Who is responsible for our poor first-class cricket?
August 15, 2007
LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decisions to uplift the standard of domestic cricket, strengthen its affiliated associations/regions, retaining departmental cricket and developing/improving basic infrastructure certainly deserve appreciation.
The whole programme demands sheer dedication, commitment and sincerity of purpose for its total implementation and Dr Nasim Ashraf’s confidence with departmental cricket gives the hope that he is always willing to listen to sane advice.
Domestic cricket is the core of every cricketing nation from where they get backup support for their national teams. Every nation tailors its domestic structure according to the available talent and infrastructure in the country.
At the time of Partition there existed three cricket associations in the part that we call Pakistan — the Northern India Cricket Association, Sind Cricket Association and the NWFP Cricket Association.
Those associations had personalities like QD Butt, Captain Azhar Hussain and Abdur Rab who worked with total commitment and dedication to nurture talent at the club level.
They were adequately skilled in administration and organisation. The standard of club cricket, in those days, can be judged from the fact that without having any first-class cricket in Pakistan for five years (1947-52), the local cricket Clubs formed the first national team that drew their first ever unofficial Test against the West Indies in 1948.
The greats like Nazar Mohammad, Fazal Mahmood, Imtiaz Ahmad, Hanif Mohammad and Khan Mohammad were all products of club cricket.
After getting the ICC membership Pakistan beat India on their very first tour abroad. The victory in the second Test at Lucknow was won amid sheer commitment, dedication and pride on the part of the players for representing their newborn country at the international level.
Nazar Mohammad carried his bat with 124 and Fazal Mahmood took 12-94 to humble India who had been playing Test cricket since 1932.
Those were the good old days when money never mattered but donning the green Pakistan blazer was a matter of sheer pride.
Before the Pakistan team’s tour to England in 1954, the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP) — now the name has been changed to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — introduced a national first-class tournament to be fought for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
This was the brainchild of late Justice AR Cornelius who later became the President of the BCCP Ad-Hoc Cimmittee in the early 1960s. The inaugural Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was played in 1953-54 on a knock-out basis.
Seven teams — Punjab, Bahawalpur, Combined Services, NWFP, Karachi, Sind and Railways — participated in it. Such was the standard of domestic cricket that Pakistan went on the England tour soon after and became the first team to beat the hosts on their maiden tour of that country.
Pakistan cricketers broke the myth of England, the masters, in the historic Oval Test where Fazal Mahmood single-handedly tamed the English batsmen with a match haul of 12 for 99.
Soon after that when New Zealand visited Pakistan Imtiaz Ahmad became the first wicket-keeper in Test cricket history to score a double century. Waqar Hassan made 189 and both joined a 308 runs partnership for the seventh wicket.
In 1956-57, the BCCP abolished the knock-out system and introduced the league system in first-class cricket. The participating teams who had resources were allowed to field two teams without compromising the competitiveness nature of the tournament.
The result was that Pakistan beat Australia in one off Test in Karachi in 1956. Fazal continued with his feat of taking 12 of more wickets in a Test match. This time he ended up with 13 for 114.
Two seasons later under their new captain Fazal Mahmood Pakistan beat the West Indies 2-1 in the home series. Fazal once again grabbed 12-100 in the second Test at Dacca, thus becoming the only bowler in Test cricket to take 12 or more wickets against four countries.
The 1960-61 domestic season saw the introduction of a new tournament under the name of Ayub Trophy, named after Ayub Khan, the military ruler of the time.
The national airline PIA also made their first-class debut in the same season. In 1961-62 season the BCCP introduced a points system while it experienced a new law next season which limited the on-side fielders to five. The front foot “no-ball” rule was also adopted in the same season.
Abdul Hafeez Kardar’s stepping in in the early 1970s as the BCCP president brought a new revolution in Pakistan cricket. Being a member of the Punjab Assembly on the ruling party (PPP) ticket, Kardar persuaded departments/banks to raise their cricket teams on the pattern and style of the PIA.
Cricket was then an amateur game in Pakistan. But it experienced a new phenomenon of professionalism with departments offering jobs to outstanding cricketers. This, however, badly affected the associations which were the original nurseries grooming players.
Their best cricketers were hired by the departments which weakened their (associations) teams. The BCCP didn’t enforce any limit on the departments which gathered 20 or more players in their teams.
They played 12 players in a match and never allowed the rest to play for their respective associations. Earlier, the associations would spot talent and then nurture it for big cricket. They lost their interest amid departments hunting their promising cricketers.
This new phenomenon did provide jobs to the cricketers but the weakening of associations harmed the standard of club cricket. Nevertheless, this system ran effectively till the end of the 1990s and we won the World Cup in 1992, played in the quarter-final of the 1996 and final of the 1999 editions.
In the early years of 2000 we experienced a new domestic format and another after the World Cup 2003 defeat but they all failed to provide back up support to the Pakistan team. The end result was that Pakistan couldn’t reach even the second stage in the two back to back World Cup 2003 and 2007 events.
Looking ahead, Pakistan really needs to do something about their first-class structure. The performance at top level mirrors the standard of first-class cricket and first-class cricket in Pakistan is not fine at all. It has become very cheap. One can pay money or use political connection to play at this level.
The money factor has ruined our domestic cricket. The passion of the players has been restricted to play League Cricket in England and for this they pay money to play five or so matches to qualify to get a contract in the English Leagues.
Many of the selectors, coaches, managers and captains are involved in corrupting the entire domestic cricket. Lahore, which was once at the vanguard of Pakistan cricket, had a bitter experience in the last season. Its both teams were relegated, courtesy to their coaches.
This has to be stopped and strong decisions will have to be made by the Board to make sure that corruption in domestic cricket must be effectively curbed. They need to do something about the two big nurseries — Karachi and Lahore — and get politics out of their system. Only then will our cricket survive.
As mentioned above, first-class cricket has become cheap and its standard has gone down only for the reason that too many regions have been allowed to field first-class teams. This number must be reduced to raise the standard of the game in the country.
Similarly, too many bogus/inactive clubs are the root cause of the downfall of cricket in the country. If the PCB makes a surprise scrutiny in the country it will find only 30 per cent clubs being active throughout the country.
The umpiring system needs to be overhauled. There are reports that while supervising first-class matches the umpires willingly or unwillingly take pressure of big cricketers. The issues of chucking, caught behind and lbw are ignored or noticed according to the stature of the player.
The criteria of certifying new umpires should be made foolproof. Influence and favouritism should be abolished from the system. The pitches also need to be improved. It is heartening that the PCB has earmarked Rs one billion for the development of first-class grounds and at least two such venues will be ensured in every district.
Furthermore, an amount of Rs 650 million has been allocated for the improvement and development of grounds and cricket infrastructure. This shows the PCB’s commitment for the improvement and provision of basic cricket infrastructure. Further, the preparation of bouncy tracks throughout the country is also a welcome omen.
The whole programme demands sheer dedication, commitment and sincerity of purpose for its total implementation and Dr Nasim Ashraf’s confidence with departmental cricket gives the hope that he is always willing to listen to sane advice.
Domestic cricket is the core of every cricketing nation from where they get backup support for their national teams. Every nation tailors its domestic structure according to the available talent and infrastructure in the country.
At the time of Partition there existed three cricket associations in the part that we call Pakistan — the Northern India Cricket Association, Sind Cricket Association and the NWFP Cricket Association.
Those associations had personalities like QD Butt, Captain Azhar Hussain and Abdur Rab who worked with total commitment and dedication to nurture talent at the club level.
They were adequately skilled in administration and organisation. The standard of club cricket, in those days, can be judged from the fact that without having any first-class cricket in Pakistan for five years (1947-52), the local cricket Clubs formed the first national team that drew their first ever unofficial Test against the West Indies in 1948.
The greats like Nazar Mohammad, Fazal Mahmood, Imtiaz Ahmad, Hanif Mohammad and Khan Mohammad were all products of club cricket.
After getting the ICC membership Pakistan beat India on their very first tour abroad. The victory in the second Test at Lucknow was won amid sheer commitment, dedication and pride on the part of the players for representing their newborn country at the international level.
Nazar Mohammad carried his bat with 124 and Fazal Mahmood took 12-94 to humble India who had been playing Test cricket since 1932.
Those were the good old days when money never mattered but donning the green Pakistan blazer was a matter of sheer pride.
Before the Pakistan team’s tour to England in 1954, the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan (BCCP) — now the name has been changed to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — introduced a national first-class tournament to be fought for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
This was the brainchild of late Justice AR Cornelius who later became the President of the BCCP Ad-Hoc Cimmittee in the early 1960s. The inaugural Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was played in 1953-54 on a knock-out basis.
Seven teams — Punjab, Bahawalpur, Combined Services, NWFP, Karachi, Sind and Railways — participated in it. Such was the standard of domestic cricket that Pakistan went on the England tour soon after and became the first team to beat the hosts on their maiden tour of that country.
Pakistan cricketers broke the myth of England, the masters, in the historic Oval Test where Fazal Mahmood single-handedly tamed the English batsmen with a match haul of 12 for 99.
Soon after that when New Zealand visited Pakistan Imtiaz Ahmad became the first wicket-keeper in Test cricket history to score a double century. Waqar Hassan made 189 and both joined a 308 runs partnership for the seventh wicket.
In 1956-57, the BCCP abolished the knock-out system and introduced the league system in first-class cricket. The participating teams who had resources were allowed to field two teams without compromising the competitiveness nature of the tournament.
The result was that Pakistan beat Australia in one off Test in Karachi in 1956. Fazal continued with his feat of taking 12 of more wickets in a Test match. This time he ended up with 13 for 114.
Two seasons later under their new captain Fazal Mahmood Pakistan beat the West Indies 2-1 in the home series. Fazal once again grabbed 12-100 in the second Test at Dacca, thus becoming the only bowler in Test cricket to take 12 or more wickets against four countries.
The 1960-61 domestic season saw the introduction of a new tournament under the name of Ayub Trophy, named after Ayub Khan, the military ruler of the time.
The national airline PIA also made their first-class debut in the same season. In 1961-62 season the BCCP introduced a points system while it experienced a new law next season which limited the on-side fielders to five. The front foot “no-ball” rule was also adopted in the same season.
Abdul Hafeez Kardar’s stepping in in the early 1970s as the BCCP president brought a new revolution in Pakistan cricket. Being a member of the Punjab Assembly on the ruling party (PPP) ticket, Kardar persuaded departments/banks to raise their cricket teams on the pattern and style of the PIA.
Cricket was then an amateur game in Pakistan. But it experienced a new phenomenon of professionalism with departments offering jobs to outstanding cricketers. This, however, badly affected the associations which were the original nurseries grooming players.
Their best cricketers were hired by the departments which weakened their (associations) teams. The BCCP didn’t enforce any limit on the departments which gathered 20 or more players in their teams.
They played 12 players in a match and never allowed the rest to play for their respective associations. Earlier, the associations would spot talent and then nurture it for big cricket. They lost their interest amid departments hunting their promising cricketers.
This new phenomenon did provide jobs to the cricketers but the weakening of associations harmed the standard of club cricket. Nevertheless, this system ran effectively till the end of the 1990s and we won the World Cup in 1992, played in the quarter-final of the 1996 and final of the 1999 editions.
In the early years of 2000 we experienced a new domestic format and another after the World Cup 2003 defeat but they all failed to provide back up support to the Pakistan team. The end result was that Pakistan couldn’t reach even the second stage in the two back to back World Cup 2003 and 2007 events.
Looking ahead, Pakistan really needs to do something about their first-class structure. The performance at top level mirrors the standard of first-class cricket and first-class cricket in Pakistan is not fine at all. It has become very cheap. One can pay money or use political connection to play at this level.
The money factor has ruined our domestic cricket. The passion of the players has been restricted to play League Cricket in England and for this they pay money to play five or so matches to qualify to get a contract in the English Leagues.
Many of the selectors, coaches, managers and captains are involved in corrupting the entire domestic cricket. Lahore, which was once at the vanguard of Pakistan cricket, had a bitter experience in the last season. Its both teams were relegated, courtesy to their coaches.
This has to be stopped and strong decisions will have to be made by the Board to make sure that corruption in domestic cricket must be effectively curbed. They need to do something about the two big nurseries — Karachi and Lahore — and get politics out of their system. Only then will our cricket survive.
As mentioned above, first-class cricket has become cheap and its standard has gone down only for the reason that too many regions have been allowed to field first-class teams. This number must be reduced to raise the standard of the game in the country.
Similarly, too many bogus/inactive clubs are the root cause of the downfall of cricket in the country. If the PCB makes a surprise scrutiny in the country it will find only 30 per cent clubs being active throughout the country.
The umpiring system needs to be overhauled. There are reports that while supervising first-class matches the umpires willingly or unwillingly take pressure of big cricketers. The issues of chucking, caught behind and lbw are ignored or noticed according to the stature of the player.
The criteria of certifying new umpires should be made foolproof. Influence and favouritism should be abolished from the system. The pitches also need to be improved. It is heartening that the PCB has earmarked Rs one billion for the development of first-class grounds and at least two such venues will be ensured in every district.
Furthermore, an amount of Rs 650 million has been allocated for the improvement and development of grounds and cricket infrastructure. This shows the PCB’s commitment for the improvement and provision of basic cricket infrastructure. Further, the preparation of bouncy tracks throughout the country is also a welcome omen.
