It was just a few days ago when talks between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and former test captain Younis Khan for the appointment of the latter as the coach of the U-19 Pakistan Cricket Team fell through. Unconfirmed sources claim that the demand Younis made with respect to his remuneration became one of the deal breakers. The other bone of contention was the authority Younis had insisted for in his role as the coach that encompassed a very strong say in matters of selection as well. PCB, apparently, only wants a coach who can just be around the team and guide them about some general stuff as it has been the case in the past.
So, whose loss is it? Definitely not Younis Khan’s, I would say. The batting legend is already working as a mentor with the Peshawar Zalmi franchise in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and would definitely be in high demand if he decides to move elsewhere or do anything else related to coaching/ mentoring. Younis Khan is not just an ex-cricketer who represented Pakistan for a little over 17 years; he is also a level II certified coach- a qualification that he acquired while he was actively representing Pakistan. With the qualification and experience that Younis Khan has, one cannot fathom somebody better than the Mardan-born cricketing genius to take up the reins of Pakistan’s U-19 cricket. Khan’s integrity has so far been unquestionable and so has been his knowledge of the game in all its areas. His record is undeniably at par with one of the best the game of cricket has ever produced. Who would know better about adjusting and acclimatizing to different playing conditions around the world than the only test cricketer in the history (so far) to have scored a century in all the countries that have hosted test cricket?
Image Source: Herald/ AFP
As far as the PCB is concerned, the chairman made a very wise call when he decided to bring in Younis Khan as someone who could take the U-19 Pakistan Cricket Team under his wing. Younis is the best role model young cricketers can have around them when they’re gearing up to compete for a place in the Pakistan ‘A’ Team or eventually the national side. Where the PCB went wrong, in my opinion, was how they managed the whole thing. Younis’s demands (if they are believed to be true) aren’t unfair at all to a great extent. Let’s just compare Khan’s case with that of Rahul Dravid in our neighboring country to asses (this isn’t the first time this comparison is being made but let’s just do it anyways). Dravid is the head coach of both India’s U-19 Cricket Team as well as the Indian ‘A’ Team. ‘The Wall’ also has an important part to play as far as the selection of the players is concerned. Now let’s see how this works: a player of the stature of Rahul Dravid takes control of Indian cricket from the U-19 level where he can actually create a difference in the players’ techniques, temperaments and the way they approach the game. The same Rahul Dravid sees these players progress through to the Indian ‘A’ team transitioning right into the Indian national side. Results: Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw and many more. And how much does Dravid get paid for it? A little over a whopping INR 4 million a month!
I believe, the PCB needs to put its priorities in order and understand where the money actually needs to be spent. I understand that there is a huge difference between the economies of India & Pakistan and the budgets of their respective cricket boards and that it may not be practically possible for the PCB to match Younis Khan’s remuneration package with that of Rahul Dravid’s but that’s not was Younis Khan has asked for in the first place, to be honest. The important thing is that the board should realize the importance of grass-root and U-19 cricket and talented ex-cricketers like Wasim Akram, Misbah Ul Haq, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif, Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq etc. should be offered roles with due respect and a monetary compensation that matches their reputation for them to come forward and serve the national board instead of working with private local/ international franchises and international boards.
So, it’s pretty clear to me who’s at loss with Younis Khan not serving the PCB. What do you think?
– Hammad A. Mateen
Hammad Abdul Mateen's Blog 