By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
The ongoing cosmetic surgery in the Pakistan cricket set-up will hardly bring about any significant change. No matter whether they dismantle the selection committee, replace the coaching staff or remove the captain, it will serve little or no purpose.
Complete overhauling of the system in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is the need of the hour, if the country has to restore the position it occupied in the past.
Once the superpowers of the game, now Pakistan’s team has been languishing among the wooden spoonists in the recent past.
It may be fair to say that the Pakistan cricket is at the lowest ebb at the moment. The team can lose to every Tom, Dick and Harry in any of the three formats.
The consistency with which the national outfit has been blown away is mind-boggling to say the least.
Therefore, mere change of personnel is not going to pay any dividends. Total revamping is required if Pakistan desires to regain the lost glories.
Despite his preoccupations as the Home Minister, the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, must squeeze time for taking some bold decisions to arrest the decline.
Similarly, the PCB boss should refrain from making so many changes in the contract system because this is not the root-cause of the decline. He should concentrate on the areas which are going to strengthen the infrastructure to ensure top-class performance.
Going back to the basics, the PCB should revive club cricket besides facilitating school and college cricket. We must not ignore the fact that the nurseries must be allowed to flourish at all times.
Then, the PCB should reintroduce two-day matches at the Under-17 level and three-day fixtures at the Under-19 level to let the youngsters learn and practice the art of playing longer format of the game. The batsmen should be taught and encouraged to bat with proper technique for building their innings. It is very important for the batsmen to be well versed in playing big innings.
Additionally, the pitches in the first-class tournaments should be batting friendly ones where batsmen are able to play long innings. The grounds for national events should be having all the desired facilities which are found in international matches.
The first-class matches should be of four-day duration whereby allowing the batsmen as well as the bowlers full opportunity to demonstrate their respective skills.
We do have enormous amount of raw talent in the country but there are not the right kind of environment to let them graduate to the next level with confidence.
The PCB must take these concrete measures for the revival of Pakistan cricket and the focus should be on improving the infrastructure for domestic tournaments, particularly the first-class events. These are the basic necessities which cannot be avoided if we have to stay competitive.
