The recently concluded Pakistan cricket team’s tour to Australia have added another link to the ever increasing chain of failures, the World Cup 2003, the Champions Trophies 2002, 2004, Asia Cup, tri-series in Holland, the Test and One-day series with India.
I will not repeat what happened in the past but will only analyze the positives as well as the downsides of the Australian tour. But first the positives. And there were some, though overshadowed by dismal and depressing performances.
Rana Navedul Hasan was the “find” of the tour. He overcame his shortcomings with sheer guts and showed fighting spirit with a never-say-die attitude. Kamran Akmal emerged as a competent wicket keeper and a useful batsman. Salman Butt showed glimpses of brilliance and talent and if coached and guided properly he can serve Pakistan well.
Shahid Afridi dazzled and in his own style delivered. Shoaib Akhtar shimmered at times but mostly spent his time on the treatment table before fading into oblivion. Asim Kamal and Danish Kaneiria did what was expected of them and deserved to be treated better, rather than being packed homewards after the Tests.
Unfortunately, there were too many downsides all because of poor strategy on part of the coach and the helpless manager. Batsmen made the same old mistakes, bowlers showed improvement, but still there was no shortage of no-balls and wides.
The team management spearheaded by the high-profile and highly-paid coach never thought of correcting the faulty techniques of our batsmen especially on or outside the off stump, who with unerring regularity obliged by nibbling to the keeper or the slip cordon.
The running between the wicket remains confused and muddled. The fielding remains an enigma. At times it shows signs of brilliance, but mostly it is no better than that of club level.
The team’s selection remained puzzling. With the chief selector and the chairman seemingly powerless, the foreign coach was calling the shots. Why take so many regular openers and then have Kamran Akmal opening.
He is no Adam Gilchrist. Why was Asim Kamal sent back? In One-dayers a sheet anchor is required and Pakistan lacked that. Why Kaneria who was Pakistan’s best bowler in the Test series was left out?
The fitness still remains Pakistan’s Achille’s heel, inspite of coach Bob Woolmer’s hand-picked expensive trainer and physiotherapist. Inzamamul Haq remained unfit for two Tests; Shoaib Akhtar being an eternal fitness problem with no cure in sight; Mohammad Sami, an over-rated bowler (Tests: 18, 48 wickets; Avg 46.52; ODIs: 66 matches, 98 wickets, Avg 27.08, Run Per Over 4.87) too got injured and returned home before the ODI series.
Abdul Razzaq mysteriously fell sick during the Test series but made miraculous recovery to play in the ODIs. A lot of criticism has been heaped on Inzamam and his leadership.
Perhaps he is laid back, so was Imran Khan. Imran was lucky that he had someone like Miandad at his disposal to advise. Besides, Imran had inherited some of the finest cricketers this country has ever produced. Still I consider Inzamam as the best choice among the present lot with Yousuf Youhana his deputy.
Like so many mind-boggling decisions taken by the present management, the foreign coach, trainer and physiotherapist having gone on holidays before the all-important Indian tour, is another case worth probing.
From the results achieved since the home loss to India, it is clear that Pakistan cricket is managed by a weak organizational structure. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Shaharyar Khan appeared to be looking the other way allowing Pakistan to continue being annihilated on the field and eventually demoted to the proposed ICC second tier of cricketing nations.
The time has come to change the present management which has been living on false promises and believes in offering a new execuse after every reverse. We must have a knowledgeable chairman and home grown coaches - they are second to none. Let us have faith in ourselves.
*The writer is a former Test player and ex-chief selector. *Salahuddin Ahmed
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Source The Dawn
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