A World Beating Pakistan Cricket Team

A World Beating Pakistan Cricket Team

In spite of Pakistan’s cricket infrastructure being chaotic we produce much talent. All the cricket greats cricket greats that visited Pakistan commented upon this. Our real problem lies with the development of our youth.

The lack of formal coaching at basic levels screams for the need to polish and develop new entrants into the Test arena. This makes the PCB Cricket Academy an important part of the development process with the need for a high quality non-political professional Coach who does not need to be a great cricketer. The best coaches do not necessarily become top players.

Pakistan has produced a number of world beating teams which were not always consistent but were always exciting to watch due to their aggressive attitudes and thus the team to beat. The five T’s that in my view, create a great team are:

Trust; is my leading requirement. The Chairman of the PCB must have the trust of his own officials. The Selection Committee must have trust in the cricket and the Players must in turn have trust in their Captain.

Talent; plays an important part in any team that excels and really needs no amplification.

Training; comes next in sequence of importance. This includes coaching and physical training. Every time we listen to good cricket commentators, the technique of the player is high on their list of essential requirements. In only the rarest cases is Technique inbred or learnt by watching. Great players develop their own style but for consistent success they follow the basics that they were taught. Physical fitness has become a vital part of the modern game as shown by the current cricketers compared to those of the mid fifties. Physical fitness cannot be created in camps but requires a personal regimen as exhibited by Imran Khan , Laved Miandad or Wasim Akram. They are supremely fit even in their retirements because physical training is a part of their daily regimen.

Togetherness; or Team Spirit as was clearly visible during the Captaincies of Mr. Kardar, Imran Khan andWasim Akram Wasim Akram and the performance of those teams proves this point. Air Marshal Nur Khan quickly reversed the decision of appointing Miandad as Captain noting the effect it had on Team Spirit. Eleven players playing as a unit will always beat Teams with high profile heroes not play as one unit.

Toughness; is the fifth T that goes to make a great team. This applies to both mental and physical strength. This asset is developed by providing a competitive and sound domestic structure to young cricketers with physical strength developed via regular physical training. These qualities enable players to go that extra mile when others fold up to the challenge.

Examining how the present Team measures up to the five Ts’ provide us some valuable insights. Newspaper articles and statements prove categorically that there is an endless deficit in the area of Trust and does not bear repetition. In the area of Talent our Team is blessed. The current Pakistan Team has enough gifted batsmen and bowlers to make a great team in spite of their fielding and fitness? This is proven by their showing in tight corners. In Togetherness it is obvious that the politics of the Board and Selectors becomes reflected in the team and also surfaces in the news which can hardly be conducive to continuing team spirit.

In Training, the shortcomings are clearly visible. The team fielding is bad by international standards. Barring the Captain the team clearly exhibits lack of fitness. The Board needs to forcefully exhibit that lack of fitness is unacceptable. Central Contracts must depend on fitness. The Shoaib Akhter approach sends the wrong message. Whilst it is sad to comment on a once great player, I am forced to note that the present Coach is hardly the epitome of Fitness.

Finally in the area of Toughness, the Pakistan Team Pakistan Team more often than not folds under pressure. Pakistan’s Domestic Structure is totally responsible for the lack of this quality. The make up of the different teams and their titles do little to add to the competitiveness of the tournaments. The selections of all teams are made by paid by PCB Selectors who do not even belong to the areas that the players represent. The PCB pays lip service to the vital importance of domestic tournaments proven by lack of regular scheduling. We are unable to publish a Calendar even six months in advance. The ludicrousness of the situation is shown by a domestic tournament being rescheduled due to need of the local TV Rights holder wanting to air a more profitable tournament.

All the above being said and done the current Pakistan Team has the essence of a great unit. It requires an able and competent person to be appointed and allowed to run cricket. The effect of cricket on our national spirit is plain for all to see. I can only pray that the Patron has the “time” away from state affairs to appreciate that the recent success was not by design.