NEW DELHI: Senior Pakistan selector and National Cricket Academy head Aaqib Javed has said that Pakistan are drawing inspiration from India's rise in white-ball cricket, revealing that he has closely studied their model in an effort to strengthen the game back home.
India's consistency in limited-overs formats has been reflected in a string of major titles, including the T20 World Cup triumph in the Caribbean last year, the Champions Trophy victory in Dubai earlier this year, and the Asia Cup win in September, where they defeated Pakistan in the final.
"I have looked at India's success and have to tried execute plans for the betterment of Pakistan cricket. Any cricket nation's success is based on the quality of its talent," Aaqib, a former pace bowler, said on a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) podcast.
He recalled an incident from India's tour of Pakistan in 2006, when a senior official from the visiting team had requested to tour the LCCA Ground in Lahore, then regarded as one of the finest cricket academies and facilities in the region.
"I think we fell away (behind) in doing the basic things correctly in our cricket system. No matter who you appoint as captain, coach or selector, unless you don't have the quality in talent nothing changes. And quality of talent can be assured by increasing the bench strength and competition, and this is only possible with proper infrastructure and system," he said.
Aaqib, who until recently also served as Pakistan's interim head coach, said he was confident that Pakistan cricket is now heading in the right direction.
Speaking about the T20 World Cup to be held early next year in India and Sri Lanka, as well as the upcoming international fixtures, he added that this presents the ideal opportunity for Pakistan to make a strong impact on the global stage.
"Indications are all there, we have good players, they have combined well and importantly there is choice of players now."
He said the biggest advantage for Pakistan in the upcoming World Cup was that they would play all their games in Sri Lanka.
"If the World Cup had been in say Australia or South Africa, I would have thought differently. But (this) is the best time for the team to do well."
He also expressed satisfaction with the talent coming through in the Pakistan Shaheens squad and from domestic cricket, and claimed that 3-4 players were ready to step into international cricket.
"Nowadays, talent is also about mental strength because players are constantly under scrutiny; they can't move around freely, their every move is scrutinised...so you have to gauge how mentally tough a player is."
Aaqib added that after serving as a player, captain, coach and selector, he does not get unnerved by criticism.
"The criticism is an aftershock; it only comes after a poor performance. So, why should I mind the criticism. I have no problems with that because that is how you have accountability in a system.
"Yes, at times the criticism is personal and they are those who will only want to criticise everything. But we have to remember when a team does well, everyone is happy and backs you. So why can't we accept criticism when we do badly. The only way you can avoid being criticised is to do well."
(With PTI Inputs)
