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Saqlain Mushtaq, the former cricketer who played for Pakistan and is now the coach for the boys in green after his official appointment in February 2022, has been the center of attention for quite some time. If we look back on our coaches’ history, it isn’t hard to conclude that we have always had some concerns regarding them. Mickey Arthur and Misbah-ul-Haq are some examples.
What is the reason for the team not reaching its full potential sometimes?
The current Pakistan cricket team has some of the most promising cricketers. From the top batters like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Fakhar Zaman to complete all-rounders like Shadab Khan, Mohammad to aggressive hitters like Asif Ali to fiery bowlers like Shaheen Shah, Haris Rauf, and Naseem, the team truly does have it all.
The Babar and co is a group of players that the supporters truly pin their hopes on because they know the team has the potential to outsmart even the best of opponents. But the real question is what has made the national team lose the T20i world cup, semi-final, Asia cup final, and now the home series against England.
Who is the main culprit, and why does the majority opine that it’s Saqlain Mushtaq?
It won’t be wrong to say that a considerable percentage of spectators believe that it’s the management, mainly the coach Saqlain Mushtaq who is to blame. A captain isn’t entirely innocent in a scenario like this because he does have the power to make decisions, but the main strategic plan is still in the hands of the coach. A player like Babar Azam, who is responsible for being the team captain for all three formats, requires a coach that will allow him to see the error of his ways and instill the tactics of modern cricket.
However, it isn’t apparent that the King of Doosra has been doing the latter part. While nobody denies that Saqlain Mushtaq was a great bowler, it shouldn’t be a crime to say that he may be lacking in the coaching department in more than one way.
Is Qudrat ka Nizam stopping the boys in green from adapting to modern cricket?
The recent press conference of the head coach where he talked about “qudrat ka nizam” was a bit disappointing, to say the least. It’s a fact that there are numerous things that a team cannot control in cricket. However, if the mindset of not identifying the mistakes is instilled in the players, it can turn out to be pretty dangerous. Because if the errors are not acknowledged, they won’t be rectified. The team may still keep on winning several games, but there will come a point when those mistakes come back to bite, and the cycle will continue. Modern cricket can become very troublesome to play if you don’t adapt to it real quick.
At this point, it’s baffling why the management continues with the same techniques that have cost the team some very imperative games. The slow approach in the powerplay and the inflexible batting order are two problems that almost every Pakistani fan is aware of, but it seems like management doesn’t see it as a problem. Despite being a player who is the perfect example of form and utility, Shadab Khan still wasn’t promoted to number 4. Nawaz wasn’t also trusted to be sent up the order and see how well he would do as a middle-order batsman.
Let’s hope that the team steps into the tri-series and the WorldCup with a proper strategy laid down by the coach and then the strategy is well-executed by the captain.
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