Pakistan Cricket is a silent dominant force in world cricket. The team has been a silent killer over the years. Without the flamboyance and bright shine that teams like India and England have had, Pakistan has done exceptionally well in the shortest format of the game. Pakistan Cricket Board has gone out of its way to make sure that they bring cricket back to their country. The onset of the Pakistan Super League and the freedom that PCB gives to its players to play has helped to make their game richer. Here is a look at all the reasons why Pakistan is blooming into a giant: –
Freedom to Players to Freelance Around the World: –
The biggest incentive that Pakistani players have is that they can play as freelance agents even when under contract. We often see several Pakistani cricketers playing different leagues all over the world. The case with Indian Cricket is that the lack of opportunities makes our perspective smaller. Players such as Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, Prasidh Krishna, Sheldon Jackson, and several others who have dominated the domestic circuit year after year can be given a chance in other leagues. The problem that not allowing players is that we shorten their chances to grow.
For instance, Haris Rauf, who has been a backbone for Pakistani bowling is not scouted by Pakistan. He first burst the scene after having a great BBL season. The next example that comes to mind is the dominance of Babar Azam in the English T20 League, the NatWest T20 Blast. His performance while opening the batting for Somerset was supreme. Imad Wasim is another instance of players excelling due to freelance cricket. Imad has played in almost every league but his performances in the CPL are notable. Jamaica Tallawahs helped Imad groom as a spin-bowling all-rounder.
The Onset of Pakistan Super League: –
Like India has the IPL, Pakistan has the Pakistan Super League. The PSL! And to have a domestic league of that form itself tells you how good the scouting level must be. The PSL apart from its financial comparison to the IPL is an elite league. The performances put up in the league games are amazing. Some of the games that the players put up in the PSL are as good as the IPL. The prodigies that have been produced by the PSL include Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, and Sharjeel Khan.
The PSL also promotes the comeback of the lost Pakistani stars. The likes of Umar Akmal and Kamran Akmal alongside Mohammad Amir have shown that still a lot of fire is left. They show that age is just a number. Another case of comeback is that of Mohammad Sami. Sami had left the Indian batting lineup in tatters in the 2016 World Cup. And the rivalries on show in the PSL are equally epic. One certainly cannot forget the epic banter between Mohammad Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The comeback of Live Cricket Matches to Pakistan: –
After the scars that were left to Pakistan Cricket in 2009, several managerial committees have tried to bring live cricket matches to Pakistan. The attack on the Sri Lankan Cricket Team was just by a certain group of people but that didn’t represent the humble and hospitable nature of the Pakistani citizens. Several Indian Cricketers have recalled instances of the crowd being in love with them because they love the game. So, the comeback of live cricket matches to Pakistan was inevitable because nothing can conquer the love that fans have for the game.
For the past few years, lower-tier teams such as Zimbabwe and Kenya have toured Pakistan. The latest addition to the list is South Africa, West Indies, and Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board has been working so generously and diligently with foreign players that, they awarded Darren Sammy honorary citizenship for his work in bringing cricket back to Pakistan. For, the past few years, the PSL playoffs are also taking place in Pakistan. The reason why we emphasize live matches is that they inspire the youth. When the youth witnesses athleticism and charisma on the field, they idolize doing the same.
Getting the Right People in Management and Team: –
The Capitan of the Pakistan Cricket Team was a position that was playing musical chairs for several years. But in the form of Babar Azam, they have found a solid leader. Babar is a player who leads from the front. The PCB Chairperson at this moment is Ramiz Raja. This decision has made Pakistan Cricket grow by leaps and bounds. While commentating, we are very well aware of the knowledge that Ramiz has about the game.
Once a reason for memes, the Pakistan Cricket Team is now one of the best in the world in the T20 Format. They have worked on their fielding skills and the legacy of floppy fielding has been dropped. The team also has Yo-Yo Tests. Their format has been incorporating stuff similar to that of the Indian Cricket Team. And the results of all of the changes can be seen on the pitch.