The worst performance of the Pakistan cricket team in history was witnessed in the ICC Champions Trophy, exposing the stubbornness and ego-driven decisions of the management, selectors, and PCB officials. With repeated leadership changes, inconsistent team selection, and poor strategy, Pakistan’s cricketing downfall has become evident on the international stage.
Captaincy Chaos: A Leadership Disaster
In 2023, Shaheen Afridi replaced Babar Azam as captain. However, after just five matches, Babar was reinstated, only to step down in September. Muhammad Rizwan then took over, but his leadership failed to deliver victories. The constant shuffle in captaincy disrupted team stability, impacting morale and performance.
Pakistan’s Downward Spiral: Defeats and Humiliation
Despite securing series wins against Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, the team lacked consistency and professionalism. Their shocking defeat to the United States in the T20 World Cup was a wake-up call. The selectors failed to include additional spinners alongside Abrar Ahmed, disregarding expert advice. They also ignored key players like Usman, Irfan, and Abbas Afridi, weakening the team’s overall balance.
Tri-Series and ICC Champions Trophy: A Story of Failure
Pakistan’s performance in the tri-series tournament and the ICC Champions Trophy continued the downward trend. The root cause dates back to the abrupt leadership changes in 2023, creating uncertainty within the team. As the defeats piled up, Pakistan found themselves unable to recover from their struggles.
Coaching Chaos: Resignations and Frustrations
In just six months, two foreign coaches, Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie, resigned out of frustration. The PCB, instead of addressing internal issues, appointed Aqib Javed as an interim head coach. This lack of stability further contributed to the team’s declining performance.
Losing to Weaker Teams: A National Embarrassment
Pakistan suffered humiliating defeats against Bangladesh, the United States, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. They failed to qualify for the next round in the ODI World Cup in India, the T20 World Cup in the United States, and now the ICC Champions Trophy, co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubai.
India emerged victorious against Pakistan in all three major ICC events, further highlighting Pakistan’s struggles. Cricket experts repeatedly advised selectors to include another spinner alongside Abrar Ahmed, but the management ignored the advice, leaving the team vulnerable against quality opposition.
Tactical Failures and Poor Execution
One of the most shocking statistics of Pakistan’s batting failures was their inability to rotate the strike. In the first 161 balls of their innings, Pakistani batsmen played a staggering 100 dot balls, wasting crucial scoring opportunities even during the power play.
Fast Bowling Hype vs. Reality
Pakistan’s fast bowling trio—Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf—was once considered the most dangerous attack in the world. However, they failed to meet expectations in crucial matches. The management rested these bowlers during the Test series to keep them fresh for ODIs, but they failed to deliver match-winning performances in both the tri-series and the ICC Champions Trophy.
Babar Azam’s Form and Team Selection Blunders
Babar Azam, once regarded as one of the world’s top batsmen, has struggled to find his rhythm. Meanwhile, Usman Khan was kept in the squad for nine consecutive matches without getting a game, only to be included in the Champions Trophy squad without proper evaluation. Talented players like Irfan Khan Niazi and Abbas Afridi were continuously overlooked despite their potential.
The PCB’s Role in the Downfall
Former Test fast bowler Wahab Riaz, widely blamed for Pakistan’s defeat against the United States in 2024, was quietly given an administrative position at PCB headquarters instead of being held accountable. These favoritism-based decisions highlight the deep-rooted issues in the management that have plagued Pakistan cricket.
What’s Next for Pakistan Cricket?
Pakistan cricket is at a crossroads. The current approach of ego-driven management, poor selection decisions, and lack of long-term planning has pushed the team into one of its darkest eras. If the PCB continues to ignore expert advice and fails to establish stability in leadership, Pakistan’s struggles will persist, leading to further humiliation on the international stage.
Immediate reforms, a structured selection process, and a focus on grooming young talent are necessary to revive Pakistan cricket and restore its lost glory. Otherwise, Pakistan risks becoming a team that is no longer feared in world cricket but rather one that serves as an easy target for opponents.
