What is the problem with the itinerary?

Currently, after a very long time, I woke up from my hibernation, just because of political unrest in my country, where last time when I made post on this arena, it was Imran Khan regime, and whereas while I came back here, the whole regime has been changed, anyways this is not the right place to talk about this, instead why I am writing this is because something not good for Pakistan cricket off late.

While other countries are engaged in bilateral cricket

Pakistan cricket team, just like me, is in the state of hibernation, as the last time when Pakistan played an IT20, it was way back in April 2022, when the regime change operation attack was still nubile, but one thing is for sure, the kind of presentation improvement in Pakistan cricket during that era, was phenomenal, where Pakistan invested heavily on the presentation of the cricket, and even PCB's media cell was highly active, unlike now when it is updating little bit of updates here and there, at that time it was continuously busy in updating the updates, whereas almost start of Junior PSL about to take place, and we have been deprived of its updates, instead whole of the nation have been programmed in making them a political analyst.

Although

Pakistan is supposed to be playing a jammed packed home cricket series against Kiwis and England, furthermore, Today's 13th August 2022, and from 16th August, 2022, Pakistan's tour to Netherlands going to start on dates 16, 18, and 21st of August, and after that Pakistan is going to start Asia Cup, where Pakistan is supposed to be playing at least 2 games, which could be extended to two more games if Pakistan plays the final.

England's T20 tour to Pakistan 2022

This is something I personally don't like this fact (although I am a Karachiite) but amid 7 games, 4 games granted to Karachi, whereas Multan and Rawalpindi were best suited to stage T20 games, whereas Karachi and Lahore should be limited to stage ODI's and test matches, just like Lord's in England, but T20 games are more liked when grounds are houseful and if we want to stage T20 games, staging Pakistan's T20 ventures would definitely been granted to Multan and Rawalpindi so that our venues are evenly poised, and this thing shouldn't be appreciated that some games of the same series should be staged on same venues like Karachi staging ODI's, test match, and a T20 game, which is not looking good for the Pakistan Cricket as a product, if I narrate Ramiz Raja, if we want to create a successful Pakistan Cricket Product, Pakistan's home games should be diversified and even games should also be allocated to smaller centers, instead of each and every single series should be played on redundant venues. Series being played 20th September to 2nd October 2022 spanning between Karachi and Lahore, where Karachi grabbed four games and Lahore on the contrary grabbed three games, although it successfully staged later part of the PSL 7 including the final.

New Zealand tri-nation T20I series including NZ, Pak and Bangladesh

This is T20I series played between the hosts New Zealand, Pakistan and Bangladesh, which is supposed to be rehearsal for upcoming World T20 event ten days after completion of this series.

World T20 event

This is where Pakistan's T20I season for 2022 going to be concluded. This is actually the continuation of the actual world T20 event assigned to Australia in 2020 but it was suspended due to pandemic and hence next year event was granted to India, which was than played in the UAE, and now Aussies after becoming the champs, are going to stage the world T20I event, afterwards the gaps between successive and continual and back to back World T20 events is going to be normalized and similarly this anomaly is going to be normalize.

But this is failure to Pakistan's PR media policy

Because, ICC is an organization, which is unlike FIFA, is governed by its partnering Cricket Boards, hence when ICC announces FTP (not File Transfer Protocol, but Future Tours Program), it has to be signed by all member cricket boards afterwards ICC can upload the same on their website and officially document it, hence either we do not have that consciousness to understand the repercussions of such pathetic itinerary, because since Australia tour to Pakistan, Pakistan only played 3 ODI's against West Indies, and after that 2 test match series against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka.

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Australia tour of Pakistan - 2022 | 2nd Test at Karachi

Babar Azam's knock against mighty Aussies for saving Pakistan test match at Karachi

Although on the statistics, this is a test match which ended in a draw but the fact is, this is similar to that inning played by Late Hanif Muhammad in saving the test match against a formidable West Indian team, this is the resilience which was once shown by Younus Khan when he played the 313 innings against Sri Lankans; the same series where during the Lahore test match, 3/3 happened in Lahore when international cricket went away from Pakistan and hence Pakistan had to play their home games in the UAE, but coming back to the topic of resilience aspect, this inning of BA is supposed to be called as most resilient inning played on Pakistani soil in recent times, although I must admit; pitch is to be blamed for surely, because these pitches doesn't give chance to our own pace batteries to perform against their opponents in their own backyards is a shame, but amid these all debacles, the innings which BA played, against an opponent as tough like Aussies, in those humid weather conditions, is something to be appreciated, as when both teams were coming to their pavilions after it was decided that the match is drawn and while both teams' players were coming to their respective pavilions, their body language shown where Pakistani players were joyous whilst visitors had their moods down, this is I guess enough for us to understand, who was the winner and who was not.

There have been six higher fourth-innings scores than Babar Azam's epic 196 against Australia in Karachi last week. All of them were over 200, the highest being George Headley's 223 for West Indies against England in Kingston in 1929-30 (that match was also drawn).

BA's 196 was the highest in the fourth innings for Pakistan, previously Younis Khan's unbeaten 171 in a victory over Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2015.

BA batted for 603 minutes in all; the only longer knock in the fourth innings of a Test was Mike Atherton's unbeaten 643-minute 185 for England against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1995-96. Babar lasted 425 balls, behind only Atherton (492) and Sunil Gavaskar, who faced 443 during his 221 for India vs England at The Oval in 1979. (That's according to ESPNcricinfo's database; there may be one or two longer innings in matches for which we do not have the details.)

While I am writing these lines,

There is tea on the third day of the third test match on the same venue where 3/3 occurred and this is the second test match being staged on the same venue where it all began from 2009, hence this is something to be praised on account of the PCB, amidst pollution scares and other challenges, Pakistan Cricket Board did managed to stage an International Event at PCB's HQ, and coming back to the outcome of the currently played test match, because the way pitch has played is something sniffed towards an outcome to this drawn test match series and hence this is supposed to be a finale to the draw ridden series where any of the team which wins this penultimate test match, clinches the series.

Due to political instability in the country, white ball series (ODI and T20I series) relocated from Rawalpindi to Lahore

This comes as a surprise and bad taste to the mouth that these political parties without thinking of the country, staging their ٹوپی ڈرامہ during that time period while an international team (Australia, after 24 years) is touring Pakistan, at least think about the country, other than for your political self.

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Pakistan not out of the jail yet - 2nd test in Karachi penultimate day

This is a reality, even though (I might sound like Athar Ali Khan) but King Babar played a marvelous inning along with Abdullah Shafique and while both players on crease and three sessions to survive, it is a tough ask for both youngsters to show their metal on the global scale, 

Wait please...

A wicket here and there, game might WILL definitely slip away from Pakistan's grasp and Aussies are supposed to be the third team winning a test match in Karachi after England and South Africa respectively, because we all know; one wicket falls in Pakistan camp, it initiates a panic situation within the camp instead of calming themselves on, they initiate a run strategy.

But apart from that

The PCB is definitely require to work on sports research and development in Pakistan instead of copying others and do cosmetic stuff like DIP (drop-in pitches) concept in Pakistan where cricket ground in Pakistan are only supposed to be cricket grounds instead like in Australia and in New Zealand, where their ground are multi-purpose, rest... if bounce is concerned, try researching on clay structure and definitely work on domestic structure pitches so that our batters are comfortable in THEIR style of cricket instead of PCB acting naive when staging home-series' with likes of Australia, New Zealand and England in coming times while preparing dead tracks supporting none, which reduces the interest of a commoner who wants an outcome of the match after watching the game for full five days, we require to work heavily on R&D and like we say in Urdu, سب کو ٹرک کی بتی کے پیچھے بھگانا instead find talent from locals who can do Research on composition of clay and how to create a constantly balanced wicket to produce result after 4 and 5 days of cricket, otherwise Rawalpindi and Karachi tests have been responsible in reducing the interest of long format cricket, because none will route to grounds just to watch a test match with no result at the end of the day.

Wishing against hope

Being a Karachi boy and a Pakistani, I want my team to win, but odds are against Pakistan just because of the pitch, Pakistan now in this situation where every single Pakistani fan wants this test match to be saved instead of winning because realistically speaking, surviving 90 overs in a day against a potent bowling attack like Aussies is a very tough ask to expect from this Pakistani lineup but hoping against hope, if Pakistan does that, it is a good thing, but honestly I don't think this would be a call for celebration instead of getting back to the drawing board and work the problem, and the problem I figured, is you defensive approach, we could have had created lively pitch but playing attacking and fearless cricket would definitely had bought goods for both Pakistan Cricket Board, its production team and for Pakistan Cricket because when RR (Ramiz Raja) utters the word brand, this is how a brand is created, not like while creating such ridiculous placid tracks with no outcome whatsoever.

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Australia tour of Pakistan - 2nd test in Karachi

From Rawalpindi to Karachi

Rawalpindi test ended in draw while Pakistan prepared a batting paradise in a stadium where we are supposed to be viewing a battle between bat and bowl but sorry to say, Pakistan didn't utilize the advantage it got while staging a home game against a top cricketing side, otherwise Pakistan did play against them in UAE, but staging game in Dubai and the same in Lahore, or any other city of Pakistan is something else, words cannot express. But sorry to say, what I am watching on TV, Karachi again disappointed, because houseful Karachi is something I can't imagine.

There have been political reasons which I am not going to use to plagiarize this cricketing post

Because the games political parties of Pakistan in Karachi, is nothing to hide of but it is a shame that people still support these political parties instead of demanding them to give them their birth right of earning rightfully in their own town or nearby town instead of allowing them to shift themselves to Karachi just because they want to earn rightfully but they have given advantage to the political parties to have their unnatural vote bank which is sans in Karachi, be a reality; otherwise they aren't taking ownership of the city just like I am; who is a Karachi-Boy; but alas! this is a cricket blog hence it is better discussing these things over here.

Coming back to Cricket - The Second Test being played in Karachi

After watching two days play, I want to utter a single liner; Pakistan lost the home-advantage in a home-series on home turf (because Pakistan usually played their home series in UAE), just because of the way pitch played, because like Michael Haysman showed in Spiderworm graph that it showed day two was inconsistent and bounce was low, which means from day 3 on-wards (as right now when I am typing these lines, day two at Karachi ended where still Aussies are persisting with batting after being played 180 dot overs); pitch is going to deteriorate and I must agree with Haysman, that spider-worm is going to tilt towards more inconsistent and uneven bounce which is curtains for Pakistan, because now Aussies have nullified Pakistan winning, now only either Australia can win it from here otherwise this game can only be a draw, which is not good for the test match cricket and is definitely negativity from PCB end, otherwise I always give reference to 2006 Karachi Test between Pakistan and India, where it was a green-top and this is where IK Pathan stroked a hat-trick, but later-on it was Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq who stole the show and took game away from India, rest it was Muhammad Asif Show.

But Investment on Curators should definitely be on the cards

Here I disagree with Ramiz Raja to that extent that pitches yes! are a problem, but addressing a problem is one thing, and application for removal of this problem is another thing, because drop-in pitches I don't think is the resolution to the problem;

Why I am saying this

1. It is an expensive venture, hence instead of utilizing that money to advertise DIP (drop-in pitch), invest on training on curators who can consistently create good, healthy, lively and supporting wicket regularly on regular period of time.
2. DIP venture in Australia and NZ are on those grounds, which are multi-venture, means multiple games are being played, like I remember; MCG was utilized as soccer field during Sydney Olympics, not in Cricket-Only grounds like Pakistan have.
3. If it is necessary, which I know is necessary; than initially firstly invest on research and development on clay and horticulture in Pakistan, because it is a science which makes sure that the wicket we prepare is crisp and good for both batters and bowlers, instead of acting like a 'burger' to visit a super-market, select a template and without any training and development on account of curators who're supposed to be MAINTAINING these wickets, will surely backfire.

FIRSTLY, invest on research and development 

Because Aussies also became world champion, just because they believed on research and development and hence now their cricketing researches are being utilized world wide, so why aren't we're conducting and making our minds on investment in research and development, because I believe Pakistan is so big, instead we have the minds of only utilizing Nandipur clay for creating composition of wicket, it should be aligned with infrastructure work being conducted in Pakistan; like Rafi Cricket Stadium in Karachi and Arbab Niaz and Hayatabad Stadiums in Peshawar City, but when your playing wickets are not up to the mark, these makeshift ventures i.e. DIP (drop-in wickets), and we should appreciate these people (who're horticulturists), because let admit one fact, this is a fact, and the composition of clay and percentage of different clay will make sure we are going to get a support playing 22 yards, instead of these graveyards.

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PSL 2022 - What about the Kings?

This PSL have been little different in approaching, because even last year PSL, its digital commercial activity initiated well before month, but this time, although I was watching on-roads advertisement and renovation on National Stadium Karachi, but none of it was national media, keeping in mind the official theme was released 4 days before the tournament started, but today's blog post is not about how PSL started, but the way home team i.e. Karachi Kings have been playing like they have forgot how to play.

Take Example of Yesterday's game between them and Quetta Gladiators

This was second of the double header played on the same deck where Lahore Qalandars scored 206 whereas Multan Sultans end up scoring 209 to clinch the day game, but when floodlights lit, situation turned on its head, although taking nothing away from the performance of Naseem Shah, because the line and the length he incorporated; was exceptional, it is just the matter of continuation that how is he going to sustain that form and that confidence; but the way Karachi Kings gifted the wickets, was not up to the expectations from the hosts, as the game is being played in Karachi, furthermore it is also broadcasting partner along with PTV Sports, i.e. A Sports, hence this is ridiculous performance from the so called hosts; who have been granted most of the prime time matches, and hence during the prime time games, we are granted with such ridiculous performance.

Statistically speaking

If you go through the image at left, two thing we are going to note, initially Karachi couldn't play their full quota of 120 balls, furthermore the number of dot balls Karachi consumed is ridiculous, although again taking nothing out of Naseem Shah as the lad did bowl on the right positions, but the same goes with Karachi's batting as they were unable to rotate strikes, instead of every one was looking to strike hard and winning cash award, instead of playing sensibly, where by sensibly I mean rotating the strike and do not create a scoreboard pressure on batters to come, which as per mentioned image, Karachi lost because Naseem Shah took wickets and because of that every one tried to Yuvraj 2007 themselves, because of that Karachi did mockery of themselves, because they are now on the bottom of the table, and their NRR is way below the one second last on the table, means they'd have to win 3 games with bigger margin.

What am I saying

As per match standings after conclusion of Peshawar v Islamabad game, Karachi is on the bottom position, where Karachi's NRR on -1.099, therefore Karachi has to win games like Islamabad did, like winning with more balls to spare, otherwise bowling  their opponents out inside the target while balls remaining, otherwise by the time tournament would be touching on semi final stages, Karachi might lag down due to NRR, hence it is important for Karachi to win their today's game against Lahore, which is a Do or Die game for the hosts of Karachi leg of PSL.

Dismal performance

This is a predictive forecaster on Karachi's scoring rates per over, where after Naseem Shah's onslaught, Karachi couldn't recover from the same, because even the forecaster was showing Karachi's scoring rate was declining as the play progressed, otherwise ridiculous display of cricket from Karachi as instead of rotating the strike on continuous, they opted to go for the bang-bang methodology.

Temperament disorder

This phase wise performance of Karachi team clearly exposes their strategy of taking the ball to the 120th ball, because if game was taken to the penultimate ball of their inning, it would definitely helped for the cause, because the game is being played in Karachi, where pitches are being belter, hence playing on these pitches mean you'll have to play with strategy, where stress should be laid on stopping leakage of runs, because this is the way, teams cope with such scenarios.

Phase wise runs distribution

Even if we distribute runs scoring with respect to the phase wise, Karachi's run rate couldn't touch 8 runs per over mark, just because if we go through below mentioned image, the mid portion of the innings was responsible for decline, furthermore fall of wickets hampered their run scoring but carelessness from Karachi; as their batters stopped rotating the strikes and instead of stealing the runs off the opposition, they empowered their opposition.

Karachi doesn't deserve to be in eliminators

Because such pathetic performances, Karachi doesn't deserve to be in eliminators, because I personally feel; the eliminators should be competed between two evenly poised teams, but such tragedy poised performing team should not be allowed to be played in eliminators or even qualifiers, as this is PSL's reputation at stake.

The Itinerary

The itinerary of this PSL has been pathetic, even if due to on going pandemic situation if Lahore's game be played in Lahore and Karachi games in Karachi, whereas Eliminators and Qualifier be played in Rawalpindi, this could also have been arranged with respect COVID-19 restrictions but still some excitement could have been managed, because not every city might be watching a particular game only, you might not agree with my assessment but I personally feel that if games simultaneously be played in Lahore and Karachi, maybe your target audience might be divided but it'll give your target audience a chance to view more like games instead of current itinerary which do not give choice to watch your like game at all. 

For Instance

Let me describe my point with respect to current target audience, which is very similar to recently concluded World Cup T20 2021, when it could be arranged and managed there (in UAE) than it could have been managed in Pakistan as well.

Let Me Describe

If Islamabad is playing Lahore in Lahore and Multan is playing Quetta in Karachi; this means two games simultaneously at two different venues, and if these are two day games and in evening other four teams play, it'd generate more crowd in our cricket grounds, and furthermore it'd generated more interest in streaming services, which would be more interesting for the 'target audience'.

We need to educate our target audience as well instead of following something which is already being followed somewhere else

This is my own personal opinion, so one might disagree with my point of view; but I personally feel that instead of following a trend, we require to incorporate something new like that where we give our target audience an option to confirm ownership of the team which I guess should be the priority, instead of one venue at a time which would downgrade the interest of this league, being a Pakistani, I'd like to have this PSL to thrive, and this is something I feel would benefit PSL for sure.

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First T20I at Karachi between two mercurial sides ends in Pakistan winning

This is like an onus for Pakistan that it performed in absence of veterans in Muhammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik, where Pakistan took chance in depending on their bench strength like Haider Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Muhammad Wasim Jr. etc. and in the first T20I, especially what I saw, it was Haider Ali (HA) and Muhammad Wasim (MW) were pick-of-the-bowler.

T20I in Karachi

I might look biased being a Karachiite, supporting cricket in Karachi, but the ambiance Karachiites showed was awesome, because whole of the Pakistan have been deprived of International Cricket, especially after declination of tour by NZ and later-on by England, it was thought that Pakistan might lose hosting rights in playing in home conditions, which again solidifies my point that all we require is raising soft image of Pakistan instead of showing as if what Pakistan is doing is no doubt extraordinary, but there are more aspects of Pakistan which should be marketed instead of just emphasizing on security, no doubt security matters but by showing such images of cricketers being patrolled heavily indirectly responsible for creating the POINT-OF-VIEW. Instead I say cricket should be promoted and the way Pakistani people welcome cricket in either of the city, this should have been promoted and marketed.

Backing on the bench-strength

As Mr. dependable for Pakistan in recent times i.e. Babar Azam got out cheaply but the recovery mode

which Rizwan and Haider Ali took on their shoulders was something sans from the green shirts. However, he had to hold his end of the bargain against spin, especially off Hosein, who finished his four overs with 1 for 19 by the 11th over. At that stage, Haider was on 12 off 14, looking for the big hits without being able to hit them clean. Then, like a flick of a switch, it all turned around. Off the 12th over, he climbed into Odean Smith's medium pace, hitting him for three fours and six to get his innings going. It proved to be the trigger for a run-surge from there. Under his bus were debutant Dominic Drakes, who also struggled for consistency, as Haider raised his half-century with an 83-metre six. It had come off just 28 balls, with Pakistan at 140 for 2 at the 15-over mark. Off the first ball of the 16th, Rizwan was out as Odean's running catch around the ropes at deep midwicket sent him back for 78. A 105-run third-wicket stand had been broken.

Finishing touches by Muhammad Nawaz

Rizwan's exit gave six-hitter Asif Ali the platform to launch into an inexperienced attack, but he managed just 1. With Iftikhar Ahmed too failing, Pakistan needed someone to side with Haider. As it turned out, Mohammad Nawaz did more. His three fours and two sixes blindsided the visitors, who until then were hoping to restrict Pakistan to 180. That was to change, however, as the 19th over by Romario Shepherd went for 21, thereby allowing for a massive finish.

With the target already looking beyond reach and the asking rate spiralling by the minute, Nawaz and Shadab Khan spun a web around the batters, using the crease and variations in length superbly to tie the batters down. Hope was out lbw sweeping, Shamarh Brooks bowled trying to heave into the leg side and Rovman Powell caught brilliantly by a diving Nawaz at long-on. At 88 for 7, West Indies were in danger of being bowled out well inside 20 overs. However, Odean (24 off 16) and Shepherd (21 off 16) got together to swing their bats for some powerful blows. although they merely served to reduce the margin of defeat.

Wasim's rip-roaring spell

First ball: a glorious cover drive on the up. Third ball: a short-arm jab for six. Enough to demoralise a rookie 20-year old wanting to impress the team management? Not Mohammad Wasim. He responded with pin-point yorker to flatten Nicholas Pooran's off-stump as he was late on the shot. Perhaps he underestimated Wasim's pace. Then, off the second legitimate delivery off his next over, the sixth of the innings, he struck comeback man Devon Thomas flush on his boot. Gone, he didn't even bother reviewing. West Indies were 46 for 3 inside the Powerplay.

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Rainy Dhaka test

Today when I am writing this blog article, India won Mumbai test against their WTC 21 finalists i.e. New Zealand, cementing their record on home soil.

Current W/L percentages after conclusion of Mumbai Test

Whereas Bangladesh v Pakistan 2nd test match is supposed to be ending in draw, because stumps on Day 3 and still Pakistan has not completed furthermore first innings yet to be completed when day four will be initiated tomorrow.

What is next for Pakistan

A Power-packed West Indian team is supposed to be touring Pakistan for participating in ODI and T20, and this time round, I am favoring West Indies, as this time round, they are more power packed as compared to their (the West Indies team) tour to Karachi previously (April 2018) before this pandemic began and it must be remembered that time NSK was without shades, so this is supposed to be the first full fledged ODI and T20 series after pandemic.

COVID threats

This ain't a problem, but still the problem is our 'pathetic news media', getting rise to the speculations and creating them as fact, otherwise things aren't as bad in Pakistan, as propagated internationally. I know cases have been on the increase, but the fact is, the way we figured out the way to tackle previous variants, we are hopeful, same is gonna be the case, just because it is being planned not to restrict businesses.

Just Because of heavy investments for propaganda machines

Because of one of our neighbor believes in creating anarchy in neighboring countries and even utilizing money to create unrest in these regional countries.

and therefore this series is going to be played under these scenarios

And this is going to be a test for PCB and Pakistani authorities to make sure such bad taste in mouth incidents shouldn't be happening on eve and during the series, because now wars are being fought on screens instead of on battlefields, because modern battlefields are TV/Phone/Laptop/Streaming Devices'.

 

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