(Audio) "That is one thing you cannot doubt, grassroots talent of Pakistan cricket": Nasser Hussain

[MenInG]

Nasser Hussain chats about his memories of touring Pakistan, praises Pakistan for continuing to be competitive despite many years of no international cricket at home and looks ahead to the upcoming Test series between Pakistan and England.

[PakFan2010]

When you have a population of 230 million and cricket is the most popular sport, it is hard not to have talent.

[Rana]

Pakistan will continue to produce world class fast bowlers

If only we had a proper system of producing world class level batsmen the way India can keep producing them

[Mirpuri Don]

When you have a population of 230 million and cricket is the most popular sport, it is hard not to have talent.

I think it's unofficially 240 million now, but you're right.

If you look at the population/great cricketers ratio, West Indies are probably the first and from quite a distance.

Fast bowling : suffice to say that someone like Sylvester Clarke, who would have been a potential ATG in any other team, didn't get that many chances in WI.

Batting : Sobers, Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Gordon Greenidge, ...

Some of the best contemporary English cricketers are of WI roots (like Jofra Archer).

So yeah WI definitely deserves the tag more than PK, and perhaps NZ as well.

PK gets a good reputation there because Asian standards are pretty much low.

[BunnyRabbit]

South Africa is the most talented cricket nation in the world. It has its own challenges with quota system and players leaving the country for a career somewhere else.

SA has been providing talent to countries like NZ (Munro, Elliott, Conway etc), Aus (Labushagne, Wessels etc), Eng (just too many to name KP, Trott etc)

[PakLFC]

Thanks for the feel good words Nas. We have heard all of this millions of times. It doesn't really matter when so many potentially great players never made it with the national side so something isn't right. Grassroots talent itself won't win many matches.

[James]

Nasser is a legend. Great interview.

[SamNJ]

Always nice to listen to Nasser. One of the genuine admirer of Pakistani Talent.

[Mamoon]

Pakistan’s talent is a myth. In fact, it is the least talented cricket nation in the world.

Pakistan is a country that has the second biggest population in the cricket-verse, and bigger than all other cricket nations combined excluding India.

In addition, cricket is the only relevant sport left in the country and the only sport that gets good funding, Support & exposure.

However, in spite of all of this, Pakistan has never produced a genuine superstar batsman like Sir Viv, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kohli etc.

Pakistan has never produced a legendary WK batsman like Gilchrist, Sangakkara, Dhoni etc.

Pakistan has not produced a single spinner who has taken more than 300 Test wickets.

No Pakistan fast bowler has debuted in the last 30 years has taken more than 200 Test wickets.

Pakistan has not made an ODI World Cup final for 23 years & counting.

Pakistan has not won a Test series in England since 1996.

Pakistan has lost every single Test in Australia since 1996.

Pakistan has lost 99% of its bilateral ODI series against the top sides in the last 15-20 years.

Where does the myth that Pakistan has more talent than anyone comes from? All because we produce a few fast bowlers every now and then who are all busted tires in a few years?

[Majestic]

Pakistan’s talent is a myth. In fact, it is the least talented cricket nation in the world.

Pakistan is a country that has the second biggest population in the cricket-verse, and bigger than all other cricket nations combined excluding India.

In addition, cricket is the only relevant sport left in the country and the only sport that gets good funding, Support & exposure.

However, in spite of all of this, Pakistan has never produced a genuine superstar batsman like Sir Viv, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kohli etc.

Pakistan has never produced a legendary WK batsman like Gilchrist, Sangakkara, Dhoni etc.

Pakistan has not produced a single spinner who has taken more than 300 Test wickets.

No Pakistan fast bowler has debuted in the last 30 years has taken more than 200 Test wickets.

Pakistan has not made an ODI World Cup final for 23 years & counting.

Pakistan has not won a Test series in England since 1996.

Pakistan has lost every single Test in Australia since 1996.

Pakistan has lost 99% of its bilateral ODI series against the top sides in the last 15-20 years.

Where does the myth that Pakistan has more talent than anyone comes from? All because we produce a few fast bowlers every now and then who are all busted tires in a few years?

Why do you need a genuine superstar batsman when Pakistan can produce one elite level batsman in every decade- the likes of Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam ul haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan?

Yes, it is not as good as Australia and India but still comparable enough to South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand as far as batting legends that these teams have produced.

[Mamoon]

Why do you need a genuine superstar batsman when Pakistan can produce one elite level batsman in every decade- the likes of Zaheer Abbas, Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, Inzamam ul haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Younis Khan, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan?

Yes, it is not as good as Australia and India but still comparable enough to South Africa, England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand as far as batting legends that these teams have produced.

Cricket is a distant second team sport in all the above countries except Sri Lanka. Their best athletes don’t go to cricket and yet they produce world class players with more frequency than Pakistan which clearly shows they have more talent for the game than Pakistan.

Sri Lanka is a tiny nation with less population than Karachi & Lahore combined, the fact that they have held their own in cricket and produced so many great players over the last 30-40 years is a testament to their superior talent.

Pakistan’s so-called natural talent is a myth. It is just a coping mechanism for the fans to feel good.

Generally speaking, natural talent for any sport is a myth. Most basic skills are transferable. Pace, agility, strength, mental resilience, hand-eye coordination etc. There is no such thing as cricket specific talent or football specific talent etc.

This is why most of these gifted athletes are usually very good at other sports too.

France probably has the most talent in football right now. They have a dozen of very good players for every position. There is hardly any good cricketer in the country, but that does not mean that France does not have talent for cricket.

If France gives up football and dedicates all its resources to cricket, few decades later they will start producing quality cricketers as well.

Whatever talent you have for a sport id essentially a product of your player development. Pakistan is one of the worst teams in the world when it comes to player development. This is why no country talks so much about the T word as Pakistan does.

[MenInG]

As ever enjoyed catching up with Saj … looking forward to being back in Pakistan for the first time in 22 years !! https://t.co/5QILLvHOTP

— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) November 27, 2022

[Rana]

Pakistan’s talent is a myth. In fact, it is the least talented cricket nation in the world.

Pakistan is a country that has the second biggest population in the cricket-verse, and bigger than all other cricket nations combined excluding India.

In addition, cricket is the only relevant sport left in the country and the only sport that gets good funding, Support & exposure.

However, in spite of all of this, Pakistan has never produced a genuine superstar batsman like Sir Viv, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kohli etc.

Pakistan has never produced a legendary WK batsman like Gilchrist, Sangakkara, Dhoni etc.

Pakistan has not produced a single spinner who has taken more than 300 Test wickets.

No Pakistan fast bowler has debuted in the last 30 years has taken more than 200 Test wickets.

Pakistan has not made an ODI World Cup final for 23 years & counting.

Pakistan has not won a Test series in England since 1996.

Pakistan has lost every single Test in Australia since 1996.

Pakistan has lost 99% of its bilateral ODI series against the top sides in the last 15-20 years.

Where does the myth that Pakistan has more talent than anyone comes from? All because we produce a few fast bowlers every now and then who are all busted tires in a few years?

I think in regards to raw talent, Pakistan is a goldmine

[Local.Dada]

English translation of the famous Urdu phrase “Pakistan me bahut talent hai”

Anyway he is not wrong. There is a lot of passion for cricket and a strong cricketing culture in Pakistan so they will keep producing good players.

[MenInG]

Talent is in the eye of the beholder.

You need to believe in Pakistan, it's people to have that sort of view on talent

[Arabian_Tiger]

When you have a population of 230 million and cricket is the most popular sport, it is hard not to have talent.

Shoaib Akhtar - Disciplinary Issue, injury prone, didnt do justice to his talent. PCB didnt manage him at all.

Md. ASIF - GEM of a bowler, PCB didnt bring him back as they did bring Md. AAMIR

MD. AAMIR - WON CT2017 single handedly for Pak and now left in wilderness by PCB.

Umar Gul and Junaid Khan got injured and were never the same again. Proper mismangement of their injuries by PCB medical team...

And now they r making sure that Shaheen retires after getting injured repeatedly...

Talents getting wasted or destroyed should be learnt from PCB that how it keeps waiting to destroy any talent.

[MenInG]

How will England play in Pakistan?

Head coach Brendon McCullum said his side will not deviate from their "aggressive" style of cricket as they aim for a Test series win in Pakistan, while England captain Nasser Hussain expects a tough challenge for the tourists.

"The pitches are really flat," Hussain told Sky Sports. "They stay good for five days and you do not get the full six and a half hours of cricket at this time of year. I think the stat is that 47 per cent of Test matches here have ended in draws so you'd better find a way to get 20 wickets.

"Because of how they bat and the rate at which they are going to get their runs, if they get big runs quickly it will buy them a bit more time to get 20 wickets. I think they are going to miss Mark Wood because you need express pace as well as mystery spin. They are lacking that but they do have the veteran Anderson, who has all the skills.

"Everyone keeps talking about 'Bazball'. It is about being attacking but it is also understanding how quickly conditions can change. Upfront might be a really good time for batting with the ball coming onto the bat, that could be the time to get your run-rate up to four an over.

"Then all of a sudden when it starts reverse-swinging and spinning, you may just have to change some of the shots and the angles you were creating earlier. I think England will bat deep as they will want to keep going hard

"I don't think they will change much, simply because these are flatter pitches than in England. If you are doing it in England against the Dukes ball where 250-300 is par then you are certainly going to be playing the same way, that attacking brand, here in Pakistan."

SKY

[Liverpool_Faizan]

Pakistan’s talent is a myth. In fact, it is the least talented cricket nation in the world.

Pakistan is a country that has the second biggest population in the cricket-verse, and bigger than all other cricket nations combined excluding India.

In addition, cricket is the only relevant sport left in the country and the only sport that gets good funding, Support & exposure.

However, in spite of all of this, Pakistan has never produced a genuine superstar batsman like Sir Viv, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kohli etc.

Pakistan has never produced a legendary WK batsman like Gilchrist, Sangakkara, Dhoni etc.

Pakistan has not produced a single spinner who has taken more than 300 Test wickets.

No Pakistan fast bowler has debuted in the last 30 years has taken more than 200 Test wickets.

Pakistan has not made an ODI World Cup final for 23 years & counting.

Pakistan has not won a Test series in England since 1996.

Pakistan has lost every single Test in Australia since 1996.

Pakistan has lost 99% of its bilateral ODI series against the top sides in the last 15-20 years.

Where does the myth that Pakistan has more talent than anyone comes from? All because we produce a few fast bowlers every now and then who are all busted tires in a few years?

Lol.

The fatal flaw in this argument is that you have confused talent with expected results of said talent.

Results and achievements have nothing to do with talent. Or at least talent is one of many many factors to output/results

By your own logic England has no soccer talent because it hasn’t won the World Cup in forever nor has it made a final nor has it won the euros, nor any Balon D’or players since 2001. But I think we can agree that saying England has no talent in soccer is a stupid thing to say.

Don’t confuse talent with results my friend

[Mamoon]

Lol.

The fatal flaw in this argument is that you have confused talent with expected results of said talent.

Results and achievements have nothing to do with talent. Or at least talent is one of many many factors to output/results

By your own logic England has no soccer talent because it hasn’t won the World Cup in forever nor has it made a final nor has it won the euros, nor any Balon D’or players since 2001. But I think we can agree that saying England has no talent in soccer is a stupid thing to say.

Don’t confuse talent with results my friend

England have produced little talent compared to other major football countries. In fact, it can be argued that England is one of the least talented football nations ever.

Their current team looks good, it is probably their best talent since winning the World Cup in the 1960s, but over the past 20-30 years, they have been inferior to other nations but it didn’t stop them from overhyping their players and putting them on a pedestal.

Pakistan’s cricket talent is also a myth. It is just a coping mechanism for delusional fans. Pakistan is a mediocre cricket team & has been for 90% of its mediocre history.

[SpiritOf1903]

Nas loves Pakistani cricket. As does Athers.

The English are generally fond of Pakistan and its manic game

[Mamoon]

Nas loves Pakistani cricket. As does Athers.

The English are generally fond of Pakistan and its manic game

English ex-players have a romance with Pakistan cricket mostly due to suffering from Wasim & Waqar PTSD. They terrorized them both in international cricket & county cricket.

[Ahmed216]

Pakistan’s talent is a myth. In fact, it is the least talented cricket nation in the world.

Pakistan is a country that has the second biggest population in the cricket-verse, and bigger than all other cricket nations combined excluding India.

In addition, cricket is the only relevant sport left in the country and the only sport that gets good funding, Support & exposure.

However, in spite of all of this, Pakistan has never produced a genuine superstar batsman like Sir Viv, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting, Kohli etc.

Pakistan has never produced a legendary WK batsman like Gilchrist, Sangakkara, Dhoni etc.

Pakistan has not produced a single spinner who has taken more than 300 Test wickets.

No Pakistan fast bowler has debuted in the last 30 years has taken more than 200 Test wickets.

Pakistan has not made an ODI World Cup final for 23 years & counting.

Pakistan has not won a Test series in England since 1996.

Pakistan has lost every single Test in Australia since 1996.

Pakistan has lost 99% of its bilateral ODI series against the top sides in the last 15-20 years.

Where does the myth that Pakistan has more talent than anyone comes from? All because we produce a few fast bowlers every now and then who are all busted tires in a few years?

Yet Pak win percentage in tests is better than most talented cricketing nation India. And at par in ODI’s and t20s

[Mamoon]

Yet Pak win percentage in tests is better than most talented cricketing nation India. And at par in ODI’s and t20s

India is not a very talented cricket nation either. Subcontinent countries in general lack athletic ability. We don’t have good genes.

The most talented cricket nations are the ones where cricket is not even the most popular sport & yet they have produced great players with high frequency.

[Nikhil_cric]

Pakistan is the most gifted, talented nation. India is probably the least naturally gifted nation in terms of athletic ability.

Its really a surprise how India even competes at this level and had that long streak over Pakistan etc.

[pratiktc]

Pakistan is the most gifted, talented nation. India is probably the least naturally gifted nation in terms of athletic ability.

Its really a surprise how India even competes at this level and had that long streak over Pakistan etc.

India has population quantum and thanks to IPL money exposure and development. It is true Indians probably has fewest natural athletes per capita.
Heck other than handful of cricketers like Kapil, Dhoni, Kohli, Jadeja nobody really has maintained through career athleticity.

Even elite level athletes like Yuvraj, Zaheer, Rohit by late career were sporting paunches and love handles.

[KhanNn]

"Whatever talent you have for a sport id essentially a product of your player development. Pakistan is one of the worst teams in the world when it comes to player development. This is why no country talks so much about the T word as Pakistan does.

I think your last comment is relevant. Pakistan is the worst for player development, they can sort out little technical niggles a lot of the players have

[Mamoon]

Pakistan’s talent on show today. It takes special level of talent to concede 506 runs in 75 overs.

[Suleiman]

India has population quantum and thanks to IPL money exposure and development. It is true Indians probably has fewest natural athletes per capita.
Heck other than handful of cricketers like Kapil, Dhoni, Kohli, Jadeja nobody really has maintained through career athleticity.

Even elite level athletes like Yuvraj, Zaheer, Rohit by late career were sporting paunches and love handles.

You guys have a professional system and set up STARTING at the grass roots level all the way to internationals

I mentioned this in another thread, but if you look up a cricket tutorial video, most of the results will be by Indian, English, and Australian / South African cricket coaches or academies

Almost never by a Pakistani cricket academy channel.

Shows how much emphasis these other countries put on refining talent instead of leaving them as they are as Pakistan does.

Unrefined talent is crude oil. Has many uses, but only when it’s properly manufactured and processed. We have crude oil but either don’t know how to process it or don’t bother to.

[MenInG]

Nasser's views being vindicated by the likes of Imam and Abdullah.

[Aseem_04]

Grassroot talent is so much that pakistanis finally decided to wipeout all grass on wicket🥺

[MenInG]

Nasser Hussain "we have been very very well looked after by everyone in Pakistan. People are so friendly, I've had so many people come up and say thank you for being out here" #PakvEng #Cricket

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) December 3, 2022

[SpiritOf1903]

The grassroots have been left in the sun without water and we're seeing the results.

Test match cricket isn't sustainable in Pakistan as it isn't economically viable and a burden for players. Amir made the right decision and lets not forget the matchfixing scandals only hit Pakistan because they're the Oliver Twist of established Test nations

[James]

The grassroots have been left in the sun without water and we're seeing the results.

Test match cricket isn't sustainable in Pakistan as it isn't economically viable and a burden for players. Amir made the right decision and lets not forget the matchfixing scandals only hit Pakistan because they're the Oliver Twist of established Test nations

Test cricket isn’t economically viable on its own in the majority of nations. It is largely subsidised by white ball cricket and T20 tournaments.

The current thought process of full ICC members, widely agreed upon by them, is that Test cricket represents the original and ultimate form of the international game and so as the primary custodians of the sport they should guard the red ball format and keep it alive.

As long as this agreement remains in place, Test cricket will continue to exist, but then again, views can evolve over time.

[MenInG]

Nasser Hussain speaking on TV

"I have really loved every second of today. Honestly. We've had fun in the commentary box. But just generally, in and around the hotels, I cannot tell you the number of people that come up to you and say 'thanks for coming over'. It has been great, we've waited 22 years"

"The cricket has been really good as well. So, thoroughly enjoyed and I hope we come back much more often than we have. I hope a load of countries come out here because Pakistan is a great cricketing nation"

[Mamoon]

Nasser the deluded cheerleader & cliche machine continues to glorify & romanticize Pakistan cricket. Pure comedy.

[proud_pakistani]

South Africa is the most talented cricket nation in the world. It has its own challenges with quota system and players leaving the country for a career somewhere else.

SA has been providing talent to countries like NZ (Munro, Elliott, Conway etc), Aus (Labushagne, Wessels etc), Eng (just too many to name KP, Trott etc)

We gave them Imran tahir also

[BunnyRabbit]

We gave them Imran tahir also

The talent taken up by SA is extremely smaller than talent that leaves SA.

[proud_pakistani]

The talent taken up by SA is extremely smaller than talent that leaves SA.

Agreed it was just a funny thought that came to my head.

[Kroll]

The problem with having any talent in Pakistan is that its get negated with corruption, nepotism, favouritism, cronyism etc. Just wish, one day we could field the best players available in the country.

Also, we need to invest in modern methods and more opportunities for player development to catch up with the elite teams.

[Saj]

Is that talent really there?

I'm not sure it is.

Perhaps in the past it was there, but I don't think that talent is there or coming through.

[Adil_94]

It's just a delusion we like to tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better for our general mediocrity in the last 20 years

[SpiritOf1903]

It's more myth than reality. Pakistani bowlers used to carry an aura which exists to an extent in t20 but largely now over. Test Cricket has suffered.
Batsman have always been far and few between

[Major]

Talent is there. If you have played club in pakistan, you will be surprised the kind of players that dont even make iissue is no one plays club cricket for recreational purpose but for the purpose of playing for pakistan. We dont have the sunday leagues that uk has. Thus, alot of them work hard and go unnoticed.