What stops the PCB from adopting 'tape-ball' cricket as a proper format for Pakistan?

[MenInG]

Seems that this is widely recognized and played in Pakistan. Every cricketer from the modern generation puts tape-ball as the first format they played!

Wonder if a QEA (Tape-Ball) Trophy will ever happen in Pakistan?

I am guessing people like the fact that the investment involved in such games is minimal (no hard ball, pads, helmets needed) and that should appeal to the masses!

A 2030 ICC Tape-Ball World Cup perhaps?

 

[ExpressPacer]

The fact that Tape ball isn't real cricket. Its a mockery. Takes class out of the equation and fat sloggers would be the new Bradmans.

 

[MenInG]

The fact that Tape ball isn't real cricket. Its a mockery. Takes class out of the equation and fat sloggers would be the new Bradmans.

Its a format which is popular.

 

[Salman]

Tape ball is not very popular in the UK anyway, we have quick cricket but that's just designed to get a feel for the sport, normally consists of tennis balls and girls. any kid serious about cricket has to join local colts teams and play proper cricket.

PCB should give it some recognition and promote tournaments but the major problem is governance of the actual game and keeping it clean of the satabazi gambling element, it's a big issue with tape ball cricket leagues across the sub continent.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Its a format which is popular.

That is true. But given we already have T/20, shorter boundaries, flatter pitches, bigger bats, PP's, two new balls and rules more suited to the batsman, with tape ball being introduced, cricket would just become a literal slog-fest.

 

[JibranAnsari]

It can be a big thing , a lot of sixers and the tape balls swings like crazy and ball comes extremely fast.

 

[Syed1]

Tape ball cricket is the reason majority of our cricketers are clear the leg and swing for the fences types. There is no concept of single-double in tape ball cricket. Every ball has to go out of the park or if it is a mishit that goes in the gap then the strike changes over. It is also one of the reasons why we produce good fast bowlers because the bowlers are constantly under attack and they need to find ways to get the batsman out or not get hit.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Leave it as it is. Tape ball cricket is played for fun but it's great for the development of young kids. Trains your hand-eye and forces you to bowl fast.

 

[Major]

Tape Ball is the whole reason why people take up hardball cricket.

The game has too many loopholes. Its purely a batsmens game, bowler cant do anything. Wides dont move with the batsmen, it stays at that one line, even if batsmen moves over.

its not the minimal investment that is tagged to it, its the gambling.

The gambling is the reason why no one could make this into a proper format, no party wants to be known for being involved in gambling

 

[Hawkeye]

Leave it as it is. Tape ball cricket is played for fun but it's great for the development of young kids. Trains your hand-eye and forces you to bowl fast.

Heh. That's just a myth .

Australian batsmen or even SA and ENGLAND are the best players of pace.

Their kids play with hard ball from the very beginning. Amazing bats against pace, bounce, brilliant pullers with great reflexes.

It's not because of tape ball.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

Heh. That's just a myth .

Australian batsmen or even SA and ENGLAND are the best players of pace.

Their kids play with hard ball from the very beginning. Amazing bats against pace, bounce, brilliant pullers with great reflexes.

It's not because of tape ball.

What's a myth?

 

[Convict]

A general desire to be competitive at international cricket.

 

[Syed1]

What's a myth?

A widely held but false belief or idea

 

[Convict]

Heh. That's just a myth .

Australian batsmen or even SA and ENGLAND are the best players of pace.

Their kids play with hard ball from the very beginning. Amazing bats against pace, bounce, brilliant pullers with great reflexes.

It's not because of tape ball.

We certainly don't in Australia.

In fact I'd argue against young kids playing against the hard ball. Yes you want them to develop technique but you don't want them to fear getting hit.

 

[srh]

Heh. That's just a myth .

Australian batsmen or even SA and ENGLAND are the best players of pace.

Their kids play with hard ball from the very beginning. Amazing bats against pace, bounce, brilliant pullers with great reflexes.

It's not because of tape ball.

jhoota

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

Lack of vision is the reason that no one invests in tape ball cricket at PCB level.

Those who are saying that tape ball has nothing for bowlers are also mistaken. It does a lot of things if you know and I am not necessarily talking about ball tampering.

It should become a proper format, and a sport and something should be done about it. A cheap sport that does not require pads and helmets and what not.

Must be given a proper go.

 

[Hawkeye]

We certainly don't in Australia.

In fact I'd argue against young kids playing against the hard ball. Yes you want them to develop technique but you don't want them to fear getting hit.

It's not comparable with our system still. Kids play with tape ball for a good number of years, before taking admission to a club or academy, where hard ball is touched for the first time.

And we're far from good players of pace.

 

[Moiza]

Tape ball cricket is the reason majority of our cricketers are clear the leg and swing for the fences types. There is no concept of single-double in tape ball cricket. Every ball has to go out of the park or if it is a mishit that goes in the gap then the strike changes over. It is also one of the reasons why we produce good fast bowlers because the bowlers are constantly under attack and they need to find ways to get the batsman out or not get hit.

We don't even have a sloggers anymore..

 

[MenInG]

Its cheap and an easy entertainment - think of it as another form of cricket. Could become a unique brand from Pakistan and attract cricketers from other nations to play it as well?

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Even though I love tape ball and have played the latter almost everyday before moving overseas I can safely say that tape ball will never produce proper cricketers. Yes, as an independent sport it can be developed but to think that it would help us discover earth shattering talents then that I am afraid is just not possible.

For point of reference I'll name three tape ball legends from Pakistan - and trust me anyone who has been involved in this circuit will surely know these names and how big they at during tape ball.

1) Karachi Circuit - Shahzaib Hasan
2) Sialkot - Imran Nazir
3) Pindi Circuit - SOHAIL TANVIR

Make what you may of the list...This is what tape ball gives us......

 

[MenInG]

Even though I love tape ball and have played the latter almost everyday before moving overseas I can safely say that tape ball will never produce proper cricketers. Yes, as an independent sport it can be developed but to think that it would help us discover earth shattering talents then that I am afraid is just not possible.

For point of reference I'll name three tape ball legends from Pakistan - and trust me anyone who has been involved in this circuit will surely know these names and how big they at during tape ball.

1) Karachi Circuit - Shahzaib Hasan
2) Sialkot - Imran Nazir
3) Pindi Circuit - SOHAIL TANVIR

Make what you may of the list...This is what tape ball gives us......

Every young and upcoming cricketer we have interviewed including Shadab has said they started off with Tape-ball

 

[Monsee]

The fact that Tape ball isn't real cricket. Its a mockery. Takes class out of the equation and fat sloggers would be the new Bradmans.

Not really, class bowlers are actually the ones who rule the format especially express pace ones and ones who could wary their length, pace, spin etc.

When I played in Lahore in my day, did play in a few tournaments and saw all the 'Tullaay Baaz' batsmen get found out when a bowler 'with skills' (fast or spin) bowled to them. It is a misconception that tape ball is very easy, it is only easy if the overall skill level is not that great!

 

[Monsee]

Leave it to PCB to wake up once another country jumps the queue and creates a tournament for tape ball...then they will be trying to get their first ever official tape ball tournament up and running quickly!

No vision, no leadership, just people who are interested in making money and help their 'buddies' do the same with the least, minimal work they have to do

 

[Big Mac]

The fact that Tape ball isn't real cricket. Its a mockery. Takes class out of the equation and fat sloggers would be the new Bradmans.

"I'm announcing my retirement, effective immediately, from all forms of red ball cricket and the beginning of my new career as a tape ball player"

 

[MenInG]

Leave it to PCB to wake up once another country jumps the queue and creates a tournament for tape ball...then they will be trying to get their first ever official tape ball tournament up and running quickly!

No vision, no leadership, just people who are interested in making money and help their 'buddies' do the same with the least, minimal work they have to do

Very silly as we should be pioneering this form of cricket!

 

[TQ89]

Its a format which is popular.

It being popular has nothing to with the fact that it isn't actually cricket. It is just fun sport for the common man. What skills does a player learn in tape ball. If you talk to any high school level coach, even they scoff at tape ball & lament about the destruction of players technique due to tape ball. If the opposite were true, Shahbaz Kalia would be our savior.

Hardball is professional cricket & it deserves attention.

 

[the Great Khan]

Anyone heard of Futsal? its a version of football played alot in brazil mostly indoors and emphasises skill and technique.

Why can tape ball cricket also carve a niche? Anyone who grew up in pakistan has played tape ball cricket. It pains me when I see (mostly indians because they dominate where I live) play cricket with a tennis ball. I remember the flair we developed playing with a tape ball..

My son goes to a local cricket academy and they coach from 5 years to all ages. Very good place, great coaches, ECB approved etc etc, but I do feel our kids are missing that passion,ego,flair that tape ball cricket produces..English players are some of teh ebst coached players anywhere but what makes pakistan so appealing is the natural flair and talent we produce from tape ball cricket..just seems as if we are trying to emulate other countries and not making good or better use of our own cricket culture!!

The PCB should introduce tape ball cricket to all schools and run a proper grassroots programme..it would be amazing!

but alas the PCB is full of corrupt losers who lack and cultural guts or bravery and are subserviant to a inferior colonial slave mindset! "ve want to be like englaaand" and now "ve want to be like IPL"..

 

[MenInG]

Anyone heard of Futsal? its a version of football played alot in brazil mostly indoors and emphasises skill and technique.

Why can tape ball cricket also carve a niche? Anyone who grew up in pakistan has played tape ball cricket. It pains me when I see (mostly indians because they dominate where I live) play cricket with a tennis ball. I remember the flair we developed playing with a tape ball..

My son goes to a local cricket academy and they coach from 5 years to all ages. Very good place, great coaches, ECB approved etc etc, but I do feel our kids are missing that passion,ego,flair that tape ball cricket produces..English players are some of teh ebst coached players anywhere but what makes pakistan so appealing is the natural flair and talent we produce from tape ball cricket..just seems as if we are trying to emulate other countries and not making good or better use of our own cricket culture!!

The PCB should introduce tape ball cricket to all schools and run a proper grassroots programme..it would be amazing!

but alas the PCB is full of corrupt losers who lack and cultural guts or bravery and are subserviant to a inferior colonial slave mindset! "ve want to be like englaaand" and now "ve want to be like IPL"..

Hear Hear!

There is some elitist attitude and that needs to be got rid of asap.

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

It's not comparable with our system still. Kids play with tape ball for a good number of years, before taking admission to a club or academy, where hard ball is touched for the first time.

And we're far from good players of pace.

kids start with a rubber ball in Australia, it's normally around 12 onwards they play hardball

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Tape ball has its pros and cons.

Pros:

Pakistani fast bowlers

Cons:

Pakistani batsman

 

[pakdesi]

Tape ball legends to t20

Shouldn't Pcb look into people like taimoor mirza and co with great hand eye coordination and groom them for T20s

 

[Hamad_H]

I think that Tape ball shouldn't be an official format since it is simply not proper cricket but I think ICC should promote it around the world so countries like Eng, Aus and SA are also playing as well as associates as it is good gateway for people to play hard ball cricket.

A couple of problems with cricket is the amount of equipment needed and high costs so promoting tape ball in urban areas would be good for member boards like the ECB. With local tournaments similar to Pakistani tourneys, it could be positive for other countries but an official format for any board and the ICC is a step too far.

 

[Savak]

Tape Ball is the cheapest and effective way for kids to play cricket on the streets

 

[Amjid Javed]

Would loads of rules need to be made for tape ball cricket.

What tape can be used?
How much tape on the ball?
What kind of ball etc..

There probably be people that find ways to cheat and bend the rules.

leave it as a gulley cricket event only.

 

[Syed1]

Ah yes the good ol' days of tape ball cricket.... [MENTION=136079]ahmedwaqas92[/MENTION] did you ever play with a semi-taped ball, we used to do that quite often in my gully and the ball would get such prodigious swing that all the batsmen could hope to do was survive. That was a lot of fun.

 

[Stewie]

I always thought there is a massive and I mean MASSIVE market in Pakistan for an actual soft ball (sort of like incrediball, hope you guys have heard of it) with weight/hardness/softness comparable to a taper tennis ball.

Tape ball cricket has been around for ages. We used to spend so much money on buying balls and tapes and then taping them. If some engineer/scientist did some research and came up with a ball that has a similar cost and behavior, it could simply revolutionize street/amateur cricket in Pakistan.


To give you an example, I played in a tapeball league in Texas for years. They experImented with different balls (not tennis balls) taped them to play in a proper cricket field so the ball travelled through the outfield and behaved somewhat similar to an actual cricket ball. In Michigan there is a league that uses Reduced Injury Factor (RIF) balls that is soft and doesn’t require pads.

So you guys catch my drift? A cheap alternative to a tapeball which behaves more like a proper cricket ball and weighs similar to it yet doesn’t require pads and stuff, could be what we need to get our young kids away from tapeball and hopefully have better improved techniques ready for graduating to proper cricket.

If some investor/scientist is reading this, hope you act on this, and you can make bank if you patent something like this!

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Ah yes the good ol' days of tape ball cricket.... [MENTION=136079]ahmedwaqas92[/MENTION] did you ever play with a semi-taped ball, we used to do that quite often in my gully and the ball would get such prodigious swing that all the batsmen could hope to do was survive. That was a lot of fun.

Back in the day 'half tape' was only allowed when we were playing among ourselves because no visiting neighbourhood would agree to a half tape series but we practised with it while playing with each other. During proper bilaterals with a rival neighbourhood we would have an understanding that if and when the tape comes off during play they cannot repair it midway through an innings and as I was a slingy fast bowler my job was to come in after the 4th over (in a 10 over innings) and hurl it down so that it swung in and swing late.

The bowlers and fielders were told that by the 4th/5th over they'd have to make sure that the tape was scathed for multiple sides - I remember everything in the begining of the Innings was on the bounce stuff and the other team wouldn't even realize what was going on

 

[Syed1]

Back in the day 'half tape' was only allowed when we were playing among ourselves because no visiting neighbourhood would agree to a half tape series but we practised with it while playing with each other. During proper bilaterals with a rival neighbourhood we would have an understanding that if and when the tape comes off during play they cannot repair it midway through an innings and as I was a slingy fast bowler my job was to come in after the 4th over (in a 10 over innings) and hurl it down so that it swung in and swing late.

The bowlers and fielders were told that by the 4th/5th over they'd have to make sure that the tape was scathed for multiple sides - I remember everything in the begining of the Innings was on the bounce stuff and the other team wouldn't even realize what was going on

Hahaha good old days yaar... I miss those simple times

 

[kamz]

Not really, class bowlers are actually the ones who rule the format especially express pace ones and ones who could wary their length, pace, spin etc.

When I played in Lahore in my day, did play in a few tournaments and saw all the 'Tullaay Baaz' batsmen get found out when a bowler 'with skills' (fast or spin) bowled to them. It is a misconception that tape ball is very easy, it is only easy if the overall skill level is not that great!

absolutely spot on

majority of our pacers, waqar, wasim, sarfaraz, shoaib akhtar, all are tape ball products. Its precisely due to tape ball that they get sling quick arm actions and their pace is generated through shoulders rather than just from their back
[MENTION=131682]Ian Pont[/MENTION] is needed in this thread. Due to the weight of tape ball, kids develop these quick/sling arm actions

 

[Sin Nombre]

Why do Indians grow up playing with a tennis ball in street cricket and Pakistanis with tape ball? Even North Indian kids play with tennis balls when they are younger.

 

[moghul]

Seems that this is widely recognized and played in Pakistan. Every cricketer from the modern generation puts tape-ball as the first format they played!

Wonder if a QEA (Tape-Ball) Trophy will ever happen in Pakistan?

I am guessing people like the fact that the investment involved in such games is minimal (no hard ball, pads, helmets needed) and that should appeal to the masses!

A 2030 ICC Tape-Ball World Cup perhaps?

Whats is next, gully danda. 'tap ball' cricket is not a serious cricket format.

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Whats is next, gully danda. 'tap ball' cricket is not a serious cricket format.

Are we asking for the world to adopt Tape Ball as a legitimate format for International Cricket? No, we are not! We just want PCB to include tape ball format as a proper pathway to cricket development in Pakistan because believe it or not every single Pakistani international has gone through this and will go through this for the forseable future!

Ask any Pakistani who is into cricket they would've surely played Tape Ball and because we don't have a structure to support this at the moment a lot of very gifted individuals are not even considered because they don't have the means to get into cricket via the available channels.