Sunday, October 06, 2024

England in Pakistan | Expecting another whitewash

England's tours to Pakistan used to be as frequent as the rare rain showers in Karachi. They'd come by

Management illiteracy when it comes to creation
more international standard venues all across the
country instead of playing within 3 to 4 hand-
picked cricketing venues

occasionally but rarely brought the downpour we expected. After the famous win in Karachi in 2000, where we were down and out for the first time in Karachi, which was supposed to be Pakistan's fortress till then, England toured again in 2005. Still, it was comprehensively beaten by the brilliance of Shoaib Akhtar. However, a long drought followed, and it wasn't until 2022 that England returned to Pakistan, winning comprehensively and avenging the famous Misbah-ul-Haq-led UAE whitewash.

This time, we might face a similar fate. We've just been beaten by Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, and with an untested English bowling lineup, there's a possibility they'll bring an "out of syllabus" challenge for our batsmen. We lack the surprise element in our bowling and batting, making another whitewash against Pakistan a strong possibility.

Unavailability of venues

Pakistan finds itself once again resorting to last-minute fixes for our cricket venues. It’s a predictable scenario, especially when we’ve known since 2023 that we’d be hosting the daunting 2025 Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams, on our own soil. Instead of proactive preparation, we waited until the completion of the World T20 event in the West Indies and USA to start making adjustments. Had we begun this process in 2022 or early 2023, we could have unveiled new and improved venues like Peshawar's Arbab Niaz Stadium and Karachi's Rafi Cricket Stadium. Additionally, with minor upgrades, we could have incorporated new venues in Multan, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur.

I believe that diversifying the venues for cricket matches is crucial for the growth of our sport. This

Due to political differences, we have intentionally
left several under-processed venues untouched

season has been intense, with our home grounds frequently occupied, highlighting the need for better preparation to host multiple international matches. We should consider expanding beyond our reliance on the same four venues: Karachi in the south, Multan in the centre, and Lahore and Rawalpindi in the north. This predictable pattern makes it easy for touring teams to adapt and it's time to change that. It's important to note that all Pakistani games were being played on the Eastern Side of the country, neglecting the Western Side. We should take the initiative to establish new venues, such as Khuzdar, Gwadar, Quetta, and Peshawar, and consider upgrading other cities like Hyderabad Sindh, Mirpurkhas, and Sukkur to international standards. By taking these steps, we can promote inclusivity and create more opportunities for cricket across the country.

For cities as large as Lahore and Karachi, having only one international venue each is simply inadequate. Countries with packed home series typically use a matrix-based approach to allocate venues, ensuring a more balanced and challenging environment for visiting teams. Our failure to do so reflects poorly on our planning and foresight, and it’s something I’ve been critical of for a long time. We need to expand and upgrade our venues if we want to host international cricket successfully and provide our teams with a home advantage. Pakistan finds itself once again resorting to last-minute fixes for our cricket venues. It’s a predictable scenario, especially when we’ve known since 2023 that we’d be hosting the daunting 2025 Champions Trophy, featuring eight teams, on our own soil. Instead of proactive preparation, we waited until the completion of the World T20 event in the West Indies and USA to start making adjustments.

I have consistently pointed out that the overuse of a limited number of venues is detrimental to our cricket. This season has been particularly intense, with our home grounds frequently occupied, yet we failed to prepare adequately for the challenge of hosting multiple international matches. We continue to rely on the same four venues: Karachi in the south, Multan in the centre, and Lahore and Rawalpindi in the north. This predictable pattern makes it easy for touring teams to adapt, as they know exactly which venues they will be playing at.

For cities as large as Lahore and Karachi, having only one international venue each is simply inadequate. Countries with packed home series typically use a matrix-based approach to allocate venues, ensuring a more balanced and challenging environment for visiting teams. Our failure to do so reflects poorly on our planning and foresight, and it’s something I’ve been critical of for a long time. We need to expand and upgrade our venues if we want to host international cricket successfully and provide our teams with a home advantage.

It's baffling that while Karachi and Lahore have seen significant upgrades, the Rawalpindi cricket stadium, a candidate for the third test, has been left idle. Construction work will only resume after the third test, although the required work is less extensive than in Karachi and Lahore. It's perplexing why the renovation, upgrades, and new venues are being delayed until 2024 when they could have been initiated in 2022. This delay seems unnecessary and ill-timed.

Coming up next on Pakistani Soil

Dubai International Cricket Stadium, creating good
optics for UAE on the global stage

After England's tour, Pakistan will host the West Indies, followed by a tri-nation series with New Zealand and South Africa. However, this series holds little significance, as it will conclude within four or five days, just before the Champions Trophy warm-ups begin. This chaotic scheduling and inadequate preparation make a mockery of Pakistan on a global stage.

Whereas when it comes to away tours, Pakistan would be travelling Downunder in Australia, to play a white ball cricket series, for which Pakistan still in chaos since Babar Azam who was skipper of ODI cricket, has just resgned, hence right now the PCB camp is on whiteball choas, since there have been something fishy going on while creating good optics, otherwise your reputation is always at stakes, therefore I am not expecting something good from the tour to Australia, afterwards I am also not expecting good from Pakistan's tour to Zimbabwe, as remember rhis is the same Zimbabwe who defeated us during 2022 ICC World T20 event, although this time Pakistan's tour is going to be Bulawayo centric instead of previously Harare only, as Zimbabwe's economic situation doesn't allow them to create new venues, but as I have been advocate for Pakistani new cricketing venues, I wished, the same might happen for a talented team like Zimbabwe. Afterwards Pakistan would be celebrating New Years' eve in South Africa for a complete all in one series which comprises of T20I series, ODI series and Test Match series, although this series also exhibits a reality that it is not intention of PCB to play longer format, as 2 test match series, 3 ODI matches series clearly exhibits lack of intent, because bilateral series is always decided by both host and touring countries and at that time tournament sponsors are also decided accordingly.

We’ve exposed ourselves by starting venue upgrades at the last minute. A critical comparison with India’s approach reveals our shortcomings. While India was hosting Bangladesh—a team that recently defeated Pakistan in their own backyard—in a test match at Chennai, their venues showed continuous improvement over time. Even during the 2023 Cricket World Cup, every Indian venue was top-notch, with the Pune stadium boasting multi-tier stands reminiscent of the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This commitment to maintaining and upgrading venues not only enhances the viewing experience but also creates positive optics for the country.

In stark contrast, our venues remain in deplorable condition in 2024, facing basic issues like poor viewing experiences and inadequate facilities. The broadcasting quality, a top priority, lags behind, and our venues lack built-in electronic advertisement boundary wall facilities. Unlike other cricketing nations such as England, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, which provide enjoyable cricket viewing experiences supported by relevant statistics and documentaries, PCB management falls short. None of our cricket grounds have digital screens; even the grounds with modern LED screens, like Hayatabad Stadium and Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, have seen work halted due to political reasons. This situation reflects the deeply entrenched politics in our cricket administration, overshadowing the sport itself.

This lack of foresight and investment in infrastructure not only hampers our ability to host international

Pune Cricket Stadium in Maharashtra

events but also damages our reputation. We need to move beyond playing politics and focus on the tangible actions required to uplift our cricketing standards. This includes regular venue upgrades, better facilities, and a commitment to providing a world-class experience for both players and spectators. Only then can we hope to reclaim our standing on the global cricket stage!

Major bone of contention for Pakistan

After the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025, there will be no ICC, ACC, or other multinational tournaments held on Pakistani soil until 2027. This oversight reflects a significant failure in representing the country on a global level. Our lack of investment in tourism, including sports tourism, has left us at ground zero, missing crucial opportunities for development. This situation underscores the need for intelligent individuals, like the current GM of the ICC, who could have made a substantial difference had we respected and utilized their expertise while they were in Pakistan. The fact that such a key figure now oversees international cricket instead of contributing to our national progress exemplifies the deep-seated issues within Pakistan and its cricketing administration.

Critical Analysis:

The statement accurately highlights several critical points regarding Pakistan's cricketing and tourism sectors.

Lack of strategic planning

1. Lack of Major Tournaments: The absence of international tournaments on Pakistani soil until 2027
indicates a gap in strategic planning and international outreach. This situation not only affects the country's representation in the global cricketing community but also hampers potential economic benefits derived from hosting such events.

2. Neglect of Tourism: The analysis points out a broader issue of underinvestment in tourism, specifically sports tourism. Hosting international events can significantly boost a country’s tourism sector, leading to increased international exposure and economic benefits. Pakistan's failure to capitalize on this opportunity reflects a shortfall in forward-thinking and strategic development.

3. Missed Opportunities: The mention of the current GM of ICC, a capable individual who could have contributed to Pakistan's cricket, underscores a recurring issue where talent and expertise are not recognized or utilized effectively within the country. This brain drain results in skilled professionals taking their talents elsewhere, to the detriment of national development.

Lacking sporting tourism

4. Dilemma of Pakistan Cricket: The overarching theme points to systemic issues within Pakistan’s cricket administration, highlighting a lack of respect and support for individuals who could drive progress. This negligence results in lost opportunities and stagnation in the sport’s development on a national level.

The statement calls for a critical reassessment of Pakistan’s approach to international sports representation and tourism investment, urging the need to recognize and utilize local talent effectively to avoid further missed opportunities.