Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja took time out of his schedule this
week to answer questions from the ICC's Facebook and Twitter followers.He spoke on a variety of topics including the present state of Pakistan cricket and world cricket in general.Watch out for upcoming Facebook and Twitter chats with other leading players and officials.Aamil Dharani: Why are Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali not given the chance ahead of Younus Khan and Misbah in limited-overs cricket?I think the reason could be that Pakistan still want to win desperately,
so as a result they want to take as less a risk as possible. That I
think could be one thinking behind not shifting the seniors from the
middle order. I have always maintained that Pakistan can at times be
neutralised because their middle-order is quite predictable. Some of the
other middle order line ups in the world can be quite unpredictable
with their shots and the tempo at which they score. As a result most
middle orders can clearly outwit the opposition and surprise them.
Pakistani middle order is one paced and not threatening. May be just to
set up the unpredictable threat, it is important to get in the younger
players. Asad has improved his one-day shots. Azhar Ali is in good form.
I remember my own Test form was used to blood me in to the one day
side. That is how you make the one day team. You can learn on the job
about adjusting to the one day format. Azhar Ali has the technique and
so he can adjust to the one day format as well.Pratik Aryal: Is Pakistan settling down as
a consistent team?I would like to think that way. But it is still early days. The
performance has been solid thus far. The squad seems to have gelled
well together and have bonded well. I think they have a very good
reliable captain in Misbah who is taking the team in a certain
direction. This may not be popular but he is setting a pace. He has
allowed the squad to create their own pace and create their own method
of winning games, which may sound jaded and archaic, but it is working
for Pakistan. I think the next year will be much better for Misbah and
his team. They will gain confidence from the last 12 months. They will
be a lot more aggressive and win more times.Muhammad Saad Nawaz: What is the reason that Pakistan team has not
found a consistent pair of openers for over a decade? Would you open
with Shahid Afridi or promote Abdul Razzaq to number three?
I think opening is not considered or given importance as a specialised
field in Pakistan. I got picked as a middle order batsman. I spent a
little while in the middle order and then shifted upwards. That trend
seems to have continued. We need to give special importance to the field
of opening. In India at school from a very young age kids are taught to
occupy the crease and not worry about big shots. There is a rich
tradition. It's also important to have openers to look upto
historically. Pakistan have had very few quality openers over the years.
It is about consistency. Hafeez looks settled at the top. In the Tests,
Taufeeq Umar looks quite shoddy with his footwork and technique. I
would stick with the two as an opening pair in Tests for now. In the one
dayers you can always rotate the pair because it's a sifferent ball
game. In the one-dayers even if you are technically half cooked you can
be drafted as an opener.Razzaq can be a good choice provided he rotates the strike. Even after
so many years he gets stuck as he looks only for big shots which stops
the flow of the innings completely. So it's a case of horse for courses I
guess.Afridi is not too convinced that his batting is still at the top of the
mark. He is now happier lower down the order. Pakistan can use him at
number six and not rush him up the order. He can be a floater at this
stage of his career. Now he is more of a bowling than batting
all-rounder. But if he is used as a batting all-rounder he will add a
lot more balance. But I would rather have him bat lower down the order
Swagat Kurankar: Why don't you become the coach of the Pakistan team?It requires a temperament of a different kind as it is a specialised
field. We have experimented with quite a few coaches. But they have all
gone through the mill of coaching. Some are trained as coaches, some are
not, yet they have done a satisfactory job. You need a special
temperament to be the coach. I would rather work with the young talent
and be a mentor to them than getting involved in full time coaching. At
the under 19s level, talent is a given, it is about how mentally strong
you are to weather the storm of international challenges. I would like
to contribute to the younger generation as a mentor somebody who would
be there in times of crisis. When I am in Lahore, I go to the National
Cricket Academy and talk to some of the younger guys just to let them
know they have it. It's a only a matter of time and about encouraging
talent.Rehan Rules: Don't you think Pakistan need to move forward (for ICC
Cricket World Cup 2015), so why don't we name Mohammad Hafeez as an ODI
captain instead of Misbah-ul-Haq?
I think that time will eventually come. Pakistan should not rock the
boat. Under Misbah after a long time they are being regarded as a
threat. Let us enjoy these successes while it lasts. We need to plan for
the future. But at this stage, we should not just muck up the mindset,
by encouraging a future leader. Pakistan can just carry on at the same
level under the same captain for time being.Hassan Javed: Do you think that Pakistan's bowling attack is world's best?I would safely say the spinners have performed well and their
performances speak for themselves. Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez form a
potent spinning attack. There is room for improvement in the fast
bowling department. For Pakistan to be regarded the best attack, they
need a tearaway fast bowler a la Shoiab Akhtar or someone of that
quality or pace. Unless that bowler comes along, this bowling is not
that great yet.
Wajeeha Abbasi: Who do you think is a better newcomer: Pat Cummins or Junaid Khan? How do you see their future?Both are very talented. One, Cummins, bowls at a rapid pace is off to a
great start. Junaid Khan is still medium pace who thinks like a fast
bowler. Junaid bowls in good areas and challenges the batsmen. What he
did to Sri Lanka bating line up on the UAE tracks was tremendous. He is
still work in progress. I am quite happy with the progress he has made.
Both are great for the game. Cummins has provided energy to the
Australians with his pace. Junaid is a hard working individual. His
fitness is good as well. He is a dream bowler for a captain in that you
can throw the ball to him deep in the afternoon on a hot day and he will
still give you his best. That is how Pakistan can become a good and
challenging side if youngsters get involved in such a manner. The
environment is healthy and has been impressive. There is merit based
selection and some wise decisions have been taken.Hafiz Shahbaz: Do you think that the present team is one of the best sides ever from Pakistan?Well, I think in terms of consistency and their form this side has been
impressive. I would not say it is the best. We have had more
individually gifted players in the past. But I wish that the present
players do something so sensational that you forget about past heroes.
You have got to create present day heroes. There have been some good
players. I would still like to see big names emerging like Afridi. We
need a future Afridi, who can create an impact or be charismatic, or
even someone like a Shoaib Akhtar. These are the sort of players you
stop and watch while surfing your television channels. Whether it is a
Akhtar burst with the ball or an Afridi knock, it is this that draws you
to a television.Sana Gillani: Can Pakistan beat England in the upcoming Test and ODI series?
Well they can upset them. Remember England was beaten in Pakistan after
they had won the Ashes in 2005. Pakistan had won 2-0 then. So it can
happen again. Pakistan must not play on England's reputation. It is all
about maintaining pressure. The conditions will suit Pakistan more than
England. A good series against Bangladesh will put Pakistan in a strong,
mental state of mind. That will get them to think that they can beat
England. It is going to be a close series.
Baachaa Jan: Who do you think is the best wicketkeeper for the Pakistan team: Adnan, Sarfaraz, Usman or Salman?
I think I would prefer Adnan Akmal to be the full time choice even
though Sarfaraz has shown good temperament. Adnan may not be a big
hitter, but his replacement, Sarfaraz is also in a similar mould. I have
not seen Sarfaraz take the opposition apart. If Kamran Akmal is not
selected or if he is out of form, his brother has to come in as he
(Adnan) is a fighter. He is safe behind the stumps and can bat a bit
also.
Akhil Jain: I am from India, please suggest what should BCCI do to produce genuine fast bowlers like Pakistan?
As far as I am concerned fast bowlers are born to bowl fast. You cannot
turn a medium pacer into a tearaway fast bowler. You can increase pace
and become sharp, but to be an outright sharp bowler, with the skills is
very difficult. You have to create the environment at the first class
level. Some of the rough diamonds who do not play in major towns are the
players to target by talent scouts. Maybe there is somebody who is
really special and who has been overlooked who can get better with
direction. It's just that we were fortunate to have those genuine fast
bowlers. We have also gone through lows and highs in that department. At
the moment we don't have anyone who bowls at 147-148 kmph regularly.
But the dip in India has been longer than in Pakistan. It has also got
to do with temperament. It has got to do with how we have been fortunate
to get good fast bowlers. There have been some role models for the
younger generations. In Pakistan medium pacers are considered less of a
human in cricketing terms. Every bowler wants to bowl fast and is
encouraged to do so instead of maintaining line and length. It is also a
histrorical thing. Coaches need to be aggressive and tell their wards
to bowl quick, who knows which bowler can develop that fast arm speed.
If the body gets a little of strength, a bowler can be sharp. I feel and
this is a view from a distance having not watched domestic cricket in
India, that coaches there prefer line and length over speed. That is how
Kapil Dev became a great bowler, whereas Imran started the fashion of
fast bowling in Pakistan with his reverse swing and pace off a good long
run up. So it has to be at the academies and grassroots that bowlers
need to be encouraged to bowl quick. Line and length can be added later
on to the armoury.
@Ashenr2: What is your opinion about Dilshan's captaincy?
I think he has been under resourced. He didn't have his best and
favourite original playing XI, so he was a bit hampered. Having said
that, he made a few tactical mistakes by dropping himself down the order
in the Test matches. When he opened the batting, it was all too easy to
dominate for Sri Lanka and easier for him to lead. Also he was not in
good form. A captain who is in good form is helped in his captaincy and
also in the dressing room. Dilshan himself was out of touch so that
transferred onto the side also. The negativity was not helped by the
fact that the batting let them down. There was also question mark
regarding their bowling. With Chaminda Vaas, Malinga and Murali no
longer there, the batting had to do well. Even then in one Test they
were good, but in the other two Pakistan could have won and made it 2-0.
Tactically at times they didn't make use of conditions. Their left arm
spinner, Ranaga Herath, was used as a stock rather than a strike bowler.
Even in their batting they were conservative. Dilshan kept searching
for the leader in the bowling, but didn't find any. The two ex captains
(Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara) need to rally around him, sit
down with him and discuss captaincy and tactics, so that he can still
get education. It is never easy to be at the receiving end and lose all
the series you have captained. Overall, I was expecting Sri Lanka to be
more competitive because they are still highly ranked.
@Dwayneeeboy: Who according to you is the most dedicated player in the Pakistan team?
It has got to be Younus Khan. His work ethic is terrific. He is the
perfect role model for all international players let alone Pakistan
players. He is a team player who gives his 100 percent on the field. I
like him very much. He is intense, but only when he bats. He lets a
smile out, every now and then, mingles with the opposition. He is a good
role model. He has sportsman spirit as well. He pouched a catch twice
in this series (v Sri Lanka) and still asked the umpire to refer it. He
is a good solid individual.
@faisalyorker: You tweeted that the low ranked Test teams should not
travel and play on their home turf only. I am from Bangladesh and want
two know the reason for this?
It's true. The lower tier teams need to play higher ranked teams in
their own territories. It is otherwise a bad advertisement for Test
cricket and even for one day cricket. If the lower ranked teams host
highly ranked teams at home they can gain I think a good tight contest
or even a win will give confidence to a a lower ranked team. Getting
thrashed is no way to learn. I feel you should earn the status to play
at Lord's or at the MCG or Cape Town for example. Or else what happens
is that you know the result before hand in case a lower ranked team
travels to play a higher ranked team. This can kill the passion for five
day cricket. I am not stopping the lower ranked teams from travelling.
They can, but when they are ready, when they have the confidence.
@mdismailbins: Why do some international teams have one captain for ODI and another captain for Test and also one for T20?
I think it is complicating the game. The basic principles of the game
has not changed. It is a simple game, but the modern tutors with the
laptop mentality are taking it away. It is still about bat and ball. I
think problem starts because teams really do not give importance to Test
matches. You can become a big one-day and T20 player from the
experience of playing Test cricket. When teams start to categorise
certain players for formats that becomes a problem. Even if you are
technically inefficient you can pull off a one day game. I think it is a
lot to easier to manage for a captain who plays all formats. It helps
in building bond between players and in strategising. When you see new
players in the dressing room it gets just a little difficult at times as
a leader because you have to work with new faces after the old ones
have gone away. It is about starting from scratch and it takes a lot out
of you as captain. These are the modern way of doing things which I
don't entirely agree
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