PAKISTAN’S shoddy out-cricket during the ODI series against India exposed the standard of Pakistan fielding. We also saw same shoddy fielding exhibited during the just concluded Twenty20 Cup.

Now PCB management is thinking about hiring a foreign fielding coach. We habitually take remedial action after the worst has already happened.

Hiring a foreign fielding coach will be just another pointless exercise in futility at a very high cost.

In my opinion, nobody can improve fielding of Pakistan’s present Test and one-day players. We actually need fielding coaches at lower levels where the players are keen to learn the game.

Twenty20 Cup was competed by regional teams. So, almost future and current players took part in it. Unfortunately we witnessed the fielding standard of almost every team as far below even that of first class standard, yet these are our future players who may represent Pakistan one day.

Throughout the tournament everybody was blaming orange colour balls for dropped catches. It was not the coloured balls but poor fitness and lack of technique which led to the problem.

Preparation is the heart of success. Every team needs proper strategy before taking part in any competition. I enquired from the team managements about the preparations for the competition. None of the teams had done any home work and offered the excuse that PCB failed to provide them funds which is strange as the board is the richest sporting organisation of the country.

PCB claims to be a professional management body but when they come down to practicals, it is to the contrary.

Two more things were evident during this tournament.

Firstly, there was lack of game plan. Every team played the matches without a game plan and a fallback game plan, which shows deficiency in the competence of the coaches.

Secondly, substandard umpiring which was very evident as most of the umpires lacked knowledge that resulted in their failure to control the match.

Another aspect that was alarming was the illegal bowling actions of the bowlers. Almost every team has one or two bowlers who had suspect action, but not called or reported by umpire or match referee. Pakistanis are already singled out as worst offenders at the international level.

PCB has failed to curb this problem in Pakistan cricket though they have Regional and National Illegal Bowling Committees but all are inactive. Twenty20 should be continued. It is good for the game as it offers entertainment and pulls crowds which is good for the game.

Too much has been talked about temporarily closing of National Cricket Academies, but everybody is against closing them. I do appreciate the idea of Director Cricket Operations, Saleem Altaf, of revamping the academies and should be run by professional and competent people. If the idea is put into action then these academies would certainly produce better results with consistency.

Our cricket needs proper coaching through qualified and competent coaches at all levels and high standard competitions, proper grounds, good matches schedule, standard umpiring and quality boarding, lodging and travelling facilities.

PCB has adopted the modern pattern for cricket by obtaining sponsorship in domestic cricket, appointing coaches for regional teams, organizing tournaments, but unfortunately the board is run by non-professional people who have an unprofessional approach towards the game and domestic cricket is being played in a haphazard manner.

This is wake up time for PCB. They must realize that all these ridiculous practices must end now and work with sincerity and honesty.

It is also high time indeed to reinstate constitution of the PCB, so that the game is run democratically so that elected people and association play their due role in the development of the sport. We should have learnt a lesson from past mistakes.

The writer is a former Test fast bowler who has the honour of taking the first hat trick in ODIs.