Pakistan Cricket 2001: A year of rebuilding despite cancellations

For Pakistan cricket, 2001 was a year of rebuilding and rejuvenation as far as the national team was concerned and of some landmark achievements in terms of infrastructure development and systematization of the PCB. There is no disputing that this year could have been even better had seven Tests and six One-day Internationals that Pakistan was to host were not affected by Indian refusals due to political reasons and the war in Afghanistan.

Waqar Younis Photo © CricInfo

These were circumstances way beyond the Board's control. Yet the PCB succeeded in minimising the fall-out, fighting its case in the ACC and the ICC, winning assurances that if such instances were repeated the offending nations would be penalised. And in case of circumstances not being conducive for hosting Test matches at home owing to factors outside the PCB's control, the series would be moved to a neutral venue. Not ideal solutions by any means, but so obviously providing the much-needed reprieve.

On the cricketing front, even those who hold no brief for Pakistan cricket would admit that the team has come out of a crucial rebuilding phase rather swiftly and seems to be well set to recapture its place at the top of the rankings in both forms of the game. Above all, as amply demonstrated in their victorious campaign for the three-nation title at Sharjah in November, the team is now a happy blend of youth and experience in which each member is backing up the other.

Mudassar Nazar Photo © CricInfo

Waqar Younis, an inspired choice as captain when the options were really limited, has established himself as a skipper, galvanising his charges to give off their best by leading from the front. The spirit of camaraderie has been infused, and the previously divisive forces are pulling in one direction. The combination of easygoing charm and shrewdness, Mudassar Nazar's induction as coach too seems to have made a difference. The result is that after struggling for more than a year, Wasim Akram has rediscovered his form, and the bowling as a combine has regained the variety and penetration to run through the best batting line-ups.

Younis Khan Photo © AFP

With the induction of the likes of Younis Khan, Taufeeq Umar and recall of Rashid Latif, who has been extremely effective in rallying the tail around him, and coming of age of Yousuf Youhana and rock-solid figure of Inzamam-ul-Haq, the batting looks robust.

Deliberate policy of infusion of youth in all spheres, like pacer Mohammad Sami, leggie Danish Kaneria, in bowling, Younis and Taufeeq in batting, has given the team a youthful look and restored its zest.

Above all, for the first time in nearly a decade, our cricketers are not dogged by any scandals - a unique phenomenon in itself, which indicates great discipline.

Danish Kaneria Photo © CricInfo

All this augurs well for 2002 and beyond that, the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

On the administrative front too, there were some landmark achievements, as a proactive PCB made unprecedented advances in a number of areas. Despite the resource crunch due to tour cancellations, the pace of development work was maintained. And all objectives were met in terms of deadlines and quality without touching the inherited resources.

Be it launching of the cricket academy, putting in management and development structures, working on the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing infrastructure and creating new ones across the country to bring them to world standard, creation of umpiring and coaching councils to upgrade human resource in these key areas, commencing meaningful restructuring of domestic cricket and discovering new vistas in our relations with the Asian and world body, the PCB under Lt Gen Tauqir Zia went into uncharted territory and succeeded in putting systems in place which would serve Pakistan cricket in good stead in the years to come.

The national teams, both senior and junior, were provided with the kind of environment in which they could concentrate on cricket. This reflects in the team spirit in the Pakistani outfit, so evident at Sharjah recently and the elimination of scandals surrounding our boys. A clutch of youngsters has been discovered by the selectors to serve as a capable talent resource. At the moment, the Pakistan team is a happy blend of experience and youth, geared to play the game in the best of spirits and the ability to match skills and prevail over the best in the world.