Inzamam-ul-Haq was finally confirmed as the chief selector on Monday. His first press conference suggests he will continue in his new role from where he left off as captain in 2007 - asking for ‘complete independence’. However, his assertion that he would reciprocate what he expected as a captain from the chief selector was a positive statement.
Spotting promising talent was never Inzamam’s forte. His success as Afghanistan’s coach suggests that he does have it in him to get the most out of his players, something that was also true for those players who completely submitted themselves to his mentorship on and off the field, when he was the captain. However, his new role demands a scout’s eye, not a mentor’s grooming.
Inzamam has also named former cricketers Wasim Haider, Tauseef Ahmed and Wajahatullah Wasti in his new selection committee. And the committee’s first major task would be to select a squad for Pakistan’s tour of England this summer.
Dean Jones
Meanwhile, Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq has said that he is looking forward to playing for Pakistan till the tour to Australia early next year. This means that he’s all geared up to lead the side in England and during the two home series against West Indies and New Zealand in the UAE later this year. Australia could be Misbah’s curtain call as Test captain and player.
Among the many characteristics that Misbah doesn’t share with his cricketing peers and predecessors is the art of knowing when to call it a day. While many of the Pakistani cricketers continue to play on well past their sell-by date, Misbah would never want to be a liability. Even so, he knows fully well that quitting on a high does not mean leaving the team in a bad-shape.
Opening ceremony of the Pakistan Cup
Could a new T20 captain, selection committee and head coach herald a new dawn for Pakistan cricket?
For Pakistan’s most successful Test captain, tours of England and Australia might just prove to be the toughest challenges of his career. But he’s willing to embrace that while edging closer to the twilight of his career.
At a time when the limited-overs teams have been shaken up – it is no coincidence that the ODI team looks pear-shaped since Misbah’s retirement - the Test side needs to anchor the growth of all forms of cricket in Pakistan, despite their technical differences. This means giving the likes of Azhar Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed and Mohammed Amir - those who would be participating in multiple formats – more time under his wings.
While Amir has settled in nicely in the limited-overs teams, it was long believed that Misbah would be the one spearheading his transition into the Pakistan team. Also, if rumours are to be believed Misbah is also in favour of taking experienced Salman Butt to England, a move that might be blocked by the UK Home Ministry.
Misbah-ul-Haq
Following the England tour Pakistan would be hosting the T20 World Champions West Indies in 2 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20s. Despite PCB’s efforts to back up last year’s Zimbabwe tour with another team’s visit this year, the West Indies have turned down the offer to be that team. Earlier Afghanistan had also turned down a T20 series which was to be played in Lahore. The Gulshan-e-Iqbal blast on Easter Sunday has put question marks over security even in Lahore, which PCB wants to earmark as the one secure venue to host all Pakistani matches at home in the near future.
Not hosting any teams after Zimbabwe’s tour would bring Pakistan back to square one, where they have been since 2009. This would also jeopardise any chances of the PSL being hosted in Pakistan in the near future. Of course, the fact that many international coaches have turned down the offer to replace Waqar Younis as the national team’s coach, citing security reasons, showcase the mountain that the PCB has to climb to bring cricket back home.
One coach who might be willing to coach Pakistan is former Australian batsman and current Islamabad United coach, Dean Jones. He along with compatriot Tom Moody are believed to be the frontrunners to replace Waqar, with the word being that PCB is looking for a foreign coach for the Pakistan national side.
With a new selector and a new selection committee on board, and a new head coach to join them next month, this is a new beginning for Pakistan cricket. A lot of the problems that had been eating up Pakistan cricket were being brushed under the carpet. The T20 team has been on a downward spiral for the past five years, while the ODI side managed to punch above its weight during the Misbah years and is now struggling for inspiration.
The first assignment for all those concerned, on and off the field, is the ongoing Pakistan Cup in Faisalabad. The selectors will get to look at the cream of Pakistan’s limited-overs cricketers, while the likes of Azhar Ali and Sarfraz Ahmed would be able to showcase their leadership qualities. There’s a lot of work to be done, but with the right mix of old and new, Pakistan cricket can be turned around for the better.
