Lahore, January 08: Former captain Imran Khan has blamed Pakistan’s poor domestic structure for the national team’s failure to beat Australia Down Under in more than a decade.
Pakistan squandered a 206-run first innings lead to lose the second Test by 36 runs as Australia pocketed the series 2-0.
Imran believes that Pakistan would continue to suffer and lose matches under pressure until there is a strong domestic system where talented individuals compete on regular basis.
”Our team has lot of talent but they are short on temperament and this was visible in the way we allowed Australia to comeback and win the Test in Sydney.
”Temperament in a player is only built when a country’s domestic structure is strong and produces tough competition. Our domestic system is run by a mafia which refuses to allow positive changes in it,” Imran said.
The former all-rounder, who once took 12 wickets to lead Pakistan to a big win in Sydney, further criticised the domestic structure saying that nowhere in the world were commercial units like banks and government institutions allowed to take part in first-class cricket except for Pakistan.
”I don’t understand what these banks are doing in domestic cricket. They are like a mafia who wouldn’t allow any changes to the basic domestic structure and they are ruining Pakistan cricket,” he blasted, adding that unless such structure was changed and improved, there would be no improvement in the standard and performances of the national side.
The 57-year-old former great also expressed his dejection over Pakistan’s shocking defeat in the Sydney Test after having bowled out the home side for just 127 runs in their first innings.
”I promise you lot of improvement in Pakistan cricket, the day our party comes into power and is in the government,” Imran, who has joined politics in Pakistan, assured.
———Agencies