It’s two days until Bakrid (Eid al-Adha) but the celebratory spirit has sunk in Pakistan after the national team was eliminated in the group stages of the World T20 2024. News channels in the South Asian nation paint a disappointing picture, without thinking twice declaring that Pakistan cricket is dead . That the inevitable had happened.
Usually former cricketers support their players at such times but the opposite has happened and big names like Wasim Akram, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar and many others have expressed their displeasure over Pakistan’s performance which saw them lose to debutants USA World T20. America (failed to defend 159 before losing in the Super Over) and arch-rivals India (falling from a good position to trail by six runs in chasing 120).
It is not surprising that the players were made the scapegoats for this carelessness. Captain Babar Azam was accused of favoritism. But the fact is that it is the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that is primarily responsible for the disgrace this team has experienced in recent times.
It has to be one of the most unstable cricket boards in the world, if not the most unstable. Every new government in Pakistan also marks the arrival of a new chairman and many other changes. The reality is that the country’s instability is also having a detrimental impact on its cricket.
It is very clear that as long as the PCB does not change the way it operates, Pakistan will never be the team they once were, especially in the 1980s and 90s. There is no hope for Pakistan cricket until the PCB is depoliticized. But since this hasn’t happened in years and things have gone from bad to worse, can we say that Pakistan cricket is dead? Not too!
Even with an incompetent PCB, cricket will not die in Pakistan. Similar to India, cricket is one of the few sports they are good at. It’s part of their structure. So, they will continue to produce great talents.
If the PCB cannot de-politicize, what it can do is encourage its players to use scientific methods, especially for fitness purposes.
One thing the current Pakistan players have to blame is that they are not fit enough to play international cricket. Times have changed and so has cricket fitness. Virat Kohli once said that a completely fit cricketer can complete a difficult catch, whereas a less fit cricketer can make it look like a good effort. There are various aspects in cricket where fitness can make a big difference. While Azam Khan takes the cake, there are others who are not ready.
Then there is a toxic culture where everyone points the finger at everyone else. Players must be prepared in such a way that they do not badmouth anyone. Imad Wasim and Mohammad Amir tear apart the team on TV during the 2023 World Cup in India. They have returned to international cricket and have become an integral part of the team in the ongoing tournament. Ahmed Shehzad has done the same this time. This can only be stopped if the PCB ensures the system is fair and foolproof. Differences of opinion are a direct result of injustice.
Lastly, admitting that they are no longer good enough will help them become better. Stop living in the past. Get rid of arrogance. Their former players are to blame for this. Pakistani society seems to have picked up on this trend from them. Yes, they were a great team in the past, but not anymore.
This will be a hard thing to do but swallow your pride and stop comparing with India. This message is for all Pakistanis. Yes, you used to be superior to India, but that is no longer relevant now. Stop comparing Babar with Kohli. India and Indian players cannot be your reference forever. Keep your head down with your eyes to the future.
This is definitely not the end of Pakistan’s cricketing journey but it is time for deep introspection and honest decision making.
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