Shahid Anwar highlights foundations of Pakistan U19 success

Discussing his coaching philosophy, 58-year-old Shahid said that while the core principles remain unchanged at every level, coaching an U19 side requires a unique approach.

“My core philosophy has always been to give your absolute best in whatever you are doing in the present. If you do that wholeheartedly, you leave yourself with no regrets.

“At the U19 level, our responsibility is to observe, diagnose and then prepare a clear plan for execution. Alongside cricket, we focus heavily on character building and lifestyle because these players are preparing for much bigger challenges ahead.

“Once you have identified what needs to be done, you must trust the process. The result is never fully in our hands, but the quality of our execution certainly is.”

Shahid, who has scored 12,100 runs from 216 first-class matches credited Pakistan’s successful Asia Cup campaign to months of hard work, with the coaching staff repeatedly reinforcing the importance of focusing only on factors within the team’s control.

“We constantly reminded the players to focus only on what they could control. Weather, umpiring decisions and other external factors are beyond us, but our preparation, attitude and execution are always within our control. Repeating this message throughout our camps helped the players stay calm and confident in pressure situations.”

On PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi announcing incentives for the players following Pakistan’s Asia Cup triumph, Shahid said:

“This was the first time that the Chairman himself came to the venue. He joined the celebrations and brought the team back with great honour. Not only did he introduce the players to the Army Chief and the Prime Minister, but he also gave immense respect to every player. The Chairman spent time with the entire squad, spoke to each and every player and made everyone feel valued.”

Reflecting on the future of Pakistan’s emerging cricketers, Shahid expressed confidence in the current crop of U19 players and stressed the importance of first-class cricket in their development.

“The talent is there. Now the challenge is to help these players convert starts into long innings and continue learning the demands of longer-format cricket. Patience, passion and continuous hard work are qualities that will ultimately prepare them for international cricket.”