Jalal said the national team was found lacking in these departments and urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to hunt for talent in the in the upcoming domestic season.
Pakistan have been unable to unearth all-rounders after Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq and despite the presence of Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez, Jalal felt a void was still present.
“The PCB and the selection committee should address the bases they need to cover because short-term solutions won’t help,” Jalal told The Express Tribune. “The board should start planning to find a genuine all-rounder and a fast-bowler who can be a spearhead in the upcoming domestic season.”
While Hammad Azam has been given a few chances, Anwar Ali has also been selected to be groomed as an all-rounder.
However, Jalal said the duo was nowhere close to the calibre of Razzaq and Mehmood. “Hammad is a better batsman while Ali a better bowler. Both are excellent fielders as well but I don’t think they’ll be able to mount a challenge against quality opposition. Even Sohail Tanvir isn’t an overall package.”
‘NCA can only help in modification’
Jalal added that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has limited scope in grooming a player, stating that match practice was the real training.
“The coaches can give tips in development academies but it’s up to an individual to remember what he was taught and apply it in a match situation.
“I feel matches among the best players at the domestic circuit will help in gauging players.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 24th, 2012.
COMMENTS (11)
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While Hammad Azam has been given a few chances, Anwar Ali has also been selected to be groomed as an all-rounder. However, Jalal said the duo was nowhere close to the calibre of Razzaq and Mehmood.
Well Hammad Azam was never given full fledged chances. This is sick of him to say this. It seems he doesnt follow his own game well..
Not sure about Anwar Ali, but Hammad Azam looks a good fine but he needs to be groomed and given chances. He is being wasted......
I think razzak has been given enoungh chances because of his past performances but still he is not good enough now to play intl cricket . as he is inconsistent with the bat and secondly he has lost his bowling charisma which he had in the past. whereas azhar was totally mishandled by board he is such a class player but he last played in 2007 which is 5 years ago. and he got very few chances to show is form and fitness.
Bottom line: Hammad azam should be given confidence and be playing in team instead of razzak who has lost the charisma . Whereas in azhar case he should be used in t20 keeping in view his t20 performance in BPL, IPL and county cricket.
Simple trash by Sensible here. MashaAllah Pakistan have had superb players like Abdul Razzaq & Azhar Mahmood and also Rana Naveed ul Hasan but we don't appreciate our hardworking players, Abdul Razzaq is one of the most consistent No 7 or 8 batsmen in history plus a very useful accurate bowler who doesn't often give away runs. It's not easy to score about 30 runs per innings at Number 8, Abdul Razzaq is one of very few allrounders who have done this and also has a very respectable record with ball
Razzaq is a gym of a player and only wasim akram used him well. In cricket, captain is really important. we also saw how saqlain performed once akram was gone. Razzaq was also wasted. And as long as corruption and "sifarish" is in this culture, good players would rarely appear.
unnecessary criticism by someone with whom you can always expect this......Hammaz Azam is way better than Razzaq and Azhar Mehmood......every all-rounder in the cricketing world is better batsman or better bowler ...what is the point Mr. Jalal wants to make by his comments about Hammad Azam and Anwar Ali......Jaque Kallis is a better batsman, Shaun Pollack was a better Bowler, Wasim Akram was a better bowler.....so what's the point man!!..??
Hammad Azam and Answar Ali can be good candidates for these positions, granted that their talent is not wasted.
Azhar mehmood is awesome hes still proving himself in IPL and SPL
what about the fact that pakistan has a lot of natural talent? i cant see any talented fast bowlers since a long time?
how can you make these judgements when talented players are barely given a run in the team and are dropped after 1-5 matches?
We need allrounders like Kallis, Watson, A.Matthews... We have good spin allrounders but there is always a room for fast pacers who can bat as well. S.Tanvir is a good option if he can bat.
razzaq is pak's most overrated cricketer. Big time flop player, playing one good innings after 20 flops doesn't justify your place in team. I believe mehmood is far better and is still going strong. We could have one more all-rounder if we hadn't waste time on razzaq.