We hear about it every now and then. Imran Khan has mentioned it a million times, Inzi just mentioned it in his last interview and almost all the greats have mentioned this fact now and then. Now the question remains the same. If every body realizes that we need a structure change then how come we havent seen any developement in this regard?
Mr Ashraf has announed to constitution for PCB and it gets me wondering wether this will lead to any progress. We have seen this so many times. Players performing well in domestic cricket for contineous seasons but when provided an oppertunity to play at the highest level, simply fail.
What needs to be done to groom our talent just like Australia? PCBs got the money then what seems to be main obstacle towards a +ve future?
Re: Our Domestic Structure
A genuine question, still unanswered by many.
Gravity Killz Jee, the main obstacles, from my view, are the following. It may not be completely accurate (at all) due to different parameters attached to the reasonings below, but nevertheless, two items, under any circumstances, are a given, regardless of who is managing who. First is favoritism. Second is politics. Third is the horrendous combined mixture of favoritism and politics, which is slowly eating away many societies, worldwide. A sincere positive approach is needed by a visionary. There are a few things in life that people resent, more than favoritism. It originates the feeling that it doesn't matter how one performs on the job; it is 'who you know', rather than 'what you do'. The popularity of your network has to be substantially larger, which in case determines who receives the hefty perks. The end result is decreased morale and reduction in productivity.
On the subject of comparing player performances in different circuits, one really has to start digging through the deep trenches at the root level and thumb out the source of the problem. Attitude towards others and code of ethics play a vast role in a life of a human being. Different players play with or against each other with groups who come from all walks of life. Basic human understanding and civilization is a key, rather than an afterthought. Other factors could possibly include the level of enthusiasm, will power and internal mind strength, all of which play a heavy role in shaping the life of a human being, and that of a cricketer.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
^very well written dhobi bhai ... We have examples of players making it to the top level sheerly on their talent including Razler, Younis khan etc etc... but then again i guess they were really gifted players and thus were able to pass through the TOUGH criterias set by PCB...i was reading a recent interview from Imran Khan which was in a local paper... he was talking about the domestic structure of Pakistan ... He said the only way to improve Pak cricket is to get rid of Departmental cricket and encourage regional level cricket and the # of teams should be reduced even on the regional level, so only the players with mature approach and hard nerves will be able to make it to the top level but i guess to implement this SOMEONE has to cut the roots of the 2 facts that you mentioned.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Yes Imran Khan has been advocating this for a long time that department cricket should be replaced with more regional cricktet.
However - there are others such as big mouth Javed Miandad and Asif iqbal who seem to be in favour of department cricket and argue that departments have produced plenty of international players and importantly provide regular source of income for players.
So don't know what exactly should happen to the domestic structure. Would it generate any excitement if were to watch PIA V Habib Bank or Lahore V Karachi or Punjab V NWFP?
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Yar as long as it is +ve competition thats all what really matters..rather then making sure half of pakistan gets salaries from departments, we should generate a solid team from a cricket crazy nation.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
I believe if only we can prepare different pitches for our domestic talent to play and groom themselves on then we can get better skilled batsmen/bowlers through the cricket setup otherwise we will keep relying on individual talents to show up at the doors.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Now Inzi has some suggestions :hoonh:
Our players not mentally tough: Inzamam
CAPE TOWN Feb 12: Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq on Monday emphasised that Pakistan team must develop mental strength to achieve better results in international competitions, suggesting drastic measures in domestic cricket for this purpose.
“Mental strength is essential for players if they want to score more victories in international competitions,” Inzamam said in an interview to a private tv channel after Pakistan’s humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the fourth ODI. “I feel our players are not strong enough mentally to face pressure situations like the one we faced against South Africa on Sunday at Cape Town.”
Pakistan were bundled out for just 107 while the home side reached 113 in just 14 overs to win the match. The last match of the ODI series will be played at Johannesburg on Wednesday with the SA leading 2-1.
“Our domestic first class structure should be improved sufficiently to enable players to face pressure situations and to cope with them”, the burly skipper said.
“Our first class competitions are not competitive enough sometimes and the standard of the two competing teams in a match can be poles apart which is no yardstick for judging them.”
Inzamam proposed that the domestic first class structure should contain lesser number of teams — all top quality ones — which would generate more competitive cricket.—APP
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Dhobi bhai, gravity thiis may give you some insight… coz this thread lit up old wounds.
since this is about domestic circuit of Pakistan cricket. I can share my long unforgetten experience… 
When you are present at all the practice, when or where ever they are (evening/morning or afternoon) no matter how much distance you have to travel from Nazimabad to defence ground, you are there on time, coach and senior players prasie you in practice for your efforts coz you are left arm bowler which are rare. but yet when the crunch time comes you are on the side lines carrying drinks, messages from the coach or change of gloves/bat and on an odd occasion you get a chance to field? for how long can you do that? 3 months, 5 months or 7 months you think you will get a chance yet new players with more luck and fortune are in the team within the space of 2 months?
How would you feel when you have done this inside out for 12+months?
I would say I did get a chance and a whole lot of it after this long painful hard work, but is it really worth?
Do you math and you will come to same conclusion either you can enjoy watching from the comfort of your bed or with your friends or dream on if you dont have a source inside cricket circles no matter how talented you are.
As for regional teams vs department teams; well you are asking for an over-haul of domestic teams, not only it will incur in loss of sponserships which are flowing in and cricketers are getting reward to play, Inzi said that first class should comprise of less team “all top quality teams” I think Inzi knows this for sure that doing this wont help the cause; Ask any player the best comes out only when you are playing against the best, a feeling of getting scouted or being under watchful eyes does enhance the performance of any player but if the best are competing with you, that is another aura itself.
Make all the big shots play domestic cricket (kinda Mandatory), set High standards for batting avgs, above avg pay for the umpires that wont buy 'em out a decision with lunch break biryani. keeping one standard ball and one standard for the pitches and follow up on the ground condition (you should not be playing a quarter-final game on a cement pitch and muddy ground, just coz A.O clinc sponsered night game is starting over weekend).
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Acrobi dear, skillfully written!
This thread has been a good insight from all participants involved.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Imran Khan has always criticised our domestic cricket structure ie departmental cricket, but has yet to provide sources of alternative income. Other than just provide domestic cricket, departments (banks etc) provide stable jobs and incomes for the poor boyzzz who want to play cricket. Can state or city clubs even pay for a match? Sadly no, yet Khan sahib insists that we disband the current structure for something which will not even pay for the cricket ball.
As for Inzimam, well what can one say, this jackass is the product of the same system yet he has problems with it simply because it provides a good excuse for his inadequate performance in South Africa. Javed Miandad, Akram, Mushtaq, Saqlain, Saeed Anwer, Rashed Lateef, Yusuf Yuhana (Moyo), Yunus Khan, Moin Khan, Shoaib Akhter and many many (including Inzimam) owe their fame and fortune to the departmental cricketing structure.
Question that needs to be asked is what have all these greats done for the same system that gave them so much? What have they given in return? Except for a very few such as Rashed Lateef, rest of these big fat cats enjoy the luxuries of life, travel around the world, very conviniently condemn the same system who made them what they are today and yet cannot find the time for domestic cricket.
Is the current cricketing structure the best? certainly not, there is plenty of room for improvement and yes state level cricket will be of great value, but only when it can sustain itself.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
On the subject of comparing player performances in different circuits, one really has to start digging through the deep trenches at the root level and thumb out the source of the problem. Attitude towards others and code of ethics play a vast role in a life of a human being. Different players play with or against each other with groups who come from all walks of life. Basic human understanding and civilization is a key, rather than an afterthought. Other factors could possibly include the level of enthusiasm, will power and internal mind strength, all of which play a heavy role in shaping the life of a human being, and that of a cricketer.
Dhobi_bhai,
I really enjoyed your article and I also feel kinda same as you do. I don't know till how long we are going to ridicule the advice of Imran Khan that we need an overhaul of our domestic structure. I think it's not about the departmental structure of Habib Bank Vs. PIA but the focus should be on rewarding players with great coaching after their superb performances in the domestic level.
It's a far cry to ask the PCB to finish the departmental sponsored Cricket we've. It's like asking the ECB to get rid of counties. You won't get anywhere from that. Rather, we should be focusing on getting the good players out of the domestic arena into places like NCA (Lahore) for extensive training and grooming.
Take an example of Shahid Yousuf. He did so well in the domestic circuit last year but we don't ever hear about him. We lost player like Salman Butt through all this mess because we don't have a rewarding program.
Secondly, I believe there's no accountability in PCB or Pakistan Cricket. Just take an example of the NCA in Lahore. If you ever visit it, you'll find it at the same level as any English or Aussie Cricket academy. The facilities are great and it's being run by Mudassir Nazar. Let me just ask you that how many players the NCA has produced since it's creation the late 1998 or 1999. The safarish system has not only gotten us undeserving players in the team but it tends to discourage the players who outsmart the "big family" name players.
Thirdly, we will continue to have the "great" selection problem for our team till we have people like Wasim Bari in the selection committee. The selection committee has recently been awarded "salaries" or before hand, they were doing the selection process free of charge. What do you expect from a free selection committee? Nothing but irregular selection of teams, waste of players like Imran Nazir, Salman Butt and Asim Kamal and even Zulqarnain.
I mean just take a look at our "adhoc" selection committees smartness. They have been unable to find us a fixed pair of openers in the last 4 years. Now, they selected Imran Nazir and Hafeez as our openers for the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of lurdiculousness that Hafeez is been sitting out in the first 3 games vs. SA. I mean, doesn' he need more match practice than Azhar Mahmood? On top of it, they bring Imran Nazir, after a gap of 2 years, right into the team and then put him in the World Cup squad. He's a guy that you had been ignoring for the last 2 years and now you expect him to outperform everyone... You gotta be a moron!!!!!!!!!
I'm still optimistic that Pak team can make something out of their good experience but how long can we run on tukkas? There got to be a stop and we better get started after the WC 2007 or else it's going to be the same scene in the WC 2011... Hope that it doesn't happen...
Regards,
Umer
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Is the PCB heirarchy only inclined towards ‘personal goals’?
The Aussies’ dominance cannot be attributed to their talent only. They have a mechanism in place which acts like a filter and ensures only the best get a chance of passing through it and making it to the top
By Imran Farooqi
Desperation sometimes leads to strange reactions; reactions that are easy to make, but difficult to understand, and even more difficult to substantiate. More often than not these responses lack sense and cause more harm than good. Rather than addressing the core issue they tend to create more trouble that is even harder to control.
Pakistan’s cricket team’s tour to South Africa has exposed some serious problems that should have come to the fore and dealt with accordingly a lot earlier. Ill-planning, that has long been the hallmark of Pakistan cricket, has already done, and will continue to do, an awful lot of damage to the sport here. And there seems to be no let-up in near future as well.
The way players were sent to and recalled from South Africa speaks a lot about the calibre of those who are at the helm. Those associated with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are supposed to work for developing the game in this country. Unfortunately, most of them are there just for nothing and are more inclined towards achieving their ‘personal’ goals.
Pakistan’s performance against all teams may not be below par during the last 10 years, but it is a distressing fact that in the same period they have not been able to throw a serious challenge to two very good Test and one-day outfits, i.e. Australia and South Africa. To measure one’s success one needs a benchmark for making a fair judgment. In cricket Australia is the benchmark. The last decade – during which they won whatever there was to be won – rightly belongs to them.
The Aussies’ dominance cannot be attributed to their talent only. They have a mechanism in place which acts like a filter and ensures only the best get a chance of passing through it and making it to the top. They firmly believe in quality, not quantity. And that’s why they do not play too many first-class games during their domestic season. Yet the number of world-class competitors they keep throwing on to a cricket field is simply awesome.
Australia have just six state sides, and all teams play first-class matches on home-and-away basis against each other, which comes to around a dozen matches per season. For the Aussie selectors these games are enough to give them a fair idea about the upcoming players’ true potential. Once identified, the selected youngsters are picked for specialised training in order to equip them for the tough terrain that lies ahead. In Pakistan players get training after joining the national squad!
Cricket Australia’s bosses aren’t very famous names, yet the service they are rendering for the development of the sport in their country is nothing but exemplary. Here, we have all sorts of bureaucrats and generals fighting for PCB’s top job. These people not only lack knowledge of the game, but are also ill-equipped to occupy such an important and prestigious seat. Once into the job they pick men of their choice for performing sensitive tasks, and then the only thing that flourishes is chaos, utter chaos.
When Pakistan had left for South Africa last month, Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul and Shabbir Ahmed were not considered for reasons relating to lack of fitness and form. But as soon as Pakistan lost the first Test, Shoaib and Gul were on their way to South Africa to bolster the helpless attack. Shoaib did play in the second game – which Pakistan managed to win following a great fightback by their middle-order and some wonderful bowling from Mohammad Asif and Danish Kaneria – but broke down in the second innings after sending down a couple of overs.
Gul, meanwhile, failed to prove his fitness, and returned to Pakistan along with Shoaib. Now the question is: what was the point in sending half-fit bowlers to take on a strong side like South Africa in the first place? With the World Cup just round the corner was the risk worth taking? Didn’t we have fit and deserving young pacers available in the country to support the weakened attack? More importantly, when have Pakistan done well in South Africa during the last 10 years? Even stronger teams from Pakistan, and for that matter from the sub-continent as well, have struggled there. Did it make sense to send unfit and out of practice players to South Africa and expect a dramatic turn-around in fortunes?
To add to the confusion, Shabbir, who had hardly played any cricket after completing his ban, joined the team before the commencement of the limited-over stage of the tour only to return after breaking down during the Twenty20 game.
The story does not end here. After taking a terrible beating at the hands of the hosts in the first one-dayer, Azhar Mahmood and Rao Iftikhar Anjum were asked to pack their bags and join the squad in South Africa. To do what, nobody knows. Pakistan had all their players fit and available for selection for the remaining four one-dayers, so who were these two supposed to be going to replace? Maybe those who were not performing!
Is this the way professionals run an organisation? Unfortunately we are a nation which does not learn from its mistakes. And this scenario is not likely to change in the coming days. Like the 2003 World Cup, this year’s edition, too, could turn out to be a nightmare. We will continue to compete with, and do well against, sides like India, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and West Indies. But against stronger teams we’ll always struggle. Unless we have honest and thorough professionals managing the affairs of the PCB, we’ll not have a team that will enjoy as much success overseas as they do at home.
http://jang.com.pk/thenews/feb2007-weekly/nos-11-02-2007/spo.htm
Re: Our Domestic Structure
some good new…
NCA chiefs vow to meet future challenges
By Ghalib Mehmood Bajwa
It is quite natural and obvious that any new set up or system takes a certain period to prove its worth and utility and then one can expect any kind of results from it. Similarly, the National Cricket Academy (NCA), which is already contributing quite effectively in different ways these days, would play an even more important role for the bright future of the game in the coming years, these views were expressed by former Test all-rounder and Director NCA Mudassar Nazar and Manager Coaching Education Shahid Aslam while talking to ‘The News on Sunday’ (TNS) last week.
Soft-spoken Mudassar said that NCA, which was established a couple of years ago, would be an ideal cricketing institution in the next few years. NCA, which is first of its kind in the country, is being run by some determined and committed individuals and there’s no reason we couldn’t achieve our goal in the near future. It’s wrong concept that NCA is only a cricket academy, actually we do provide world class coaching, accommodation, medical cover and even entertainment to our entrants simultaneously at NCA, he informed.
"At NCA we do focus on players’ physical fitness, mental toughness and other related weaknesses. Every cricketer plays the game as per his individual potential or abilities but at NCA, we provide cricketers such an environment in which they can rectify their not only cricketing flaws but other problems such as behavioral, discipline and media interaction etc.
“At the academy, the players are groomed in a way that they can converse in public with great amount of confidence. For this purpose there are computer literacy programmes and English language courses to enhance their reading and writing skills.”
To a question regarding importance of English language courses, Mudassar said they are planning to launch the said courses at regional academies as well so that our youngsters especially from remote areas, can face international media and cope with such a situation anywhere with confidence.
“We are also outlining a programme to pick shining players through different age group camps from around the country and then we will impart education to them according to international requirements,” he elaborated.
Replying to another question, Mudassar said, "Level III Coaching Course would also be introduced at regional level soon and the candidates would be free to choose Urdu or English language to appear in the said course.
“We are developing such an infrastructure through which we would be able to organise high profile Level 4 Coaching Course at NCA till 2009,” Mudassar, who represented Pakistan in 76 Tests and 122 ODIs, further told.
“The NCA has been playing a great role for the modification of bowling action of many bowlers including Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik etc,” he further said.
Mudassar, a prolific opener of yesteryear, said that they were working for the improvement of comprehensive physical and mental skills of cricketers.
“Efforts are under way to better players’ spoken English and communication skills, mannerism, diet control, social skills and confidence building,” he added. The academy follows a proper plan and controls the eating habits of players for maintaining their good health.
“We have arranged a panel of doctors and physical trainers to cope with any problem relating to physical fitness.
“Systematic and progressive coaching techniques are also being taught at NCA. We also hold regular trial matches and situational exercises to fine tune players’ abilities and skills,” he informed.
Regarding the Indoor Cricket School at NCA, Mudassar told that this unique school provides the players round the clock practice with latest facilities. “The spacious Indoor School has five synthetic pitches of two different natures. The school is also equipped with bowling machines of international standard. The five lane indoor school will further expand the opportunities for players, coaches and even umpires to improve their level of respective skills,” he concluded.
PCB’s Manager Coaching Education Shahid Aslam, who was also present on this occasion, explained the importance of NCA saying “The NCA, since its inauguration, is contributing a lot and will continue to contribute in future. However, one can evaluate its exact utility after three or four years,” he opined.
The National Cricket Academy provides all essential ingredients to ensure positive results of our training programmes. “Various techniques are being adopted in each segment of the programmes to achieve the desired objectives. Different coaching camps at NCA will further help in improving the technical and tactical skills of the players,” he added.
Here I want to mention that proper Sports Education can play a vital role in building a career of a player in any game. “As we know that sports and sports-mindedness teach us discipline and ways of positive living,” he told.
Responding to a query regarding standard of Pakistan coaching, Shahid, who did various international coaching courses including Level III (ECB), ICC High Performance Course, Bowling, batting and fielding specialist courses (ACC), Tutor Educator Course (ACC & ECB), confirmed that Pakistan was way ahead than India and Sri Lanka as far as standard of coaching and coaching structure were concerned.
Shahid, who appeared in 17 first-class matches, was of the view that the standard of coaching in Pakistan is at par with international level.
In the near future, ICC is about to take charge of coaching besides setting up an academy at Dubai. And we are quite confident that Pakistan’s coaching courses would be recognised in every cricket playing country,” he expressed his determination.
Shahid further said that one can observe visible improvement in the functioning of NCA since the induction of leading Test stars – Mudassar Nazar and Aaqib Javed as Director and Chief Coach, respectively. While informing about the strength at NCA, Shahid told that apart from Mudassar and Aaqib, former first-class all-rounder Ali Zia is acting as Assistant Director, former international cricketer Mansoor Rana is looking after the batting department. Another former player Mohtashim Rasheed is responsible for bowling activities at NCA.
“There are 11 cricket regions in the country and every region has its own head coach, assistant coach and physical trainer,” Shahid disclosed. “You know in modern day cricket, a physio played an important role in keeping players fit and after some time, we would be in a position to provide NCA-trained physiotherapists to our regional academies,” he continued.
“I would try my best to grab Sports Bio-Mechanic Degree and clear Level 4 Coaching Course in the coming years,” Shahid, who played league cricket in England and Scotland from 1991 to 2001, told while unfolding his future plans. Shahid, who has vast knowledge of cricket coaching, maintained that only England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been holding Level 4 Coaching Course for the last two years and ECB has so far restricted this high profile course only to county coaches, he informed.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Imran arguments are legitimate, since most of the money come from viewers and sponsorship. Sponsor will be willing to sponsor a team if there is a big crowd watching it, since for sponsor it is a source of advertisement. If we have HBL vs PIA, do you think both organizations bosses will give a day off to all the employee to go and watch a match? answer will be NO. But on other hand if we have a match between Lahore and Karachi, or Punjab vs. NWFP, it is more likely that people will come and watch the game. But it could only be encouraged more and could be more successful, if our politics allow changes at grass roots level, which mean if we have more autonomy to the metropolitans and provinces. So that people do care for their local setup, and local set get more incentives and courage to do things for their cities and towns.
In present setup, every one knew that a Mayor or nazim has no say in things rather it is under the auspices of Musharaf or Asharaf, so no one could care much about local area. We should stop worrying about people nationalism, which is a FACT and we should accept it. No matter what kind of restrictions we may impose, a PATHAN will always be a pathan, a Punjabi will always be a punjabi, lets open our eyes, give more autonomy to the provinces and towns and cities and see how our cricket stars excel.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
dramatic stuff being done by the NEW chairman to improve cricket at GRASS ROOT LEVEL 
Inaugural PCB-Pepsi National Club Cricket Tournament 2007
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in collaboration with Pepsi Cola International is organizing the PCB/Pepsi National Club Cricket Championship 2007. This is the first time that such a championship is being organized. The tournament would commence in the first week of May, 2007.
160 club teams from 71 districts (with playing rights) of the 11 cricketing regions of Pakistan will participate in the tournament. The club teams of those districts whose respective District/City Cricket Association have not organized a club tournament at the district level will not be included in the tournament.
The PCB/Pepsi National Club Cricket Championship 2007 is being conducted by the heads of the respective Regional Cricket Associations. The respective PCB Regional Development Managers/Regional Development Officers will act as coordinators between the Regions and PCB.
This is another part of PCB’s initiatives to develop cricket at the grassroots level and its rejuvenation through PCB’s district/regional setup.
Media Department
Cricket News - Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Official Website
Re: Our Domestic Structure
160 club teams <<
rewRiyaaN buT rahi haiN 
stupid domestic cricket plan.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Imran khan will be really thrilled with the news.... jitna kam teams kaa keh raha thaa... now we will have a team for every college in pakistan :)
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Since Pakistan has a lot more Cricket wanabe's then Australia where a lot more sports are available, it is not that unreasonable to have a lot more teams being entered in local championships. However, regional cricket associations should be pooling a single team at the national championship level. In effect, there should be as many teams as deemed reasonable at the regional level, but only present to churn out a top 11 for the national championships from each region. This might be more effective for Pakistan where a lot more politics hangs over the sport since it gets almost undivided attention from the public. With a better funnelling of top players to the national cricket team, it would be also just as important to use the advertising and sponsorship money for local infrastructure and facilities development. Regional academies for training should be present as well alongside the NCA. If there is only one academy, it would again be ripe with politics and the common talent might not get entry to it.
Imran Khans professing a complete cloning of the Australian domestic system, might not be 100% effective in Pakistan.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
The answer is seaming wickets. Initially, batsmen will struggle but over timewe will develop skills rather than relying on rare talents to bob up.
Re: Our Domestic Structure
Man, how hard is to create domestic sports leagues? Even poor ass countries in Africa have good soccer leagues that enables them to be so competitive at the international level. Why the heck is it so hard, seriously? Instead of signing up for new series every other week, they should have a good schedule in place. Every winter (or summer), PCB should keep their calender clean for about 5-6 months, during which only the domestic league will be active. For the remaining 6-7 months, PCB can engage in as many international fixtures as they want. I know PCB will be quick to point out that having such a long absence from international cricket will cut into their almighty revenue stream but if the domestic league is marketed properly (like NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, EPL, + countless other professional sports leagues), the loss of revenue can be easily made through the league itself. Its a win-win proposition really. Too bad PCB will never be proactive enough to take such productive steps.