Players speak in ‘Breakfast with Jang’: Hafeez finds serious flaws in Pak cricket system

LAHORE: Professor of Pakistan cricket and former T20 captain Mohammad Hafeez has found some serious flaws in current Pakistan cricket system that has failed to produce legend bowlers of the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and batsmen like Saeed Anwar.

Hafeez was speaking during a question and answer session of ‘Breakfast with Jang, having a topic – Kunkay jeet jang k beghair mumkin nahi (because win is not possible without war). Hosted by Jang group of newspapers with Sikandar Lodhi and Sadia Sharif being the host the activity was also attended by Pakistan cricketers who are members of Pakistan Super League (PSL) champion team Peshawar Zalmi, Kamran Akmal, Wahab Riaz, and Hammad Azam.

Hafeez questioned that if the then system produced Wasim, Waqar and Anwar, then there must be something wrong now that a player despite having scored 4000 runs fails to find a place in the national team.

“We don’t own our domestic structure. There is a need of investment at domestic level from grass-root to first class. Why it is not competitive. A player like Kamran Akmal who scores 4000 runs, Shan Masood had 1300 runs in current season and a player had 60 wickets are not recognised,” questioned Hafeez.

When a question on team’s performance in the New Zealand came and a statement of PCB chairman Najam Sethi that Pakistan is a T20 champions and they had to work hard to be the ODI champion, Hafeez stated that he believes that Pakistan team is good in T20 as well as ODIs.

“I believed Pakistan team is good in all the three formats of the game. It would be Sethi himself who can give proper reply to that question on Pakistan not being good in ODIs.”

He further stated that the upcoming cricketers are not playing domestic cricket. “We did not have any bowler who could bowl consistently at a speed of 145 and even we are not playing spinners. Yasir Shah is the only spinner we have now so conditions are not conducive.”

Hafeez also admired Zalmi team, its management and Jang group for joining hands and vowed to maintain the standard they set when they won the PSL title. “We will play even better to bring improvement in the level of standard we set in the previous edition.”

He said media plays a vital role in giving the positive picture of Pakistan and termed Jang group’s news an authentic.Hafeez said that playing for a national team has an added pressure than playing for a team composed of different players like in the league cricket. “Quality level in league is less than playing for the country.” He also praised the performance of Mohammad Amir particularly after his comeback. On Afridi, he said he is a match winning player who would be missed in the coming PSL but that does not mean, Zalmi did not have quality players.

On his bowling action, Hafeez said that he did not want to start bowling even in domestic cricket unless he clears his action.Hafeez said that he has shared dressing room with different players and Saeed Ajmal has always been an entertainer and so is Darren Sammy in the PSL team. He further stated that there are no differences between Sarfraz Ahmed and Hassan Ali.

“There may be difference of opinion but that’s for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. There is always saying that team won due to prayers and when we lose, it is said there are groups and fighting or match-fixing. But no one understand that players always work hard and no one inclines to lose,” he pointed out.

On development of mental strength, he said that the player himself have to work on it and don’t throw everything on the PCB to do. “We need to be consistent as a player, team and nation.”

Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz said that franchise cricket is an opportunity for the players to present themselves. For the youngsters it’s a platform to work hard and get recognised like Hassan Ali, Shadab Khan and Rumman Raees, who are the product of PSL, which will help bring more new faces to the fore.

On not producing bowling legends, Wahab said then only one ball was used which was easy to reverse swing but now two balls are used and it is difficult to swing the 25 overs used ball. “Our bowlers ball more Yorkers in the last 10 overs now. But now margin of error is very less.”

He further said that he always tried his best to deliver but conditions and situation also play a vital role.On players getting injured, Wahab said that cricket is being played more than in the past. “Now players get fatigued and there is a need to pick and choose in playing.

All the players now understand the importance of fitness,” he added.Wahab further stated that when on foreign tours they always invite international players to come and play in Pakistan. But what international media and their government is portraying is believed by the international players, he pointed out.

Kamran Akmal gave credit to the PCB for the PSL and developing cricket which is now bringing international cricket back to Pakistan.He also praised the positive role of media due to which cricket is improving.

On selection, Kamran said that it is up to the selection committee and as a player his duty is to perform and focus on the game. Kamran said that current cricket player do not give importance to domestic cricket. There is need to organise four-day and five-day games more, he believed.

Kamran said that Indian players wanted to play with Pakistan and even Pakistan government has not issues, it’s the Indian government which has objections.

On return of international cricket, Kamran said that what happened with the Sri Lankan team, the international teams’ confidence will develop with time, which is being seen with the visit of World XI and Sri Lankan team to Pakistan.

Hammad identified the importance of PSL for the struggling cricketers for a comeback in the national team. “PSL is important for us and every player to perform and stage a comeback in the national team.”

He further stated that his cricket journey started from regional Under-19 to national Under-19, first class and then to the national team and his department UBL.

He further said that you cannot take any player lightly. “Facing a bowler like Wahab is quite difficult and bowling Umer Akmal has many strokes,” he added. Sadia in her welcome address said that inspiration can be get from anyone be it elderly or young and creekers are ones who are the guiding factor in Pakistan’s society.

She also praised Peshawar Zalmi for their on and off field activities that won the hearts of the nation and said that Jang, a champion newspaper has joined hands with Zalmi, the champion team for further glory.Lodhi in his remarks thanked the players for their presence and Amjad Khan, general manager Sui Northern for his support in the organisation of the event.