KARACHI — Pakistani cricket needs to revamp its failing system and focus more on Tests, former captains said Monday after the side's humiliating 3-0 whitewash in South Africa. Pakistan went down by an innings and 18 runs in the final match at Centurion Sunday as the world number one Test team completed a clean sweep in home Tests in its summer, after beating New Zealand 2-0. Former captain Aamir Sohail said Pakistan went into the series unprepared for the demands of the longest form of the game. “It was predicted,” Sohail said. “South Africa were well equipped while we are not doing things needed (for Test cricket) and are paying the price.” Pakistan's batsmen struggled on the bouncy pitches against a hostile pace attack led by Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, who shared 35 wickets between them in the series. The tourists were shot out for their lowest Test score, 49, in the first Test at Johannesburg, going on to lose by 211 runs. They staged something of a fightback at Cape Town, posting 328 before a second-innings collapse condemned them to another defeat. No Pakistani batsman had an answer to the pace, movement and hostility of the South African attack, with only Asad Shafiq and veteran Younus Khan managing centuries. Opener Mohammad Hafeez flopped, with just 43 runs in six innings. Sohail, also a former chief selector, said Pakistan needed to take measures at the grassroots level. “When a youngster emerges he has technical faults which we are not removing while South Africa has followed Australia in conquering the world with their work,” he said. Another former captain, Rashid Latif, urged Pakistan to focus more on Tests. “Pakistan must have separate players for Tests and one-dayers,” said Latif. “Some players feel they are suitable for all three forms but their poor show in Tests is affecting the team's performance.” Some fans in the street said Pakistan should only play one-day matches and Twenty20s. Pakistan now has the chance to regain some pride as it takes on South Africa in two Twenty20s and five One-Day Internationals. Latif also has questioned Dav Whatmore's coaching. Latif says there should everyone involved should be held accountable, and “it should start from the coach.” Latif says he was not expecting a whitewash in South Africa but the results showed Pakistan's inability to do its homework against top teams. Smith salutes best SA team Graeme Smith has been representing South Africa since 2002 and the Test captain believes the current crop of players are the finest of his generation. Smith's side has a commanding lead at the top of the world rankings after completing a 3-0 Test whitewash of Pakistan. “This is the best team I have played in as a South African cricketer, we have all our bases covered,” the skipper told reporters. “Part of that is the maturity and professionalism with which they approach every match and the pride they put into their performances.” South Africa has won in England, Australia and New Zealand in recent times and beaten Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand but Smith's hunger has not yet been satisfied. “There is still more I want to achieve with this side,” said the opening batsman who averages 48.62 in 110 test appearances. “We want to create a team that plays the game hard but in the right spirit. “What has been most pleasing about this summer is how clinical we have been, we have never let our intensity drop. That is how we set out to play our cricket.” — Agencies
