Radical, not cosmetic, changes needed to revive Pakistan cricket

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. 

Instead of simply making a few changes in his team of advisors, he must go back to the drawing board to chalk out the plans for the revival of Pakistan cricket. He deserves an honest and dedicated team of professionals to execute his policies. 

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.

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Younis Khan should get befitting respect, recognition

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Isn’t it strange that Younis Khan, one of the greatest-ever cricketers to be produced by Pakistan, has yet not been accorded the kind of respect and recognition he deserves for earning so much glories for the country? 

Doesn’t he merit the same degree of admiration for winning the World Cup like the one granted to the other captain for bringing home the trophy? 

Honestly speaking, Younis has not been fairly treated by the powers that be despite his incredible performances. Yes, he was the skipper of the team when Pakistan emerged triumphant in the ICC T20 World Cup in England during the summer of 2009. 

That’s the only time the country has won the T20I title since its inception in 2007, which makes the conquest even more remarkable. 

Please also don’t forget that Younis has scored the highest number of runs as well as centuries for Pakistan in Test cricket. Do we need to be reminded that he is the only player in with five fourth-innings Test centuries which is a world record. 

He scored as many as half a dozen six Test double centuries, which are joint-most for the country with the great Javed Miandad. 

Let us also not lose sight of the fact that he remains the only Pakistani batsman to score centuries against all nine other Test nations. He also holds records for most century partnerships for Pakistan. 

He has fourth-highest conversion rate from 50 to 100 among the batsmen having scored 20 or more centuries. Don’t also overlook the incredible feat of scoring as many as 11 centuries after having turned 35. He became the first Pakistani cricketer with 100 Test catches, also holding the record for most catches by a substitute fielder. 

His record in One-day Internationals is no less impressive despite the fact that he was used as a floater in the batting order during his first 90 matches whereby he was sent into bat at different positions with limited number of balls left to be negotiated. 

Younis was not allowed to bat at a particular position for a long time, which amounted to injustice with his talents. He could have been much more useful for the team if he was not victimized in the early part of his ODI career. Yet, when he got the chance, he proved his critics and detractors absolutely wrong. 

He amassed 7,249 runs in 265 ODIs with seven centuries and 48 half-centuries besides plucking 135 catches. His strike rate of 75.29 was as good as any other leading contemporary batter. 

Needless to say, he was a team man to the core, who never cared for his personal record or individual glory. He was a selfless person in the truest sense of the word. That’s why he sacrificed his wicket on innumerable occasions for the sake of the team, not caring for his batting average or anything like that. 

That’s how he was dismissed in 80s and 90s on quite a few times. He could have scored many more centuries if he thought of himself which he never did. Yet, he was criticized occasionally for not producing the goods, which was grossly unfair. 

Younis has a history of having absorbed the pressures of all kinds. Today, although he never admits, but he must be wondering why he has not been given the importance he so richly deserves. It would be in national interest if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) assigns him the task of picking and grooming raw cricketers, something Rahul Dravid did so successfully for India in the recent past.

Isn't it sad that despite having an illustrious career free from any scandals or controversies, he has yet not been offered a decent job by the PCB whereas those with tainted reputation have been allowed to run the show with their engagement at key positions?

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Pakistan cricket needs to look beyond privileged group of former players

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan have crashed out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 well before the start of the knockout phase of the tournament. Isn’t it shameful and disgraceful to perform so poorly at home? Was there any element of shock or even surprise in their early ouster from yet another major global event? 

For those who are well versed with the dynamics of Pakistan cricket, there was hardly any astonishment in the outcome. As a matter of fact, the kind of squad they had selected for the first-ever ICC tournament being staged in the country after 29 years, you didn’t need to be an expert to comprehend what was in store. 

Entering the mega event with just a solitary specialist spinner, whereas others had assembled hordes of slow bowlers, was nothing short of suicide or stupidity. It was evident that merit had been brutally compromised and quite a few talented players were dropped for inducting those who carried recommendations from influential persons. 

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) succeeded in finding resources for renovating cricket stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, at whatever costs, they probably didn’t get the time to turn their efforts in ensuring the formation of a squad which was competitive in the field to say the least. 

It is nothing new really because, in the recent past, the PCB has been held hostage by a group of former cricketers who continue to call the shots at their own whims. 

For the last 15 to 20 years, the Pakistan cricket administration has revolved around the likes of Wasim Akram, Rameez Raja, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shahid Aslam, Ijaz Ahmed, Aqib Javed, Haroon Rasheed, Mansoor Rana, Intikhab Alam, Iqbal Qasim and a few years. Directly or indirectly, these guys have been running the show in accordance to their own preferences and priorities. 

The heads of the PCB have kept changing, but these former cricketers have had the clout to find their way in the management by hook or by crook. That’s why there is a consistency in intrigues and politicking all along. 

Why don’t the PCB helmsmen turn to people of credibility and proven track record like Aamir Sohail, Jalaluddin, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif and Saeed Anwar? Why don’t we get to see these worthy gentlemen, who served the cause of the game with distinction, in the PCB administration? 

Instead of incorporating cosmetic changes, the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, should immediately look beyond those who have encircled him to fulfill their own agendas. He should sideline the likes of Wahab Riaz, Aqib Javed, Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq whose controversial policies have hurt the interests of Pakistan cricket. 

Misbah and Waqar were chiefly responsible for orchestrating the conspiracy against Sarfaraz Ahmed, undoubtedly the most successful of all the Pakistani captains in the recent past. They were guilty of indulging in petty politics to remove Sarfaraz from the scene and hand over the leadership of the team to the quartet of Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan. Together, they have destroyed Pakistan cricket. 

Well, the immediate remedy in my opinion is to take Younis Khan the great on board. He is one person who should be entrusted with the task of building youth cricket. 

He has the rare ability to groom and develop the kind of modern-day cricketers who can graduate to the next level. He can easily contribute to Pakistan cricket what Rahul Dravid did to Indian cricket. 

The PCB will be advised to induct only those former cricketers in the set-up who have had clean record in the past and they are not greedy. Handpicking those with dubious character record may not serve purpose even if they enjoyed some success in the field during their playing days.

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Diary of a memorable trip to home city Karachi

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Karachi is the city of my birth and this is the place I have been visiting regularly over the years to meet my near and dear ones, after having relocated in the United States of America (USA), which indeed is my new home. 

Although all my trips of Karachi help me in recapturing golden moments and building fresh memories but the latest one, in November 2024, was probably the most memorable, considering my engagements in various reunions and get-togethers with many of those who were my childhood friends and we had played cricket for decades together. 

Obviously, it’s not easy to describe those feelings in words because such were the emotions while interacting with some guys who were reconnecting after a number of years. 

Time has flown, things have changed but none of us seems to have forgotten those days of struggle in cricket fields where we had devoted all our energies and resources to graduate to the next level. 

One of the features of the recent trip to Karachi, spanning 12 days or so, was the fulfilment of a cherished dream of mine. 

I was approached by Geo Super to do live commentary of the Karachi Premier League (KPL) which was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for five days on a trot. 

Describing the action on cricket field, either as a commentator or an expert, has remain my passion by finally I got the opportunity to showcase my skills in this role. 

Going by the feedback, my colleagues Tauseef Ahmed, a former Test off-spinner, and Yahya Hussain informed me having fared pretty reasonably on my commentary debut.

It was a huge honour for me to have been invited as one of the guests in the presentation party for the award ceremony, which was held at the end of every match at the picturesque Naya Nazimabad Stadium which hosted all the matches of the KPL. 

The legendary batsman, Younis Khan, also a buddy of mine, was one of the functionaries of the KPL. It was very kind of him to have accorded very warm welcome to me on every visit of mine to the Naya Nazimabad Stadium. 

My birthday was also celebrated with considerable fanfare at the ground and Younis Khan was the man to have managed it for me. The love and respect he showered on me and my family is beyond description. 

A dinner meeting was arranged at a five-star hotel by my former Pakistan Customs teammate, Waqar Hussain, which was also attended by Javed Miandad, the greatest batsman of our generation. My elder brother, Anwar-ul-Haq, and Haris Khan, both successful former cricketers of our time, were also present on the occasion. 

Then, I had the pleasure of attending a reception of the Fazlur Rahman Sports Club, organized by its livewire patron, Munir Ali Qadri. This brought together my contemporaries like Nasir Shah, Shaukat Mirza, Munir-ul-Haq, Sagheer Abbas, Tafseer Abbas, Ameeruddin, Shahabuddin, Anwar-ul-Haq and Haris Khan. These were magical moments.

After watching the above activities, you may also incline to agree with me that this was a tour to remember. I have returned to my new home mush refresher and obliged.

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No major boost to cricket in USA by hosting ICC T20 World Cup 2024

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

There was lots of buzz and excitement in anticipation of something phenomenal taking place on the eve of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which was being co-hosted by the United States of America (USA) during the month of June. 

It was going to be for the first time ever when so many top playing nations of the world were to disembark together to showcase their skills in this part of the planet. But what transpired was anti-climatic to say the least. Neither the participating teams were satisfied with the makeshift arrangements nor the spectators got their money’s worth while watching the megastars of the game. 

The event hardly provided the kind of entertainment which was being looked forward to by the cricket enthusiasts. Yes, the USA cricket team performed better than expected in the field and their super-over triumph against Pakistan was nothing short of a miracle. 

Nobody had expected them to come this much close to the 1992 world champions but they played better cricket on the day to cause one of the greatest upsets in sporting history. From the American point of view, it was gladdening to find the hosts, led by Monank Patel, qualify for the second round, exceeding all expectations. 

Even the local cricketers themselves were surprised at the outcome as they had never imagined in their wildest dreams going this far. 

There was no element of surprise, however, in watching them run of steam in the Group 2 of Super Eight rounds where they were overwhelmed by all the three fancied rivals, South Africa, England and the West Indies. They just didn’t demonstrate the pedigree or the depth within their squad when exposed to the giants of the game in the Caribbean. 

There were plenty of shocks for everyone in the organizational aspects of the tournament in USA. The pitches in New York came under fire which denied the pleasure of watching high quality cricket. With the ball seaming and moving alarmingly all the time, the T20 games seemed to be played like Tests which obviously was not a good advertisement for cricket. We needed high-scoring thrillers and action-packed moments rather than the cricketers in the middle fighting for survival of their wickets. 

Wasn’t it a shame that even the much-hyped Indo-Pak encounter was also affected by the pitch which didn’t allow batters to play with any kind of freedom? Even the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan were undone by the double bounce.

It was far from an ideal pitch for such a high-profile and significant T20 game. Scheduling matches in Florida in the middle of rainy season was not a wise move either. It resulted in abandoned matches and prevented the world-class cricketers from taking the field more than once, which indeed was terribly disappointed. 

The organizers, despite being blessed with resources of all kinds, were found wanting in making the necessary arrangements and the opportunity of staging such a big event seemed to have been wasted. Not many people will disagree with me over the point that cricket in USA hardly got any boost by playing host to ICC T20 World Cup 2024. 

The Indian squad was the strongest on paper and they proved the point by annexing the title with unmatched resilience. They could have still emerged triumphant if not facilitated in the best possible manner. 

With prime time of India being the target, they got the luxury of playing all their matches, including the knockouts, in daylight. Unlike other teams, they were lodged in hotels which were closest to the ground, saving them from the inconvenience of commuting for long hours. They played brilliant cricket no doubt but these little factors certainly helped their cause.

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Controversies galore in Cricket World Cup 2023

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Having followed closely each and every single edition of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) since its inception in 1975, I have very little doubt in mind that the recently concluded 13th edition in India was the most controversial of them all, on and off the field. The hosts could not win the trophy despite all odds being stacked in their favour. 

It was a marquee event of the International Cricket Council (ICC) but the governing body of the game came under heavy criticism as did the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the hosts. They were accused of actions and inactions which didn’t go well with the cricket followers across countries.

The insistence of the hosts to play the final on a wearing track instead of the originally chosen fresh strip backfired and loss of toss proved to be the last nail in their coffin. Despite being on top of the game for 10 matches on a trot, the Indians fumbled in the final at Ahmedabad and the robotic Australians capitalized with hints of conviction to capture the crown for a record sixth time. 

India, whose all three fast bowlers, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj, were firing on all cylinders as they also extracted extra yard of swing than their competitors, would have been much better off taking on the Aussies on a newly laid surface instead of battling it on a slower pitch which didn’t aid the spinners either. 

While the majority of close umpiring decisions seemed to have favoured the home team, it proved to be a different ball game in the final where rub of the green titled Australia’s way. The umpires call saved the visitors much to the disapproval and annoyance of the huge crowd which became silent as the match slipped out of India’s hands. 

It was really chocking not to have found the World Cup winning Indian captains of the past, Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, in the prize distribution ceremony from which Sourav Ganguly, who led India to the final in 2003, was also absent. Reportedly the trio seemed to have some ‘political’ difference with the hosts who probably didn’t invite them. 

The Indian authorities didn’t appear to have allowed visas to the media corps or even supporters of other participating countries, a move which was also widely criticized. The wisdom behind preventing foreign fans from attending World Cup matches could not be understood. 

Another mind-boggling move was the skipping of an inauguration ceremony before the start of the championship. The Indians have had the reputation of organizing the most colorful of ceremonies but they chose to remain silent this time and the World Cup got off to a muted start directly with the opening match between England and New Zealand. 

It’s a common knowledge that the Indians are well versed in arranging mega events and high-profile ceremonies but they didn’t deem it proper to let the CWC 2023 gain the hype it deserved. The dates of the event were altered and it were finalized at the eleventh hour. There were numerous factors which made it a forgettable outing. 

Toss was another cause of controversy as Rohit Sharma came under fire for throwing the coin upward far too wide. The ICC will now be advised to exercise control in this matter too in order to make it transparent and fair to all contestants. Technology should come in and it could be monitored with the help of a camera.

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Biased selection, mismanagement, player power, inept captaincy cost Pakistan Cricket World Cup 2023

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Biased selection, mismanagement, player power and inept captaincy were the major causes of Pakistan’s flop show in the Cricket World Cup 2023 as the returning national team faces a barrage of criticism. Dishonesty was also an obvious factor which created rifts and tension among the cricketers leading to chaos and dismal performance.

The quartet Babar Azam, Shaheen Khan Afridi, Muhammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan had been running the show for the past three years. These four guys were observed working in unison as they pursued identical goals of controlling the affairs of the game. 

There was a change of guard at the headquarters of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) more than one time during this period but the unity between these four didn’t let any helmsman to implement his own vision. Different chief selectors also came and went without having the guts to contain players’ power. 

The Babar-led Pakistan outfit managed to accumulate ranking points by whipping soft opponents. The skipper himself and Rizwan scored heavily in these matches while Shaheen also performed exceptionally well with the ball. Shadab, however, was unable to deliver the goods even against these sides and fingers were being pointed at him all along. 

Yet neither the PCB Chairman nor the chief selector could do anything to displace Shadab, who form as a bowler had dipped considerably as he failed to come to terms with the demands of one-day cricket. 

Everybody knew that he didn’t deserve a place in the World Cup squad as a bowling all-rounder but nobody could throw him out because of his bonding with Babar, Rizwan and Shaheen. 

Imad Wasim was much better choice as a spinning all-rounder but it’s a common knowledge that Babar didn’t like him. Muhammad Nawaz, despite his inconsistency with bat and ball, was the preferred option and the whole world saw the humiliation caused by him at crunch moments. The decision of ignoring mystery spinner Abrar Ahmad and choosing Usama Mir was mind-boggling as well. 

What was the logic of having a reserve wicketkeeper-batter in the shape of Muhammad Haris whereas the presence of Sarfaraz Ahmed would have proved much more beneficial for the squad? But the interests of the team were compromised and the former Pakistan captain was purposely dropped as the ruling elite of four men possibly felt uncomfortable. 

Saud Shakeel and Salman Ali Agha were drafted in the contingent at the eleventh hour. While Saud justified his selection by chipping in with little contributions there was not much opportunity for Salman to showcase his skills. Even Saud needs to learn about converting those starts into something substantial if he is to become a regular member of Pakistan’s ODI playing eleven. 

With the Pakistani batsmen, barring a couple of occasions, failing to get big scores the pressure mounted on their own bowlers who were then taken to the cleaners by the opposing power-hitters. The policy of not allowing Haris Rauf to operate with new ball didn’t make sense and heavy price was paid for it. 

The captaincy of Babar was far from impressive during the course of the tournament. He was supposed to be the pivot of the team but he disappointed all his fans as runs didn’t flow from his bat and there was hardly any element of surprise at his resignation following the debacle in India.

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Younis, Sarfaraz face discrimination from PCB once more

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), seemingly as a part of its promotions ahead of the upcoming Cricket World Cup 2023, compiled and released a video, showcasing the high moments in history on the eve of the 76th Independence Day celebrations. Its contents have already resulted in causing lots of resentment and controversies. 

Initially the PCB was slammed for ignoring Imran Khan, the triumphant skipper of the World Cup 1992. Since he is a former Prime Minister besides being one of the greatest-ever all-rounders of the game, with a huge fan following globally, there was uproar and criticism from every nook and corner of the world. 

Omitting the World Cup winning captain on political grounds was indeed shameful and the PCB was forced to edit the video and release a new one which included his images. But a couple of more glaring omissions have not been rectified yet, which is very disappointing for those who love the game the most earnestly. 

How could the history of Pakistan cricket remain complete without mentioning the accomplishments of Younis Khan and Sarfaraz Ahmed? Yet they have been deprived of this honour of featuring in the video highlighting Pakistan’s conquests in the cricket field. Younis, as we all know, is the only other World Cup winning captain of Pakistan.

If Imran was the skipper of the team which brought home the title in 1992 it was Younis, under whose leadership, Pakistan had won the World Twenty20 Championship in 2009. Isn’t it strange that one World Cup winner becomes the Prime Minister of the country and the other one is denied the kind of respect and recognition he deserves?

Younis holds national records for the highest number of Test runs as well as centuries. He won numerous matches for the country. He led the team with distinction. But he was victimized in his playing days and the same trend has continued all along. Since he is brutally honest and straightforward, who always believed in let his bat to do all the talking, he has often been sidelined from limelight. Those in the corridors of power have generally been reluctant to interact with him because he takes pride in calling a spade a spade. 

Sarfaraz has also been meted out step-motherly treatment all along despite having exceptional record both as a player and as a captain of the national team. He had led the country to title victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017. Earlier he was also the captain of the Pakistan team which annexed the ICC Youth World Cup. 

Pakistan remained the top ranked team in T20 rankings for two and a half years when Sarfaraz, an enterprising wicketkeeper-batsman, was at the helm of the affairs. He is credited to have blooded and groomed the youngsters like Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Khan Afridi and Fakhar Zaman who have gone on to become world-class performers. 

Both Younis and Sarfaraz have done wonders for the country, Any documentary of Pakistan cricket will be deemed incomplete without their mention. The PCB must re-edit the video to include both of them because they deserve to be there. The heroes are meant to be respected and admired, not humiliated or insulted.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed merits ODI selection after phenomenal Test comeback

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

It’s an open secret that Sarfaraz Ahmed has had to battle harder than normal cricketers in any part of the world to retain his place in the national team across formats. Despite having exceptional track record he has been forced to prove his worth time and again. This boy of steely nerves from Karachi deserves to be praised lavishly for having silenced his critics with performances more than once in his international career. 

After his fairytale comeback in the Test arena only a few months ago it was logical to have him in the limited overs matches as well, particularly One-day Internationals where accomplished batsmen like him are more likely to deliver than dashers or power hitters. Not surprisingly, he is being treated harshly once more. 

It’s mind-boggling to find his name still missing in the scheme of things for the ODI line-up. The kind of awesome form and fitness he displayed in the Test series against New Zealand had made him an automatic choice for the ODIs but for some strange reasons, which include petty politics, he was been kept on the sidelines once more. 

It will be fair to say that Sarfaraz, having the scores of 86, 53, 78 and 118 in four successive innings, was chiefly responsible for saving the two-Test home series against New Zealand. He was adjudged Man of the Match in the second Test and was also the unanimous choice for Man of the Series award. What more could have he done in his comeback series? 

He was scoring consistently in first-class cricket all along and yet he was kept out of the Test side for four years which can only be described as madness and nothing else. Quite remarkably Waqar Younis, as evidenced by his comments on air, was still not impressed with the accomplishments of the guy he had tormented or even victimized when he was the national coach. 

He was the man, alongwith skipper Misbah-ul-Haq, to have prevented him from playing in the early part of the 2015 World Cup. Sarfaraz was kept out of the playing eleven and it had needed the intervention of the then PCB chief, Shaharyar Khan, to get him in. The rest is history as we all know. 

Now another lobby with vested interests seems proactive in creating more hurdles for Sarfaraz to demoralize him. With the 2023 World Cup not very far away, these elements will be eager to keep him away from the squad. It is upto the PCB top brass to ensure fair chance to the man who made them proud with outstanding performance on Test return not very long ago. 

With Micky Arthur returning, there’s greater hope of justice being done with Sarfaraz as he definitely merits selection in the ODI outfit and should be a part and parcel of the squad for the next couple of years at least. His expertise and experience are too precious to be ignored. 

It’s a sheer nonsense to suggest that only one wicketkeeper-batsman can be a part of the playing eleven. Many teams are having more than one such all-rounder and they are getting the results. Therefore keeping Sarfaraz out of the team on the pretext of having someone else around for the same role makes no sense. He should be in the ODI team. No question about it.

Sarfaraz is very much needed in the Pakistan XI because he has mastered the art of accumulating runs. He remains an exceptional wicketkeeper whose batting prowess is the much-needed insurance for the national team which has often struggled in putting runs on the board.

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Nasir Shah becomes first recipient of Global Sports CBF award

Pakistan News & Features Services

Nasir Ali Shah, a former first-class cricketer from Karachi, became the first recipient of the Cricketer Benefit Fund (CBF) award, instituted by the US-based Global Sports Inc. 

He was an opening batsman who played for Karachi, United Bank Limited and Pak PWD. He also captained his teams on many occasions. 

The presentation ceremony was held recently at the Karachi Gymkhana in which Younis Khan, a former Pakistan captain and holder of many Test records, handed over the cheque of PKR five lacs to Nasir Shah on behalf of Global Sports. 

The presence of Younis, a legendary top-order batsman with a number of records under his belt, was a massive source of encouragement to the organizers and promoters of the noble cause, jointly undertaken by a few of former Pakistani cricketers and philanthropists having relocated in USA.

The ceremony was organized through the courtesy of Jalaluddin, a former Test fast bowler and the highest qualified coach of the country, currently visiting his home city. Anwar-ul-Haq, Naeem-ul-Haq, Waqar Hussain and Zafar Ahmed were among the other cricketers present on the occasion. 

Naeem, who played for Karachi, Pak PWD and Pakistan Customs, has been a part and parcel of Global Sports since its inception around 17 years ago. He had specially travelled from Orlando, USA, to be part of the presentation ceremony in Karachi. 

Having been associated with Global Sports as its Vice President, Advisor and Coach, Naeem is acknowledged as the person to have floated the idea of supporting former cricketers back home which led to the formation of the CBF and Nasir Shah was selected as the recipient for the inaugural award. 

In a brief conversation with PNFS, Naeem informed that besides being an outstanding cricket player, Nasir mentored quite a few of his teammates, including him, and he was widely respected for his leadership qualities. 

Naeem also disclosed that the CBF will announce the next beneficiary for 2022 during the Diversity Cup Tournament, scheduled to be held in Detroit, Michigan, next July.

He expressed gratitude to his colleagues and patrons of Global Sports, particularly its Founder President, Shahid Ahmed, and Dr Shaukat Rashid of Ohio, to have launched the initiative which will be their token contribution for recognizing the silent soldiers and unsung heroes of the game.

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Detroit ready to host Champions Cup 2021 in July

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

Cricket returns to Detroit in a big way as all is set for the second edition of the Champions Cup to be staged here from July 2 to 5. Global Sports Inc. is ready to organize the annual event again, which was launched in 2019 but could not be held last year due to the pandemic of COVID-19. 

Cricketers from all parts of the United States will be assembling in Detroit once more as a handsome prizemoney of US$18,000 will be at stake during the four-day extravaganza. 

The winners will be pocketing a jackpot of US$10,000 while the runners-up will be collecting a purse of US$3,500. There will also be individual prizes of US$4,500 for the outstanding performers. 

Besides hosts Michigan, participants from the states of Ohio, California, Pennsylvania, Texas and North Carolina among others will be in action during the upcoming Champions Cup 2021. 

A couple of teams from neighbouring Canada had also confirmed their entries for the event but sadly they won’t be able to come over to Detroit due travel restrictions. 

The Champions Cup provides greater opportunity for the local cricketers as the tournament rules, unlike most other events, don’t allow teams to field players from other states. It’s good for the younger players who can make it to the state outfits. 

Having been associated with Global Sports Inc. for the last many years, I have personally witnessed the passion and commitment of their top functionaries who remain eager to promote cricket not only in Michigan but all over the US. 

It may be recalled Troy Tigers had emerged triumphant in the inaugural Champions Cup in 2019. Let’s wait and see which team steals the limelight among 10 participants this time round. 

Let me acknowledge the contribution of Shahid Ahmed and Dr Shaukat Rashid in launching the Champions Cup which is expected to become one of the most sought after annual cricket events in the region. 

Meanwhile Global Sports Inc. will also be organizing Level-II Coaching Course from July 2 to 4. Pakistan’s former Test fast bowler, Jalaluddin, who pioneered the concept of modern coaching there, will be the centre of attraction once more as he will pass on his terrific knowledge about the game to the American teenagers. 

Having played lots of cricket with Jalaluddin for Pakistan Customs, where he was also our captain, it’s always a privilege and pleasure to work alongside him and once again I will be there to assist him in the three-day coaching course. I am eagerly looking forward to the action packed weekend in Michigan early next month.

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Sarfaraz Ahmed: Scapegoat or good luck omen?

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan cricket authorities have devised a unique strategy to tackle Sarfaraz Ahmed. The former all-format captain and a wicketkeeper-batsman, is allowed to play only when the series or the prestige is at stake and they’re being subjected to extreme criticism by media and experts over selection follies. 

This has happened for three series now. In England last summer, there was great uproar when Pakistan had lost the first couple of games and he was played in the third and final outing which Pakistan went on to win. 

The series against South Africa was hanging in balance when Sarfraz was blooded in the decisive third encounter which Pakistan managed to win and the most recently the T20 series against Zimbabwe was also locked at one-all when he was finally chosen for the do-or-die third fixture which was won by Pakistan again. 

Interestingly Sarfaraz has been drafted in the playing eleven only upon the hue and cry in media and public in general. 

Obviously the cricket-loving Pakistanis get upset when the team starts losing and the selectors and the tour management committee were left with no option to play Sarfaraz to silence their critics.

It’s an open secret that the present set-up is not fond of Sarfaraz. Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis have had history of victimizing him even when he was at the peak of his career. How can they be expected to support him at a time when he needed care and understanding to overcome a lean patch? 

Let me remind both these gentlemen, still holding key positions despite their controversial tenure that Sarfaraz, even today, deserves to be in the playing eleven in all three formats if merit is the sole criterion for selection. He has better strike-rate than every Pakistani batsman other than Babar Azam. 

There’s absolutely no problem in picking him automatically for the white-ball outfits. Many of the international teams are fielding more than one wicketkeeper-batsman in their playing eleven these days. Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka in particular are doing it most frequently. 

Therefore hell will not break loose if Pakistan also engages two wicketkeeper-batsmen in their line-up since they are good enough to make the cut. 

Muhammad Rizwan, who has been supported generously and extravagantly by the powers that be in an effort to displace Sarfaraz by hook or by crook, has become the darling of the Pakistani commentators and former Test cricketers. These same guys were playing similar tune when Sarfaraz was at the peak of his career not very long ago. 

Coming to selection matters, it’s really mind boggling to find Asif Ali and Haider Ali such an extended run at the international stage after so many failures. If the policy is not corrected and the current Pakistan team is not altered then I don’t see them going anywhere in the World T20 Championship due to be held later this year. Changes are needed and time is fast running out. The concerned authorities will be advised to take remedial actions rather than using their energies in counterproductive pursuits.

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India make amends for toss losses by winning series across formats

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Everyone knows and understands the importance of winning tosses in sub-continental conditions where pitches in Tests tend to get slower as the match progresses while it’s much easier to set targets rather than set one in limited overs games where dew makes it difficult for bowlers and fielders. 

It’s really incredible that India, under the leadership of Virat Kohli, managed to win the series in all three formats recently at home against England despite lost 10 of the 12 tosses. The hosts pocketed the Test series 3-1 while they emerged triumphant 2-1 in both ODI as well as T20I series. 

By doing so, the Indians proved themselves as the top team not only in Tests but also in white ball segments. India’s rotten luck with the coin allowed England to win the first Test at Chennai against all odds. 

Skipper Joe Root extended his brilliant form of Sri Lankan series with yet another double hundred as England piled up the runs and agony for the home side who eventually succumbed to the scoreboard pressure to suffer an unexpected defeat after a memorable tour of Australia where they had come from behind to clinch the Test series despite losing key players to injury. 

The Indians were frustrated by injuries in the home series against England too. Ace all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was unable to take part in any game while his replacement Axar Patel was also sidelined from the first Test. 

I have a strong feeling that India would have whitewashed their opponents in the Tests if Jadeja or Patel were available in the series opener. 

England’s poor selection strategy cost them dearly and the outrageous decision to send back Moeen Ali after just one Test was bewildering to say the least. 

Picking up three fast bowlers for the pink ball Test, dominated by spinners from the outset, was as strange as their so-called rotation policy which didn’t let them field a settled eleven. Batting or bowling on turning track is an art. 

As we witnessed in the first Test, left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem, due to lack of expertise and experience, was hit all over the place by the England batsmen. He clearly didn't have an idea where  to bowl on a pitch offering purchase. 

Ravinchandra Ashwin was brilliant but India badly missed Jadeja and Patel in the first Test because they have the desired skills set for such strips. Patel, as we saw in the next three Tests, was spot on as he was proficient in exploiting the conditions. 

Jadeja is an even better exponent of that art and England would have been clueless facing him on these pitches while the ball turned square. As a matter of fact England’s batsmen panicked with the amount of turn which was on offer and it played on their minds leading to their downfall. 

Among the Indian batsman, their wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was outstanding. He has shown incredible promise and if he continues batting like this for a few more years, I fancy him toppling the records held by his illustrious predecessor Mahendra Singh Dhoni. 

India’s batting, jolted occasionally, continued to have embarrassment of riches. It’s really hard to believe that world class batters like Shikar Dhawan and K L Rahul could not be slotted in the Test line-ups and the selectors cannot be faulted for this. 

If you have the quintet of champion batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in your folds it’s not possible to fit someone else there. India’s batting has the potential to come good in all conditions and they continued delivering in the toughest of circumstances during the last season. 

The Indian fast bowlers were not tested in the home series against England but they had done enough in Australia to remain trump cards. The emergence of Mohammad Siraj has boosted them further with the tried and tested quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav all of whom are expected to fire in the coming summer where India, besides tackling New Zealand in the final of World Test Championship, will also be taking on England in five-Test series.

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New chief selector accords importance to domestic performance

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Although the battle in the middle didn’t reflect this kind of total supremacy for the home side but lady luck continued smiling on Pakistan all along and they managed to whip South Africa 2-0 in the two-Test series and followed it up with 2-1 victory in the three-match series of Twenty20 Internationals. 

Both the Test matches were keenly contested and while South Africa’s big guns, notably skipper Quinton de Cock and his predecessor Faf du Plessis, failed consistently with the bat, Pakistan rallied through their tail-enders to undo the good work of the South African bowlers who continued to be troubling and testing the local batsmen. 

Already the big news has broken from South Africa with du Plessis having announced his retirement from Test cricket. He didn’t mention it but it’s obvious that his miserable failure in the Pakistan series was the reason of his sudden decision to hang his boots. He had not looked out of form or jaded in either of the two Tests in Pakistan but his inability to convert starts into something substantial cost his team both the matches. 

The newly appointed Pakistan’s chief selector, Muhammad Wasim, has every right to celebrate the victories over South Africa both series even though neither of the two conquests could be considered emphatic. The bottom line, however, was that Pakistan emerged triumphant in both the formats against a fancied outfit. 

Wasim’s policy of blooding the top performers of the domestic tournaments into the national team looks a good move and I will like to compliment him for doing it. 

The domestic events deserve to be accorded due significance in order to maintain their sanctity and allow them to be competitive. It’s heartening to watch Pakistan’s debutant left-arm spinner Nauman Ali picking up wickets in both Tests and also contributing vital runs down the order. Hasan Ali made a forceful comeback while Fawad Alam extended his brilliance to prove how wrong the national selectors were in having sidelined him for nearly a decade. 

The performance of the newcomers also remained impressive in the T20 series. Zahid Mahmood made a dream debut in the decisive third game while Usman Qadir continued to remind us of illustrious father, the great Abdul Qadir. 

The chief selector will be advised, in the larger national interest, to provide opportunities to other fringe cricketers as well in order to create a larger pool of youngsters who could be pressed into service anytime to fill vacuum created by sudden injuries or illness to the established players. Similarly those talented cricketers, who sparkled and showed promise in the limited chances coming their way, should also not be ignored or treated harshly which will be detrimental to their confidence. 

One example is that of speedster Muhammad Hasnain. He surely deserves to get more matches after having proved his mettle earlier. He had bowled so brilliantly and it was really shocking to watch him getting dropped.

New edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is round the corner and there’s excitement all over the country. We hope to see the best players of the country engaged in highly competitive matches that would indeed be enjoyed by the spectators and television viewers. 

Wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan has become a star overnight. Without going to details, let me say that the kind of luck and support he’s enjoying at the moment 

I won’t be surprised if he starts picking four or five wickets in every match when choosing to bowl. He has been batting well undoubtedly and the new feather in his cap is the captaincy of Multan Sultan in the PSL, having taken over from Shan Masood.

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T20 franchises should be made to field local players compulsorily

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Alex Hales, Chadwick Walton, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sherfane Rutherford, Imad Wasim, Umaid Asif, Mohammad Aamir, Waqas Masood and Arshad Iqbal. 

This was the playing eleven of Karachi Kings which overpowered Lahore Qalandars in the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL-2020) at the National Stadium, Karachi, on November 17. 

The social media as well as the more conventional media of newspapers, radio and television hailed it as a victory for Karachi whereas there was not a single player belonging to the metropolis taking part in the final. 

The marketers, for commercial reasons, had billed it as a Karachi-Lahore final to arouse greater interest in two of the largest cities of Pakistan which also happen to be the biggest nurseries for cricket in the country. 

These two cities, undoubtedly, have produced the highest number of international cricketers and the healthy rivalry between the two powerhouses is understandable. But was the PSL 2020 title clash really a battle between Karachi and Lahore? Absolutely not! 

It was nothing more than a gimmick to be honest. It was more a case of names of the top two cities of the country were being exploited just for the sake of commercialism. 

The organizers and the promoters of the T20 leagues all over the world need to do little justice to the name of the cities which they use to make the contest a real one instead of letting it become a fake one. 

The controlling bodies like the International Cricket Council (ICC) and its member boards of respective countries should formulate a law to ensure local participation just as they regulate matters relating to restricting the number of overseas players. 

It has become a norm in every T20 league that no more than four overseas recruits are allowed to be fielded by a franchise in the playing. Similarly it should be made mandatory to have a minimum of four players belonging to the city whose name is being used. 

This will help in generating greater interest among cricket fans. It would have made a world of difference if Karachi Kings had fielded at least four cricketers from Karachi in the PSL final. 

These players will have made it look like a Karachi outfit rather being a team of mercenaries having assembled under the banner of Karachi. Isn’t it a joke that not a single player belong to the city was playing for Karachi Kings in the final which was being branded as Karachi-Lahore final? 

The administrators of the game should look into this matter instead of leaving it to the franchises themselves. And I don’t think anything less than imposing a clause in the playing rules will help do it! 

There will be multiple benefits of encouraging local participation which includes financial returns. People of the city will be much more attracted to their team if they knew it having local stars performing in the show. 

Hopefully the concerned authorities will make a note of it as they continue searching for ways and means for improvements. T20 leagues, by the look of things, are here to stay for a long time.

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