Nothing is well on the country's sports front. Some all-time low performances in squash, hockey and cricket are a sardonic comment on the efficiency and expertise of those running the national sports affairs.
In the early nineties, Pakistan ruled the sports world winning all the major titles in cricket, hockey, squash and snooker, but their slide is continuing since the mid-nineties.
Pakistan ruled the squash world from 1981 to 1997. Since then, the game is waiting for strong hands in Pakistan Squash Federation (PSF) to win all the past honours.
After the exit of Jahangir Khan and Jansher Khan, it was expected that Amjad Khan, Mansoor Zaman and Shahid Zaman could bring back the golden era of the game. But none of them was impressive in the World Open and British Open.
Jansher was the last player to give Pakistan such a credit when he won the 20th World Open by beating Rodney Eyles (Australia) in November 1996 at Karachi.It was Jansher's eighth consecutive win in this glittering show.
Jansher, who won the 1997 the British Open for the sixth and last time, was also the last Pakistani to win the Junior World Championship (Individual title) in 1986, beating Eyles in the final. He was also one of the four p1ayers, along with Jahangir Khan, Zarak Jahan and Mir Zaman Gul when Pakistan enjoyed the top spot in World Team Championship for the last time in 1993.
Hockey
Hockey has brought innumerable honours to Pakistan. Three-time Olympic Champions Pakistan might have become the first country to meet the success of completing grand slam, had they not boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to political compulsions. Pakistan were then the holders of World Cup and Champions Trophy while titles of Asian Games and Junior World Cup were also with Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF).
After winning Bombay World Cup in 1982 and Los Angeles Olympics in 1984,Pakistan were in need of a triumph in the Champions Trophy. It is a pity that Pakistan, who are now without any title in hockey circus, finished sixth in the recently concluded Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
Once considered a giant in hockey, Pakistan have an unimpressive show since 2002. The three-time Olympic Champions and four-time World Cup holders Pakistan failed to grab any major international event during the last couple of years.
Overall, Pakistan's hockey performance is disappointing and one cannot predict bleak era will come to an end.
Despite support from the government and improvement in hockey facilities, Pakistan are finding it difficult to regain their past glory in this stick game.
The main reason behind is that the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has failed to attract the youngsters, who prefer to more lucrative cricket than hockey.
Cricket
About cricket, the less said the better, as the game is passing through the worst ever phase since 1999, thanks to the inconsistent ad hoc-based policies of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
One is dismayed at the way the cricket is being handled at the top level. True, the domestic cricket needs a lot of improvement to meet the international standards, but it is a daunting task for the higher-ups in the PCB.
Unmindful of the future of domestic cricket, they have pushed the associations to the wall and now they are planning to drastically reduce the role of departments in domestic cricket.
Besides, the issue for appointment of a coach -foreign or local -- for the national team -- is being debated in cricket circles. While the PCB is frantically looking for a new coach after the failed campaigns in the World Cup, there are mixed opinions about the hiring of a foreign coach
Anyhow, the Ad hoc Committee of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is determined to hire a foreign coach and an announcement in this respect is expected soon by June 12.
WASIM AKRAM'S VIEWS:
Some former Test cricketers, including former captain Wasim Akram, are in favour of a foreign coach.
For example, Wasim argues: "I think the culture in Pakistan and India is such where the players feel at ease with a foreign coach, so I feel that a foreigner can help in a better way." But others suspect the contributions of former foreign coaches - South African Richard Pybus and the late Bob Woolmer of England - towards raising the standard of team performance in away series such as those against England, South Africa and the 2007 World Cup in Caribbean.
They believe the senior team does not need a coach, but a strategist, planner and felicitator, who could motivate the boys and make them mentally and physically tough and fit to face challenges.
Moreover, he should also be able to guide and motivate the captain to lead from the front by instilling in him a greater sense of responsibility. Praising Australian Steve Rixon, who coached New Zealand from 1996 to 1999, Wasim Akram said Rixon could bring much-needed aggression and could guide the young Pakistan side well because he had the experience of taking forward a young New Zealand side led by Stephen Fleming."
LACK OF AGGRESSION:
Performances in the recent past show that the captain did not exhibit his aggressive intentions, as he was found complacent, entirely relying on his pace attack and expecting for miracles.
Despite having bowlers, who are endowed with killer instincts, top order batting and sloppy ground fielding are the two areas of concern.
Though Pakistan's dependence increases on the experienced middle order batsmen in the crucial matches, they also faltered, as the openers never provided the base the middle and lower batsmen needed to build up the innings.
Taufeeq Umar, Salman Butt, Misbah-ul-Haq, Yasir Hameed and some others youngster from among over a dozen batsmen, were never given a fair chance to prove their mettle with the willow as openers.
They have been dumped after a match or two, as the national selectors and the team management believed in makeshift arrangements instead of continuing persisting with the specialised openers.
Similar is the case of young middle order batsman Asim Kamal. Although he has the guts and ability to stay long on the crease, but he failed to win the favour of the selectors for one reason or the other.
The much-publicised PCB "Think Tank" should keep in mind it is nothing but a genuine depth in batting and bowling which is lacking in the team for over several years. However, it is heartening to note that Salahuddin led selection committee has called several players from Pakistan "A" team and those who performed well in the domestic season with a view to preparing a strong back-up for the national team.
DEPARTMENTS' ROLE:
Meanwhile, Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) Secretary Sirajul Islam Bukhari, commenting on the PCB Ad hoc Committee move to reduce the club's role in the domestic cricket, has appealed to the PCB hierarchy to discard any advice which may either reduce the role of departments in domestic cricket or confine them to non-first-class cricket. "Departments have contributed immensely towards the development of Pakistan cricket to the present level," the KCCA Secretary said. "By employing the cricketers, departments secure their jobs besides protecting their future so that they can fully concentrate on polishing their skills in a carefree manner," he said.
He added that the present format of domestic cricket in which both departments and associations took part in the game in their respective tournaments, was the ideal system under the prevailing socio-economic conditions in the country.
Bukhari was critical of some elements, who are found pressurising the PCB to do away with departmental cricket. This could prove suicidal for the future of Pakistan cricket, he warned. Instead, Bukhari suggested, each department should be asked to develop at least one cricket ground and infrastructure in any city.
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