‘Only For Media’: Ex-Pakistan Batter Lambasts PCB Over Deeper Problems

Pakistan’s leading international cricketers returning to domestic cricket has been seen as a positive step for the country’s struggling cricket system. Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and other big names have returned to the domestic circuit, with more focus on getting international players involved in first-class cricket.

However, former Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad believes bringing the stars back is only the beginning. He feels the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must address the deeper problems in the system instead of focusing on changes that look good in the media.

Speaking on Geo News, Shehzad welcomed the return of international players but said the conditions in domestic cricket also need to improve.

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Is Pakistan cricket focusing on the wrong things?

“There is no doubt that having Pakistan’s international players playing domestic cricket is a very good thing. But you also have to create the right atmosphere for those players,” Shehzad said.

The former batter argued that several important areas, including fitness, coaching, pitches and player development, have been neglected for a long time. According to him, simply making visible changes without working on these issues will not solve Pakistan cricket’s problems.

“These are things we have not worked on for a very long time. Some things are being done simply to show something in the media,” he added.

Why does Shehzad want better pitches in domestic cricket?

Shehzad believes Pakistan’s domestic pitches should be designed to prepare batters for the challenges they face at the international level.

He pointed out that Pakistan’s batters often struggle against quicker deliveries and lateral movement. In his view, domestic cricket should give them the opportunity to face these conditions and improve their technique.

“The first thing you have to look at is where your national team is struggling. Pakistan struggle on slightly quicker pitches where there is some lateral movement. That is where their technique gets exposed,” Shehzad said.

He suggested preparing pitches that offer some assistance to bowlers so batters can learn how to handle difficult conditions.

“Let them make their mistakes at this level and work on them here, because there is less pressure,” he explained.

Are domestic pitches becoming too flat?

The former Pakistan opener also raised concerns about the way domestic pitches are prepared. He claimed that even grounds traditionally known to help bowlers are now being made flatter.

According to Shehzad, this approach reduces the value of domestic cricket as a preparation platform for international matches.

“Don’t deliberately make those pitches flat. Whatever you are doing has to be done with a purpose. You start a tournament, but your preparations are not complete,” he said.

He stressed that domestic cricket should have a clear objective: helping players develop the skills needed to perform at the highest level.

What did Shehzad say about Pakistan’s domestic coaches?

Shehzad was particularly critical of the coaching standards in Pakistan’s domestic system. He questioned whether the current group of coaches is doing enough to develop young cricketers.

“Believe me, the players we used to have at club level were more competitive than this. They used to play better cricket than what we are seeing now. So what is the purpose of these domestic coaches?” he said.

He argued that domestic coaches must help players develop before they reach international cricket. In his opinion, players should not just be prepared to compete but should also have the skills to win matches for Pakistan.

“Unfortunately, our domestic coaches are not at the level required to groom our cricketers and youngsters so that when they reach international cricket, they don’t merely compete — they are capable of winning matches for Pakistan,” Shehzad added.

Can Pakistan fix its batting problems at the domestic level?

Shehzad also linked the technical weaknesses of Pakistan’s batters to shortcomings in the domestic system. He believes players should be able to correct their mistakes before reaching international cricket.

For him, domestic cricket should provide the right environment for players to work on their weaknesses, face challenging conditions and develop their game.

He ended with a warning that bringing international stars back into domestic cricket will have limited impact if the wider system remains unchanged.

“The more mistakes you continue to make in domestic cricket, the further the Pakistan team will keep going down,” Shehzad said.