Former Pakistan Test captain and coach Waqar Younis has said that it is time for Pakistan cricket to stop ‘crying’ over the retirement of star batsmen Misbah ul Haq and Younis Khan and to fix first class cricket.
In a tweet sent out in the wake of Pakistan’s recent 3-0 whitewash against South Africa in South Africa, the former coach said that it was time to “fix and respect first class cricket.
What is more important in cricket Heart or Mind ??? The answer of why Pakistan lost to South Africa in the Test series is in this question .. How long are we going to cry over the retirement of Younis and Misbah #WorryingTime Fix and Respect first class cricket..
— Waqar Younis (@waqyounis99) January 14, 2019
“What is more important in cricket Heart or Mind ??? The answer of why Pakistan lost to South Africa in the Test series is in this question ..” he said in the tweet.
Pakistan, which has slipped to number 7 in the ICC Test ranking behind Sri Lanka after their recent loss in South Africa, has been facing a serious test slump since the exit of former Captains Mibsah and Younis who were considered the backbone of the team’s batting line-up. Since their retirement, subsequent batsmen have failed to live up to their mark.
Waqar Younis is not the only one to come forward with demands to improve the first class system in Pakistan in recent times.
Losing home and away series now. Problems not getting masked anymore.Poor 1st class pitches,balls don’t allow batting techniques or fast bowlers to develop. All very boring I know, but unfortunately there is no quick fix or magic wand.FIX 1ST CLASS CRICKET PLZ #RSAvPAK
— Bazid Khan (@bazidkhan81) January 14, 2019
– no short term (cosmetic measures) such as chopping players will work.
First class cricket environment has to reviewed.
Currently there is no contest due to Duke on very difficult tracks (yet prominent batsmen are overlooked).
Specialists should be preferred in longest format.— Asif Khan (@mak_asif) January 14, 2019
If Pakistan cricket is serious about being competitive in Tests in places like Aus & S Africa:
Quality over quantity in domestic cricket
Give First-class cricket priority over T20 & 50-over tournaments
More ‘A’ tours to Aus, S Africa, NZ & England
Select Test specialists#Cricket— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) January 14, 2019
Australia’s and Pakistan’s problems in Tests are common. Both giving more importance to T20s than first-class cricket and picking players with hardly any four-day experience. But Pakistan at least is doing well in T20s, can’t say same about Australia.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) January 7, 2019
A strong First-class system will always produce high-quality cricketers. India’s First-class cricket is of a very good quality, competitive and is producing world-class cricketers. PCB needs to move away from this obsession with the PSL and invest more into 4-day cricket #Cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) December 30, 2018