Time to salvage Pakistan cricket
Monday, November 1, 2010
The Pakistan cricket team during the three decades of 1970s to 90s had enjoyed the glorious period in time and all due to the presence of quality cricketers in the line-up with another five to six waiting in the pipeline to redeem their chances. And when the fresh entrants replaced those seniors it was quite hard for the left-outs to win their place back in the team. But this contemporary team is revolving around the same old bunch of cricketers because there are no players to replace the players of the likes of Younus Khan, Muhammad Yousuf, Shoaib Akhtar.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is still in hunt for a reliable opening pair since Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwer said adieu to the game. Just Salman Butt showed some glimpses of quality of the late but his career is now at stake over spot-fixing allegations.
The Pakistan team since the greats have left been struck in the caldron of inconsistency. Looking at even the players of the recent past like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamamul Haq etc they used to snatch win from the jaws of defeat. They were raw talents horned under the guidance of legends like Imran Khan and Javed Miandad. But that does not mean the Pakistan cricket has lost talent but it has lost direction. At a time when the cricket world has marked their replacement players for the coming decades, Pakistan cricket is still lingering on without proper planning. The International Cricket Councils recent directive might make the difference in Pakistan cricket discipline wise but there is still a lot of work required at the domestic level to meet the international standards.
The Pakistan team’s defeat ignites lot of criticism at all the forums but nothing fruitful has been done as yet at the domestic level which is the main source of any game.
After organizing a successful domestic T20 tournament at Lahore, it is the right time to salvage the Pakistan cricket. Watching the T20 Cup, the question arises despite having players of quality why Pakistan is not producing great bowlers, batsmen and in particular finger spinners.
The PCB needs to identify a talented under-19 player who should be prepared on the professional lines that has been the practice of the past. Take the example of PACO’s under-19 team that appeared into the domestic Under-19 tournament.
It produced many players who later played for Pakistan. These included players like Wasim Akram, Ijaz Ahmed and Saeed Anwar. It later it employed in a single day players like Aaqib Javed, Ata-ur-Rehman and Zahid Fazal. The then captain of PACO took the initiative. So it is understood that when players start professional cricket at young age, they can easily serve for Pakistan for about 15 to 18 years.
Another area the PCB needs to think about is the fast bowlers department. There was time when Imran Khan was leading bowlers like Wasim, Waqar, Aaqib Javed, Atta-ur-Rehman, Muhammad Zahid set up the pace attack and then came Shoaib Akhtar, who remained out of Pakistan cricket for one reason or the other. And for over the last two decades or so Pakistan is playing without a genuine fast bowler. Punjab produced most of the pacer but now it seems Pakistan main weapon is dying down and no attention is being given towards it.
Coming to spin bowling when during the 1980’s Pakistan used to have more than 10 left-arm off-spinners, including Iqbal Qasim, more than 12 off-break bowlers including Touseef Ahmed, Akram Raza and Mian Fayyaz, legendry Abdul Qadir and Mushtaq Ahmed filling up the domestic cricket. But the golden art of spin bowling is also vanishing and now there is not a single quality finger spinner seen operating in domestic cricket. And those who are playing have several flaws in then. Unfortunately there is no one in their clubs to fix their mistakes.
All PCB is required to do is produce supporting wickets at domestic level and appoint coaches for every department of the game – bowling, spin and fast, batting and fielding - at regional level to identify talented players, remove their errors and make them available for further training at the National or Regional Cricket Academies. If proper steps were not taken now then the game would become stale like other sports.
Labels: Cricket, Pakistan, PCB, Sports
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 3:46 PM,
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Is NCA delivering to the needs of time?
Monday, October 11, 2010
Almost all the cricket boards throughout the world including the Pakistan have enough finances in its kitty to streamline the games set up. With the emergence of ODIs and T20 format the game has become a money-making industry and to further their earnings the boards hold cricket galas. But unfortunately for over the last couple of years the uncertain situation in the country has deprived Pakistan of international cricket. Still then the national team was given home away from home at neutral venues to host international teams and the board earned enough money even then. But the utilisation of the money is quite different and overwhelming in view of the fact that all boards opt for promotion of the game in different ways. They introduce latest technology in cricket, do experiments, fix the flaws in the cricketers’ skills and make them ready for the national requirement. These practices go on and on throughout the year but not in Pakistan.
Unfortunately, the PCB despite having reasonable finances has different priorities. The money earned through cricket is used for the travel of board officials across the globe, entertaining blue-eyed friends and families tours, projecting fake development plans like construction of wickets that in ground reality don’t exist but are documented in the files, hiring the services of PR company that charges nearly a million rupees per month, which pose a real challenge for any administrator to tackle.
Take the case of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) when it was constructed, it’s basic objective was to facilitate the emerging and talented players. Initially its budget was Rs 900 million for such a fabulous project that could have taken Pakistan cricket to new heights. But it seems the finances here too are misused and recently millions of rupees were spent to construct cemented pitches outdoor for the use of bowling machines.
The NCA’s administration wanted to construct nearly a dozen pitches in the beginning but lack of space reserved the construction to approximately four pitches. In the end a huge amount of money was wasted on the project and to the dissatisfaction of the administration the project was abandoned. No notice was taken on the waste of money with a reason being that blue-eyed person of the PCB chairman was heading the NCA. Even no notice was taken by anyone about Rs 2 million mineral water drinking at the academy.
Another big waste of money is the import of Rs 25 millions bio-mechanic lab from Australia without any know-how. It is in fact a software being called a machine and training through this technology enhance the skills of the players and removes their flaws.
When the NCA did not get anyone who could run the software, a senior official from the academy was sent to Australia for learning the technicalities and bio-mechanic language who enjoyed his trip a lot without achieving the objective and now no one is there to operate it though it identifies and removes mistakes in batting, bowling and fielding techniques.
Former test player and NCA director Mudassar Nazar was the pioneer of the project but after his resignation set aside the bio-mechanics lab the NCA has failed to yield required results.
Former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail after taking over as director NCA recommended an expert software operator Bashir Tahir to make the lab operational but the administration was not in a mood to keep him in the service and the project was left in doldrums after Sohail’s resignation.
Sohail even now favours the use of bio-mechanics lab and strongly recommends a proper set up. He said: “Latest technologies have dominated the human lives. I think Pakistan players should learn through this technology to improve their skills. The cricket world is facilitating its emerging players but here in Pakistan nobody is bothered about the use of technology.”
“The NCA would have done a lot of work on players’ batting and bowling techniques, their physical fitness and removing injuries. I think bio-mechanic lab project was a gigantic contribution but despite spending huge money we could not take benefits from it as compared to other boards,” said Sohail.
Looking at another aspect is the coaching book being use at the academy carries a lot of flaws. And the thing to identify in the book is the spin-bowling coaching criteria with just two pages on the topic when we have a lot of legendary spinners including Abdul Qadir, Iqbal Qasim, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq etc. None of them have ever been invited to coach the spin lot, which is getting extinct now.
Even the careers of some emerging spinners were destroyed or overlooked. Take the case of leg-spinner Mansoor Amjad, one of the highest wicket-takers of the domestic cricket has almost left the game. Then Azher Ali who has become a test player, started cricket as leg-spinner and after passing through the NCA he turned towards batting. Another victim of ignorance is Usman Qadir. When he joined the academy, the coaches gave some tips and changed his natural bowling action which was horned by his father Abdul Qadir. Now the country is reeling in the spin department with having no quality spinner.
The coaching education programme was derived from the England’s coaching manuals, which lacks quality spinners when Pakistan can still produce more. Keeping in view all this, the PCB needs to play constructive role for the game and hire professionals rather than obliging friends at key posts. [This story is also syndicated at Light Within]
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 1:00 PM,
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The dilemma of domestic cricket
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Whenever a new body takes over the reigns of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the first thing it announces is the elusive revamp of the domestic cricket. The announcements sans actions follow and the plunge continues to plague the Pakistan cricket.
The PCB administration always changes following eventful defeats of the national team. In fact, domestic cricket is the backbone of the national team. If it is strong, it produces great players in all the fields. One day Pakistan beats world champions but the very next day it crashes to a level below that of even club cricket. Pakistan has always lacked consistency and it is because of poor domestic structure.
It is excellence of the domestic structure in Australia due to which it has been ruling the world cricket for last couple of decades. It has thrashed almost every team in all the three formats of the game now.
There are a lot of events in Pakistan domestic cricket - the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pentangular Cup, Pentangular One-Day Cup, Patrons' Trophy Grade II, Inter-District Cricket Championships and Twenty20 Cup besides various junior tournaments organised under the banner of the regional associations and the PCB.
Many departmental, regional, senior and junior teams take part in these competitions. But surprisingly, despite a round-the-clock schedule, domestic cricket fails to provide adequate backup for the national team. Interestingly, every chairman promises to revamp the domestic cricket but does nothing to improve the standards. The failure of the national team is inevitably linked with the domestic cricket.
The situation of the domestic cricket currently is alarming. If no emergency measures taken, soon the Pakistan team would find itself slipping below the top six in ICC ranking. There are various ways through domestic cricket can be improved.
It is apparent that regions or associations cannot be helped out to promote the standard of domestic cricket because regional teams are playing since seven years but still are unable to produce a single finger spinner, world class batsman, wicketkeeper, fast bawler and a quality opener. An example of the system's bankruptcy is that the LCCA didn't choose test wicket-keeper Zulqurnan Haider though he had been playing since 2002-03.
In the regions, affluent businessmen and feudal lords reign supreme and head the associations. They do not care if they drop any deserving player and pick even their blue-eyed drivers for first class teams such as Multan region. They use teams as public relation platforms or mint money.
When the players are selected for the district teams during trials, a number of players take part but when the teams are announced, several such names are seen in the list who never appeared for the trials. Regional cricket, like the rest of the county, is suffering nepotism, merit-violation and corruption.
The Pakistan cricket can grow if the PCB plays a positive role in strengthening the departments and issue directives for making their U-19 teams. If every department manages to establish U-19 team, Pakistan would have more than 200 senior and 200 U-19 paid players. Department normally take deserving players. Departments pick on merit while regions always pick players to oblige their friends. So through empowering the departments Pakistan cricket can improve gradually.
Many great players have come from departments like Javed Miandad, Ijaz Ahmed, Wasim Akram, Younus Khan, Moin Khan, Saqlain Mushtaq, Aqib Javed Waqar Younus, Amir Sohail, Saeed Anwer, Iqbal Qasim etc. The department, which pays the player always opts for a quality cricketer.
During the 80s Pakistan domestic cricket provided healthy back up to the national team because departments like PACO, UBL and PIA made their U-19 teams as backup to the senior teams. Because of establishing these teams, Pakistan got great players like Wasim, Ijaz and Masood Anwar. The departments used to pay Rs 200 to 400 to the U-19 players for each match. So it should be made compulsory for departments to raise U-19 teams.
If the PCB upgrades the level of grade-II cricket and introduces the four-day format for grade-II, then it would be much better for Pakistan cricket.
The upgradation of this format can groom many temperamental players. Sadly, Pakistan has lost many Test matches within three days which reflects the need for patience and stamina. If the PCB makes sporting pitches then cricket quality would be improved.
In the world every board introduces new formats as Australia brought split-over format that replaced the one-day cricket but the PCB can't bring new things because it is full of sycophants. They are always seen to flatter the chairman -- Yawar Saeed, Intikhab Alam, Wasim Bari, Ranas (Sultan, Shafqat), Zakir Khan and many others are good at singing praises for the chairman. They don't suggest anything meaningful. If the PCB does not wake up from slumber now, the Pakistan team would never get legends.
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 12:17 PM,
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…in the lighter side
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The tendency of politicising sports has been a continual trend since many decades, but what is more deplorable is that this trend is on a rise. The current scenario has become rather interesting, as the ruling elites and politicians have started taking keen interest in domestic sports. Recently during Waqt News’ popular sports show ‘Game Beat,’ the former Prime Minister Ch. Shujaat Hussain, President of Pakistan Kabbadi Federation, donated Rs.10 million to the Pakistan Tennis Federation. It was given upon the request of Senator Dillawer Abbas, President of Tennis Federation. Hafiz Imran and Rabia Qadir disclosed this fact during the show.
During the show these influential politicians gave their strong opinions about the plight of sport in Pakistani. Ch. Shujaat on this note expressed, “Promotion of every sport is the need of the hour. People are fed up of reading news about terrorism and crimes while sports provide them with some sort of entertainment. We can not deny the role of sport in the modern age because it produces healthy societies.”
Ch. Shujaat confessed that in the past politically influential people were given important designations such that of cricket, hockey, football, squash, tennis and many others. The same trend is being continued till date. A number of non-professionals who know nothing about sports are running sports federations like Ch. Shujaat is heading the Kabbadi Federation without any prior knowledge or being a player. According to him it is very cheap sport and everybody can play easily and that during kabbadi matches the stadiums are full with crowed and kabbadi lovers. Ch. Shujaat further maintained, “Imran Khan is stepping forward successfully as a politician but it would be better for the future of the Pakistan cricket if Imran gives his precious time to cricket. He urged that sports federations should be run by an honest, capable and competent person rather than politically influential ones.”
He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is still working as the chairman of PCB despite humiliating defeat of the Pakistani cricket team during their tours of Australia and England. He further said, “He is still the chairman because of his strong political affiliations with the President of Pakistan. This practice should be an end.”
Ch. Shujaat revealed old secrets of General Zia ul Haq’s regime when he appointed General Safdar as the Chairman of WAPDA and later as the Chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board. But Safdar refused to accept the PCB position stating his lack of experience regarding cricket, but then Zia reminded him that he did not have to know about WAPDA to run it. The same approach of politicising sports has been continuing since decades. This approach should come to an end and the politicians should not run sports federations of the country.
During the show Ch. Shujaat showed his keen interest in the promotion of women tennis. But Senator Dilawer Abbas sadly expressed, “Within the country nobody is ready to sponsor tennis while everybody is ready to sponsor cricket. Cricketers can easily earn millions of dollars annually while tennis players just earn $2500. Government has allocated only few hundred thousands to Pakistan Tennis Federation contrary to its hefty monthly maintenance of the single tennis stadium.”
He said that Prime Minister preferred to allocate Rs.50 millions to the Hockey Federation because of his preference towards President Qasim Zia. He deplorably said that Ijaz Butt is also misusing the powers because of his strong political backing. He further added that one should willingly surrender their powers and separate themselves from the power corridors.
Dilawar further said, “I wish I could construct tennis complexes in the same passion I serve the federation.” He revealed that when he was nominated for the presidential post of the tennis federation, then he asked his contender about tennis. But as his contender did not have enough knowledge, he agreed not to take over the federation.
“The political appointments of ineligible people have destroyed the Pakistani sports. Because of them sports are heading towards a decline.” Senator Dilawer Abbas was of the view.
Labels: Funs, PCB, Sports, WAPDA
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 11:07 AM,
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Is Umar Akmal heading toward decline?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
In the world of cricket Pakistan has produced many great cricketers who developed themselves into legends of class of their own. But with the passage of time they left a void wide open to be filled in by someone of their likes. Over the past couple of years Pakistan introduced several fresh faces but none of them filled in that gap as good as sensational Umar Akmal did.
This diminutive youngster managed to break new grounds not only for him but also in projecting the country’s soft image high. But unfortunately for over the last couple of matches his performance has slid down with the same speed he touched the heights of fame.
Umar is one of the best talents Pakistan has produced in a decade or so and is the one who fits in all the three formats of the game. He came a long way in to fill in the big shoes of former captain Inzamamul Haq and on and off was doing the work of some of the senior batsmen like Muhammad Yousuf and Younus Khan.
Umar made his way into the national team after a successful tour of Australia with the Pakistan A team. Having carried the test average of 45, he matured with his maiden test hundred against New Zealand on debut.
With this debut century he gave a glimpse of hope to a rather bleak future of the Pakistan cricket, which lingers on an improper domestic structure to depend upon. He also played some wonderful ODI innings during the tour of Sri Lanka. At the start of his career, it was being expected that he would set new marks for Pakistan. But unfortunately his form has gradually started fall and the batsman who was being considered a useful commodity in the middle order is becoming a burden on the team. He, however, is one of those renowned players who got to the height of fame too early in their career.
In his aggressively style against almost every team, Umar instead of gaining maturity started to breach the line of discipline. Following his elder brother Kamran Akmal, Umar stood away from the team feigning injury during the tour of Australia. The Pakistan Cricket Board though fined the batsman but later coming under pressure took back its decision but that did not make him realise his mistake.
As of now particularly in the backdrop of the innings he played against Australia, he seems to have been taking his career lightly and is not getting serious to overcome his batting and mantle flaws. Instead of turning himself into a match-winner, he is caving in to the internal team politics. He is continuously showing callous attitude during batting and even his ranking is dwindled. He now stands at just around the test average of 35, a first step towards decline.
His failure has started to overcome him before he would have tasted the joys of fame. Looking at his batting abilities, he is technically inept against an in-swinging ball, which he counters in a wrong manner. The in-swinging ball he has played in all the innings in England deceived him because he goes for every ball in a hurry without realising that test cricket is a different ball game and requires temperament. He also leaves a wide gap in between the bat and pad that’s why an in-swinger makes him a victim of an LBW.
He does not seem to have any problem in his batting other than these and his careless approach on occasions. Sadly to that he throws his wicket because of these foolishnesses. If he would not be able to control his temperament and behaviour he is prone to lose his place in the team. And to prolong his stint with Pakistan he should avoid indulging into any controversies and instead concentrate on to remove his technical flaws and made the country proud rather than setting zealous examples.
Labels: Cricket, Players, Sports
posted by Dilshad Rao @ 1:53 PM,
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