Why is Pakistan’s domestic cricket set-up still under-talented?

In a bid to rebrand itself, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revamped its domestic structure, with the aim of reviving the cricketing system. of the country will help produce more talented players for the national team. However, if one digs beyond the surface, it turns out that these changes are nothing more than cosmetic changes since they are ongoing. then we see the same injustice when it comes to team selection.

The squads for the six teams that will compete in the National T20 Cup 2019 are just afterthoughts, still relying on ‘established’ senior players instead of giving a chance to young cricketers. This mindset continues to inform the playing groups for the national team, the Pakistan A team, the under-19 team, the Pakistan Super League team. (PSL), and national teams. There is no point in reorganizing the domestic tour if it does not provide a platform for the upcoming cricketers. There are too many ineligible players to be selected, while too many eligible players are not included. This year’s National T20 team is no different.

First, what is Asad Shafiq doing in a T20 team? He proved his inability to shine at the ODI level and has no future in white ball cricket. I don’t know any reason for his decision, other than ‘age,’ which is the norm in Pakistan cricket. Shafiq has struggled to change the batsman, and has no power to hit, making him a weak player to have in a T20 team.

Similarly, Imran Farhat has been selected in the Balochistan T20 team, but the hope of Farhat playing for the Pakistan team is next to no, so what is the reason for his inclusion in the side? Farhat is 37 years old and is clearly beyond his prime, surely a youngster should have been given his chance and a chance to prove his mettle. The Balochistan team also features Umar Gul, who was one of the best T20 players in the world, but in 2019, his international future looks bleak. I understand that the likes of Farhat and Gul are playing indoor cricket under the original structure, however, with the reduction in teams, many deserving children are still missing a chance to play. .

Balochistan team also has a cricketer named Shahbaz Khan who played a first-class match two weeks ago against Central Punjab and scored a duck in two innings. He has 16 first-class strikes after 24 innings, a list-O average of 52, and has never played a T20 match in his life. On what basis was he chosen? Shahbaz was born in Balochistan, but surely that was not the only reason for the selection.

Yasir Shah has proven time and again that he is not a white ball cricketer, but for some reason he continues to be picked in the format. This involvement is more complicated when one is interested Shahzaib Ahmed, who is a better white bowler than Shah, was not selected. Ahmed is more average than Shah in any format, and you can tell by just one look at his game that he is a great performer. In 2016 he was selected in the Pakistan A team and he took it five wickets while conceding 85 runs against the West Indies, he was never picked again. He was a part of the Balochistan first 11 team, however, he was not given a game in the entire tournament.

The inclusion of Mohammed Abbas is another bad choice since Abbas has proven himself to be an expert with the red ball. It’s 80mph over a good length, and that’s its strength. T20 cricket requires players to have some changes in their arsenal, and the fact that Abbas does not have these skills reflects in his T20 statisticswhere he took less than a wicket at a dismal average of 34. Abdullah Shafique this is one of Sialkot’s most outstanding under-19s. He was selected in the Multan Sultans team in 2018, but was not asked to play a single match. A year later, he was kicked out of the PSL without a chance, and surprisingly, he was kicked out of the squad for the National T20 Cup.

And the list goes on. We have a branch in Pakistan called Usama Mir, who is good enough to play in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) but not good enough to play in the National T20 Cup. Likewise, Mukhtar Ahmed one of the best T20 batsmen in Pakistan. He has three T20 hundreds, and a batting tally of more than 146, but he is playing in the second division. Ali Khan an all-rounder, and known in the domestic circuit for his big hitting and it was his skill that got the Lahore Whites to the top in the 2018 National T20 Cup, where Ali scored 37 in the match. rate of 149. However, this year, Ali is not playing in the national T20 tournament, either first or second division.

While I congratulate the PCB for their efforts in wanting to improve the cricketing system in the country, if the squad for the National T20 Cup is anything to go by, it is clear that PCB can solve many problems that are still rooted. in the restaurant. The same mistakes in the choice of players are common, so, in fact, nothing has changed. Domestic cricket should only be used as a breeding ground for upcoming talent and a place where coaches can find out. players can represent Pakistan in each format. It should not be a place where senior players get rich. There is a PCB value the reforms in the facility will help weed out the senior players and will give a platform to the younger cricketers. Unfortunately, that seems like a distant dream.