What's wrong with Pakistan cricket?

Sept. 3, 2024, 5:04 p.m.

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Cricket reigns supreme in Pakistan, just as it does in India. However, despite the media attention and the spotlight on athletes and para-athletes, nothing can match the financial power, the passionate fan base (and its critiques), and the political influence that cricket holds for these two neighboring nations in the subcontinent.

This political influence to a sport can go either way. Unfortunately for Pakistan cricket, years of political turmoil in Islamabad has had its impact in Lahore as well. The usage of phrases such as ‘Pakistan cricket reaches its lowest ebb’, ‘Pakistan hit a new low’ have become common and lost meaning.

Advertisement The latest example of this poor form came in the form of a whitewash by Bangladesh. After their latest loss in Rawalpindi, by 6-wickets, Pakistan has now gone 10 home Tests without a victory.

The last time they endured such a poor run? It was between 1969 and 1975, where they went 11 home Tests without a win.

The only teams to have had such a poor record at home in the last 25 years are/were: Zimbabwe (winless in 14 Tests since 2013) and Bangladesh (winless in 27 Tests between 2005 and 2014).

The clean sweep makes the result even more disconcerting. Pakistan has only been whitewashed once at home, by England in 2022.

Shan Masood has captained Pakistan to five consecutive defeats in Test cricket. AP Pakistan have lost all five Tests under Shan Masood’s captaincy - worst start for a Men in Green skipper.

Former Test captain and legendary Javed Miandad stated, “It is disheartening to see our cricket reach this point. Bangladesh deserves credit for their disciplined performance. But the way our batting has crumbled in this series is a worrying sign.”

The dreadful string of results is not new and not limited to Test cricket. Pakistan didn’t progress from the group stage at the 2016 Asia Cup, from the Super 10s group stage at the 2016 T20 World Cup, exited in the Super Four in 2018 Asia Cup, were walloped by 228 runs by India in the 2023 Asia Cup and didn’t even get out of the group stage during the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. Pakistan’s loss to USA will go down as one of the biggest shocks in tournament history.

Advertisement The issues start from the very top with frequent changes in leadership and the ripple effects on selectors, coaches, and team captains. In this game of musical chairs, Najam Sethi has been appointed as the head four times for different durations and Zaka Ashraf three times.

Since 2010, the PCB has been led by 12 presidents/chairmen. Ijaz Butt (2008-2011), Zaka Ashraf (2011-2013, 2014, 2023-2024), Najam Sethi (2013-2014, 2014, 2017-2018, 2022-2023), Shaharyar Khan (2014-2017), Ehsan Mani (2018-2021), Ramiz Raja (2021-2022), and currently Mohsin Raza Naqvi (since February 2024).

Miandad believes that the internal squabbles and conflicts within the board have negatively impacted the team's performance on the field.

“I wouldn’t solely blame the players, as the changes in the board (PCB) over the past year and a half, along with the shifts in captaincy and management, have undeniably affected the team,” he asserted.

Advertisement Mushfiqur Rahim celebrates after Bangladesh’s first Test series win over Pakistan. AP Former captain, Inzamam-ul-Haq said losing three series and going without a win at home in nine Tests was a worrying record.

“Our best chances of defeating top teams in the past have always been during home series. But for this to happen, our batsmen need to score runs,” he stated.

Once feared for their seam bowlers such as Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan’s bowling attack attracts attention but struggles to be consistent.

Former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim believes the team management needs to develop existing and upcoming spin bowlers, as Pakistan's best chance for success at home lies in their spin attack and providing them with supportive pitches.

Advertisement “We don’t have bowlers of the calibre of Sarfaraz Nawaz, Imran Khan, Wasim Akram, Waqar or Shoaib now. So, we should be banking on our spinners to win us Tests at home.”

Curiously, Pakistan failed to read home conditions well and it backfired in the opening Test. Without a spinner in their playing XI, Pakistan crumbled to Bangladesh’s spin bowling and had no weapons in their arsenal to produce a fight.

If the boardroom changes, lack of runs and wickets on the field weren’t enough, there are multiple reports of disagreements within the team.

Pakistan cricket squad members in training before the first Test against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi. AFP Rumors of a conflict between Babar Azam and Shahin Afridi emerged before the T20 World Cup this year after Babar was appointed captain, replacing the left-arm seamer.

Advertisement A leadership instability in the form of a set skipper hasn’t helped the team’s cause either. Since 2010, Pakistan have been captained by Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam and now Shan Masood (in Tests), Shaoib Malik, Misbah, Shahid Afridi, Azhar, Sarfaraz, Hafeez, Imad Wasim and Babar (in ODIs) and Shoaib, Misbah, Afridi, Hafeez, Sarfaraz, Babar, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Afridi (in T20Is).

Babar Azam, once a standout batsman and captain, has experienced a significant decline in form. He managed only 42 runs in the second Test against Bangladesh and a total of 64 runs across the two matches.

Even more concerning is the right-hander's run drought, having gone 16 consecutive Test innings without reaching a half-century. His last Test fifty came at the end of 2022, and this prolonged slump has caused his Test average to fall below 45. Notably, his highest score during this period is a mere 41 against Australia in Melbourne.

After the second Test, Masood also spoke about Pakistan’s poor fitness levels. In the first innings, Mohammad Ali bowled only seven of the 78.4 overs. Khurram Shahzad, who took six wickets in the first innings, bowled only seven of the 56 overs in the second.

Shaheen Afridi was left out of the second Test to manage his workload, or so the official explanation went. Naseem Shah, returning to Test cricket after a year-long injury layoff, also missed the second Test.

“I think Test cricket demands something else in terms of fitness,” Masood said. “We played four fast bowlers in the first Test and the reason was we thought the workload would be too much for three people to manage. And that was proved in this game when we lost a fast bowler in each innings. I think even in this Test match, having just 3 bowlers and 2 spinners was less, we could have done with another pacer.”

“It isn’t all doom and gloom, there are always learnings. We got Shaheen and Naseem back in the fold, Shaheen has played consistently for a year across formats and we can’t keep throwing him in the deep end. But we need to get fitter, neater and prepare better. It is going to be a long Test and domestic season and we need to be better prepared for England.”

Pakistan cricket team have a month’s time to iron out the chinks before hosting England in a three-match Test series. While a place in the World Test Championship final looks extremely small, a turnaround would avoid finishing in the bottom half of the standings.