Former Pakistan Test spinner and ex-chief selector Iqbal Qasim has criticised the current generation of cricketers, saying too many young players are more focused on earning money than improving their skills and understanding of the game.Qasim, who played 50 Tests and served on the national selection committee several times, also questioned the lack of long-term planning and consistency in selection decisions.“I have been a chief selector and member of the selection committee several times and we worked on an honorary basis with no salaries or fees,” he recalled, as quoted by PTI.“Nowadays the selectors get paid handsome salaries for being on the selection committee but I see a lack of vision when making decisions,” he said.
Qasim questions players’ priorities
The former spinner, who finished his first-class career with 999 wickets, believes Pakistan cricket is being affected by a lack of commitment among young players.“I don’t want to talk about the past or when we played cricket. But seriously I see a general lack of interest or commitment among most of the young players to focus and work hard on improving their game awareness and skills and they seem more focused on earning money,” he said.Qasim said players now have greater financial opportunities, but many youngsters consider success to be mainly about securing Pakistan Super League contracts.“Even now with cricket changing so much over the last few decades the formula to success remains that how much time is a player (s) individually willing to give to improve upon his skill sets and reading the game. And that is not happening frequently now in Pakistan cricket.”“There is too much reliance on young players on coaches, assistants and data; they don’t spend enough time individually on working out things.”He said the best players have always worked independently on their skills, fitness and ability to understand match situations.“I think playing for your country is the biggest reward a player can get. I have always believed the better you improve your quality as a player the more money will come automatically you don’t have to chase it,” he added.
Lessons from the past
Qasim also recalled Pakistan’s famous Test win over India in Bangalore in 1987, where advice from former India captain Bishen Singh Bedi helped shape his approach.“We met Bishen Sahab at a function on the rest day of the Bangalore test and he was unhappy with his prodigy Maninder Singh’s bowling in the second innings noting on a pitch where there was so much turn he (Maninder) was giving so much turn to the ball that it was impossible to bowl a batsman, get leg before or trap him into giving a catch.”Qasim said he followed Bedi’s advice to bowl in the right areas and use the pitch’s natural turn, helping Pakistan win the match.He also recalled refusing to exclude Shahid Afridi from a West Indies tour despite opposition from captain Misbah-ul-Haq.“I told Zaka Sahab and captain, Misbah who didn’t want Afridi in the team that it is the selectors’ domain to pick 16 best players and it is the captain’s domain to play the 11 he wanted. So I would not drop Afridi. Misbah told me he will not play him and I said fine that is your prerogative but he will go,” he recalled.Afridi eventually played and took several wickets in his first match. Qasim believes interference between different authorities remains a major problem for Pakistan cricket, creating confusion and controversy.
