Those stats are incorrect. Steve smith had 13 fc games when he debuted and Babar maybe a dozen. Even now babar has only played in total 36 fc games outside of test cricket. Root I can believe since the English season has 15 odd games but they all were playing for their country by age 21.
If you wait till 24-26 to debut quality talent youve already wasted some of the best years of their careers. Ponting debuted at 20. Clarke at 20. Kallis at 20. Williamson at 20. Tendulkar at 16, Lara at 20. None of them would have possibly played 36 fc games at that point. Even babar was 21 and had nt had any notable success in fc cricket when he debuted. You take a leap of faith with outstanding talent. We did the right thing with shafique even though he had only played 2 FC games.
Pietersen is one exception and debuted at 25 because he had to wait for English qualification. We missed out on some of his best years.
Again I agree that once selected they should be given a proper run and not be sitting on the benches.
The quality of cricket in this t20 tournament was pretty good. Dont just go by the stats. The players supposedly ahead in the pecking order (Malik and Shan) didnt have stellar stats for that matter.
Point might be moot anyway since huraira will have played a second season of fc cricket by the time the next test series rolls out. Hopefully hell have done well and we wont hold him back for another couple years!
And as for Saim I hope we get him a debut post World Cup and in the meantime he piles on the runs to pressure our conservative think tank.
Perhaps I phrased my initial response in a clumsy way. There is no issue with fast tracking genuine prospects, as long as its managed correctly. As you and I know, in the volatile world of Pakistan cricket, good management is more the exception than the rule. Short termism and lack of patience rules, the captain will invariably look for players that can help him win immediately and the fans and media themselves are culpable for a complete of patience.
Now, you mentioned Babar, Shaheen and Shafique as recent successes. Id put a qualifier against each of those names.
Babar, with whatever first class experience he had, came into prominence under the selection of Inzy and the coaching of Mickey Arthur. Inzy gave him enough rope, Mickey actually coached him and put him in positions of game responsibility. If you recall, Babar wasnt actually a certified success out of the gate, he was still rough around the edges but they appreciated his positive qualities enough to persist with him. This is a good example of successful development at international level, with the key here being stable, credible people overseeing his development.
Shaheen, on the other hand, was an accident. He debuted in an England series after having a good PSL, but at that point Pakistans fast bowling resources, especially opening bowling was in a bad way. Hasan, after a bad Asia Cup gas started his descent in form, and the injuries were piling up. Wahab got absolutely smashed by Hales at Lords whilst England scored 400. Junaid Khan had lost two yards of pace. Amir took up the slack, but was then bowled into the ground. So we had to play Shaheen. Initially, he too was not a flying success, being taken to the cleaners at the Asia Cup. But, with the lack of resources we kept playing him, with his first big performance being against NZ in the 2019 WC. Here, unlike Babars case it was really a genuine lack of options that gave Shaheen playing time. He also took his chance well, which helped him. Success, but it was more happenstance than good management
Shafique, I would say, has been successful despite Pakistans (read Misbahs) management of him. They select him for T20s and after a good start against Zimbabwe on dead covid time wickets, we throw him into a t20 series away to NZ, after an difficult covid bubble. He, playing in the wrong format to start his career in, inevitably fails as nerves get the best of him. The likes of Shoaib Akhtar and others absolutely crucify him for being mentally weak. He then rides the bench for a year plus under the coaching of Misbah, as we continue to persist with Abid Ali, Imran Butt and Shan Masood. It takes Abid Alis health problems, Butts non performance and Masoods calamitous loss in form for even a spot to open up (Because we want to give rope to older players that should be performing NOW, rather than given a million chances). By this point the lad has spent months on the bench without a ball faced, and his development stagnating.
Saqi, as one who actually does give people opportunities, finally calls him against the Australians, where luckily his first game is on the Rawalpindi road. Alhamdullillah he takes his opportunity and were off. Again, this is happenstance, and actually bad player management rather than effective fast tracking
My point is this. If Saim is selected (say for the NZ series), there has to be consensus between Coach, Captain and Chief Selector that he will play a certain number of games in his preferred position. If hes just selected and left to Babars whims, then we are just messing with Saims development like we almost did with Abdullah Shafiques.
The issue is not fast tracking, but rather doing it effectively, no matter the situational or media pressures.
