Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has on Wednesday (May 12) slammed Pakistan’s selection policy, as well as, hits out at the national team management for picking the young cricketers with “technical flaws” and “issues in their game” for international cricket.
He also suggested Pakistan team management learn from their arch-rivals India, England, and New Zealand how they groom the young talents at the domestic circuit before they are exposed at the highest level while hailing the countries selection process.
Amir has further pointed out that the cricketers in Pakistan are expected to learn the job after making their international debuts rather than honing their skills in the domestic circuit, whereas, in the countries like India, England, and New Zealand, they have done the hard yards before making debuts at the highest level, saying the “international cricket isn’t school cricket where you learn on the job”.
As reported by PakPassion.net, Amir said: “Look at the players that India, England, and New Zealand are bringing into international cricket. They are ready to play at the highest level as they have done the hard yards and have completed their learning in the domestic and junior systems. Once selected, they show their skills in international cricket which they have already learned in domestic cricket.”
The 29-year-old further added, “Whereas in Pakistan, at the moment, our players are expected to learn from the national coaches while playing international cricket, rather than having already learned the art of cricket earlier in their careers.”
The talented pacer, who retired from international cricket last years, has cited the example of India’s Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Krunal Pandya who were ready to play at the highest level much before their international debuts, thanks to the several years of experience at the domestic cricket and Indian Premier League (IPL) that made their transition smooth.
Amir further explained, “Look at Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, and Krunal Pandya, they looked ready and primed for international cricket when they made their debuts and did not look to need much advice or coaching at all. They have played several years of domestic cricket and the IPL and that makes their introduction into international cricket much smoother.
International cricket isn’t school cricket where you learn on the job. It’s a tough environment where only players who are ready and who have learned about the game and obtained the necessary skills should be selected. If you want to learn about cricket, do it at the academy or in First-class cricket, don’t come to international cricket underprepared and hope to learn whilst playing for your country.”
He signed off by saying, “Too often our young players are thrown into international cricket with technical flaws, with issues in their game, in the hope that they will improve. Well, it doesn’t work like that at all and the sooner we realize it, the better it will be.”
