Why Pakistan Cricket has hit rock bottom – the fall and a possible resurgence (Part 4)
Just as any team would accept their accolades there is a need for them to accept criticism as well. What is being considered by the PCB as a conspiracy is in fact a manifestation of a wrong that has existed
for a long time now, but was allowed to nurture and given implicit fodder by maintaining their silence. The media cannot be blamed for it, for the fault lies with the way PCB has made itself into a laughing stock.
There was once a time when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket was feared; now it is nothing more than a joke without any humour. Mr Ijaz Butt is merely a reflection of the rigidity, thoughtlessness and stubbornness of the
democratic government. Despite mass discontent, there seems to be no apparent effect.
The solution to a viable domestic structure lies in considering the proposal of Mr. Imran Khan for the domestic level. He proposed that there should be six first class teams with all the talent from the
country concentrated in these six teams. “These should be divisional sides - established on the pattern of the old administrative divisions. And there should be another six teams in grade two and yet another six in grade three, with promotion and relegation
pushing the two bottom sides to the tier below and the two winners elevated to the one higher.Only this would ensure that in order not to be relegated every side would fight for the best talent in the country. This would then ensure quality competition, in
turn producing Test cricketers of a very high quality.”
His system also proposed that the departments should be done away with and they should be asked to sponsor the regional teams instead. This would then work to benefit the departments and work to develop
quality cricketers for the country. There is a need for a clear merit based selection criteria as well, to ensure that all cricketers enter the national side through a well defined process.
Mr. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128, during his tenure at the PCB has, instead of decentralizing authority for greater impact, created a centralized structure, with everything requiring the approval of his highness. Many former
cricketers who became part of the PCB resigned due to the interference of this man. PCB has over the years become a rather political phenomenon and in the last few years Pakistan Cricket Board has seen a retired General, an ambassador, a doctor and now a 72
year old cricketer who barely played the game some five decades ago.
Once the 18 teams at the regional level are established with six teams at the first class level, the board can then form an elected association who would then elect the chairman of the cricket board for
a duration of two years and not more than that.
The ICC has minced no words in its claims to tackle the problem of corruption very seriously. While they are at it, it would not be much to ask if they could maybe conduct an audit of their very own President
Mr. Sharad Pawar who according to many Indian writers is the corrupt face of Indian Politicians. The fact that the cricket boards are so politicized is yet another problem for the ICC - that they turn a blind eye to. If they are serious about tackling the
issues of corruption then they need to ensure that all cricket boards abide by their policies and the ICC must flex its muscles to try to end the political involvement in the cricket boards of various countries.
As far as Pakistan’s internal cricketing structure is concerned there needs to be a long term effort to consolidate cricket in the country. Tauqir Zia’s initiative of vision 2005 led to the creation of
state of the art facility for cricketers in Lahore, along with the establishment of Regional academies all over the country. Many of the players in the national side today are a result of his vision 2005 initiative including Shoaib Malik, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yasir-Hameed-c2811, Umar
Gul and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Danish-Kaneria-c1314. He successfully completed 75 % of the vision 2005 during his tenure which resulted in the establishment of almost 60 cricket grounds in the country.
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