Cricket overdose irks Pakistan players

National team unhappy about PCB’s decision to hold return SA tour.


News Desk November 06, 2013
The country’s cricket governing body claims that the series, which will include three One-Day Internationals and two T20 matches, will earn revenues of $1.5 million. PHOTO: EXPRESS

The Pakistan Cricket Board has shoed-in a short tour of South Africa immediately after the on-going series against the Proteas — a decision that has received criticism from cricket experts.

The country’s cricket governing body claims that the series, which will include three One-Day Internationals and two T20 matches, will earn revenues of $1.5 million.

However, experts believe that in the team’s interest, holding the series immediately after the UAE tour was the wrong decision as it would have to engage in two weeks of high-pressure cricket on the back of a demanding series, according to the Daily Express.

The Pakistan squad would barely have time to recuperate at the end of the tour as they would have to return to the UAE for the series against Sri Lanka in December.

The South African tour ends on November 30, which means that the players would not have more than a week to rest before another important series.

The tour was arranged after the Board of Control for Cricket In India decided to cut short their tour to South Africa. The shortened series hit the coffers of Cricket South Africa hard and instead they persuaded the PCB to fill the gap and help recover major financial loss.

The heads of South African and Pakistan cricket boards, Haroon Lorgat and Najam Sethi respectively,  have termed this arrangement a win-win situation for the two. However, Pakistan players are reportedly unhappy at the development.

Pakistan has been on the road since the Champions Trophy held in England in June this year which was followed by tours of the West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2013.

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COMMENTS (3)

waseem sarwar | 11 years ago | Reply This series was arranged to earn some bucks and without full strength teams, it would not not attract too many sponsors too so send the full strength team with only few changes.
faisal | 11 years ago | Reply

This is not a good and well researched news item. Since there are many players in contention for selection. Multiple teams could be selected as well as alternate teams could be sent to SA for series. For instance Abdul Razzak & Faisal Iqbal has not been accorded proper chance so as Asad Shafiq. Moreover Fawad Alam is performing on domestic circuit and he has not been given chance. Same is the case with with players such as Haris, Hammad Azam, Usman Salahuddin, Ali Khan and Sohaib Maqsood. Then omission of Shan Masood was also a mistake from ODI and he could be brought back. It would be good if Pakistan plays in South Africa and young players get good exposure. Pakistan has not given proper chance to Abdul Rehman in spin bowling and here Umar Gul could also make a comeback in the series.

Look India plays a lot and they try new players.

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