What's new

World Cup 2003 Review Committee Report - Recommendations

Chokli

First Class Captain
Joined
Aug 6, 2018
Runs
5,468
It's absolutely hilarious how some of the stuff from the 2003 post World Cup report can be applied to this World Cup... Maybe even the 2015.

Here are some tidbits you might find interesting -

- Before the departure for the World Cup some of the senior players like Wasim, Waqar etc., had inspirational meeting with Imran Khan who guided them and afterwards declared that the selected team for the World Cup was the best available

- One of the factors of failure of our batting line up was the frequent changes in the batting like Afridi batting at three different positions, Abdul Razzaq batting at number 3 and subsequently down the order, Inzamam Ul Haq's hesitance to bat at number 3. Shahid Afridi not playing against Namibia and Zimbabwe. Another aspect Saqlain Mushtaq not playing against Australia and India, Sami and Azhar Mahmood sitting on the side lines till the last match paints a sorry picture of our selection and shuffling.

- Some of our top players could not keep up with the pressure of World Cup being old though experienced. Pressure games require young and fresh legs which was lacking in our big players. The selection committee had to select them as there was no replacement available and they were not ready to take a chance with the youngsters


- As a result of cancellations of tours owing to security concerns, Pakistan team stayed away from home since 2001, thus effecting psychologically. Also our selectors could not spot young talent as the young players could not get a chance to play side matches.

- One of the main concerns due to a large number of officials on the tour to step into each other's domains and this was lead to frictions that would permeate down to the team. One of the highlight divisive factor was the special treatment accorded to Shoaib Akhtar by appointing Dr. Tauseef to look after his special physical and psychological needs. This had caused predictable resent among the team members particularly among the seniors.

- Mental fitness plays a very important role in overall fitness of the players. As technique training can enhance motor skills, appropriate mental training can often improve the consistency of the player on his performance. Player's mental attitude determines his altitude. It is extremely valuable to have positive mental attitude. Nothing can be right or achieved if the player is not having positive attitude.

- To achieve the optimal physical fitness level, four things are important; Physical training, adequate nutrition, adequate hydration and proper rest and sleep

- An important reason for the Pakistan team not raising its level was the lack of mental strength. Many players lacked the character, the steel, the hunger and psychological equipment to measure up to the stern challenges that they continuously faced.

- For instance it was apparent that certain players were unlikely to play major innings. They seemed destined to make 20s, 30s, 40s and then get out to poor shots and soft dismissals. They lacked the hunger and inspirations that makes a successful team

- The regrettable "star-syndrome hype" before the World Cup placed huge pressure on the team that they had not the character to content with

- The expectation that this team of aging stars (Waqar, Wasim, Saeed and Rashid) and middle level players almost all of whom had shown a marked decline over the last four years (Razzaq, Azhar, Afridi, Saqlain, Youhana, Shoaib) would be main contenders for the Cup, given also the teams sub standard performance over the past two years, was not only a pipe dream but put unnecessary public pressure on a mediocre team.

- The media hype, the flashy send off, the statements from top to bottom that we would win the World Cup were inappropriate. The situation demanded modesty and a realistic assessment of our chances.

- The quality of Pakistan cricket is of indictment of the quality of players being produced in Pakistan domestic cricket structure, according to the Coach the players emerging from the system have neither the technical attributes to play on surfaces outside of the sub continent or the physical and mental toughness to compete and perform consistently at international level.

- Until our first domestic structure is shaken up and professionalised than the sub standard performance of the team will continue

- The objective is not to try and change Pakistan's domestic cricket into a model of Australian but to set up coaching, sport science, medicine practices and methodology to take into very real talent that is present in Pakistan and get it mentally, physically up to the required world class standard. Only then will we see the cricketers come out of the junior and domestic structure that are ready for international cricket.

- The domestic cricket is being re-vamped so as to provide more competition, interest and keeping intact their jobs with their respective employers.

- There seems to be an attitude prevalent within Pakistan Cricket that we are so talented that we can just go on the field and win, how wrong this assumption is! Why is that every other top class side not only has a team analyst but prepares strategy and tactics based on the material that is collected using the software programme.

- There seems to be a fear of thinking about the game, of preparing properly and analysing the strengths and weaknesses.

- There was no interest in looking at the opposition and mentally they turned up to say we just need an InshAllah and everything will be alright. Well it isn't alright! God helps those who help themselves!

- We need to develop a culture where players are interested in talking, thinking about cricket, the present attitude that this gets in the way of their social life and is too boring to be taken out

- One of the reasons of our failure in the World Cup is non deliverance by the majority of these seniors. There needs to be a systematic phasing of seniors and induction of juniors.

- There has been a sad story regarding appointment of coaches with the Pakistan team. Unfortunately a number of coaches have been removed for various reasons that include foreigners as well as Pakistanis

- Ideally the best coach would be a former test cricketer with a high professional qualification who can develop rapport with the players. But in no way he may impose his will on captain and players.

- To increase standard of competition at first class level; only eight teams should participate. The quality of cricket will be improved which will help bridge the gap between first class and international level

https://www.pcb.com.pk/downloads.html

Hilarious how some of the stuff can also be applied today.

This is from 2003 folks.

16 years ago.

And we are still having the same issues.

Are your surprised?
 
Not much has changed but then all this is commonsense.
 
:)) After every World Cup debacle, there is the usual hand wringing, committees, reports and recommendations, but nothing ever comes from it.

That 2003 WC campaign was particularly depressing to watch - Pakistan were unfit and labouring even to beat Holland and Namibia.
 
:)) After every World Cup debacle, there is the usual hand wringing, committees, reports and recommendations, but nothing ever comes from it.

That 2003 WC campaign was particularly depressing to watch - Pakistan were unfit and labouring even to beat Holland and Namibia.

And nothing has ever been done and then we wonder why we are in the shape that we are in
 
Back
Top