Pakistan's Cricket Woes: A Tale of Missed Opportunities
Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has lamented the stark contrast between the cricketing landscapes of India and Pakistan, highlighting the missed opportunities that have hindered Pakistan's progress.
Latif's comments stem from India's recent dominance in white-ball cricket, including their undefeated triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup. In contrast, Pakistan suffered an early exit in the group stages, exposing the deep-rooted issues plaguing their cricket system.
Latif attributed India's success to their strategic approach, which has transformed cricket into a lucrative industry. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has become a global powerhouse, attracting top players and generating immense revenue. In comparison, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has struggled to evolve, with a limited salary cap and a lack of international appeal.
"India, just like their film industry, developed a cricket industry. We treat cricket as a hobby that's why we couldn't turn it into a business," Latif said. "PSL is still there from where it had started. The highest salary cap is $1.40 lakh. Why can't they push it further? Why can't we have players like Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins? Because we don't have the money so there's no business."
Latif also emphasized the importance of learning from foreign coaches and investing in grassroots development. India has benefited from the expertise of renowned coaches like John Wright and Gary Kirsten, while Pakistan has often relied on homegrown coaches with limited international experience.
"It's not that India became a reckoning force in world cricket recently, after the World Cup. Go back to 2007, 2011, 2015. They have gained so much knowledge from the foreign coaches and at the same time, they are working at the grassroots level without being noticed. And then IPL came into play. And now, they have all the best minds with them. They have Ponting with DC, Hussey, and Bravo. But hum kya kar rahe hain," Latif added.
Pakistan's recent struggles in major cricket tournaments underscore the need for a comprehensive overhaul of their cricketing infrastructure. Latif's remarks serve as a wake-up call, highlighting the challenges that Pakistan cricket faces in creating a sustainable business model and achieving international success.
Tags: #PakistanCricket, #IndiaCricket, #RashidLatif, #IPL, #PSL
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