The ongoing tri-nation cricket series a rehearsal for upcoming Champions Trophy
This series, no doubt, will prove to be a good rehearsal for the coming ICC Champions Trophy to be held at country’s three upgraded and renovated stadiums.
It is going to be rehearsal for the Pakistan cricket team as well PCB as organisers of ICC’s much-talked about event. Players as well PCB can benefit and learn from this event’s experience which will also identify their positives and negatives, successes and shortcomings, if any, to further improve their performances for the Champions Trophy.
The PCB should now focus on maximising the potential of Pakistan squad while preparing for the challenges ahead in the Champions Trophy.
This will experience will also help those, at the helm of affairs, regarding taking strategic decisions including pitch preparation, players’ selection.
With a highly competitive field, the Tri-Nation series is going to serve as an ideal platform to identify final adjustments needed to secure a title-winning squad.
Ahead of the Champions Trophy, allocated to Pakistan by ICC, Pakistan faced two main challenges. First to prove that they are capable of organising this one of world’s top-class cricket event and secondly as defending champions of the event they were to raise a squad capable of defending the title or at least reaching the finals of the event.
At the same time at the start of their preparations for the Champions Trophy Pakistan had to face another hurdle which was India’s refusal to send its team to Pakistan citing security reasons. However Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)took a bold stance on this issue and finally an agreement was reached between PCB and BCCI through ICC on a hybrid model for this event. India, however, will play all their matches in Dubai.
Anyway Pakistan initiated well on all fronts and in the first instance Pakistan invested heavily in upgrading its cricketing infrastructure in preparation for the Champions Trophy. Three major stadiums – Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, National Stadium in Karachi, and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – have undergone extensive renovations to meet international standards.
At Gaddafi Stadium, significant structural enhancements and aesthetic upgrades had been done ensuring the venue provides a world-class experience for both players and spectators. National Stadium in Karachi has been revamped into a state-of-the-art facility with improved seating, enhanced hospitality areas, and cutting-edge technologies.
Likewise Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has seen an upgrade with the installation of 10,000 new seats, upgraded digital replay screens, and additional hospitality boxes.
These upgrades demonstrate Pakistan’s commitment to providing top-tier facilities for international events. The PCB’s efforts to modernise its venues reflect the nation’s passion for cricket and its aspiration to host world-class tournaments.
For the Tri-Nation series too Pakistan hacve fool proof security arrangements Champions Trophy will also benefit from these robust security arrangements to ensure the safety of players, officials, and fans.
In Lahore and Rawalpindi, Punjab Police will deploy a significant number of personnel, supported by aerial surveillance from the Pakistan Army and Rangers. Additionally, players will receive state guest status, with strict security measures in place for their safety.
Similarly, in Karachi, the Sindh administration has made foolproof arrangements for the smooth conduct of matches, ensuring that security and logistical operations are up to the highest standards.
After the West Indies series Pakistan had to name squads for Champions Trophy as well as Ti-Nation series which Pakistan finally did. PCB named squads for both the events and finally for the Champions Trophy.
There has been criticism too over the selection of Champions Troophy squad but these are the normal things. Head coach Aqib Javed had, however defended the selection.
Inform- opener Saim Ayub’s absence, due to ankle injury, will definitely a set-back for Pakistan.
Saim Ayub has been replaced by former opener Fakhar Zaman.
The PCB has until February 11 to make any changes to the squad, thereafter, replacements will only be permitted on medical grounds, subject to approval by the ICC Event Technical Committee.
There are four changes in the 15-player squad that last played an ODI series in South Africa late last year. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel.
With having all resources at its disposal PCB has done its best having almost finalised its preparations for the Tri-series and Champions of Trophy which includes upgradation of
Stadiums, security arrangements and naming squad for Champions Trophy, the results yet to come, yet there is one thing which PCB should also mull over a strong domestic structure like Australia, India and England which will help Pakistan in raising further stronger squads for international events.
At the moment Pakistan does not have strong domestic structure. The present poor domestic structure or domestic system, as you may call it, as result of non-independent associations brought into existence with many dummy clubs across the country.
This has been done under too many amendments in the PCB constitution of their liking by those at the helm of affairs from time to time without realising that these would be harmful rather destroy Pakistan cricket.
Those at the control of Pakistan cricket in the recent past went on to do what good or bad they could do to Pakistan cricket. Howver the worst damage was done in Ehsan Mani’ tenure as PCB chief when departmental cricket was banned under the directives of the then Prime Minister Imran Khan with the plea that only Regional Cricket would be promoted under the pattern of Australian domestic cricket.
Perhaps Mani’s PCB did now know that Australia, and even England, have altogether different culture as compared to Pakistan.
Pakistan has a population of over 24 crore and Australia has far less population. As such Australia can afford six-team domestic cricket system. But all important is that Australia and even England can ignore departmental cricket because of their economic system where every unemployed person has social security and he is paid if unemployed.
Now coming close to the point, unless and until the country’s cricket governing body does not have a proper, reliable and independent domestic structure/system, it can’t raise a world class team and a winning combination.
Australia, England and for that matter India too have a strong and a properly elected independent cricket bodies and their units i.e. associations which work independently and fairly for the development of game.
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