Former Pakistani captain Misbah Ul Haq made a shocking statement saying that due to uncertainty in the PCB and its short-sightedness, foreigners and even local coaches don't want to work with the country's cricket board.
Misbah himself was the Pakistani team coach between 2019 and 2021 and also the chief selector. He further lamented the fact the players and coaches were sacked based on one or two series or because of a change in the top management of the board.
This comes after Mickey Arthur and co. were removed after Pakistan’s poor performance in the 2023 World Cup. Then Mohammad Hafeez was named the head coach and team director for the Australia and New Zealand tour. However, with Pakistan losing the Test series 0-3 in Australia and the T20I series 1-4 in New Zealand, Hafeez was also shown the door.
"If you look at the policies of the board leave alone foreign coaches, I don't think even our local coaches want to work with the PCB," he told the media in Karachi.
Misbah is coaching the Hyderabad franchise which has qualified for the ongoing Sindh Premier League in the city.
"Pakistan cricket should not be run in such a haphazard manner and we need to have long-term plans for the team management, selectors, and grooming of players. Unfortunately, in Pakistan a change in the board leadership changes everything," he said.
He further stated that players do not feel secure in the Pakistan team and of their spot in the side when they are not sure about what is happening in the board.
"I believe you can't make a good team or groom quality players if proper time is not given for this process. We need to look at the systems of some other countries who are successful,” he said.
Furthermore, he was all for three different captains in three formats for the Pakistan side.
"Why not I think you can pick the best captains as per the needs of the format. Our players are also used to conditions in the West Indies so we should be among the front runners.”
The former skipper also called for rationalizing the policy of NOCs to allow players to play in foreign leagues.
"If a player is free for say two months why shouldn't he be allowed to go and earn money in a league but yes giving permission to players before the World Cup was a big mistake. I say have a situation-based policy for NOCs and foreign leagues."
Misbah also made it clear that interest in Test cricket would never finish as it is the pinnacle of the sport. "You can say the popularity of T20 cricket has affected ODI cricket but Test format will go on," he said.
(PTI inputs)
