Pakistan cricket is facing one of its darkest periods. With a historic Test series loss to Bangladesh, the constant shuffling of captains, and a seven-year drought without an ICC title, the team’s once-proud legacy is in free fall. What has caused this dramatic decline in performance, and how can the once-formidable cricketing nation regain its footing?
What happened to cricket in Pakistan? When I played the PSL, the standard of that league was tremendous, the players had a very good work ethic and the youngsters on display were magic.
What’s happening there?
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) August 26, 2024
A Historic Low
The turning point came on a gloomy afternoon at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where Bangladesh’s veteran cricketer Shakib Al Hasan hit the winning runs against Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed. The boundary sealed Bangladesh’s first-ever Test series win against Pakistan, leaving the home side reeling. Before this upset, Pakistan had dominated Bangladesh in Test matches, winning 12 out of 13 encounters.
Bangladesh rockets to fourth place in the #WTC25 standings after their historic series win over Pakistan! 🇧🇩👏#BCB #Cricket #Bangladesh #PAKvBAN #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/eIpZLVfSTx
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 3, 2024
Shakib’s joyous celebration stood in stark contrast to Pakistan captain Shan Masood’s disappointment as he and his team walked off the field, reflecting the sense of doom surrounding Pakistan cricket. This marked only the second time in history that Pakistan had been clean-swept at home in a Test series. Even more shocking, Pakistan has not won a home Test match since February 2021, enduring a winless streak of 10 games.
The Downward Spiral
Historically, Pakistan has been one of the dominant forces in world cricket, boasting triumphs like the 1992 ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup and the 2009 T20 World Cup. But in recent years, their performances have nosedived. Pakistan cricket fans have witnessed their team lose to lower-ranked opponents, suffer group-stage exits in major tournaments, and fall short of expectations on the international stage.
Their last noteworthy achievement was in November 2022, when Pakistan reached the T20 World Cup final in Australia, only to lose comprehensively to England. Since then, the situation has worsened.
At the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan crashed out in the first round after a shocking defeat to the United States, a team that qualified as a co-host. In the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India, Pakistan lost five of their nine matches and failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Staggering Statistics
Since November 2022, Pakistan’s performances have been disappointing across formats:
- Tests: Played 12, won 2, lost 8, drawn 2
- ODIs: Played 25, won 14, lost 10, no result 1
- T20s: Played 54, won 25, lost 26, tied 1, no result 2
The numbers speak for themselves. So, what’s gone wrong with Pakistan cricket?
A Culture of Instability
Pakistan have a month to get it together. Bangladesh played some excellent cricket. England, who won 3-0 on their last visit in 2022, will be an even greater challenge. There's a serious threat of back to back whitewashes at home. There's very little time…but what you change?
— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) September 3, 2024
Former Pakistan head coach Micky Arthur, who led the team from 2016 to 2019 and returned as team director in 2023, attributes Pakistan’s downfall to instability. “There are some incredible players on the Pakistan side,” Arthur noted, “but what the team lacks is stability. Stability comes from the top: in team selection, consistency in players’ roles, and ensuring every player understands his place.”
Arthur further explained that the chaotic environment in Pakistan cricket fosters mediocrity. Frequent changes at the top leave players uncertain about their roles, forcing them to play for individual success rather than the team.
Leadership Turmoil
Since late 2022, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has seen three different chairmen, each bringing in new staff and leadership changes. The current chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has added to the volatility, frequently reshuffling the team’s leadership.
Babar Azam, who was captain of all formats, resigned after Pakistan’s group-stage exit in the 2023 ODI World Cup. Shan Masood took over the Test captaincy, while Shaheen Shah Afridi was named T20 captain. However, Naqvi replaced Afridi after just one series, reinstating Babar Azam as T20 captain in March 2024. The ODI captaincy remains unresolved, as Pakistan has not played in that format since November 2023.
Coaching Carousel
Pakistan cricket’s coaching staff has been just as unstable, with seven coaches serving the team since November 2022. This constant turnover has created confusion among players, with each coach bringing different strategies and expectations.
“Different coaches bring different ideas and have different roles for the players,” Arthur commented. “This leads to uncertainty, inconsistency, and ultimately, players start playing for themselves rather than for the team.”
Underperforming Stars
Pakistan’s big names, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan, have all struggled. Babar’s and Afridi’s Test form has dipped, while Shadab has failed to live up to his potential in recent ICC events.
What’s Next?
After the loss to Bangladesh, Masood expressed his frustration: “We were excited for the home season, but we have not learned our lessons. We need to work on finishing games when we’re in control.”
Despite the poor results, Arthur believes that Masood is the right person to lead the Test side. “Shan Masood is going to be a very good captain, but he needs time to develop his role as a batter. The coaches and support staff must take the pressure off him so he can focus on his own game.”
As Pakistan cricket finds itself at a crossroads, the path forward requires more than just changing captains or coaches. It needs stability, consistency, and a long-term vision to restore the team’s glory.
