Watching Pakistan bat in THAT innings (49 All out); the show was horrible, terrible … and I’m lost for more adjectives. Obviously, it was disappointing to say the lease and as a knee jerk reaction, I just wished the tour to end there and then. We most certainly are no match for the world No.1 side. The first innings on this tour has left a lasting impression and I don’t see a way back. South Africans were benevolent not to impose follow on; as I feel we could end up with 3 straight innings defeats. A scenario that nobody would have liked, not even our opponents. (Yeah, I’m sticking my neck out a bit here.)
As I was trying to find solace in nostalgia; I realized one more time that we have never ever won a series in South Africa, Australia or the West Indies. Our greatest achievement remains a 1-1 draw against the mighty West Indies in 1988-89. A result that was responsible for putting Pakistan as world no.1 side for the first and last time. Thus none of our great captains including Kardar, Mushtaq, Imran, Miandad and Wasim could achieve this feat having much superior sides full of proper superstars. Now to expect the current Pakistan team to beat a genuine world class team with 90% of their players at the peak of their careers, ranked no 1 in the world, that too in their own backyard; isn’t it a bit too much?
For me there’s no quick solution. There is no short cut involved in improving techniques. The experts have been suggesting a few: smaller pitches, wet taped balls, golf balls, and taking tips from the experienced stars, to name a few. However, in my opinion nothing could be as good and helpful as playing regular cricket in proper conditions. Practice and only practice can make a man perfect.
I have a few suggestions that might help in getting this right. First, I acknowledge that it’s going to take time and involves finances, but there is no quick fix. Yet, we have to have a strategy and an action plan to improve our techniques, skills and mental toughness. With this, there may be hope for a better performance and consistently improved results in 3 to 5 years time.
· Lease a couple of grounds in South Africa for 25-30 years period. These should be good first class level grounds with adequate training facilities.
· Offer central contracts to 60 odd players, thus constructing 4 teams of top performers.
· These players should be transported to South Africa every year for a 3 months period. They need to train and play on the South African wickets.
· With central contracts in place, the board should not be offering them any further incentive apart from food and lodging.
· The PCB cricket academy boys, whom I assume to be teenagers mostly, should spend at least 2 months each year in South Africa, thus equipping them with improved fielding; as that’s one thing our boys never learn on Pakistan grounds. We got to make our boys year in year out on these wickets till the conditions are no more alien to them.
· The groundsmen should be asked to do one job; prepare wickets on the pattern of Wanderers and Perth.
In order to move forward PCB marketing department needs to put in double shifts. We need to get sponsors on board, not only for international, but also for domestic games. We need to learn from BCCI, (no harm in that), and utilize the 2 sports channels operating in Pakistan. Money makes the world go round and without it, all the best thought of plans would remain just that, plans. We need to invest in our future, unless we give our boys opportunities to train properly, we cannot expect our boys to bring honors for us.
Misbah as the leader of the pack needs to be admired and hugely respected for how he has handled a team with limited talent and experience. Under his leadership, we have come a long way since the days of Match/spot fixing scandals. Let’s hope and pray that this tour doesn’t break the spirit of this team.
