Lack of Cricket at Home Major Reason for Decline: Inzamam-Ul-Haq

Former Pakistan Captain and legendary cricketer Inzamam-Ul-Haq feels that the lack of international cricket at home since the attacks on Sri Lankan team in 2009 is one of reasons for Pakistan’s poor performance in international cricket.

“The present situation in Pakistan cricket is worrisome and everyone needs to give serious thought to it,” Inzamam told the media in his hometown Multan.

Inzamam had a word with the media after inaugurating an academy opened in his name by a private NGO.

“We lost to Bangladesh on Friday and that too after 16 long years so that is a clear indication of where our cricket is going unless something is done to improve things,” said Inzamam, who represented Pakistan in 120 Tests and 378 ODIs.

Inzamam feels that Pakistan was still blessed with plenty of talented cricketers  but it needs to have a clear plan for the future.

“We must target the next World Cup because it would have been 27 years since we last won this mega event,” he said.

He added that it was lack of cricket at home which is the major reason for decline.

“Our upcoming players are not just getting the required exposure and are not ready quickly enough for the graduation to international cricket. No international cricket also means we are not preparing good enough pitches in domestic cricket.”

According to Inzamam, everyone including the Pakistan Cricket Board, the government, the media and former players needed to work together in order to restore international matches in Pakistan which have been halted since March, 2009 when militants attacked the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

“I think that for the next two years we just need to be patient and not think about the results. We need to regroup and build our teams and players in this period,” the veteran batsman said.

The way Inzamam has talked about the future of Pakistan cricket, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Pakistan head coach, Waqar Younis had recommended his name for the post of Chief Selector. But, the PCB opted for Haroon Rasheed after the World Cup.