KARACHI: Former Test opener and head coach Mohsin Khan on Saturday emphasised that the Pakistan Cricket Board should make efforts to convince the leading cricket teams of the world to tour Pakistan rather than inviting the lowly-ranked Bangladesh or a club or university side and needed to emulate South Africa who despite their 22-year ban due to apartheid, kept the hopes alive to stun the world after making a fantastic comeback to world cricket in 1991.
Speaking to Dawn in an exclusive interview, Mohsin said it was quite difficult to predict the exact period for the international cricket’s return to Pakistan since the attack on the Sri Lanka team nearly three years ago had left deep scars on the international cricketing community.
“That horrible incident involving the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore in March 2009 brought a severe reaction from the foreign teams and cricket boards around the world as well as from the ICC,” recalled Mohsin.
“It has been more than three years but the confidence of the international cricketing fraternity is yet to be restored in touring our country.
“The people of Pakistan are naturally starved for cricket action at home and we have also lost the home advantage which matters so much in deciding a key series.
“Besides, I also feel a bit sad for many of our young and talented players, especially the batsmen, who are compelled to make their debuts abroad and do not know the experience and the flavour of playing in front of the home crowd and in home conditions.”
When asked what further efforts the PCB should make in convincing the foreign teams to our Pakistan, Mohsin said: “It will take a lot of serious efforts and crucial decisions to make that happen. Our cricket board is trying yes, but we have to move in the right direction. Asking Bangladesh or a club or a university team will not serve our purpose.
“Our cricket board should make efforts to invite a top-ranked team from outside the sub-continent, specially when our government has assured to provide top-class security for the international series at home.
“We should try and convince teams like Australia, South Africa, England or even New Zealand or the West Indies to come and play in Pakistan.
“This should be our target so we can give a clear message to the world that any team even from outside the sub-continent can come and play here without any hesitation,” he added.
“But even if these countries decline to tour we should not worry or panic. I feel we should follow the same policy which was adopted by South African cricket when they were banned from international cricket both home and abroad for 22 years because of apartheid. They not only successfully managed to remain in touch with top cricketers and boards around the world, they further improved, strengthened and made their domestic first-class cricket tougher and more competitive. They also used the print and electronic media superbly to make sure that the players, crowd and the sponsors do not lose interest in the game.
“But they did this with great sincerity, motivation and professionalism and I feel our cricket board will have to work on the same lines to make things more conducive for world teams in this region.”
Mohsin, who achieved great heights as national team’s head coach in 2011-12 season to win each and every series that was played by Misbah and Co, pointed out that the poor fielding skills was really having a telling effect on the team and the PCB needed to look seriously into the fitness of the players right from the domestic level to the top.
“I would suggest our board should hire fielding coaches and trainers from South Africa, Australia or New Zealand for at least one full year,” emphasised Mohsin, the hero of 1982 Lord’s Test.
“They should train some 20 to 25 young local coaches and trainers in Pakistan, may be here or perhaps in Dubai if they have reservations in coming to Pakistan.
“After a year, our own coaches and trainers can then be attached with I and II grade teams in our first-class cricket set-up and present an official report on each player to the PCB which could tremendously help the national selectors in selecting the best players. Besides, school and club cricket must be given a lot of importance to keep the youth involved,” the former opener remarked.
Speaking about the burning issue concerning the return of young Mohammad Aamir after serving his spot-fixing ban, Mohsin said: “Aamir is a young and a hugely talented cricketer but his wrong and illegal actions really spoiled the image of Pakistan cricket.
“In my opinion, no one is indispensable and Aamir too, still has a long way to go to be counted among the greats of the game. But even if you are one of the greatest players in the world, you are not greater than the game or your country. As far as Aamir’s five-year ban is concerned it is up to the ICC to decide,” Mohsin said.