- Lack of strategic foresight and outdated selection practices contribute to its current competitive struggles
- To compete globally, Pakistan cricket requires experienced leaders like Younus Khan and Rashid Latif contribution
Interview with Mr. Abdul Wasey Khan — former Vice President of ICMA International
PAGE: Tell me something about yourself, please:
Abdul Wasey Khan: I am the former Honorary Secretary and VP of ICMA International. In addition to my corporate career, I am a visiting faculty at different universities. Currently, I am working as GM Internal Audit at a reputed company. I have worked for different FMCG and listed companies as HOD Internal Audit.
PAGE:Â What is your perspective about the current state of the Pakistan cricket team?
Abdul Wasey Khan: The Pakistan cricket is in a very abysmal condition. There is no direction, no foresightedness, only toe lickers and yes men are prevailing. In just last 3 to 4 years’ time, just check that how many coaches and board chairmen have been changed. It is not the way cricket, which is the most followed sports in Pakistan, should have been run, whereas in India there is continuation of policies and coaches in cricket, that’s why they have gone far ahead of us. We are seeing the same old faces in administration, e.g. Azhar Mehmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Nadeem Khan and Haroon Rasheed. Most of them and the old cricketers have their relatives playing cricket, and that’s why the team selection is always biased. Pakistan cricket actually needs sincere people with good knowledge of cricket, e.g. Younus Khan and Rashid Latif or even Misbah ul Haq, to name a few.
PAGE:Â How would you comment on the captaincy skills of Muhammad Rizwan?
Abdul Wasey Khan: Well, it’s a million dollar question, though he has proven himself as a good captain, while leading Multan Sultan in PSL, however international cricket is a different ball game. Moreover, he needs all the support he can get of players and the board. I wish the players don’t try to fail him. Moreover in current set up he doesn’t have any say in team selection, so if he is not given a good team, we should not expect him to win matches just on the basis of good captaincy, whereas losses may result in his dismissal from captaincy.
PAGE:Â What is your standpoint on the bowling strength of Pakistan?
Abdul Wasey Khan: It’s currently the weaker area of Pakistan cricket team, specially in white ball cricket, we don’t have any good leg spinner, as Shadab Khan has lost his mojo, neither we have any good off spinner. The fast bowlers also seem to be past their prime though they are still young, due to continuous fitness problems. Same is the case in Test cricket, however, the timely inclusion of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali proved a master stroke in home series against England, and no doubt they bowled beautifully, but they need some good fast bowlers too.