Pakistan Cricketers' Training Camps

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 11

Pakistan Cricketers' Training Camps

/Specially written for “The Pi PAKISTAN’S cricket has its own unique strengths and weaknesses which stem from the unusual conditions under which it has developed. The nation itself has existed only since 1947, when it became independent at a time of great political and economic chaos in which most of the existing cricket institutions were swept away. Huge transfers of population took place between India and Pakistan in which many leading cricketers lost touch with the game. In 1948, a Board of Control for Cricket was formed. In 1952 when full membership of the Imperial Cricket Conference conferred official test status upon Pakistan, the lack of a regular first-class tournament on the lines of the Plunket Shield or England’s County Championship was felt. Thus in 1953-4, the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy competition was inaugurated and it has become a regular feature of the Pakistan season (in spite of frequent changes in the rules which sometimes provide for a league competition and sometimes for a knock-out competition). “Quaid-i-Azam” means “The Great Leader” and refers to the late Mr Jinnah, who is regarded as the founder of Pakistan. The great differences in strength between the competing teams caused problems and led to the establishment in 1960-61 of an additional first-class competition, the Ayub Trophy Tournament (named after the ruling president). To strengthen cricket in Pakistan, many novel ideas have been tried. The Pakistan Eaglets Society was formed to arrange tours abroad for young players, usually to England where they play mainly one-day matches. A government body, the Sports Control Board assists the sagging finances of the cricket associations which cannot exist

ess” by IVorman Stanley) on their share of the test match profits alone. (Domestic first • class matches arouse little spectator interest.) Until recently this body also provided coaching facilities at the “training camps” which are a special feature of Pakistan’s cricket structure. These “camps” are now exclusively run by the Board of Control for Cricket which organises them to precede tours abroad or test rubbers at home. Usually about 30 “probables” and “possibles” from all over Pakistan parade before the selectors for two or three weeks, not only performing In the nets and in trial matches, but also undergoing physical training and attending lectures. Such a “camp” was organised in October this year with the tour in mind. Coaching at schools in Pakistan is intensive and youthful prodigies abound, first-class debuts often being made at 15 or 16 years of age. Unfortunately, youthful promise is often wasted because the absence of professional cricket makes it impossible for many young men to continue to play. In Pakistan’s less affluent society they cannot spare the time from their employment and several test players have emigrated to England or Australia in search of higher incomes. Quasi-professional cricket employment is now provided by the Pakistan International Airlines (P.1.A.) which employs a number of leading cricketers, mainly as sports officers. Good cricketers are also offered employment by the Pakistan Western Railways and the Public Works Department of the Civil Service and teams from these three organisations will play in the 196465 tournaments.

Where has the concentrated coaching and sponsorship by government and private concerns led Pakistan? There is little doubt that Pakistan's team is weaker now than in the mid-fifties, when England was held to a drawn rubber on its own soil and lan Johnson's Australians were defeated at Karachi. The 1962 tour of England was a demoralising experience but the 1963 Eaglets looked so promising on tour in England that the selectors took fresh hope. In 1963-64 a Commonwealth team, which included players like Graveney, Griffith and Kanhai, could only draw the unofficial test rubber, but last August the Pakistan “A” team was beaten in Ceylon in both its firstclass matches by the unfancied local teams. The absence of several leading players and the unaccustomed life in the wickets there could not fully excuse this failure. October brought encouragement to Pakistan in the shape of a first innings lead in a drawn test against the admittedly travel-weary Australians. Thus the forthcoming test rubber must be regarded as a very open affair with the strong possibility that the weather will settle the issue. Pakistan seems to have, at full strength, more talent at its disposal than New Zealand, but damp wickets would give the home team a definite advantage, so that New Zealand may well avenge the two-nil defeat suffered in Pakistan in 195556.