The trauma of dismal performance of Pakistan team against India in the recent "Friendship series" still haunts the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and they are groping in the dark as to what went wrong with the "talented" young lot, who surrendered the series to the arch rivals like club cricketers.
Both PCB Chairman Shaharyar M. Khan and Chief Executive Ramiz Raja are very well aware of the grey areas and know that the fault lies in the system prevailing in the PCB, especially after the imposition of ad hocism.
Instead of putting their own house in order, they blame the format of first class cricket in the country, but they should be reminded that since 1952 when Pakistan were granted Test status by the then Imperial Cricket Conference (ICC), the present format has produced world class cricket stars.
The difference between then and now is lack of sincerity, dedication and vision. For the last over two decades, no big name, barring a few, of the level of India's Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, V.V.S. Luxman, Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan, has emerged on the national scene.
While the associations are blamed for ignoring school and club cricket and their failure to organise tournaments on the league basis, which help produce big cricketers, the then Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP) and now the PCB cannot absolve themselves from their responsibilities for such pathetic condition of the national team, which slipped from number two to seven in the world ranking.
To consolidate their control over the PCB affairs, the PCB hierarchy always pampered the vested interests in the associations, who also exploited the game and the players at will.
FORMAT OF THE GAME: After over half a century, the PCB bosses woke up after a long slumber and found the fault in the format of first class cricket and not in their own administration.
Taking refuge in the suggestion of former captain Imran Khan, who floated the idea of regional cricket with minimum role of departments in 1981, the PCB has decided to introduce regional cricket and minimise the role of the departments.
By the time this appears, the PCB Advisory Council would have approved the new format of first class cricket for the forthcoming season due to commence in September.
When Imran spoke of minimum role of departments in the domestic cricket, he was bitterly criticised by a number of former Test cricketers, arguing that the lesser role of the departments will render quite good number of players jobless.
Even now the PCB came under harsh criticism from former Test cricketers, including Little Master Hanif Mohammad, when they were invited by the PCB to seek their opinion on the departments' role.
As usual the PCB, without realising the impact of lesser role of departments in the national cricket and taking the associations into confidence, has decided to change the format of domestic first class cricket.
ROLE OF ASSOCIATIONS: However, it is also not clear what will be the role of the associations in the new format. Moreover, will the city and district associations, having an army of workers and volunteers, cooperate with the organisers, probably the would-be regional associations, and from where the funds will come to organise the events.
It is anticipated that the Board will not only supervise the tournaments, but will also bear the expanses of the tournaments.
Whatever will be the format of the first class, if the PCB should have ended ad hocism, announce the long-awaited elections of the associations in accordance with the recommendations of club scrutiny committee and waited for the formation of new Council and General body, emerging after the elections.
Without the approval of the Council and the General Body, comprising the elected representatives of the associations, the Boars once again bent upon imposing its decision in this and other matters related to game.
The situation on the national cricket scene is very fluid and the newly formed action committee of the associations will give tough time to the PCB.
Moreover, the players, associated with the departments for years, also feel insecure. Prior to minimising the role of the departments, the PCB should have taken the players into confidence and assured them that their financial interests will be safeguarded.
It is an open secret that success of any system depends on the people who are supposed to enforce discipline and order in the organisations. Sports are no exception. Here too sincere and dedicated people can deliver goods.
No doubt, the associations play a vital role in promoting the game right from the grassroots level to the top. Unfortunately, the associations in Pakistan have failed to promote the game at the grassroots level. Absence of school, club cricket and league tournaments has hampered the emergence of quality players. Besides, they did not concentrate on providing basic infrastructure like grounds, equipped with gymnasiums and fitness clubs, coaching sessions and other related facilities to the players.
However, in the interest of the game, the time has come that the PCB realise its responsibilities and encourage those people who are really interested to see the game flourish in the country.
Moreover, the PCB should also abandon the policy of pampering those elements, who are glued to their seats for the last so many years and did nothing to groom the budding talent.
To achieve positive result, a ruthless surgery both at PCB and association level is the need of the time.
SENATE BODY'S COMMENTS: Meanwhile, PCB chief Shaharyar Khan and Chief Executive Ramiz Raja have been taken to task by the Senate Committee on Sports, and were held responsible for the poor performance against India and mismanagement in the Board.
While Shaharyar was accused of taking the Cricket Board as a joke, Ramiz Raja was charged with violating the PCB constitution, which clearly says the Chief Executive has to work full time.
He was asked by the committee to stop doing commentary over television.
Though Shaharyar accepted full responsibility of the defeat against India, saying there were faults. "While the Indians played to their full potentials, Pakistan were let down by their bowlers, who claimed themselves to be the best in the world, he admitted. Anyhow, Pakistan team was lacking in "unity, cohesion, national spirit and mental toughness, especially in Test matches.
However, he PCB Advisory Council would look into the causes of the team's failure which failed to click at the right time, he said.
The Senate body also lashed out at fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, and described him as a "pampered and at spoilt baby."
The PCB chief was asked to tell the "fast bowler" either to play cricket or do his tantrums.
POTENTIALS: However, the recent series has indicated the Pakistani batsmen have the potentials to give a tough fight to any side in the one-day internationals, but they lack Test match temperament. Since our batsmen, especially openers, are stroke players, they never bother to stay at the wickets. They play ruthless and irresponsible shots, thus throwing their wickets and creating problems for later order batsmen.
SELECTORS' ROLE: It is time that the national selectors should make two separate teams -- one for Tests and the other for one-day internationals.
This requires hard work and they should come out of their shells and watch the matches for themselves during the forthcoming season.
They should unearth batsmen like Asim Kamal, who, in his very first match against India, showed his grit and patience to stay at the crease for long period.
As regards the menace of extra runs, it is the responsibility of the bowlers themselves to realise their responsibility. Wayward and erratic bowling will never earn them wickets, rather it will help the opponents to pile up big totals without playing a single shot.
Now that the Board has decided to acquire the services of South African Berry Richard and planning to hire former speedsters Wasim Akram and Waqar Younus as bowling coaches, it is hoped that Pakistani bowlers, especially Shoaib Akhtar, will try to learn the techniques of maintaining line and. length.
Least but not the last, it has been noticed that Pakistan also lacked an inspiring leadership. No doubt skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq is soft spoken and unassuming, but as captain he has failed to inculcate in the boys the spirit of "Play for Pakistan and with Pakistan."
There is no denial of the opinion of former Test cricketers, including former captain Asif Iqbal, that if "Pakistan want to win, they can win", provided they keep in mind that they are playing for Pakistan.
Now it is the combined responsibility of the Board, selectors, coach and the captain to make the boys understand the importance of "Play for Pakistan."
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