Bari calls for overhaul of domestic structure

Former skipper wants number of first-class teams to be halved

KARACHI: Former skipper Wasim Bari has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to stop focusing on cosmetic changes and instead look to overhaul the entire cricketing structure and setup of the country.

Bari was responding to reports claiming that the board is mulling over reintroducing the posts of international and domestic cricket directors after abolishing them last year.

Zakir Khan was Director International Cricket and Intikhab Alam was Director Domestic Cricket when the two posts were abolished as a cost-cutting measure.

Bari, who played 81 Tests and 51 ODIs, said there is a dire need to stop relying on individuals and instead the system should be strengthened for long-term success.

“There is no use of shifting officials around to different posts when your entire cricketing system is outdated,” Bari told The Express Tribune.  “Everyone says we’re lagging behind in international cricket but what about our domestic system which is decades old? We’re not producing quality cricketers anymore because our domestic cricket is flawed.”

The former wicketkeeper feels having 20 to 24 first-class teams is ‘ridiculous’ as it only serves in allowing sub-standard players a chance to play. Instead, he suggested, there should only be 10 teams.

Bari — who has worked as PCB COO, chief selector, HR and Administration Director, and Education and Training Director — said standards will improve across the board if the total number of teams is reduced.

“In my time, it was almost impossible to break into Karachi’s team but now average club cricketers are getting chances,” he said. “In the last few years, a lot of players have struggled in international cricket because they perform in our average domestic system and are then badly exposed.”

Bari hopes the PCB appoints people like New Zealand coach Mike Hesson, who is emerging as one of the best coaches despite never playing top-class cricket.

“Hesson doesn’t talk about individuals but instead he takes pride in being part of the team’s culture,” he said. “We need to develop a strong sporting culture and that would automatically help us in building a strong unit. The board needs to hire such visionary and dedicated people.”

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2016.

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