As a cricket analyst, an eternal debate rages in my mind: Is the proof in the pudding or the process?
It's a burning question, and the answer lies not in black nor the white, but in the grey areas. But once I suspected that the answer resides in the grey, it became clear that following the right processes ensures a delicious pudding. If unexpected flaws emerge in your dessert, it indicates a failure to use the right ingredients, keep to the exact measurements, and follow the procedures, resulting in a bland pudding. Hence, I conclude that the final outcome and the process are equally crucial - with a slightly greater emphasis on following the processes - for achieving the desired result.
However, cricket in Pakistan seems to suffer from having too many cooks, risking the soufflé going flat due to the numerous suggestions and heads involved.
The recently concluded Melbourne Test saw Pakistan come tantalisingly close to the desired victory. Yet, the flavour of triumph slipped away, leaving the team and millions of fans twiddling their thumbs. The reason we could not finish the job in Melbourne was that some individuals were chasing glory while ignoring the processes that would have led to success.
The empty feeling we experienced on Friday the 29th echoed the angler's disappointment when failing to catch a fish all day. Melbourne marked the end of a turbulent year for Pakistan cricket, filled with disappointments and setbacks.
I believe the equation is simple: If the country faces turmoil, so does its cricket.
The outgoing year witnessed the cricket board go through three chairmen: Ramiz Raja, Najam Sethi, and the seemingly clueless Zaka Ashraf. This comedy of errors, with changing faces and systems on a weekly basis, is detrimental to the game. In addition, meddling with the domestic structures harms the game and players' development as well.
Pakistan's history in the sport, both recent and distant, has shown that talent is abundant, but what is needed is a group of individuals who are passionate about the game to run it uninterrupted by politics for a significant period
Sadly, the cricket board has become more and more politicised over the past decade, a trend that needs to be halted. Cricket should thrive independently of politics, guided by individuals who love and understand the game. In Pakistan, politics twists cricket's direction, with heads of state pushing for preferred chairmen.
Another important facet is "grassroots" cricket, which needs to be revived to build a strong foundation. But amidst political confusion, cricket matters head south; it's almost sad.
Yet, every cloud has a silver lining.
Despite the chaos, some positive developments for Pakistan cricket have been witnessed in the past year.
Following the World Cup debacle in India, where we failed to qualify for the semis, leadership changes were made. Babar Azam, the captain in all formats for the last four years, was replaced due to his unimpressive tenure. Sure, he oversaw a period where the Pakistan team rose to the top of the rankings for one-day internationals, but then we disappointingly saw him concede that position during the World Cup. Shan Masood succeeded Azam as the Pakistan team captain in tests, and Shaheen Afridi became the T20 leader.
Thus far, Shan's leadership style has been impressive, with inspiring team selection and strategic field placements. While he has been unable to deliver a win so far, his is a refreshing change from Babar Azam's captaincy. There are signs that under Shan, the Pakistan test team can flourish.
Unless things change soon, in 2024, perhaps the Supreme Court would need to take a suo moto notice and ensure cricket's independence from politics. This would be the greatest gift for cricket lovers in Pakistan.
Pakistan's history in the sport, both recent and distant, has shown that talent is abundant, but what is needed is a group of individuals who are passionate about the game to run it uninterrupted by politics for a significant period.
The first assignment in 2024 is the Sydney test match, and one hopes Pakistan can win and start the year with a positive attitude and result.
Players like Saud Shakeel need to make better, more significant contributions to their team. The team still needs to take and hold on to catches - this is a crucial sector we have struggled with for decades. As Shan Masood reflected in his interview with Issa Guha, the fifties should be translated into big hundreds!
Pakistan cricket needs to give us a New Year's present, and what better way to do that than a victory in Sydney?