No end in sight to Test cricket tragedies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan cricketers are pursuing a streak of unprecedented failures in Test cricket with no end looks in sight.

Bring in any Test cricket nation and we are ready to make them proud by meekly surrendering on the cricket field. Leave the away Test series aside, Pakistan cricketers are not even ready to win in the most favourable conditions at home. England are coming out of a chilly weather condition, yet no player was seen complaining against the hottest weather they ever faced or encountered with.

The tourists did not even complain about getting no side match ahead of the Test series. On the contrary, look at the Pakistan captain Shan Masood, every time he comes to talk to the media after bowing down helplessly, he comes up with one excuse or the other as if those listening have no clue about Pakistan team’s weaknesses and lack of commitments.

“We were expecting some spin even on the second evening that did not happen.” At the same time Shan Masood admitted that lack of team’s potential to get 20 wickets was the major factor behind the defeat.

“England have shown us how to take 20 wickets on the same strip we failed to make any impact. They made that happen and we did not do that.” For the first time after tasting a record six Test defeats at a trot (three against Australia and three at home), Shan realised that there is something seriously wrong with the team performance.

“We have not been able to bring our acts together. A big first innings score and taking 20 wickets is the way forward. Shan altogether has ruled out a pitch role in the outcome of first Test against England, almost contradicting his statement that came at the outset of media talk at the Multan Stadium Friday where he mentioned that he was looking for a turn on the second day evening.

“No matter what type of pitch we are playing at, we should go for a win rather expecting any other outcome. The best way forward is to take 20 wickets,” he said. Yet, his conceding that the team was far behind to the required standard to match up the best is an alarming situation for Pakistan cricket. Repeated changes at the helm of affairs in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and unnecessary weightage given to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) dealt severe blows to the national cause in the recent past. Those pace bowlers who used to bowl at a brisk pace, clocking over 140kph and now seen bowling within themselves in an effort to protect them for league or white-ball cricket. These pacers especially the likes of Shaheen Afridi and even Naseem Shah pay no heed to their fitness that is required for every fast bowler and even if they are fit they don’t look like making an all-out effort in their bowling, like the way their predecessors used to put in.

Ever since Shaheen Shan Afridi was given the opportunity to lead the team in white-ball cricket and has tasted the role of captaincy, his urge to improve as a bowler seems like dying down. Instead he looks more interested in make or break which is the case with some other Pakistan cricketers, who have attained a role of politician rather a professional cricketer. “We are not making inroads with the ball in our hand. Had we succeeded in restricting England to the first innings total that we achieved, we could have been in a better position on the final day as chasing 220 around runs would not have been all that easy. Yet, I have to admit that we played badly and England managed their cards well to win the Test. We are repeating mistakes time and again,” Shan conceded in his press conference.

For the first time, Shan frustration was apparent from his talk, admitting that things were not that ideal. But the fact of the matter is that even the decisions from the top are so alarming that one could only pray for Pakistan cricket’s future. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) keeps on shuffling with the selection committee. Even on Friday, the Board some raw brains in the committee only to challenge coach and captain monopoly. Such desperate moves will serve no good to Pakistan cricket that is already in shambles.

There are multiple reasons behind this terrible performance, ranging from players’ unity, badly conceived decisions, no apparent wisdom in selection of coaches and captain and too much reliance on a bunch of players who look totally disinterested in making their best efforts. Chalking up a collective plan for each session and learning from mistakes and apparent urge to fight are the facts grossly missing from Pakistan’s performance.