Ian Chappell tells Pakistan to improve their cricket or stay home

Australian great fumes at the lack of fight provided by Misbah's men in recent whitewash


Sports Desk January 09, 2017
PHOTO: AFP

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell believes Cricket Australia shouldn't invite Pakistan cricket team for Test series Down Under in future until the struggling Asian side up their game significantly and provide some sort of challenge to the home side.

The visitors were whitewashed in the recent three-match Test series against the Baggy Green, and apart from the final day of the opening Test at the Gabba, they rarely threatened the hosts.

Pakistan were outplayed in every aspect of the game, disappointing those who had hoped to see a closely contested series in the light of their impressive form at their adopted home of UAE.

Yasir Shah’s reaction to national anthem is all you need to see today


Coupled with their 2-0 defeat at the hands of New Zealand, captain Misbahul Haq's men lost all five Tests in the past two months, leading Chappell to question the wisdom of inviting a team that looks a shadow of itself on their travels.

"Pakistan have now lost 12 Test matches on the trot in Australia, and somebody's got to give them a kick up the bum. Cricket Australia have got to start saying 'listen if things don't improve we will stop with the invites'," Chappell, who feels Pakistan's poor fielding at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was a sign of things to come in the rest of the series, told ESPN.

"You can't continue to [play poor] cricket. You can't bowl poorly, have conservative field placings and field sloppily and expect to play decent cricket in Australia," he added.

Meltdown in Melbourne


The 73-year-old was extremely critical of captain Misbah, saying, "A lot of their struggles were because they had no leadership. There was no inspiration from Misbah, so things have got to change in Pakistan."

When asked to comment on Misbah's future as the skipper, Chappel said, "If I had anything to do with the selection then that will be it for Misbah as the captain, but in Pakistan they do some very strange things, so I wouldn't bet on it."

Pakistan's below par showing means that Chappell feels Australia shouldn't feel too confident about themselves as they have yet to be truly tested — something that will change on their upcoming tour of India.

Misbah hints at Test retirement after MCG debacle


"Australia have made some improvements, but whether their performances were flattered by the way Pakistan played...we will find that out in India as that will be the big test," concluded Chappell.

COMMENTS (47)

FAISAL IQBAL | 7 years ago | Reply @PCB , please promote "Merit System" and "demote Nepotism" to create powerful team for Pakistan.
Freedom | 7 years ago | Reply I hate to admit but I agree with this guy. It's been a shameful act my team green. I don't know why the team forgets to play in Australia completely. Australia treated Pakistan as if they are playing a school team. PCB needs a major shake up.
VIEW MORE COMMENTS
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ