Pakistan cricket finds itself in a quagmire—grappling with both governance chaos and on-field disappointments. Diplomatic setbacks in international cricket have cast doubt over hosting entire tournaments in the country, while on-field performances signal a troubling decline.
To understand the state of affairs, one only needs to compare the present with the past. In the 2019 ICC World Cup, despite missing out on a semi-final spot, the team was lauded for a spirited comeback in the latter half of the group stage.
Fast forward to 2023, and the story has taken a dismal turn. The Men in Green were out of contention for qualification long before the dust settled, finishing a disappointing 7th in the group stage—a far cry from the grit and resilience once synonymous with Pakistan cricket.
In the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan suffered a heartbreaking semi-final loss to Australia. However, leading up to that defeat, the team had showcased exceptional form, winning all five group-stage matches. Among these victories was their historic 10-wicket triumph over arch-rivals India.
In the following T20 World Cup, held in Australia in 2022, Pakistan made it to the grand final but fell short, finishing as runners-up.
Shocking Setback
In June this year, in a tournament hosted by the USA, Pakistan faced a shocking setback. The team began its journey with a defeat against the host nation, an associate cricket side.
In the second game, despite their bowlers restricting India to a modest 119 runs, the team faltered in the chase, losing to their fiercest rivals. Although Pakistan managed to win over Canada and Ireland, these results were insufficient to secure a spot in the Super 8s.
Following Pakistan’s dismal exit from the T20 World Cup, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi delivered a candid statement, hinting towards a major surgery in the national team: “It seemed that a minor surgery would suffice for the Pakistan cricket team, but after the extremely poor performance, it has become clear that the team needs a major surgery. Pakistan cricket is currently at its lowest performance level. Our biggest challenge is to improve the team’s performance.”
After WC 2023, the then Chairman PCB Zaka Ashraf met Babar Azam and told him it was his time to step down from white ball cricket. The latter resigned from captaincy in all formats.
Following his resignation, Shaheen Afridi was handed the reins of the T20I side. However, his tenure was short-lived, lasting only one series—a disastrous 1-4 defeat in an away tour of New Zealand.
As the T20 World Cup 2024 approached, Babar Azam was reinstated as captain. Under his leadership, Pakistan managed to level the home series against New Zealand (Their first choice 16 players were playing IPL) 2-2. However, cracks began to show when they suffered a series loss to 11th-ranked Ireland in a three-match contest.
Matters worsened in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup, as Babar’s men endured a clean sweep in a four-match T20I series in England, leaving fans and analysts questioning the team’s readiness for the marquee event.
Following another disappointing World Cup campaign, Babar Azam stepped down as captain within an 11-month tenure. His opening partner and wicketkeeper-batter, Mohammad Rizwan, was appointed as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain by the PCB ahead of the Australia tour.
First ODI series victory in Australia
Rizwan achieved a historic milestone by leading Pakistan to their first ODI series victory in Australia in 22 years. However, he is struggling in the T20I format as captain.
Pakistan played an ODI series after a year, and the triumph can largely be credited to Pakistan’s exceptional fast bowling, which capitalised on the hosts’ struggles against raw pace and sharp swing in their own backyard. Prior to this ODI series, Pakistan secured a hard-fought 2-1 Test series victory over England at home, marking their first Test series win in nearly four years—their last coming in February 2021.
The team’s poor performance can largely be attributed to the players’ failure to address their weaknesses and assert dominance through superior skills and strategic play. Additionally, the inconsistent and unclear policies at the PCB level have significantly contributed to this unprecedented turmoil and crisis in Pakistan cricket.
Since 2022, Aqib Javed, newly appointed as head coach following Jason Gillespie’s resignation from red-ball duties yesterday, becomes the ninth individual to take charge of the Pakistan cricket team.
Over this tumultuous period, notable figures like former national star Mohammad Hafeez and internationally-acclaimed coach Gary Kirsten have also been appointed, only to be dismissed or compelled to step down.
Nine coaches in just three years equate to a staggering turnover of one every four months. Here’s the list:
For the past three years, players have lacked a sense of security due to the absence of consistent support from coaches and selectors. Those responsible for assigning specific roles and backing players through occasional failures have not been given a stable tenure.
Over this period, the PCB has seen six different selectors and as many as 26 selection committee members. Notable figures such as Shahid Afridi, seasoned veterans like Inzamam-ul-Haq, and well-connected individuals like Wahab Riaz have held these roles. Journalists and former cricketers threw conflict of interest allegations on some of them too.
Members of the selection committee
- Mohammad Wasim: 2020-22
- Shahid Afridi: 2022-23
- Haroon Rasheed: 2023
- Inzamam Ul-Haq: 2023
- Wahab Riaz: 2023-24
(Presently there is a selection committee which has no chief selector)
These are seismic shifts, akin to a crumbling empire witnessing change at every turn. Amidst this turmoil, a new power centre has risen under Aqib Javed’s leadership. Following Pakistan’s crushing defeat in the first Test against England, a revamped selection committee was formed, featuring Aqib Javed, former umpire Aleem Dar, seasoned players Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq, along with data analyst Hassan Cheema.
This committee wasted no time making bold decisions: dropping Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam from the playing XI, introducing two finger spinners, and instructing pitch curators to craft dry surfaces for the remaining two Tests. Their audacious strategy paid off, turning the series on its head as Pakistan secured a remarkable 2-1 victory.
The PCB attributed the entire credit for this victory to Aqib. Shan’s captaincy, the spinners’ masterclass, the batters’ dominance, and England’s struggles against spin in the Subcontinent conditions all took a backseat to the narrative of “Aqib Ball.” During the third Test on October 25, Rizwan provocatively declared to Harry Brook, “This is Aqib Ball.” Five days later, he was named Pakistan’s new white-ball captain.
ESPN Cricinfo reported that Gary Kirsten’s resignation, before coaching even a single ODI, was driven by the increasing influence of the selection committee and the marginalisation of the coaching staff, just months ahead of next year’s Champions Trophy. The report also indicated that Jason Gillespie’s tenure as red-ball coach was nearing its conclusion.
Yesterday, Gillespie stepped down from his role as the red-ball coach. He expressed frustration with the PCB’s disregard for his position, citing their insistence on assigning him responsibilities for the white-ball format without a salary adjustment. Additionally, he was left in the dark about the contract renewal of high-performance red-ball coach Tim Nielsen, who was available for the upcoming series.
Why does Pakistan cricket constantly grapple with uncertainty, affecting everyone from players to coaches and selectors? The root cause lies in the insecurity and inconsistency of leadership within the PCB.
Over the past three years, four different chairmen—Ramiz Raja, Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, and Naqvi—have taken the helm, with politics overshadowing progress at every turn.
Every incoming chairman arrives with the backing of a powerful figure and is eventually replaced when an even stronger influence takes charge.
The first move each new chairman makes is to overhaul the core leadership—replacing the chief selector, head coach, and captain. This constant reshuffling disrupts the team’s leadership and selection philosophy, leading to instability.
The inconsistent policies and internal politics within the PCB inevitably take a toll on players’ performances, reflected in the team’s inconsistent results on the field.
