Daily Times

LAHORE: Former right-arm fast-bowler Aaqib Javed believes Pakistan cricket stopped developing its academy structure which resulted in a slump in standards. Pakistan Super League franchise Lahore Qalandar’s director of cricket also said that Pakistan would miss the presence of Test captain Misbahul Haq and veteran batsman Younus Khan once they depart from the format. “At the moment they are all over the place,” said Aaqib. “I am worried when Misbah and Younus go, what will happen to their batting? We have seen the Sri Lankans struggling after losing two great players Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. The challenge can’t be solved in six months or one year.” Aaqib rued the downfall of the academies in Pakistan which resulted in a stunted production of talented individuals. “Nobody actually realised the development in Pakistan stopped and it is hurting them right now,” said Aaqib. “They used to have the best academy system back in Pakistan which they stopped in 2010.”

He added: “All these players are from this system and once you produce players from the system you can depend on that group of players for four or five years. All of a sudden when you stop your development plans you have no more players coming up from your system.” Aaqib, who represented Pakistan in 22 Tests and 163 ODIs, estimated that Pakistan would need at least two years to recover from the slump in form. “So now, Pakistan have to wait at least two years and they should realise that they should not expect any miracle from Mickey Arthur or somebody else,” he said. “It’s not about people, it’s not about personalities – it’s about the system.” Aaqib, who was the front-runner in the local coach category after Waqar Younis resigned from his head coach post, also said that he trusts Arthur’s attributes to be of assistance for Pakistan cricket. “I think Arthur has great experience working with two international teams and working with a high performance centre,” said Aaqib. “He is a technical and a team coach. So, I think, he must be very experienced and working with Asian players he must have an idea of working with different people. I can’t find any problem because he has the experience and I think he’ll do well.”

Aaqib added that there is not short-term remedy for Pakistan cricket’s problems. “The coming two series are really tough in England and Australia. I think everybody should understand this is a time to support Pakistan cricket, not to criticise Mickey Arthur or others. I think the coming two or three years will be exciting for Pakistan cricket, but in short-term I can’t see any quick repair.”