Former wicketkeeper batter Kamran Akmal has blamed former Prime Minister and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan for weakening Pakistan's domestic cricket structure which ultimately resulted in the senior men's national team falling into the current deplorable state.
Akmal said Imran's decision to restructure the country's first-class structure and restrict it to six teams resulted in reduced jobs and affected the supply line to the national team as many talented players said goodbye to the sport.
When the department teams were shut it hit our system and players lost their jobs. It weakened our system to the hilt and to earn bread and butter a lot of players migrated to the United States.
The decision taken by Imran Khan’s government was wrong. He abruptly shut down departments that were giving jobs to the players. He reduced the system to just six teams which was Australian style but we have to have more teams. India has 38 teams so they get to play more players.
Akmal believes it may take two to ten years to lift the standards of Pakistan cricket.
It will take solid steps to lift our cricket and that may go from two to ten years but it needs will and interest.
The former wicketkeeper batter wants Pakistan to adopt India's blueprint for cricket which can lift their standard to the same as the neighbours.
Pakistan crashed out of the Champions trophy after losing to New Zealand and arch-rivals India in their first two games, prompting former players, analysts, and fans to call for a major overhaul of the system to lift the standard.
This was Pakistan's third consecutive first-round exit from an International Cricket Council (ICC) event following similar humiliation in the 50-over and 20-over World Cups in the last two years.
The exit dampened Pakistan's celebration of hosting the first ICC global event in three decades.
It is not only disappointing but also an eye-opening calamity. I suggest Pakistan follow the Indian model in which there are more teams, an organised domestic structure which gives quality and quantity of players and that is why their team is so good at the international level.
Akmal, who played 53 Tests, 157 ODIs, and 58 T20Is for Pakistan, believed the Indian system is a must-follow one.
The process of India's cricketing system has facilities, money, and player development and they do not allow players to go away from the basics. The astronomical money allows India to stop their players from going into foreign leagues. They do not play T20 cricket but play two-day, three-day, and four-day matches at club, state, and country levels which are the basics. We are going the T20 way which is not advisable.
Akmal believes India's 'A' team structure is exemplary.
They arrange 'A' team's tours in the off-season so their domestic season has all the players and they tour countries like Australia, England, and South Africa, which helps their players become mature. They don't let their system go weak and that is why their national teams are good. With the players India has they can replace a player easily and without exaggeration, they can make three national teams.
Akmal played down the hype around talks of India taking advantage by playing their games on suitable pitches and at one venue - Dubai.
India's team is so strong that they do not need such favours on pitches and one venue..
