Thursday, December 19, 2002 Pakistan's next one-day match will be in the World Cup and it would be an understatement to say that they are in disarray. This is exactly what you would expect from them, of course, but the current cricket board has presented itself as a visionary organisation intent on laying the foundations for success by careful preparation and an even-handed approach to the players.

The simple truth, however, is that the Pakistan Cricket Board is impotent, unable to manage the players, whose whims and fancies reign supreme, and incapable of setting a coherent strategy for success. Great leadership is based on values, a concept that Pakistan cricket only grasped in the time of Imran Khan, and single-mindedness, as best exemplified by Javed Miandad.

Despite all this Pakistan remain in the top three of most one-day rankings. But the only way is down unless there is a sudden change in approach. Instead of fine-tuning their one-day game plan in South Africa, Pakistan have managed to further emphasise the flaws in their current thinking. Still, it is better to flounder now than in February. Here are the critical issues that Pakistan cricket has to address—at once:

1 The captaincy No team can perform to its ability unless there is confidence in the captain. Waqar Younis held the fort with vigour for 18 months, but since this summer his form has waned, and consequently his authority is eroded. With Shoaib Akhtar, Wasim Akram, and Mohammad Sami jostling for selection, Waqar's place is uncertain. A player who can't guarantee his place in the side is not one who should captain, unless he has the mental dexterity of Mike Brearley. The World Cup is a tough first assignment, so Pakistan could turn to the experience of Wasim or bring back Moin Khan. It is a shame for Waqar, but if the board were to put success first he would lose his job. Either way, the issue has to be settled immediately. The current climate of uncertainty is extremely damaging. Lesson 1: It's tough but dump Waqar.

2 The openers (I) Pakistan have got it all wrong here. Just over a year ago Saeed Anwar was one of the best players in the world but the death of his young daughter triggered a period of personal anguish and soul-searching—entirely understandably. He says he is raring to go and it beggars belief why he was not taken to South Africa. Lesson 2: Bring back Saeed Anwar.

3 The openers (II) Pakistan have got it doubly wrong by using Shahid Afridi as a lower middle order all-rounder. A simple fact about slogging—because that is the art that Afridi has mastered—is that it is far more difficult to pull off with a couple of wickets in hand. Far better to thrash away at the top of the order, free of care and with the insurance of more adhesive batsmen to follow. When he comes off, Pakistan are running away with the game. When he doesn't Pakistan's No. 3 should share the qualities of a more conventional opener, and Abdul Razzaq or Faisal Iqbal could fit the bill here. Lesson 3: Give Afridi the licence to thrill at the top of the order.

4 The wicketkeeper Rashid Latif is a man to be respected; whistle blowing is an awful experience. He also always played with conviction. Even now he recognises failing form and fitness, and has not stood in the way of new keeper Kamran Akmal. At this rate Latif looks a poor bet for the World Cup and Akmal is perhaps too raw. It was hard to fully understand why Moin Khan was dropped. He was fit when the board said he wasn't. He has been in form when the board said he isn't. Moin made few friends in officialdom during his captaincy because he dared to argue back and demand the players of his choice—that may be the real reason for his exclusion. His experience and outstanding one-day ability could be invaluable. Lesson 4: Bring back Moin.

5 The balance of the team The last few months have been spent chopping and changing the line-up. The same happened in South Africa when Pakistan should really have been sticking with their best eleven. Not only did the personnel change too often, however, so did the balance of the team. Pakistan cannot decide on whether to play three or four front line bowlers, plus any number of allrounders. They are fortunate in that they have three genuine allrounders: Razzaq, Afridi, and Azhar Mahmood. They should use at least two of them in each game. Lesson 5: Get the balance right and stick to it; get the personnel right and stick with them.

6 The approach Pakistan players have played like headless chickens, and Richard Pybus seems unable to harness their attacking ability. These cricketers arrive at international level with wonderful natural ability but little technical competence. The hypothesis that international players don't need coaching does not hold true for Pakistan. The players may like Pybus but he will not develop their skills properly. The players may not like technical advice but, boy, do they need it. Lesson 6: Pybus will not make the difference between success and failure. Will Javed Miandad answer the call?

7 The fitness panel Pakistan have a panel of doctors, yet many of the key players have been injured (Wasim, Shoaib, Inzamam, Youhana, and Latif). With several tours cancelled in the last 18 months and not much domestic cricket to speak of you could hardly argue that Pakistan have overdone it. Clearly the panel has not done its job. Lesson 7: The PCB must review the effectiveness of the panel and either change its fitness strategy or change the personnel.

Kamran Abbasi, born in Lahore, brought up in Rotherham, is deputy editor of the British Medical Journal.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd