Pakistan players inconsistent with the way they practice: Grant Flower
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Pakistan batting coach Grant Flower has raised serious questions on the national sides’ players’ ability to maintain the level of fitness which is required in the modern day game.
A disastrous World T20 campaign, which followed Pakistan’s dismal show in the limited-over versions of the game since the last couple of years, spoke volumes of the players’ lack of fitness and intensity to catch up with the fast-changing game of cricket.
Flower believed that Pakistan would have done way better if the players focused on getting the best out of their practice sessions.
“Our players are very inconsistent with the way they practice,” said the former Zimbabwe batsman to ESPNCricinfo.
"Of course, there are a few exceptions, and it's not surprising that [those players] have better records and have been more successful over a long period of time,” he added.
Flower said the Pakistan cricketers need to work harder and sacrifice more if they want to do well for their country as playing at the international level requires players to have an organized lifestyle.
“It requires a lot of sacrifice to play for the country,” he said.
“You can break it down - mental side, reading about the game, being a good student of the game, learn every day, lifestyle, gym work, and all those things required to be a better cricketer.”
Flower, who was appointed as the Pakistan batting coach in 2014 criticised the players for showing almost no concern when it comes to performance off the field, in the nets and at the gym.
“It's not like 20 minutes in the gym, 20 minutes in the nets,” he said.
“It's about quality time, absorbing everything rather than just being seen doing the right stuff and walking away saying that I have done enough.”
Flower said some Pakistan players thought they are doing enough to maintain the status of an international cricketer and getting good results.
“I know a lot of time they are not doing enough.
“Sometimes I wish they could watch how world-class players prepare and what it takes,” said the Zimbabwean.
The former Test cricketer said that it takes a healthy routine to reach excellence and become one of the best in the game.
“The best batsmen at the moment, [Virat] Kohli, AB [de Villiers], have routines,” he said.
“Their lifestyle is getting them where they are now.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (47) Closed
Apr 22, 2016 06:35pm
tell me something new
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Apr 22, 2016 06:37pm
If we do not respect the advice of the coaches how do we imagine to be world beaters
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Apr 22, 2016 06:39pm
Bit too late now to say why didn't u say it before so we know where is the main problem is with the players so the Pakistan people know that they don't care about there cricket and don't care if they win for Pakistan,,
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Apr 22, 2016 06:49pm
Thank you for sharing this information. Pakistanis rely too much on talent. Skill is hard work + talent. There is no such thing as work smart, that's total bull. There is only one way to succeed and that is through hard work. The current players are not hungry anymore that's why they need to be let go. We need fresh blood, who are hungry for success. If you leave bad apples, they will rot the other good apples. Plain and simple, if the players are willing to sacrifice their personal lives for the country, only then they deserve to be in the team.
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Apr 22, 2016 06:54pm
They should be kicked out if they are not listening to the coach advice. Period. BUT the corruption exist everywhere.
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Apr 22, 2016 06:56pm
one universal truth which not be reiterated there is no short cut to success. Only hard work can get you there.
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Apr 22, 2016 06:58pm
Wow - Our players are very lazy and do not have fitness to compete in International
level.
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Apr 22, 2016 07:05pm
Grant Foweler's description is exactly what Imran used to do.
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Apr 22, 2016 07:10pm
Sir
In his playing days Grant Flower was seeking advice from Yunus Khan about how to bat against the spinners and thanks to sloppy PCB he has been appointed as batting coach of Pakistan that includes Yunus Khan.
It speaks about where the fault lies!!!
Thanks
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Apr 22, 2016 07:16pm
Our team does not believe in hard work and discipline, it is pretty obvious from the way we play our games. Win or lose is a diffetent matter, any good team can have a bad day. Mental attitude of our players will never change, personally I do not see miracles in the next 5 years. Younger generation of players need to learn and learn fast. From diet to fitness they need to be religiously committed . It is way too late for our present players, unfortunately!
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Apr 22, 2016 07:25pm
Don't we have 20 fit players in population of 210 million.?
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Apr 22, 2016 07:27pm
@J USA don't read if you don't want to.
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Apr 22, 2016 07:35pm
Not in team if No hard work, Team selector shall be held responsible
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Apr 22, 2016 07:35pm
no pride. they have no examples too look up to in the country. everything in pakistan is corrupt!
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Apr 22, 2016 07:49pm
Sound like a ordinary Pakistani in their own profession right. Just like me:)
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Apr 22, 2016 07:53pm
Then all the players who are not committed should be sacked.someone in PCB should have the authority to do that.money should only be paid according to performance.new players should be given the chance and all sifarashes thrown away.but wait a moment...can this really happen in Pakistan?????????
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Apr 22, 2016 08:15pm
Our players to have an organized lifestyle and will to sacrifice their pride? This is not their cup of tea.
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Apr 22, 2016 08:19pm
Yes exactly and I have noticed this a long time ago. I see the players lying in the grass and stretching nonchalantly while smiling and laughing. Yet I have seen India and England players going through rigorous and strenuous training. PK players only seem to work hard in taking selfies. The culture is rotten and only a IK like character can change it, not Azhar or Misbah. But what do you expect? If its rotten at the top it will be rotten at the bottom too.
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Apr 22, 2016 08:23pm
Pakistan should be represented by go getters and players who play for glory and for the country . These toothless cats currently in the team play for themselves . They have lost respect and moral ground , inclusive of the people at the helm
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Apr 22, 2016 08:30pm
Makes me mad just reading about this. Every single player should be given an ultimatum and monitored if they are not up to it then kick them out. Playing for Pakistan is a privilege that every professional should take seriously.
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Apr 22, 2016 08:46pm
No need for coach, team need only physiologist!
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Apr 22, 2016 08:49pm
Name the players and get rid of them
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Apr 22, 2016 09:06pm
Let us accept that the overall level of game and standard of fitness of the players have both changed with technology and the money afforded by the game these days. A coach is good to help get the wrinkles in style or weaknesses through suggestion and exercise. But foreign coaches are also fear of backlash if they try to force upon the players especially some senior players. These coaches should get the strong local support for them to succeed.
You may find a giraffe or a talent by sheer luck but there is nothing like hard work, dedication and will to succeed at the highest level. Your pride will then takeover you but again it is a team effort.
In the end, we must realize, we can only play our best but only the best of the lot will win.
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Apr 22, 2016 09:07pm
I agree with him look at Shoaib malik how unfit he is and still in the team
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Apr 22, 2016 09:09pm
@Hyder The likes of John Right and Gary Kirsten have successfully completed their tenure as coach of players like Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. Playing technique and Coaching are two different areas.
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Apr 22, 2016 09:13pm
It would be very surprising to see a player prosper without exercise, diet and lifestyle changes. Flower is 100% correct about that. The pakistani players that lack discipline wont succeed. On the other hand take Misbah and Younis Khan who prolonged their careers by staying fit. Examples of hard work and physical fitness have always been there.
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Apr 22, 2016 09:19pm
They are lazy, does not want to bother and most of all they do not have the drive to do well. They think scraping enough is good. No motivation to excel.
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Apr 22, 2016 09:20pm
Fitness level in all sports in Pakistan is way below what International level requires. Hence demise of hockey, squash and cricket standards. It's a national malaise. Why work hard when you can scratch a living by being ordinary. Even if you drop the likes of Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad, who are perennial under achievers, they know the alternatives are no better than them. They have no pride and passion. We need to lower our expectations from these boys.
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Apr 22, 2016 09:21pm
Dear Grant you forgot, you are coaching heros who don't need anything more than building relations with PCB and God, and earn money by any means.
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Apr 22, 2016 09:33pm
Is anyone in the PCB and team listening. Mouth closed and ears open, please.
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Apr 22, 2016 10:07pm
This what happens when Stardom Strikes. These Pakistani players have been given the Green Caps but alas they don't recognise the expectations that come with it.
I hope Grant Flower's statements is taken seriously and now the new PCB Regime should have a policy to keep all the offenders away from Cricket forever like England has done with their star Player Kevin Peterson
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Apr 22, 2016 10:45pm
In fact Grant Flower is accepting its own failure since he has been working with the pakistani players for the last two year. but instead of going back home he has submitted his application as head coach of pakistan. shame.
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Apr 22, 2016 11:05pm
It's always about personalities and not about cricket. Lack of professionalism all over the board either players, management or officials ...... PCB you are doing a great job to keep Pakistan cricket way behind today's standard.
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Apr 22, 2016 11:14pm
Every knows the problem being faced by the team, but whimsical selection, pride and ego, unprofessional approach has killed them.
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Apr 22, 2016 11:27pm
The whole country needs a lifestyle. more than half the people have diabetes, blood pressure or high cholesterol
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Apr 22, 2016 11:59pm
What a great analysis!! Flower is saying you not only need talent ..talented players need to work hard and strive for exellence.. have a set routine to make it big..that culture is absent from this pakistani side. He is also saying that no matter how talented a player is with the current culture of not working hard in nets to take the game to next level or lets say match the inetrnational standard..you cannot go nowhere.. His analysis is not only to the pakistani team but to all those players individuals who are taking it easy out there and not working hard and then complaning ..we didnt win or we didnt suceed ..to suceed you must work hard on your own ..flower should not force you to go to Gym or bat in nets
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Apr 23, 2016 12:01am
PCB wants to losers and they don't care. If PCB is like that, Pakistan should stop playing cricket. This will be the best solution to avoid more humiliation. Pakistan will soon become an associate team. You cannot win matches without strong batting and fielding. RIP cricket and PCB!
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Apr 23, 2016 12:34am
This is real !!!
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Apr 23, 2016 01:18am
pcb head must be tough/domestic play is key
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Apr 23, 2016 01:40am
Iam afraid it's the general culture in Pakistan. Ppl shy away from fitness, discipline and hard work, why blame cricket team only?
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Apr 23, 2016 01:56am
Grant is absolutely correct. Pakistan as a society has zero knowledge of nutrition from high level professionals and to laborers and there is no tradition of excellence that is required in school professional life and athletics.
We have Misbah and Yunus Khan two players who have brain and the know how to international level cricketers and rest of the team has full of uneducated self absorbed youngsters who look older then Yunus and Mishab...look at Sarfaraz, Umar and Sharjeel they can hardly move in the field...I am sure there are many others who routinely gulp down ten nans and two drums of milk at each sitting...they participate in training because it is compulsory they do it to check mark it not to gain any benefits...most team plan their win in their practices ...Pakistan do it so they can play the next game.
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Apr 23, 2016 01:59am
from Qatar= I love pakistan team we need fighter player till the end do or die I saw 2/3 wicket down hopeless,opening partnership very poor 10 over 20/40 run 2/3 wicket down,must be 60/70 plus need hard hitter opening batsman good sensible cricket middle order try to take every ball single run and good finisher must be
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Apr 23, 2016 03:30am
Come on man..this is going no where...set your goal and get it done...best wishes from india!
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Apr 23, 2016 07:00am
this is another core problem, especially in the asian sub continent where they begin to think themselves bigger than the game itself. We need to put standard and those standards should be upheld no matter how big a player someone is. Those who thinks they are bigger than the game, kick them out and make an example out of them. This is kind a leader Imran was, where he did kicked out some so called heros of this time. No one should be allowed to think themselves bigger than the game themselves
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Apr 23, 2016 07:27am
A prime example is our so called Hero urf Zero our former coach. I will answer to my juniors , if we are going to have coach like him what do you expect from the players. We need to change from the grass root and make sure everybody is judged by their performance not statue of hero.
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Apr 23, 2016 09:43am
Very well said by the Flower.....it is obvious in the fielding and in runing between the wickets ....PCB will have to use an iron hand in order better the detereorating situation of cricket in country otherwise cricket will also be remembered as a past glory in the same fashion as Hockey and Sqaush are remembered now a days.
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Apr 24, 2016 12:07pm
honestly i hope pakistan team maintains their losing streak until their heads explode and the management willingly gives up. With this attitude they dont deserve to win
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