Jalal wants PCB to focus on grassroots cricket

KARACHI: Former Test fast bowler Jalaluddin on Sunday slammed the team management for Pakistan’s poor show in the ongoing Australia series and demanded the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to spend funds to improve sport at grass-roots level.

Pakistan lost the T20I series 2-0 against the hosts before Australia thrashed them in the first of the two Test matches. They have never won a Test series in Australia.

“It was expected that our players will be unable to perform in Australia,” Jalal said, while talking to ‘The News’. “Our bowling was not effective and our batsmen looked completely clueless.”

He asked the PCB to spend money to improve cricket at the grassroots level instead of doing “cosmetic measures”.

“The PCB should spend its money on grassroots cricket if they want to prepare a team that can beat opponents like Australia on their home soil. The modern-day cricket has changed and matches cannot be won on the basis of skills alone. Now the fitness level of players, coaching methods and the use of technology also play a part in the team’s success,” said Jalal, also a level IV coach. “There was a visible difference between the cricket played by Pakistan and Australia. The Australians prepare their players from a very young age, while we try to remove our players’ faults after they become international cricketers,” he said.

“The board must focus on cricket at district, club and inter-school level.” While criticising the coaching of Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis, Jalal said that they duo got exposed in Australia as they failed to guide the young players properly.

“Young bowlers like Naseem Shah and Musa Khan are talented but inexperienced. They needed some grooming before facing a strong side like Australia.” Jalal, however, added that these young bowlers will learn and become a lethal weapon against top batting line-ups. He also said that players should not be brought into the Test and One-day International teams on the basis of T20 performances.