"This is the best Under-19 outfit that I have managed": Haroon Rasheed

[SOSami]

In preparation for this year’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup to be held in Queensland, Australia, the Pakistan Cricket Board arranged a series against the hosts prior to the commencement of the tournament. The Pakistan side performed well at the Gold Coast, recording a confidence-building 2-1 series win and are scheduled to play two more friendlies against England and Papua New Guinea. The opening game of the tournament is a highly anticipated contest against neighbouring Afghanistan on 11 August at the John Blanck Oval on the Sunshine Coast.

One of the stronger squads at the tournament, the Pakistani U19s will go into the World Cup as genuine title contenders. PakPassion’s Australia correspondent spoke to the Pakistan U19 Manager Haroon Rasheed at the Gold Coast before the third Youth ODI. Rasheed, who has been part of the PCB youth development programme for several years, was confident about his team's capabilities, preparation for the tournament and also has a message for fans following their progress.


PakPassion.net: What are the challenges associated with managing the U19 squad?

Haroon Rasheed: It’s always very exciting to work with the U19 players and I have been doing so since 1988 - the first U19 side I worked with had players like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis and Moin Khan! My involvement with player development and the coaching of youngsters began once I retired from playing the game. The PCB gave me a number of opportunities in the youth set-up and it’s always fascinating to work with these young kids, watching them develop both as players and individuals.


PakPassion.net: How do you feel about the current squad in Australia?

Haroon Rasheed: The most satisfying aspect of this squad relates to the successful implementation by the PCB of a formal U16 program about four years ago. We focused on the grass-roots, where there was no significant organised domestic structure in Pakistan, and considered the PCB academies as having the ideal skills and facilitates to drive the U16 project.

We went to 16 or 17 districts to select youngsters, identified those with potential and divided them into 12 teams, where they competed against each other in a tournament format, the top 24 outstanding performers from the tournament then being selected. The players that are here for the U19 World Cup are the product of this U16 program - all of these 15 individuals, one way or another, were part of the U16 set-up. It’s a continuous process which is now beginning to bear fruit.

The best part of the current Pakistan U19 side is their all-round ability. We have good fast bowlers and spinners, and depth in the batting. However, although a very good squad, obviously the aim is to translate ability on paper to tangible results - you have to perform and play well in order to win matches. So far the boys have adapted to the conditions in Australia very quickly.


PakPassion.net: The U19s toured South Africa recently, but Australia presents a difference set of challenges. How are the players coping with touring a foreign country?

Haroon Rasheed: The PCB arranged two tours which were very beneficial to the team's development. We went to South Africa and then to Malaysia for the Asia Cup, where we ended up joint winners. We are now in Australia which again is very good planning from PCB, enabling acclimatisation prior to the World Cup which is to be held here. The boys are doing a great job; they are hungry for success and are very confident in their abilities which is reflected in the manner they are playing. In both of the ODI games that we have won against Australia this week, the boys have shown exceptional levels of skill in all departments. The fielding has been superb, particularly in the second match which included two run outs inside the 30-yard circle, coupled with some quality ground fielding and catching. Overall the signs are positive, but there's still a long way to go yet. The World Cup hasn’t started and obviously other teams will also be preparing hard for this great event.


PakPassion.net: We understand some of them are fasting on non-playing days; How are the players managing during Ramadan?

Haroon Rasheed: We have been very fortunate as we have some good friends in the Gold Coast who have provided us with food during Iftaar [fast-breaking] time. They have been very hospitable. As you know, some of the boys and management staff are fasting and they need something to eat during Iftaar time at sunset, and during Sehri [commencement of daily fast] at sunrise. We manage!


PakPassion.net: As an ex-player, how do you rate the skills of the current U19 team? Any players you would highlight as ones to watch?

Haroon Rasheed: The biggest strength of this team is its all-round ability. It’s a complete team in a sense; we have good spinners such as the tremendously skilful Usman Qadir, son of the legendary Adbul. We also have two good left arm leg-spinners in Mohammed Nawaz, an all-rounder who bowls and bats well, and Zafar Gohar, a very intelligent bowler who has variety with the ability to bring the ball in and turn it too. So the spin department is very good, because these three have got wicket-taking ability, which is essential in one-day cricket.

We also have some really good fast bowlers like all-rounder Ehsan Adil, who can hit the ball hard and bowls well. Zia-ul-Haq is well-known – a quality left arm medium-fast bowler. We also have Azizullah, who is not very tall, but skiddy with immaculate line and length. So far, in the two games we have played [Youth ODIs against Australia], all of these bowlers have performed very well.

The batsmen have adapted to conditions in Australia. Our openers, captain Babar Azam and Sami Aslam, are prominent run-getters. Then in the middle order we have Imam-ul-haq, Umar Waheed, Mohammad Nawaz and Saad Ali, so the depth is there.

In the 25 years of my involvement in the Pakistan youth set-up, this is the best U19 outfit that I have managed.


PakPassion.net: How do you ensure that players don't become over confident?

Haroon Rasheed: Winning is a habit and there is no room for complacency, so the guys have to keep putting in the effort each day and take it one game at a time. Sabih Azhar and his coaching team are trying very hard to make this a habit for the players, something that comes naturally to them. You need to forget about what you've done, whether that's scored runs or taken wickets as it's history now - you just need to keep on thinking about the current situation.

The coach Sabih Azhar and all the support staff like Yasir Malik who's the trainer, Dr. Sohail who's the physiotherapist and Usman the analyst, combine very well in offering an integrated approach. They are working as a team, providing everything the boys require. Our aims in the management team are for boys to not worry about any other issues aside from the cricket, ensuring they concentrate on the task at hand, which is the most important thing. We as management continuously monitor the players to identify any gaps where we can help or be of assistance.


PakPassion.net: What are your predictions for the tournament?

Haroon Rasheed: At this level, given there are youngster involved, it is very difficult to predict anything! You will expect them to make mistakes, and all the teams have this element of unpredictability to their game. One day they will look good and another day they will make some mistakes, with those errors sometimes costing you a match. However, the way we have seen the boys playing since January - the tour of South Africa, then the Asia Cup and now we have started well here in Australia before the World Cup - as a team we are gelling well.

They have the potential to perform in all three departments to win a game on any given day and I hope InshahAllah [God willing] that the boys will do very well. Other teams are also good - Australia has got a very good team. They may have lost two games but one can see they have good depth in batting, good bowling and their fielding is superb. South Africans are always strong and we played against India in Malaysia, who were very tough opposition. Even Bangladesh, West Indies, England for that matter are good. We are not too focussed on the strengths of the opposition, instead choosing to focus on how we approach the game or tournament. If we perform well, hopefully things will end up in our favour.


PakPassion.net: What are you looking to improve in the team?

Haroon Rasheed: The most important thing is the fielding, where one error can cost you the match. We are emphasising to the players that fielding is the most important aspect of our game and looking to eradicate the mentality of assuming the ball isn't going to come towards you. It has had an effect, and the team was focussed on every ball in the second Youth ODI match. Things were a bit different in the first match but improved tremendously in the second and we hope they continue to improve.

As you know, Pakistan has always had problems with fielding. Now, from the U16 and U19 levels they have been provided with specific kinds of training drills for areas such as diving for the ball, sliding and throwing, and catching. We are mainly concentrating on fielding but obviously not ignoring batting and bowling, because with bowling the discipline includes not bowling no-balls and wides. These are a few of the many areas the coach is looking at.


PakPassion.net: Any message for all the Pakistani supporters who closely follow this U19 team?

Haroon Rasheed: One should always think that this is the future. I can see a few of these players, the way they are playing at the moment, making a mark in the full Pakistan side in two or three years time. We always want the fans to support the team and pray for us but they should also accept winning and losing is part of the game. This team has been playing well in the last five months, but you can always have a bad match and one shouldn't judge the ability of a player or a team over such a short timescale. You see how they play in a certain kind of atmosphere. It’s a development process for the players. We are still of course emphasising the importance of victory and the boys are focussed and training very hard, and so is the coach, trainer, doctor and the rest of the coaching team. We desire the prayers and good wishes and we are getting a lot of support - we have seen so many people come up here and watch the games. The way the Pakistani community is supporting and looking after us, it’s a great thing and a great feeling for the players and management.

PakPassion.net: Thank you for your time.

Haroon Rasheed: Thanks

[Genghis]

Was an absolute pleasure doing this interview with Haroon Rasheed. He spoke so passionately about this team. I'm sure they will do well.

[I Believe in the Teesra]

The most important thing is the fielding, where one error can cost you the match. We are emphasising to the players that fielding is the most important aspect of our game and looking to eradicate the mentality of assuming the ball isn't going to come towards you. It has had an effect, and the team was focussed on every ball in the second Youth ODI match. Things were a bit different in the first match but improved tremendously in the second and we hope they continue to improve.

This part really struck me and am really pleased that we're finally working on improving fielding at the grass-root levels. His mention of the U-16 tournament sounds like Pakistan is finally taking a page out of Barcelona's playbook and starting very early with youngsters. The results (bit early to assess fully) are positive in the development of players like Babar, Sami, and Zia.

I wish we'd have more managers like him in squad. After being in that system for over 20+ years, the man should move up and take his talents to the international stage. He certainly deserves it but at the same time, I'd hate to see the youngsters lose such a strong molding figure.

[Dolphins]

Sami Aslam and Babar Azam are the kids to look out for. Btw who is our u19 keeper and is he any good?

[MenInG]

Excellent interview Genghis - good to see a qualified and knowledgeable professional looking after the interests of our young men abroad

[SOSami]

Yep, really good interview G.

Rasheed's been involved a long long time! Certainly sounds like he knows his stuff, and the youth sides are always well prepared.

[pakistani pride]

Then please MANAGE these kids in a proper way, educate them etc...
And inshallah in a few years time let them play for the national team !

[khalil1986]

Excellent interview and very happy to hear about emphasis placed on fielding and pretty sure in 3-5 years we will see the benefits.

[Amjid Javed]

Have to say the one thing that stands out clearly in this under 19 team compared to all other pakistan under 19 teams is the batting. When ever pakistan has won previous world cups its basically been because our bowling has been miles better then everyone elses and at times its carried the weaker batting in the team.

Current team has babar Azam and Sami Aslam and the rest of batting looks pretty strong for once. Good luck to pakistan and may they win yet another under 19 world cup.

[Ayyubjavvs]

I agree

[Stewie]

No surprise fast bowlers this time?

[LegCutter]

Originally Posted by Stewie No surprise fast bowlers this time?

Nop. Even Zia ul Haq hasnt been tearing the opposition apart, although his performances have been decent.

[MenInG]

Warm up games are done and the real business starts soon - we should see how well these guys perform