I submitted the following article that I wrote on a famous newspaper blog. It hasn't been published yet. Kindly give it a read. Thanks.
Wrong squad selected for the 2019 Cricket World Cup
No, ladies and gentlemen. The title of this blog does not contain any typographical errors.
The current condition of the Pakistan cricket ODI team has not deteriorated overnight. The signs were evident throughout 2014. We did not perform to the levels of excellence required at a global stage. There was quite a lot of talk of building up the team for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. However to the end of 2014, it was quite evident that this squad does not a champion team make.
We could say that the ill-timed ICC ban on Ajmal and Hafeez hit us bad, but that isn't the sole (or major) reason for the current conundrum we find ourselves in. There were two rather perplexing events that reflected the overall misleading approach towards selection. And, quite sadly, both were of our own making.
A lot has been written about the injustice meted out to Fawad Alam, hence, I consider it futile to reiterate the statistics that (rightfully) justify his selection. Closer examination however suggests that the mind of any youngster, brought in to replace the old guard, was confused and dazed throughout the year 2014. Take, for example, the case of Harris Sohail, debuting during the recent tour to the United Arab Emirates. Harris, is perceived to be one of the most technically correct batsman to come out from Pakistan domestic circuit over the recent years. During the entire length of the tour, before the limited overs leg against New Zealand, he was made to practice his bowling in the nets. At that point, it was quite evident that Mohammad Hafeez would not be cleared for his bowling action as easily as one would have thought. So why was it that a young batsman, selected for his skills of batting, being made to improve (and prove?) his bowling skills, which were virtually nonexistent, for him to find a place in the limited overs squad? Additionally, what he was bowling - spin - had no place in Australia and New Zealand? (Hence the ghosts, perhaps?)
Secondly, the tantrum of the Khan. A tantrum is just that. A tantrum. It is when you start lending it an ear, that it becomes an issue. Once again, there is no need to go into statistics to prove that Younis, as a limited overs batsman, is a globally accepted failure. But guess what? Even, he was found bowling to the Kiwis in the last ODI. Exactly what were we expecting Harris and Younis to achieve with the ball Down Under?
Now, allow me to address, what you may have perceived as a typographical error. Ingrain the following, not-so-prophetic prophecy onto your slates, friends. Pakistan will not win the 2015 Cricket World Cup no matter what team is selected. 'Any astrologist street parrot could have told us that, Mr. Fahad!', I hear. However, we could have done ourselves a world of good at the tournament this month. Our youngsters, have talent. You want to know what they don't have? Confidence and finesse, at the international stage. Like Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, if a young squad would have been selected, exposing it to the pressures of the premier global event, it would have amounted to quite an achievement. And this achievement, would have come in handy for the 2019 edition. By July 2014 latest, Fawad Alam, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Harris Sohail, Hammad Azam and other young deserving men should have been permanently fused as vital cogs of the ODI machine, under the guiding lights of Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi. In four years time, if even half of these young men would have stayed around, their minds and skills would have been honed and tuned to perform under pressure situations internationally by banking on their invaluable experience at this year's edition. They would have been thankful too. And, on the flip side, their failure would have helped determined where we stand vis-à-vis, the forthcoming retirements and major tournaments.
To help induce clarity, ask yourself the following. Barring West Indies and Pakistan, each full member side, not only has its vision for the 2019 captain, locked in, but half their squad for that event too. Do we even know who will captain this side post-Misbah?
There is now no way to change the current squad, barring injuries. The immediate future is already foretold. There will be a scathing review at the end of this tournament. There would be the usual postmortems. Modern day seniors would be thrown out under humiliating circumstances. And they would tantrum. Again. This much is as certain as death (not taxes, sadly, for this nation).
And that is why, the selection for this World Cup, in my opinion bears traits of a 'rafoo chakkar'. Most definitely without an eye for the future.
Wrong squad selected for the 2019 Cricket World Cup
No, ladies and gentlemen. The title of this blog does not contain any typographical errors.
The current condition of the Pakistan cricket ODI team has not deteriorated overnight. The signs were evident throughout 2014. We did not perform to the levels of excellence required at a global stage. There was quite a lot of talk of building up the team for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. However to the end of 2014, it was quite evident that this squad does not a champion team make.
We could say that the ill-timed ICC ban on Ajmal and Hafeez hit us bad, but that isn't the sole (or major) reason for the current conundrum we find ourselves in. There were two rather perplexing events that reflected the overall misleading approach towards selection. And, quite sadly, both were of our own making.
A lot has been written about the injustice meted out to Fawad Alam, hence, I consider it futile to reiterate the statistics that (rightfully) justify his selection. Closer examination however suggests that the mind of any youngster, brought in to replace the old guard, was confused and dazed throughout the year 2014. Take, for example, the case of Harris Sohail, debuting during the recent tour to the United Arab Emirates. Harris, is perceived to be one of the most technically correct batsman to come out from Pakistan domestic circuit over the recent years. During the entire length of the tour, before the limited overs leg against New Zealand, he was made to practice his bowling in the nets. At that point, it was quite evident that Mohammad Hafeez would not be cleared for his bowling action as easily as one would have thought. So why was it that a young batsman, selected for his skills of batting, being made to improve (and prove?) his bowling skills, which were virtually nonexistent, for him to find a place in the limited overs squad? Additionally, what he was bowling - spin - had no place in Australia and New Zealand? (Hence the ghosts, perhaps?)
Secondly, the tantrum of the Khan. A tantrum is just that. A tantrum. It is when you start lending it an ear, that it becomes an issue. Once again, there is no need to go into statistics to prove that Younis, as a limited overs batsman, is a globally accepted failure. But guess what? Even, he was found bowling to the Kiwis in the last ODI. Exactly what were we expecting Harris and Younis to achieve with the ball Down Under?
Now, allow me to address, what you may have perceived as a typographical error. Ingrain the following, not-so-prophetic prophecy onto your slates, friends. Pakistan will not win the 2015 Cricket World Cup no matter what team is selected. 'Any astrologist street parrot could have told us that, Mr. Fahad!', I hear. However, we could have done ourselves a world of good at the tournament this month. Our youngsters, have talent. You want to know what they don't have? Confidence and finesse, at the international stage. Like Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, if a young squad would have been selected, exposing it to the pressures of the premier global event, it would have amounted to quite an achievement. And this achievement, would have come in handy for the 2019 edition. By July 2014 latest, Fawad Alam, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Harris Sohail, Hammad Azam and other young deserving men should have been permanently fused as vital cogs of the ODI machine, under the guiding lights of Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi. In four years time, if even half of these young men would have stayed around, their minds and skills would have been honed and tuned to perform under pressure situations internationally by banking on their invaluable experience at this year's edition. They would have been thankful too. And, on the flip side, their failure would have helped determined where we stand vis-à-vis, the forthcoming retirements and major tournaments.
To help induce clarity, ask yourself the following. Barring West Indies and Pakistan, each full member side, not only has its vision for the 2019 captain, locked in, but half their squad for that event too. Do we even know who will captain this side post-Misbah?
There is now no way to change the current squad, barring injuries. The immediate future is already foretold. There will be a scathing review at the end of this tournament. There would be the usual postmortems. Modern day seniors would be thrown out under humiliating circumstances. And they would tantrum. Again. This much is as certain as death (not taxes, sadly, for this nation).
And that is why, the selection for this World Cup, in my opinion bears traits of a 'rafoo chakkar'. Most definitely without an eye for the future.
