As the Pakistan Cricket Board ponders on holding its own version of the Indian Premier League (IPL), former Pakistan skipper Javed Miandad denounced the idea saying such a move would destroy the game in the country. Miandad said the IPL is nothing but entertainment and lacks quality. "The involvement of too much money will destroy the game of cricket. It (IPL) lacks quality and a cricketer can never get the confidence he needs as a player. Even the greatest of bowlers cannot do anything about conceding sixes and fours," Miandad told The Dawn. The former Pakistan coach insisted five-day cricket not twenty20 was the real test of a player's ability as there was the latter does not require players to showcase their technique. Miandad also felt Pakistan cricket was on a downward spiral and said the absence of quality opponents in the team's schedule. "One reason for this is that talented players are not being groomed properly. Also, we are not playing against high ranking teams and competing with the weaker sides, which doesn't improve your game. "It is contesting against quality teams like Australia and India that your potential is truly put to the test But this is not the case at present," he said.
