KARACHI: Former West Indies great Sir Andy Roberts has suggested Pakistan Cricket team to play more cricket outside UAE as it is not helping Pakistan Cricket due to batting friendly surfaces.
Talking exclusively to Geo News in Karachi, the fiery bowler of his era stated that Pakistani cricketers are good in Test Cricket, but they need to get more experience in ODIs around the world and country’s limited overs’ bowling needs to be improved.
“It is no good to be playing in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where pitches suit all the batsmen. This is where Pakistan Cricket is lacking, their bowling is not what it should be in ODIs,” said the former West Indian great when asked about his views on Pakistan’s not-so-good position in ODI rankings.
He added that Pakistani players aren’t playing in IPL, and their participation is very much limited in other leagues around the world, which is not allowing Pakistani players to gain proper experience of limited over Cricket.
The former West Indies bowler also spoke about Pakistan’s left-arm bowler Mohammad Amir and advised him to concentrate on improving his performance by continuing the hard work.
“It is not easy for him as he’s making a comeback after five years, he is very good bowler and only 24 years of age, so he has a long way to go,” he said of Amir.
“All he needs to do is bowl as much as he can,” he said.
Sir Roberts is in Karachi for a talent hunt program by Karachi Sports Foundation, where he – along with Danny Morrison, Damien Martyn and Jonty Rhodes – will unearth a group of cricketers for further training.
He says he’s “amazed” to see the raw talent available in Pakistan.
“There is a young bowler, who is just 16 and he is very good talent,” he said about bowlers he spotted in the program.
“It amazes me to see some of the players who haven’t played at any level, all they need is proper guidance to make it to international Cricket. I have always known that Pakistan is a country with so much of talent, big question is if somebody is there to pick that talent up,” he said.
When asked what his advice would be to the young bowlers, he replied, “hard work and commitment.”
“Don’t get carried away with your early success,” he added.
The Antigua-based legend also spoke about the change in Cricket rules which has made it more difficult for bowlers, especially the fast bowlers, to show their skills.
“Cricket has become the batsmen’s game, all the rule changes are affecting bowlers, in particular the fast bowlers,” he said.
He also rued lack of practice opportunity being given to the fast bowlers by the coaching and training staff, which according to himis not allowing fast bowlers to prepare according to requirements.
“We must allow bowlers to be themselves, we must not tell bowlers that you can’t bowl more than four overs in practice when you’re required to bowl 20-25 overs a day. How can you do that if you are not trained to do that?"
“Bowlers aren’t to be blamed, lack of commitment is by coaches and trainers who want to limit the amount or preparation these guys can do,” he added.
Talking about West Indies, the former great said that he’s grieved to see the way West Indies have been performing recently and blamed players for the lack of success.
“Lots of things have hurt West Indies cricket, one thing in particular is that the love for the game is not what it was before. We in the past strived to besuccessful, and now everybody wants to secure their financial future,” he said.
“A combination of both, players and administration,” he said when asked whom he would hold responsible for the status of the West Indies team after the World Cup.
“I won’t blame the administration for what is happening in WI cricket, I will blame the players for lack of success because they’re the ones who need to improve themselves to stay on top of the world,” hesaid.