 2009.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Yes, but you still have to beat them as India also did in NZL in 2009.

Not the point. What I'm trying to say is that Pakistan have actually gotten better. World of difference between playing that NZ side and the GOAT NZ side that is the current side.

 

[szrana007]

Not the point. What I'm trying to say is that Pakistan have actually gotten better. World of difference between playing that NZ side and the GOAT NZ side that is the current side.

How have they gotten better? They are ranked 7th currently, soon could be 8th. Were never ranked this low from 2010-2016.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

How have they gotten better? They are ranked 7th currently, soon could be 8th. Were never ranked this low from 2010-2016.

Because other teams have gotten a lot better. NZ are a lot stronger now and so are India with the bowling attack we have compared to that period.

 

[szrana007]

Because other teams have gotten a lot better. NZ are a lot stronger now and so are India with the bowling attack we have compared to that period.

I would say that Pakistan have got weaker since Misbah and Younis retired. Never found their replacements, also Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq declined post MisYou era, bit like how SL declined, when they lost Sanga and Jaya.

 

[Bhaijaan]

There are currently four groups.

Group 1: India, Australia, England.
Group 2: South Africa and NZ.
Group 3: Pakistan, West Indies, SL.
Group 4: Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe.

I agree that gap between Pakistan and top 5 teams is increasing.

NZ clearly has been a tier-1 for last 5 years or more in all formats.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

I would say that Pakistan have got weaker since Misbah and Younis retired. Never found their replacements, also Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq declined post MisYou era, bit like how SL declined, when they lost Sanga and Jaya.

I'm not just talking about rankings, which anyway were accumulated at the time by beating teams in the UAE. I'm talking about the increase in quality of players that Pakistan have produced since that time. The likes of Misbah and Younis debuted much earlier. In the said period Pakistans much touted batting talents were the likes of Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood. None of them had the potential of Babar or even Haider Ali. The gulf in bowling is even larger . The likes of Haris, Naseem, Shaheen, Hasnain and even Abbas were better than the likes of Junaid Khan, Talha(lol) , bilawal bhatti and all those bowlers. Take all this into consideration and you'll see that this period has produced a lot more quality than then.

 

[Dingolfy]

I would say that Pakistan have got weaker since Misbah and Younis retired. Never found their replacements, also Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq declined post MisYou era, bit like how SL declined, when they lost Sanga and Jaya.

To me, the introduction of two new balls in LOIs have affected Pakistan the most as your bowlers relied on old ball a lot.

 

[hitthestump]

To me, the introduction of two new balls in LOIs have affected Pakistan the most as your bowlers relied on old ball a lot.

This is true. It has also killed spin which was a potent weapon for us in the days of Afridi, Ajmal and Hafeez.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

I'm not just talking about rankings, which anyway were accumulated at the time by beating teams in the UAE. I'm talking about the increase in quality of players that Pakistan have produced since that time. The likes of Misbah and Younis debuted much earlier. In the said period Pakistans much touted batting talents were the likes of Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad, Sohaib Maqsood. None of them had the potential of Babar or even Haider Ali. The gulf in bowling is even larger . The likes of Haris, Naseem, Shaheen, Hasnain and even Abbas were better than the likes of Junaid Khan, Talha(lol) , bilawal bhatti and all those bowlers. Take all this into consideration and you'll see that this period has produced a lot more quality than then.

I think you’re referring to the next 5 years period. Right now, 2017-2021, it’s a lot weaker than 2010-2015. The hope is that you’re right about these youngsters and 2022-2027 is a lot stronger than 2010-2015 but we have yet to produce a Test batsman of the caliber of Younis Khan or Misbah, not even Babar is there yet in terms of actual match winning performances. It is also a big expectation for Haider Ali or Abdullah Shafique to become batsmen of even Azhar Ali’s caliber, who was a very good servant of Pak Test cricket during that 2010-2015 period.

We’re doing a very good job of making both these players T20 hacks.

 

[Markhor]

I agree, the period after the Lahore attack leading to our shift to UAE was more damaging than we realised.

UAE conditions basically encourage 1980s/90s style cricket especially in ODIs where even 250-260 is challenging on those tired, slow pitches. Bowlers can get away with more bad balls than say in AUS or NZL on truer pitches with decent bounce. Seamers just wait for reverse swing as nothing happens with new ball, and the switch to 2 new balls rendered our pacers even more toothless. Batsmen meanwhile don't develop their backfoot or power game.

The financial costs of renting stadia and hotels in UAE also meant less investment into an already neglected grassroots and domestic cricket. PSL didn't come onstream until 2016 which has been financially underwhelming. Plus, as much some loathe to admit it, IPL is for limited overs cricket what county cricket used to be for red ball cricket. The fitness and fielding standard of our youngsters is still nowhere near their international counterparts.

Cricket has changed yet the mindset of our coaches and pundits hasn't. The game has become too structured, too scientific and too strategic for the old adages of "mercurial matchwinners" overwhelming the opposition with raw talent. Misbah and Waqar sadly are a reflection of that bygone era.

 

[Savak]

I agree, the period after the Lahore attack leading to our shift to UAE was more damaging than we realised.

UAE conditions basically encourage 1980s/90s style cricket especially in ODIs where even 250-260 is challenging on those tired, slow pitches. Bowlers can get away with more bad balls than say in AUS or NZL on truer pitches with decent bounce. Seamers just wait for reverse swing as nothing happens with new ball, and the switch to 2 new balls rendered our pacers even more toothless. Batsmen meanwhile don't develop their backfoot or power game.

The financial costs of renting stadia and hotels in UAE also meant less investment into an already neglected grassroots and domestic cricket. PSL didn't come onstream until 2016 which has been financially underwhelming. Plus, as much some loathe to admit it, IPL is for limited overs cricket what county cricket used to be for red ball cricket. The fitness and fielding standard of our youngsters is still nowhere near their international counterparts.

Cricket has changed yet the mindset of our coaches and pundits hasn't. The game has become too structured, too scientific and too strategic for the old adages of "mercurial matchwinners" overwhelming the opposition with raw talent. Misbah and Waqar sadly are a reflection of that bygone era.

The PCB has only recently started investing in our domestic structure and the work is still incomplete, ongoing which means perhaps another 10-20 years before we start seeing some fruits of all the changes provided there will be no interruptions

 

[Markhor]

The PCB has only recently started investing in our domestic structure and the work is still incomplete, ongoing which means perhaps another 10-20 years before we start seeing some fruits of all the changes provided there will be no interruptions

Domestic reforms were huge but they also need to improve standard of coaching.

Our coaches don't understand modern era cricket with a few exceptions, nor have the technical expertise to improve a player if their form dips. What are these youngsters gonna learn from Basit Ali, Ijaz Ahmed and Faisal Iqbal ?

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Domestic reforms were huge but they also need to improve standard of coaching.

Our coaches don't understand modern era cricket with a few exceptions, nor have the technical expertise to improve a player if their form dips. What are these youngsters gonna learn from Basit Ali, Ijaz Ahmed and Faisal Iqbal ?

Faisal Iqbal is actually doing well and employing modern coaching methods and technical analysis. I’ve been following him closely.

Basit Ali and Ijaz Ahmed have no idea what they’re doing, though Ijaz is the better of the two.

 

[freezerburn]

I feel cricket is directly related to how well the country is doing. This is the exact reason why SA won't be the next Zimbabwe. It is not PCB job to develop infrastructure at tehsil(township) level, it is the job of provinces. Cricket stadiums and academies are not developed, because politicans think it doesn't get them votes. Only KPK govermemt has shown some effort but still not enough


Nothing to do with Misbah, there are bigger issues than Misbah

This. Pakistan's economy has been crap relative to other countries, with 2019 bad even before the global pandemic. With a crap economy, low investment in infrastructure, poor salaries to attract talent, poor pitches, poor outfields, practice nets, poor medical facilities, the result will be a poor performing national team.
Majority of people here cry about selection, misbah, waqar etc, but fail to see the bigger issue

 

[shah_1]

This. Pakistan's economy has been crap relative to other countries, with 2019 bad even before the global pandemic. With a crap economy, low investment in infrastructure, poor salaries to attract talent, poor pitches, poor outfields, practice nets, poor medical facilities, the result will be a poor performing national team.
Majority of people here cry about selection, misbah, waqar etc, but fail to see the bigger issue

Sports is all about money. Our cricket decline is directly correlated to Pakistan decline after 9/11

South American countries were among the most dominant international teams but now european countries rule the international football becauss they are far more developed countries. They have the best infrastructure, more money to pump in youth football.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

As long as Pakistan play the best XI with the right bowlers against SA, SA will be begging for mercy before the end of the series.

 

[Mamoon]

It will only increase in the future. This whole drama of revamping FC structure will yield no results.

 

[James Steven]

Pakistan is lucky that SA is in decline and they would become the new WI. Otherwise you are right there is a huge gap between Big 4 and Pakistan.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Sports is all about money. Our cricket decline is directly correlated to Pakistan decline after 9/11

South American countries were among the most dominant international teams but now european countries rule the international football becauss they are far more developed countries. They have the best infrastructure, more money to pump in youth football.

I think there is some definite truth in that. PSL isn't the best T20 competition by any means, but just having so many top class internationals competing raises the standards far beyond what Pakistan players have been exposed to previously. If Pakistan's cricketers were able to get more exposure to that level of cricket for six months of a year instead of one, you would see a lot more of the hopefuls adjusting their games accordingly and improving.

As it is, they are perennially playing catch up with the bigger teams who have far more favourable itineraries carved up between themselves.

 

[shamaan]

As long as Pakistan play the best XI with the right bowlers against SA, SA will be begging for mercy before the end of the series.

it should be a good series

 

[freezerburn]

Sports is all about money. Our cricket decline is directly correlated to Pakistan decline after 9/11

South American countries were among the most dominant international teams but now european countries rule the international football becauss they are far more developed countries. They have the best infrastructure, more money to pump in youth football.

Many many many other examples of direct impact on sports performance and amount of dollars spent:
- Australian swimming program - Australia became a force in swimming after the gov't spent millions on a national program
- US Gymnastics - The US went aggressively after Romanian gymnastic coaches, knowing they were the best in the world and the medal count is evidence
- Chinese women's volleyball program
- UK cycling program - huge investments yielded gold medals
- Egypt Squash program - Even though the entire country is mad about squash, it also has huge amount of prize money, salaries/benefits for amateur players

Strong economy = $$$ = performance

We shouldn't blame Misbah...

 

[Thunderbolt14]

Many many many other examples of direct impact on sports performance and amount of dollars spent:
- Australian swimming program - Australia became a force in swimming after the gov't spent millions on a national program
- US Gymnastics - The US went aggressively after Romanian gymnastic coaches, knowing they were the best in the world and the medal count is evidence
- Chinese women's volleyball program
- UK cycling program - huge investments yielded gold medals
- Egypt Squash program - Even though the entire country is mad about squash, it also has huge amount of prize money, salaries/benefits for amateur players

Strong economy = $$$ = performance

We shouldn't blame Misbah...

I completely agree except for the last line, it’s still possible to maximize your limited resources in the absence of money. Misbah isn’t doing that job well, but if we had a system in place and lots of money like India, surely he couldn’t have done too bad similar to Ravi Shastri.

 

[naseem]

On the contrary I think the gap is reduced if you compare 2 what it was in 2015.....

 

[naseem]

One area Pak is lacking behind others is ODIS....bilateral ODIS has been horrible....
In tests pak shown far more competitiveness
than others....esp from Asia.....
It's more about mentally and adaptability......
I think very few domestic sides has video analyst
and proper fitness expert and fielding expert.....

I seriously has trust on the local coaches who
Work at grassroot level.....

I expect similar fortune if there is no change in above mentioned aspects.......

Another reason is fear in players mind of loosing their place in squad as baring few many are discarded
Quickly as a result many players aren't able to play
their natural game......

 

[naseem]

one area pak is lacking behind others is odis....bilateral odis has been horrible....
In tests pak shown far more competitiveness
than others....esp from asia.....
It's more about mentally and adaptability......
I think very few domestic sides has video analyst
and proper fitness expert and fielding expert.....

I seriously has trust on the local coaches who
work at grassroot level.....

I expect similar fortune if there is no change in above mentioned aspects.......

Another reason is fear in players mind of loosing their place in squad as baring few many are discarded
quickly as a result many players aren't able to play
their natural game......

no trust on local coaches.....

 

[Savak]

Many many many other examples of direct impact on sports performance and amount of dollars spent:
- Australian swimming program - Australia became a force in swimming after the gov't spent millions on a national program
- US Gymnastics - The US went aggressively after Romanian gymnastic coaches, knowing they were the best in the world and the medal count is evidence
- Chinese women's volleyball program
- UK cycling program - huge investments yielded gold medals
- Egypt Squash program - Even though the entire country is mad about squash, it also has huge amount of prize money, salaries/benefits for amateur players

Strong economy = $$$ = performance

We shouldn't blame Misbah...

Don't think the South Africans had a lot of money during apartheid and even right now

 

[freezerburn]

Don't think the South Africans had a lot of money during apartheid and even right now

I am not sure what you are implying because I didn't read your earlier posts, but:
South Africa has one of the best mining and mineral deposits in the world, along with agriculture, gold, tourism etc. Although the per capita wealth may be low, the country has a very elite and generous social health and sporting infrastructure and of the best standards of living.

So no doubt they have an excellent cricket team, rugby team (world cup champions??) etc/

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

20's will be an entirely different decade. Pakistan team will rise to top 5 in all rankings by 2022 and top 3 by 2023. That's how I see it.

 

[naseem]

20's will be an entirely different decade. Pakistan team will rise to top 5 in all rankings by 2022 and top 3 by 2023. That's how I see it.

More likely but ppl like Misbah need to go...and local coaches must get well versed with modern methods of coaching

 

[Shafi]

WI is better than us.
We are similar to SL. Under Misbah it will go worse.

 

[Shafi]

Pakistan is lucky that SA is in decline and they would become the new WI. Otherwise you are right there is a huge gap between Big 4 and Pakistan.

I think SA still far ahead than us. Drawing 1 test will be a great achievement.

 

[freezerburn]

here we go again with the Misbah bashing