ISLAMABAD: Revered West Indies cricket legend and mentor of Pakistan Super League (PSL) Quetta Gladiators, Sir Vivian Richards, feels the country’s premier T20 tournament has done well to showcase the young talents of Pakistan cricket.
In an exclusive interview, the legendary batsman shared his insights on the growth of PSL, the emergence of young talent and the current state of cricket. With his trademark charisma, Richards provided a unique insight into various aspects of the game.
Richards, who has been involved with the PSL since its inception, expressed his admiration for the league’s continuous improvement over the years. “Every year it seems to get better. And you can only talk about the individuals who come to this particular tournament,” he noted, highlighting the caliber of players drawn for the competition.
Asked about PSL’s role in nurturing young talent, Richards praised Pakistan’s cricketing prowess. “Pakistan is blessed with immense talent,” he said, highlighting the league’s role in providing opportunities for young players to showcase their skills on the global stage.
“Having the PSL gives every young individual an opportunity,” he said.
“After that, they would be successful in the PSL. They can go on to bigger things, big storms around the world and all the other tournaments. So this is a well managed tournament,” he added.
Known for his fearless approach to the game, Richards offered advice to budding cricketers, stressing the importance of perseverance and hard work in overcoming challenges.
“The only thing you fear, I think with young individuals, is failure. But failure comes with success,”
“It’s all about hard work. And wherever you would miss, go back and work as hard as possible to get back to the best place you can be to perform,” the West Indian great added.
Discussing the resurgence of Quetta Gladiators in the current PSL season, Richards praised the team’s cohesion and careful coaching under Shane Watson.
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“When you have good talent and you have someone like Shane Watson at the helm as a coach, everyone is happy together,” he noted, highlighting the team’s unity as a key factor in their success.
Commenting on former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed’s move to a non-captain role, Richards praised his positive influence on the team and highlighted his valuable contributions on and off the field.
“Just having him around is always a good thing. His contribution to the team is as good as any,” he confirmed, acknowledging Sarfaraz’s value beyond his leadership role.
“Sarfaraz is a player who wears his heart on his sleeve. I have always been a fan of Sarfaraz whether he is captain or non-captain, I believe he brings a lot of positive things to the team,” he said.
Responding to a question about Babar Azam, Richards praised Babar’s class and consistency, describing him as a “great player” with a unique style.
“I can tell you that for sure. Babar is in a class by himself. I guess he doesn’t lift the bat with all the aggression like some of the other guys you see hitting big sixes. But he still does. And I just think he’s a great player not only for Pakistan but also for world cricket,”
“Babar has a style and every other batsman around the world has a specific style, but there are some individuals that you appreciate. And Babar is definitely one of them,” said the legendary batsman of his era.
Looking ahead to the T20 World Cup in the West Indies, Richards expressed confidence in the home team’s ability and highlighted their talent and potential to succeed.
“As much as I love Pakistan and I love Pakistan dearly, I think West Indies have a good enough team to win it. So we hope we can put on a good show. It should be noted that the West Indies are also brimming with talent. And in this T20 format, they are as good as any team out there. We just hope the boys get fit, give their best performance and if they do that, I believe we can win the T20 World Cup at home,” he said.
