The Future of Pakistan Cricket Thread

[the Great Khan]

Before the World cup started there were many on this forum who had high hopes for our success. Granted there were many who werent not as optimistic myself being one of them. however the dust is slowly settling on another poor world cup campaign that never really looked very promising.

In the winter at the beginning of our season it seemed as if the ODI team had turned a corner and although the last ODI with the Kiwis was called off due to rain there were promising signs.

We then had a reasonably good series overseas in South Africa that also gave out promising signs. Unfortunately Everything seemed to go wrong once strategy and selection became the talking point. Our think tank completely lost the plot in my opinion.

During the CT17 we saw that there was a a method that the team used to get some crucial wins. The idea was to use our bowling resources to stifle the opposition in the middle overs and restrict them to a manageable total. which we did to a reasonable extent.

This strategy has been adopted by a few other teams to mixed effect. In mdoern ODI's it is a legitimate way to ensure you can reduce teh score you will be chasing or stifle a team that is chasing your score. This method isnt new. it has been used by both India and pakistan in the past.
Therefore the idea behind our selection should have been to ensure we can continue this strategy.

However we failed. We failed to select the right team. We failed to select the right players to execute this strategy. We had two years to perfect it and introduce some new players to help with our plans. We failed.

So what now? where do you see our short term , medium term and long term future strategy?

Here is my opinion and I would be interested to hear what others have to say here.

The Captain and Coach:

many want to get rid of Sarfaraz and I understand why. He hasnt seemed dynamic and on the ball but thats because his bolwers have totally and utterly let him down. His fielders have let him down and his middle order is non existant. it is easy to kick someone when they are down but overall with the right resources at his disposable he can be a good captain. instead of throwing him under the bus we should back him for four more years. I can tell you now, changing the captain will not make any difference at this point.

What about the coach? I am a supporter of arthur. he has tried to change a lot of things within the setup but ultimatly you are judged by your record and he has failed therefore he has to take responsibility and must resign. Same for Azhar mehmood who has been a worse failure. I would keep Grant as he has improved our top order batting inmho (you guys can disagree if you want).

Our Bowling:

Our bowling has utterly failed in this new era of ODI's. Here is what i think we need to do.

drop wahab obviously, drop hasan ali. Find two or three attacking spinners. We need to bring Shinwari back. Our pacers should be Shaheen , shinwari and Amir. With Haris Rauf brought in with another pacer. I feel it was a mistake not to include him in this world cup and this reflects badly on Arthur.

What spinners do we have? Shadab obviusly. What about Umar Khan? Who else?

Our batting:

Well whether we like it or not Fakhar, Imam and Babar are going to be our top three going forward. then we come to number 4,5,6. if we say sarfi at 5 , then we need a number 6 and a number 4. We need to find two young batsmen who are in their late teens, say 19-21 and induct them in now while we have four years to groom them.

So any suggestions?

our Fielding:

We really need a Steve rixon type character back. he made a massive difference to our side but we also need to ensure we have a core group of good young players always around the ODI team. Shadab is our best fielder, Hasan ali is too bad either. But thats about it.

The Future:

the immediate future looks bleak. The medium term looks bleak too but inmho the long term future looks bright if we can do the following:

Improve our domestic structure and pitches quickly. this can be done immediatley.

Ensure that the PCB takes over the financing and contracts of the three to four teams that feed into the national team. The A team, the u19's and the womens team. The PCB should put take over everything here. increase the A team tours as this should be our second 11 team, in which every player is literally ready to be slotted in to the national team if they perform. Same with our emerging player squad. We should rename our U19 squad the emerging player squad.

any other thoughts from everyone?

 

[the Great Khan]

We also need a nutritionist, a psychologist and not one but a whole team of fielding specialists spread out over our three tiers.

 

[Mamoon]

Post Champions Trophy, there were no positive signs at any point in the last two years. In fact, this team was brutally exposed as early as January 2018, when they went to New Zealand and were mercilessly whitewashed 5-0. At that time, our heads were still in the clouds because of the Champions Trophy, and we came up a string of excuses to explain and justify our abject capitulation in New Zealand.

The so-called pessimists and haters saw this team for what it truly was, but Pakistani fans have mastered the art of living in denial and finding positives when there are now. Their is a significant gap between the expectations of our fans and the capability of the team. We just cannot come to terms with the fact that if we continue with our merry ways, our days as a major cricket force are done and dusted, and we will never be a top 2-3 team again.

This number one rank drama in T20s will also end soon, and decline is starting in that format as well. The back to back series defeats in South Africa and England is just the start of our spanking in T20s, which will reach its zenith in the WT20 next year where we will be pounded and sent home early before the semifinals.

When it comes to the long-term future, of course anything is possible. Unless the world ends in 10-15 years, Pakistan has all the time in the world when it comes to maximising its resources. We have the biggest talent pool and the biggest market after India, and the passion for the game in the country is still strong. If we take smart decisions, there is no reason why we cannot be a leading force.

Before we fix our domestic cricket, we will have to transform our mentality, which is rotten to the core. We have declined as a cricket nation not because of our domestic cricket but because of our pathetic mentality. It is the root-cause of everything that is wrong with Pakistan cricket and Pakistan in general, but that's for another day.

First and foremost, we need to move on from rubbish like we are unpredictable, we are cornered tigers, we are dangerous when we get momentum, Pakistan cricket is a roller-coaster ride etc. All this nonsense drivel means absolutely nothing. They only serve to glorify inconsistency and mediocrity. Such third class cliches should be completely removed from our cricket system.

Secondly, we need to put our victim mentality to rest. We are in this state today not because of the evil BCCI but because of our own incompetence. There is no conspiracy against the mighty Shaheens by BCCI, ICC or any other board/organisation. No one is actively working to derail and damage Pakistan cricket, no one except Pakistan itself.

Moreover, we also need to overcome the mentality that our cricketers do not need to work on their communication skills, their personalities and the way they carry themselves. Anyone who points out these shortcomings are quickly shut down because they have so-called colonial mentality and inferiority complex.

The way Sarfraz speaks in the press conferences, his vocabulary, his tone, his body language, the way he was yawning yesterday with his belly sticking out while India was smashing us was incredibly embarrassing. Our cricketers have zero personalities and cannot intimidate the opposition with their presence. Along with fixing domestic cricket, PCB also needs to work on education these players. Every player under PCB's wing needs to proper coaching to work on their soft skills along with their cricket.

If we can achieve the above, we will take our first step towards restoring our pride and lifting Pakistan cricket from the depths of mediocrity.

 

[Markhor]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...eam-and-our-cricket-infrastructure-in-general

Start with the basics:

- Standardise the Dukes ball for Test and 4 day cricket, and the Kookaburra for one day cricket. Train the groundstaff properly and produce a variety of pitches across the country so our cricketers can develop different skillsets. Suspend grounds from staging cricket if the pitches are inadequate.

Then building on that:

- Set up an NCA style academy in every province.

- Launch a national coaching programme where we train coaches like we train players. No FC team should be coached by anyone failing to obtain the necessary qualifications - being an ex-player doesn't entitle you to a coaching gig.

- Initiate a Cricketing Scholarship programme by working with IK Govt. Ensure that kids can pursue their education as well as their cricketing ambitions.

- Launch a national tournament featuring 16 of the top schools. Attach at least one top Pakistani coach and any overseas coach willing to travel to Pakistan to each team. THIS is when the fundamentals of cricket are learned - not at age 30 after seven years in the Pakistan team.

- Introduce a sports psychologist for every FC team and a specialist fitness coach. DROP any player who fails basic fitness standards WITHOUT EXCEPTION.

- No FC team should be captained by anyone over the age of 30. Develop a Leadership Programme at NCA to ensure we have the next generation of captains coming through.

- Full implementation of Wasim Khan's proposed domestic structure.

^^ I mentioned this in another thread. It may not be sexy or exciting to talk about, but the problem starts at the grassroots and not with the national team.

That's when you learn the fundamentals of cricket. Look at these Indian batsmen, they all have solid fundamentals. That's why Virat Kohli after the Australia series win credited their success to the Ranji Trophy. Our success however usually comes IN SPITE of our Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

 

[Captain caveman]

Post Champions Trophy, there were no positive signs at any point in the last two years. In fact, this team was brutally exposed as early as January 2018, when they went to New Zealand and were mercilessly whitewashed 5-0. At that time, our heads were still in the clouds because of the Champions Trophy, and we came up a string of excuses to explain and justify our abject capitulation in New Zealand.

The so-called pessimists and haters saw this team for what it truly was, but Pakistani fans have mastered the art of living in denial and finding positives when there are now. Their is a significant gap between the expectations of our fans and the capability of the team. We just cannot come to terms with the fact that if we continue with our merry ways, our days as a major cricket force are done and dusted, and we will never be a top 2-3 team again.

This number one rank drama in T20s will also end soon, and decline is starting in that format as well. The back to back series defeats in South Africa and England is just the start of our spanking in T20s, which will reach its zenith in the WT20 next year where we will be pounded and sent home early before the semifinals.

When it comes to the long-term future, of course anything is possible. Unless the world ends in 10-15 years, Pakistan has all the time in the world when it comes to maximising its resources. We have the biggest talent pool and the biggest market after India, and the passion for the game in the country is still strong. If we take smart decisions, there is no reason why we cannot be a leading force.

Before we fix our domestic cricket, we will have to transform our mentality, which is rotten to the core. We have declined as a cricket nation not because of our domestic cricket but because of our pathetic mentality. It is the root-cause of everything that is wrong with Pakistan cricket and Pakistan in general, but that's for another day.

First and foremost, we need to move on from rubbish like we are unpredictable, we are cornered tigers, we are dangerous when we get momentum, Pakistan cricket is a roller-coaster ride etc. All this nonsense drivel means absolutely nothing. They only serve to glorify inconsistency and mediocrity. Such third class cliches should be completely removed from our cricket system.

Secondly, we need to put our victim mentality to rest. We are in this state today not because of the evil BCCI but because of our own incompetence. There is no conspiracy against the mighty Shaheens by BCCI, ICC or any other board/organisation. No one is actively working to derail and damage Pakistan cricket, no one except Pakistan itself.

Moreover, we also need to overcome the mentality that our cricketers do not need to work on their communication skills, their personalities and the way they carry themselves. Anyone who points out these shortcomings are quickly shut down because they have so-called colonial mentality and inferiority complex.

The way Sarfraz speaks in the press conferences, his vocabulary, his tone, his body language, the way he was yawning yesterday with his belly sticking out while India was smashing us was incredibly embarrassing. Our cricketers have zero personalities and cannot intimidate the opposition with their presence. Along with fixing domestic cricket, PCB also needs to work on education these players. Every player under PCB's wing needs to proper coaching to work on their soft skills along with their cricket.

If we can achieve the above, we will take our first step towards restoring our pride and lifting Pakistan cricket from the depths of mediocrity.

Blah blah blah...
You missed the only thing required -
Professional coaching!
Preferably from english or australian top coaches for the under 15s.
Pakistan batsman dont have the basic techniques to bat!
Pak bowlers dont know anything about line or length!
In 10 years time , you will have a top team!
Your favourites, india, did the same with their mrf bowling academy and hiring former aussie int bowlers to teach their youngsters. And now they have some decent pacers.

 

[the Great Khan]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...eam-and-our-cricket-infrastructure-in-general



^^ I mentioned this in another thread. It may not be sexy or exciting to talk about, but the problem starts at the grassroots and not with the national team.

That's when you learn the fundamentals of cricket. Look at these Indian batsmen, they all have solid fundamentals. That's why Virat Kohli after the Australia series win credited their success to the Ranji Trophy. Our success however usually comes IN SPITE of our Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Thanks for that. i actually agree with everything here. However some of those are evry aspirational like having a psychologist with every team. I think Every top level elite first class team should have the same structure. This then permeates forward into the national setup.

We really need to go back and sort out our four day game. It is no coincidence that India has flourished in this new batsman era because they haven't really changed the Ranji trophy much. If we had stuck to the old style of our pitches etc by now, with the change in the ODI conditions and rules, it would have favoured us immensely.

It is also no real coincident that Azhar Ali played the way he did in a highly pressured game in the CT17. Rahul did the same..he didn't look great but they played test cricket for ten overs before settling down.

You have to have some basic skills to help. And these skills are developed in the grass roots.

So what can we do in the three periods? Short term, medium term and Long term.?

So short term we have to play in the World T20. We need to select a good squad that can get us deep into the tournament. Who would you choose?

And then in the medium term so looking at three to four years?

And then the long term.??

 

[the Great Khan]

Post Champions Trophy, there were no positive signs at any point in the last two years. In fact, this team was brutally exposed as early as January 2018, when they went to New Zealand and were mercilessly whitewashed 5-0. At that time, our heads were still in the clouds because of the Champions Trophy, and we came up a string of excuses to explain and justify our abject capitulation in New Zealand.

The so-called pessimists and haters saw this team for what it truly was, but Pakistani fans have mastered the art of living in denial and finding positives when there are now. Their is a significant gap between the expectations of our fans and the capability of the team. We just cannot come to terms with the fact that if we continue with our merry ways, our days as a major cricket force are done and dusted, and we will never be a top 2-3 team again.

This number one rank drama in T20s will also end soon, and decline is starting in that format as well. The back to back series defeats in South Africa and England is just the start of our spanking in T20s, which will reach its zenith in the WT20 next year where we will be pounded and sent home early before the semifinals.

When it comes to the long-term future, of course anything is possible. Unless the world ends in 10-15 years, Pakistan has all the time in the world when it comes to maximising its resources. We have the biggest talent pool and the biggest market after India, and the passion for the game in the country is still strong. If we take smart decisions, there is no reason why we cannot be a leading force.

Before we fix our domestic cricket, we will have to transform our mentality, which is rotten to the core. We have declined as a cricket nation not because of our domestic cricket but because of our pathetic mentality. It is the root-cause of everything that is wrong with Pakistan cricket and Pakistan in general, but that's for another day.

First and foremost, we need to move on from rubbish like we are unpredictable, we are cornered tigers, we are dangerous when we get momentum, Pakistan cricket is a roller-coaster ride etc. All this nonsense drivel means absolutely nothing. They only serve to glorify inconsistency and mediocrity. Such third class cliches should be completely removed from our cricket system.

Secondly, we need to put our victim mentality to rest. We are in this state today not because of the evil BCCI but because of our own incompetence. There is no conspiracy against the mighty Shaheens by BCCI, ICC or any other board/organisation. No one is actively working to derail and damage Pakistan cricket, no one except Pakistan itself.

Moreover, we also need to overcome the mentality that our cricketers do not need to work on their communication skills, their personalities and the way they carry themselves. Anyone who points out these shortcomings are quickly shut down because they have so-called colonial mentality and inferiority complex.

The way Sarfraz speaks in the press conferences, his vocabulary, his tone, his body language, the way he was yawning yesterday with his belly sticking out while India was smashing us was incredibly embarrassing. Our cricketers have zero personalities and cannot intimidate the opposition with their presence. Along with fixing domestic cricket, PCB also needs to work on education these players. Every player under PCB's wing needs to proper coaching to work on their soft skills along with their cricket.

If we can achieve the above, we will take our first step towards restoring our pride and lifting Pakistan cricket from the depths of mediocrity.

I agree with alot of what you have said. i guess you are talking more about the intangible areas of progress that needs to be made. These are the mental aspects and the perception aspect. I agree with the unpredictable bakwaas. To be a cornered tiger you need to be a tiger first and that 80's team was a proper team not like these pretenders who completely wasted the opportunity the CT17 win gave them.

But coming to the tangibles what do you do in the immediate short term? changing the intangibles you have mentioned will take time so what to do now..?? what about in the medium term?

 

[bujhee kom]

Middling team for a long time.

 

[BreadPakoda]

Middling team for a long time.

But middling teams don’t with the Champions Trophy.

 

[dhump]

We should have been doing all this since good 20 years, but it is never too late to start. Anyways this is what we wish and what we know is that nothing will change.

 

[AFM]

Perfect time for Wasim Khan to introduce the changes. Can't imagine many protesting to wide-speead changes after such a dismal performance.

 

[JellyBro]

1. stop bringing in players with underdeveloped brains !
Mental sharpness is just as important as physical capabilities. Have them take an IQ test or something lol no more khotays in the team, please !
2. Stop with the obsession of bringing in teenagers with talunt with the idea that they will have long careers. If a player is 30 years old but has skills, bring him in the team and get 5 years of good cricket out of him rather than bringing in a half cooked bacha and suffer 20 years of meritocracy at his hands.

 

[Mamoon]

I agree with alot of what you have said. i guess you are talking more about the intangible areas of progress that needs to be made. These are the mental aspects and the perception aspect. I agree with the unpredictable bakwaas. To be a cornered tiger you need to be a tiger first and that 80's team was a proper team not like these pretenders who completely wasted the opportunity the CT17 win gave them.

But coming to the tangibles what do you do in the immediate short term? changing the intangibles you have mentioned will take time so what to do now..?? what about in the medium term?

I don’t think anything can be done in the short-term. You can take out the deadweight from this side but the chances are high that the replacements will be equally bad. The PSL exposes the lack of depth in our cricket on an annual basis.

Pakistan will hover around the 5th, 6th and 7th positions in Tests and ODIs for now, but the fans can make peace with that if they sense a direction and a long-term plan in place.

 

[Khan12]

Post Champions Trophy, there were no positive signs at any point in the last two years. In fact, this team was brutally exposed as early as January 2018, when they went to New Zealand and were mercilessly whitewashed 5-0. At that time, our heads were still in the clouds because of the Champions Trophy, and we came up a string of excuses to explain and justify our abject capitulation in New Zealand.

The so-called pessimists and haters saw this team for what it truly was, but Pakistani fans have mastered the art of living in denial and finding positives when there are now. Their is a significant gap between the expectations of our fans and the capability of the team. We just cannot come to terms with the fact that if we continue with our merry ways, our days as a major cricket force are done and dusted, and we will never be a top 2-3 team again.

This number one rank drama in T20s will also end soon, and decline is starting in that format as well. The back to back series defeats in South Africa and England is just the start of our spanking in T20s, which will reach its zenith in the WT20 next year where we will be pounded and sent home early before the semifinals.

When it comes to the long-term future, of course anything is possible. Unless the world ends in 10-15 years, Pakistan has all the time in the world when it comes to maximising its resources. We have the biggest talent pool and the biggest market after India, and the passion for the game in the country is still strong. If we take smart decisions, there is no reason why we cannot be a leading force.

Before we fix our domestic cricket, we will have to transform our mentality, which is rotten to the core. We have declined as a cricket nation not because of our domestic cricket but because of our pathetic mentality. It is the root-cause of everything that is wrong with Pakistan cricket and Pakistan in general, but that's for another day.

First and foremost, we need to move on from rubbish like we are unpredictable, we are cornered tigers, we are dangerous when we get momentum, Pakistan cricket is a roller-coaster ride etc. All this nonsense drivel means absolutely nothing. They only serve to glorify inconsistency and mediocrity. Such third class cliches should be completely removed from our cricket system.

Secondly, we need to put our victim mentality to rest. We are in this state today not because of the evil BCCI but because of our own incompetence. There is no conspiracy against the mighty Shaheens by BCCI, ICC or any other board/organisation. No one is actively working to derail and damage Pakistan cricket, no one except Pakistan itself.

Moreover, we also need to overcome the mentality that our cricketers do not need to work on their communication skills, their personalities and the way they carry themselves. Anyone who points out these shortcomings are quickly shut down because they have so-called colonial mentality and inferiority complex.

The way Sarfraz speaks in the press conferences, his vocabulary, his tone, his body language, the way he was yawning yesterday with his belly sticking out while India was smashing us was incredibly embarrassing. Our cricketers have zero personalities and cannot intimidate the opposition with their presence. Along with fixing domestic cricket, PCB also needs to work on education these players. Every player under PCB's wing needs to proper coaching to work on their soft skills along with their cricket.

If we can achieve the above, we will take our first step towards restoring our pride and lifting Pakistan cricket from the depths of mediocrity.

The title sates our future not current or history. Take your rubbish somewhere else.

 

[Mamoon]

The title sates our future not current or history. Take your rubbish somewhere else.

There is no future if you don’t learn from your past and present mistakes.

 

[Khan12]

Good thread OP. First and foremost we need to get rid of rubbish like, Hafeez, Malik, Sarfraz, Shadab (needs a year or 2 at domestics), Hasan Ali, Wahab, Imad. I don't want these players to be replaced with junaid, shiwnwari, umer akmal etc if we are really serious about improving and moving in the right direction.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I agree with Markhor basically, everything stems from the domestic game, if that is healthy and self-sustaining, then there will always be good players to choose from. I said this in another thread today, but a country like Pakistan which is cricket mad, should be able to produce regional teams which make money from the support base. PSL will provide this once it is established at home.

That is long term. In the immediate term, as we are lacking brains and knowledge in the PCB, we need to pay big money to hire the best brains from outside. Mickey Arthur is the current coach, and I too quite liked him, but his reliance on Inzimam for the selection process is worrying.

Three crucial mistakes:

. No dedicated spinner selected other than an out of form Shadab
. No pace bowler with ability to utilise the new ball
. Not enough middle order batsmen in the squad

When Bob Woolmer was coach he promoted unfashionable medium pacers like Iftikhar Rao and Rana Naved only because they could swing the new ball. Where was this sort of input from Arthur? Does he keep in touch with the local scene, and if not, who is advising him?

 

[Khan12]

There is no future if you don’t learn from your past and present mistakes.

So we need someone who can speak English then we become a better team. Shouldn't be a problem then. Didn't know it was this easy.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Figure out why players regress at an alarming rate when they come to the international stage. The attitude of the players is not right. Pretty much everyone that has come into the team in the past 10 years has started well but then got completely exposed subsequently.

This has happened under different coaching set-ups, so it's definitely not the coaching staff that's the issue.

 

[HGhazanfar]

Future looks very worrying - we need to find 2-3 solid batsmen who can play a long innings and adapt to match situation. (currently Babar is half decent but long way to go, Fakhar is inconsistent and needs work but has potential, Sharjeel could be a good reintroduction - have no one else)

Fast bowling - theres no worries there - Mir Hamza, M Ilyas, Shaheen, Hasnain, Usman Khan, Naseem Shah, M Musa, Haris Rauf - need to groom and develop these, I am sure 2 of these will become world top 10 bowlers (most likely Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah), and we can groom a new ball bowler (Musa, Mir Hamza, Ilyas) look good candidates with good action and ability to pitch it in right areas consitently

Spin- Another worry is Shadab the only limited overs leggie in the whole country ??? He still hasnt figured out where to pitch the ball, always short. Offspinners is not a worry we have 2 really good prospects - about integrating them in first class gettign a full season udner their belt - Zafar has experience so he could be part fo the national setup - while Umer Khan should be worked on as a backup.

Pace allrounders - there's no one absolutely no one thats a genuine all rounder like Ben Stokes and this really hurts the balance of the team

Spin allrounders - choices here Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed and Khusdil Shah are good options

We need 2 middle order bats, a pace allrounder and we can be a top 4 team within 2-3 yrs and also proper selection grooming and development.

Sharjeel
Fakhar
Babar
Middle order Bat 1 (Saud Shakeel)
Middle order Bat 2
Iftikhar/Khusdil
Pace Allrounder
Zafar Gohar
Haris Rauf
Naseem Shah
Mir Hamza/Musa Khan/Ilyas

 

[Mamoon]

So we need someone who can speak English then we become a better team. Shouldn't be a problem then. Didn't know it was this easy.

We need a complete shift in our mentality. Good communication skills are only a small part.

 

[Madplayer]

I think Pakistan should start by selecting specialists and not forcing someone to become an allrounder ALA Faheem Ashraf, Imad wasim or Shadab Khan. These arent all rounders. They arent good enough in any facet as of now. In pressure situations, these bits and pieces players dont have any one facet to fall back on confidently. They lose tge plot.

Secondly, make sure the captain is at least among the top 3 names on the team sheet. He MUST be a performing captain with regular contributions. A non-performing captain is a massive disaster for the morale of the entire team.

GET THE HELL OUT OF UAE.

Finally, change the entire domestic structure even if its at the cost of old players. As harsh as it may sound, only the best should be able to play in FC and LA. This is a professional sport. Not a public welfare scheme.

 

[Khan12]

Need to invest in players like Haris rauf, Saud shakeel, amad butt, zafar gohar, rohail nazir, amir yamin, zeeshan malik, saif badar, nasir nawaz and find 1 or 2 hard hitting batsmen not hacks.

 

[the Great Khan]

I agree with Markhor basically, everything stems from the domestic game, if that is healthy and self-sustaining, then there will always be good players to choose from. I said this in another thread today, but a country like Pakistan which is cricket mad, should be able to produce regional teams which make money from the support base. PSL will provide this once it is established at home.

True. If we can get the PSL in the country as they are promising then this will go a long way to help the domestic game.

That is long term. In the immediate term, as we are lacking brains and knowledge in the PCB, we need to pay big money to hire the best brains from outside. Mickey Arthur is the current coach, and I too quite liked him, but his reliance on Inzimam for the selection process is worrying.

Three crucial mistakes:

. No dedicated spinner selected other than an out of form Shadab
. No pace bowler with ability to utilise the new ball
. Not enough middle order batsmen in the squad

When Bob Woolmer was coach he promoted unfashionable medium pacers like Iftikhar Rao and Rana Naved only because they could swing the new ball. Where was this sort of input from Arthur? Does he keep in touch with the local scene, and if not, who is advising him?

This is all down to Micky and hence why he needs to go. he has made some very basic mistakes and I dont think he really gets Pakistan cricket and our real strengths. I think he understands our weaknesses which are not hard to discern but its harder to understand our strengths especially because of the last ten years.

anybody who observes cricket knows that in the UAE you need at least two proper spinners in any of your sides. imad wasim and shadab are not "proper" spinners. Shadab perhaps but Imad is not. The lack of real spinners in domestic has also hampered us but thats because of the pitches. I saw a good program on Indian TV where they got Misbah and loads of other legends on stage. He said alot about domestic cricket and how it has destroyed our spinners. Misbah was a great font of knowledge about our domestic scene back in the day. And he understood how to play four and five day cricket with the resources he had.

Mickey doesnt know that. His knowledge is limited to the PSL which gives a false picture.

 

[the Great Khan]

Some good suggestions above. I want to guide the discussion to the following:

New coach
Get out of the UAE
changing the cricket balls
looking at mental issues and the intangibles eg communication etc
Our pitches
Lack of specialists. Who shall we select? post your teams below.


How do you solve the above? if we leave the UAE where to next? Home?
what balls should we use?
what about our pitches and spinners?
Who are candidates for a new coach?

 

[m.shah]

Post Champions Trophy, there were no positive signs at any point in the last two years. In fact, this team was brutally exposed as early as January 2018, when they went to New Zealand and were mercilessly whitewashed 5-0. At that time, our heads were still in the clouds because of the Champions Trophy, and we came up a string of excuses to explain and justify our abject capitulation in New Zealand.

The so-called pessimists and haters saw this team for what it truly was, but Pakistani fans have mastered the art of living in denial and finding positives when there are now. Their is a significant gap between the expectations of our fans and the capability of the team. We just cannot come to terms with the fact that if we continue with our merry ways, our days as a major cricket force are done and dusted, and we will never be a top 2-3 team again.

This number one rank drama in T20s will also end soon, and decline is starting in that format as well. The back to back series defeats in South Africa and England is just the start of our spanking in T20s, which will reach its zenith in the WT20 next year where we will be pounded and sent home early before the semifinals.

When it comes to the long-term future, of course anything is possible. Unless the world ends in 10-15 years, Pakistan has all the time in the world when it comes to maximising its resources. We have the biggest talent pool and the biggest market after India, and the passion for the game in the country is still strong. If we take smart decisions, there is no reason why we cannot be a leading force.

Before we fix our domestic cricket, we will have to transform our mentality, which is rotten to the core. We have declined as a cricket nation not because of our domestic cricket but because of our pathetic mentality. It is the root-cause of everything that is wrong with Pakistan cricket and Pakistan in general, but that's for another day.

First and foremost, we need to move on from rubbish like we are unpredictable, we are cornered tigers, we are dangerous when we get momentum, Pakistan cricket is a roller-coaster ride etc. All this nonsense drivel means absolutely nothing. They only serve to glorify inconsistency and mediocrity. Such third class cliches should be completely removed from our cricket system.

Secondly, we need to put our victim mentality to rest. We are in this state today not because of the evil BCCI but because of our own incompetence. There is no conspiracy against the mighty Shaheens by BCCI, ICC or any other board/organisation. No one is actively working to derail and damage Pakistan cricket, no one except Pakistan itself.

Moreover, we also need to overcome the mentality that our cricketers do not need to work on their communication skills, their personalities and the way they carry themselves. Anyone who points out these shortcomings are quickly shut down because they have so-called colonial mentality and inferiority complex.

The way Sarfraz speaks in the press conferences, his vocabulary, his tone, his body language, the way he was yawning yesterday with his belly sticking out while India was smashing us was incredibly embarrassing. Our cricketers have zero personalities and cannot intimidate the opposition with their presence. Along with fixing domestic cricket, PCB also needs to work on education these players. Every player under PCB's wing needs to proper coaching to work on their soft skills along with their cricket.

If we can achieve the above, we will take our first step towards restoring our pride and lifting Pakistan cricket from the depths of mediocrity.

Can't agree more... Half battle is won through brain.. Mentioned such points in match thread yesterday too

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

This is all down to Micky and hence why he needs to go. he has made some very basic mistakes and I dont think he really gets Pakistan cricket and our real strengths. I think he understands our weaknesses which are not hard to discern but its harder to understand our strengths especially because of the last ten years.

anybody who observes cricket knows that in the UAE you need at least two proper spinners in any of your sides. imad wasim and shadab are not "proper" spinners. Shadab perhaps but Imad is not. The lack of real spinners in domestic has also hampered us but thats because of the pitches. I saw a good program on Indian TV where they got Misbah and loads of other legends on stage. He said alot about domestic cricket and how it has destroyed our spinners. Misbah was a great font of knowledge about our domestic scene back in the day. And he understood how to play four and five day cricket with the resources he had.

Mickey doesnt know that. His knowledge is limited to the PSL which gives a false picture.

As far as I am concerned, Misbah was a key figure in the poor selection for this world cup squad. I assume he knows the domestic scene a lot better than Arthur, so have no idea why he omitted any proper spinners, a new ball specialist, and middle order batting options.

There was no proper planning prior to the event. Players should have been highlighted two years earlier and groomed in the ODI games, but we saw very few of the guys performing in the PSL given a decent shot. Umer Khan was worth a shot after being the best spinner on show in this year's PSL, and even Amir Yameen might have been useful on these pitches as a pace all rounder. He got written off as a medium pacer, but look at Stoinis for Australia bowling at military medium in the death overs. There just wasn't any imagination or analytical skills evident in the 'think tank'.

 

[bujhee kom]

But middling teams don’t with the Champions Trophy.

Yes, middling sides can have a golden run. Greece won the Euros once.

 

[Shafi]

Our cricket future looks bleak unless miracle happen. Too many dishonest and crook people in our cricket set up.

 

[Mehndi155]

Would be funny if we somehow win the worldcup

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Before the World cup started there were many on this forum who had high hopes for our success. Granted there were many who werent not as optimistic myself being one of them. however the dust is slowly settling on another poor world cup campaign that never really looked very promising.

In the winter at the beginning of our season it seemed as if the ODI team had turned a corner and although the last ODI with the Kiwis was called off due to rain there were promising signs.

We then had a reasonably good series overseas in South Africa that also gave out promising signs. Unfortunately Everything seemed to go wrong once strategy and selection became the talking point. Our think tank completely lost the plot in my opinion.

During the CT17 we saw that there was a a method that the team used to get some crucial wins. The idea was to use our bowling resources to stifle the opposition in the middle overs and restrict them to a manageable total. which we did to a reasonable extent.

This strategy has been adopted by a few other teams to mixed effect. In mdoern ODI's it is a legitimate way to ensure you can reduce teh score you will be chasing or stifle a team that is chasing your score. This method isnt new. it has been used by both India and pakistan in the past.
Therefore the idea behind our selection should have been to ensure we can continue this strategy.

However we failed. We failed to select the right team. We failed to select the right players to execute this strategy. We had two years to perfect it and introduce some new players to help with our plans. We failed.

So what now? where do you see our short term , medium term and long term future strategy?

Here is my opinion and I would be interested to hear what others have to say here.

The Captain and Coach:

many want to get rid of Sarfaraz and I understand why. He hasnt seemed dynamic and on the ball but thats because his bolwers have totally and utterly let him down. His fielders have let him down and his middle order is non existant. it is easy to kick someone when they are down but overall with the right resources at his disposable he can be a good captain. instead of throwing him under the bus we should back him for four more years. I can tell you now, changing the captain will not make any difference at this point.

What about the coach? I am a supporter of arthur. he has tried to change a lot of things within the setup but ultimatly you are judged by your record and he has failed therefore he has to take responsibility and must resign. Same for Azhar mehmood who has been a worse failure. I would keep Grant as he has improved our top order batting inmho (you guys can disagree if you want).

Our Bowling:

Our bowling has utterly failed in this new era of ODI's. Here is what i think we need to do.

drop wahab obviously, drop hasan ali. Find two or three attacking spinners. We need to bring Shinwari back. Our pacers should be Shaheen , shinwari and Amir. With Haris Rauf brought in with another pacer. I feel it was a mistake not to include him in this world cup and this reflects badly on Arthur.

What spinners do we have? Shadab obviusly. What about Umar Khan? Who else?

Our batting:

Well whether we like it or not Fakhar, Imam and Babar are going to be our top three going forward. then we come to number 4,5,6. if we say sarfi at 5 , then we need a number 6 and a number 4. We need to find two young batsmen who are in their late teens, say 19-21 and induct them in now while we have four years to groom them.

So any suggestions?

our Fielding:

We really need a Steve rixon type character back. he made a massive difference to our side but we also need to ensure we have a core group of good young players always around the ODI team. Shadab is our best fielder, Hasan ali is too bad either. But thats about it.

The Future:

the immediate future looks bleak. The medium term looks bleak too but inmho the long term future looks bright if we can do the following:

Improve our domestic structure and pitches quickly. this can be done immediatley.

Ensure that the PCB takes over the financing and contracts of the three to four teams that feed into the national team. The A team, the u19's and the womens team. The PCB should put take over everything here. increase the A team tours as this should be our second 11 team, in which every player is literally ready to be slotted in to the national team if they perform. Same with our emerging player squad. We should rename our U19 squad the emerging player squad.

any other thoughts from everyone?

Ever since we won the Champions trophy 2017 we have been expecting miracles to happen. However the Player of the tournament Hasan Ali had long stopped performing and now looks like a 'Gimmick Bowler' who has outlived his use. We were so focused on Mohd Amir not getting wickets that we forgot all about Hasan Ali's growing uselessness. Mohd Amir Actually has a track record, his dip in form was temporary, mainly due to excessive amount of dropped catches. It is not easy to slip field when Mohd Amir is bowling. But when you keep dropping catches of his bowling, his rhythm and form gets affected. But he was always going to make a comeback. What is Hasan Ali's Excuse? NONE & He is not better than Shaheen Shah Afridi. Hasan Ali cost the match against India and that was not the only match he had cost us. Why we didn't Play Shaheen is beyond me.

Other question is below par, Lacklustre captaincy of Sarfaraz. He is a very ordinary Captain. And not the best Wicketkeeper-Batsman in Pakistan, that title now Belongs to Mohd Rizwan. After the world cup We need a New Odi Captain if not a New Test Captain as well.

Shoaib Malik is Finished although he is officially 38 years old but his real age is 3-4 older. He looks long past his prime. Unfortunately we had him in the side in place of an in form Haris Sohail who is scoring heavily recently. Why? Pakistan has an Obsession with Power hitters. And Shoaib is more likley to hit a six than Haris (lets forget about the Centuries that Haris Has recently scored)

Asif Ali --less said the better, just another product of Our Obsession with Power Hitters

 

[sam_ahm]

Simply selecting random youngsters only for the heck of it won't help, you guys still need a good blend of youth and deserving experienced players. Whoever it is, look at their domestic form and select on merit.

Other thing to keep mind is that next World Cup preparation doesn't start the day after the current one ends, NO. Focus on winning every series you play by selecting the best available side. The 15 players who will play the next series won't be the exactly same 15 who will play 4 years later. First and foremost Pakistan should start winning games, focus on the ODI league, going by the current performances you may end up having to qualify for the next WC. Don't let that happen

Mickey, Grant Flower and Mahmood should be the first 3 ppl to get fired after the WC.

 

[the Great Khan]

Some good responses..

I really think we need to forensically examine how rubbish Mickey has been. I mean he has been hopeless at times..just gives me the impression he is all talk and no substance. Afterall what has he done with the karachi kings? just compare him to dean jones..who is a multiple PSL winner. By the way does dean jones coach anywhere else outside of the PSL?

I would say he is the ideal man for the Pakistan coaching setup.

i like inzi, I truly do but perhaps he needs to go too and we need a fresh start to fit with Wasim Khans vision.

As for Sarfi, well ill say i would keep him. he needs better resources and a better coach. He has shown he can captain this team well in the past..I believe he is being undermined by people like Malik and others but thats my opinion.

If we can get our domestic setup sorted out then I think we will see a sudden glut of very dangerous players emerging. but we need to select them so I hope we can do that.

Its a hard time to be a Pakistan fan but at the same time exciting because so many things are changing.