"You can see that the country’s interest in cricket has dwindled in the last decade": Sarfaraz Ahmed

[Abdullah719]

"You can see that the country’s interest in cricket has dwindled in the last decade": Sarfaraz Ahmed

DUBAI-Pakistan and Quetta Gladiators captain Sarfraz Ahmed believes the Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches being held in Pakistan will help the country’s cricket in the future.

“When youngsters will watch their heroes play, not only will they want to pursue cricket as a career but they will also learn a lot,” he said and added: “This will create stars.”

Sarfraz feels Pakistan cricket has suffered a lot due to the country’s exile. “You can see that the country’s interest in cricket has dwindled in the last decade,” he said. “You can say the UAE is like a home to us but in reality it isn’t. There is absolutely nothing like the support your home crowd gives you. That really motivates the players and they are able to perform at their best level in front of such crowds.”

Quetta have lost both finals so far and will be hoping to break their final curse this time around, especially with the Karachi-born Sarfraz playing in front of his home crowd. However, the wicketkeeper-batsman refuses to let the team get ahead of themselves. “Well our first goal is to reach the play-offs,” he said. “For now that is the most important bit.”

The 30-year-old also revealed that Quetta are doing their best to convince their foreign players to come to Pakistan if they do qualify for the matches there. “We are already in talks with our players regarding whether or not they would like to come to Pakistan for the playoffs and final if we qualify,” he said. “They have said that they will consider it and let us know.”

However, Sarfraz did admit that playing the final in Karachi will be special for him. “Yes it will be great for me on a personal level,” he said. “The last time I played a big match in Karachi was an Asia Cup game way back in 2008. So of course I will be very happy if we do get there and we will give it our best.”

The Quetta skipper also praised the PSL and its impact on Pakistan cricket. “The players who aren’t in the team are able to experience something very close to an international match,” he said. “They are sharing dressing rooms with the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Kevin Pietersen and Misbahul Haq, so of course they will learn a lot from it. It’s very important for the players to take advantage of the opportunity. If you perform in the PSL then you have a very good chance of being selected for the national side, as we have seen with the likes of Shadab Khan, Hasan Ali and Rumman Raees.”

https://nation.com.pk/27-Feb-2018/sarfraz-lauds-impact-of-psl-on-pakistan

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Yeah he is right. But i am sure psl in Pakistan will enlarge the interest of people in pakistan. Just a matter of 2 years

 

[shah_1]

One of the reason is lack of cricket superstars in PCT.

 

[hadi123]

I can't wait for (if it ever happens) whole PSL to be in Pakistan.

Matches will be being played up and down the whole country (Pakistan as we know is pretty big)

For example

Karachi v Quetta in the National Stadium to be followed by Lahore v Peshawar up in Gadaffi Stadium all the way in Lahore.

Would surely get more crowd attraction that way as fans will go support their local team most likely as opposed to matches being in UAE

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

One of the reason is lack of cricket superstars in PCT.

That was the issue since 2003 but crowds still came to watch.
Atleast now we have the likes if Amir,Hasan Ali,Fakhar,Babar,Afridiand Sarfaraz

Before that we we were stuck with Shehzad,Afridi,Hafeez,Misbah,Ajmal etc. in the last decade

 

[Bleedgreen4ever]

I can't wait for (if it ever happens) whole PSL to be in Pakistan.

Matches will be being played up and down the whole country (Pakistan as we know is pretty big)

For example

Karachi v Quetta in the National Stadium to be followed by Lahore v Peshawar up in Gadaffi Stadium all the way in Lahore.

Would surely get more crowd attraction that way as fans will go support their local team most likely as opposed to matches being in UAE

Even if PSL has third tier foreign players people will still come to watch PSL in Pakistan since it's so popular.

I don't understand why PCB continue it in Dubai they should only stage it in Sharjah and Pakistan

 

[mmkextreme_1]

I can't wait for (if it ever happens) whole PSL to be in Pakistan.

Matches will be being played up and down the whole country (Pakistan as we know is pretty big)

For example

Karachi v Quetta in the National Stadium to be followed by Lahore v Peshawar up in Gadaffi Stadium all the way in Lahore.

Would surely get more crowd attraction that way as fans will go support their local team most likely as opposed to matches being in UAE

That would be amazing.

The only issue is the grounds. They are embarrassing and not up to international standards. The first thing the PCB needs to do is enact a plan which would put, at the least, 3-4 international level stadiums in the larger cities. No issue with having 2 grounds in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Islamabad. For the PSL to successful in Pakistan, ultimately we would need 8-10 international level grounds in 8-10 of the largest cities. Only then I think we can get somewhere near full potential of the PSL.

No use of just playing at 2 grounds for the whole tournament. The brand needs to appeal to the whole of Pakistan.

 

[SM1989]

Quetta Gladiators lost the final last time because their foreign players didn't turn up. I am surprised they still went ahead with selecting Pietersen, Rilee Roussou etc after they left them high and dry at the grandest stage in Lahore last year.

 

[hadi123]

That would be amazing.

The only issue is the grounds. They are embarrassing and not up to international standards. The first thing the PCB needs to do is enact a plan which would put, at the least, 3-4 international level stadiums in the larger cities. No issue with having 2 grounds in cities like Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Islamabad. For the PSL to successful in Pakistan, ultimately we would need 8-10 international level grounds in 8-10 of the largest cities. Only then I think we can get somewhere near full potential of the PSL.

No use of just playing at 2 grounds for the whole tournament. The brand needs to appeal to the whole of Pakistan.

I think 1 ground for each team is fine. National Stadium for Karachi Kings, Gadaffi Stadium for Lahore Qalandars, Multan stadium for Multan Sultans, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium for Islamabad. Not sure where Zalmi and Quetta would play their home games though. I guess Iqbal Stadium could be used by a team, but not really suitable for Peshwar or Quetta geographically but should still attract crowds.

 

[shah_1]

That was the issue since 2003 but crowds still came to watch.
Atleast now we have the likes if Amir,Hasan Ali,Fakhar,Babar,Afridiand Sarfaraz

Before that we we were stuck with Shehzad,Afridi,Hafeez,Misbah,Ajmal etc. in the last decade

I don't about superstars but since 2003 we had Inzamam, Razzaq,Mohammad Asif, Shoaib, Afridi,Younis and Yousuf that youngsters loved and were inspired by these cricketers.

Misbah era was the worst, his brand of cricket really brought a downfall.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Pakistan lacks attraction and versatile players. Lack of education is another factor, plus Pakistanis generally have gradually taken their interest levels into other things especially football as I don't remember Pakistanis in Pakistan going gaga over football or the players back in the 70's to late 90's.

The brand of cricket also played by Pakistan even on docile wickets in the last 10 years or so has a part to play too. Despite the CT win last year the interest levels have not raised as some thought they will.

It will take a number of years for this to get back up if cricket does go back to Pakistan.

 

[Gubol123]

Pakistan lacks attraction and versatile players. Lack of education is another factor, plus Pakistanis generally have gradually taken their interest levels into other things especially football as I don't remember Pakistanis in Pakistan going gaga over football or the players back in the 70's to late 90's.

The brand of cricket also played by Pakistan even on docile wickets in the last 10 years or so has a part to play too. Despite the CT win last year the interest levels have not raised as some thought they will.

It will take a number of years for this to get back up if cricket does go back to Pakistan.

And that is bad for Pakistan and cricket in general. I would love to see Pakistan playing India in Lahore or Karachi but International cricket is not coming back in a hurry. It will be decade before any major team will travel to Pakistan without any drama or lure of dollars. That is a very bad news for Pakistan as already test cricket is on the back burner for PCB and in a decade i don't see them playing any unnecessary tests outside test championship (if that materializes).

Best PCB can do now is to take PSL back to Pakistan. that will build the credibility. there is no point playing PSL in UAE. Anyway even in UAE PSL is not attracting top international talent. So it won't be a big loss to lose oldies like Sangas, Mcculluns and watsons.. Let whoever wants to play in Pakistan come and play should be PCB's attitude. as one of the posters was mentioning (I think it was [MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION]) teams also would have got used to playing in UAE and won't put extra effort to come to Pakistan. Let the same mistake not be repeated in PSL.

If PCB holds majority of the PSL in UAE for few more seasons it will be harder to bring it back to Pakistan. Hopefully bringing back PSL will generate enough hype and interest in the game. Otherwise Pakistan is destined to be mediocre team for a long time to come, or may be forever. Cricket will never die in Pakistan as they have a rich history but can become an afterthought for majority of the population