Events that have cost Pakistan cricket

[shariqnoor]

People might not agree but I genuinely believe there have been certain events that have actually caused damage to Pakistan cricket.

1) World Cup 1992 win: The win itself wasn't problematic. The manner of the victory, though, has caused immense damage. The whole cornered tigers story has infused a level of mediocrity and a willingness to not improve the culture of Pakistani cricket. Suddenly, winning from a position of complete despair became somewhat of a mystical triumph. Articles started appearing on how Pakistan roars back from nowhere. "Haal" is a term coined by journalists that is somehow celebrated. One day the team will beat peak Australia, the other day shell a complete home series to Zimbabwe. And all of this was beautifully wrapped up in a present called "inconsistency" which was to be believed as something extraordinary. It's been nearly 32 years since this World Cup win, yet every tournament is compared to World Cup 1992.

2) Champions Trophy 2017 win: Again, the same situation repeats itself. On the brink of elimination and somehow manages to win the tournament against all odds. Hailed as a revelation. Proceeds to get whitewashed by NZ 5-0 in ODIs straight after. No introspection because we've just won the Champions Trophy. If the effects of 1992 were slightly wearing thin, 2017 reinforced everything that Pakistan should have been vying to get away with. Back to square on with the "underdogs winning against all odds" mentality. What's worse was it gave Mickey Arthur a free reign as he was thought of as a super coach. What does he do next? Play 3 fast bowlers in UAE and get whitewashed. Gets another opportunity to coach Pakistan because he won the 2017 Champions Trophy

3) Wahab Riaz's spell to Watson: Only Pakistan could hype up a spell that did nothing for Pakistan. Lost the match comfortably. But what it did was allow Wahab Riaz to play unconditionally for the next 6-7 years. Pakistani fans lapped up all of that spell and Brian Lara's "I'll pay Wahab's fine" comment to end up with zero output from Wahab over the next half-a-decade.

4) Nawaz's cameo against India in Asia Cup 2022: That innings where he came in and smashed 40 odd to allow the team to chase 180+ against India was just debilitating for Pakistan. It may have meant that Pakistan won that match but it ensured Nawaz got a run in the team for the next 1 year without any accountability despite him choking time and time again in crunch situations (most notably World Cup match against India). Had he not played that innings, Pakistan might have tried other spinners and possibly found 1 good-ish spinner. Nawaz's batting was always non-existent but that 1 fluke innings has cost Pakistan dearly and still continues to cost them.

Pakistan's problem has always been lack of game-awareness and as the years pass by, the lack of talent on the pitch is growing along with it. There is no individual brilliance now in the team that can mask these other inconsistencies. If Pakistan somehow miraculously manages to win this tournament (highly unlikely) this will perpetuate another cycle of mediocrity where inconsistency will be rewarded handsomely. An absolute thrashing at a global tournament is probably good news for Pakistan cricket as that might force people to introspect.

 

[Sherazkhalid]

Relying on miracles and less on performances, when miracles run out this is what happens. Nothing will change, we have destroyed hockey and squash, what is stopping us from doing the same to cricket.

 

[Major]

Imran Khan deciding to meddle in the cricket affairs of the country. This guy as PM decided to reduce the domestic teams to 6 and also decided to remove Azhar Ali as captain and replace him with Babar.

When he made Babar captain, Babar ended up losing all three ICC events he would captain Pakistan in. World T20 2021, 2022 and now the World Cup 2023.

Also, his decision to reduce the domestic team to 6 is the reason why we dont have a spinner today. 6 domestic teams meant that teams would carry 1 spinner each which were usuaully the psl stars. Pakistan today has no spinner cause of the stupid domestic structure we had in place.

 

[Energy]

Relying on miracles is an easy way out for those who don't want to work hard enough for a disciplined grind. And that's exactly what Pakistan and Pakistanis do in every field of life so cricket isn't different.

Its actually a pleasant surprise that Pakistan has won 3 ICC trophies in 30 years.

 

[shariqnoor]

Imran Khan deciding to meddle in the cricket affairs of the country. This guy as PM decided to reduce the domestic teams to 6 and also decided to remove Azhar Ali as captain and replace him with Babar.

When he made Babar captain, Babar ended up losing all three ICC events he would captain Pakistan in. World T20 2021, 2022 and now the World Cup 2023.

Also, his decision to reduce the domestic team to 6 is the reason why we dont have a spinner today. 6 domestic teams meant that teams would carry 1 spinner each which were usuaully the psl stars. Pakistan today has no spinner cause of the stupid domestic structure we had in place.

6 domestic teams was a brain-dead decision. Comparing a population of 250 million to a country of 40 million people is pure stupidity. Good that you brought this up. This should be added as another point.

Pakistan is a one-sport country. By having only 6 teams, you are alienating at least 70% of the player pool in the country to be able to play at the second highest level in cricket.

 

[7sins]

We kept on depending on miracles, luck and never tried of getting rid of unpredictability tag. Unpredictable team doesn't give you confidence it means you're dumb overall and on given day you can beat any have decent team

 

[Hawkeye]

People might not agree but I genuinely believe there have been certain events that have actually caused damage to Pakistan cricket.

1) World Cup 1992 win: The win itself wasn't problematic. The manner of the victory, though, has caused immense damage. The whole cornered tigers story has infused a level of mediocrity and a willingness to not improve the culture of Pakistani cricket. Suddenly, winning from a position of complete despair became somewhat of a mystical triumph. Articles started appearing on how Pakistan roars back from nowhere. "Haal" is a term coined by journalists that is somehow celebrated. One day the team will beat peak Australia, the other day shell a complete home series to Zimbabwe. And all of this was beautifully wrapped up in a present called "inconsistency" which was to be believed as something extraordinary. It's been nearly 32 years since this World Cup win, yet every tournament is compared to World Cup 1992.

2) Champions Trophy 2017 win: Again, the same situation repeats itself. On the brink of elimination and somehow manages to win the tournament against all odds. Hailed as a revelation. Proceeds to get whitewashed by NZ 5-0 in ODIs straight after. No introspection because we've just won the Champions Trophy. If the effects of 1992 were slightly wearing thin, 2017 reinforced everything that Pakistan should have been vying to get away with. Back to square on with the "underdogs winning against all odds" mentality. What's worse was it gave Mickey Arthur a free reign as he was thought of as a super coach. What does he do next? Play 3 fast bowlers in UAE and get whitewashed. Gets another opportunity to coach Pakistan because he won the 2017 Champions Trophy

3) Wahab Riaz's spell to Watson: Only Pakistan could hype up a spell that did nothing for Pakistan. Lost the match comfortably. But what it did was allow Wahab Riaz to play unconditionally for the next 6-7 years. Pakistani fans lapped up all of that spell and Brian Lara's "I'll pay Wahab's fine" comment to end up with zero output from Wahab over the next half-a-decade.

4) Nawaz's cameo against India in Asia Cup 2022: That innings where he came in and smashed 40 odd to allow the team to chase 180+ against India was just debilitating for Pakistan. It may have meant that Pakistan won that match but it ensured Nawaz got a run in the team for the next 1 year without any accountability despite him choking time and time again in crunch situations (most notably World Cup match against India). Had he not played that innings, Pakistan might have tried other spinners and possibly found 1 good-ish spinner. Nawaz's batting was always non-existent but that 1 fluke innings has cost Pakistan dearly and still continues to cost them.

Pakistan's problem has always been lack of game-awareness and as the years pass by, the lack of talent on the pitch is growing along with it. There is no individual brilliance now in the team that can mask these other inconsistencies. If Pakistan somehow miraculously manages to win this tournament (highly unlikely) this will perpetuate another cycle of mediocrity where inconsistency will be rewarded handsomely. An absolute thrashing at a global tournament is probably good news for Pakistan cricket as that might force people to introspect.

Your observation regarding CT 17 is spot on.

It was a fluke. And unfortunately, imposed Mickey Arthur on us who is back to give us another masterpiece in WC 2023.


Then, the Wahab trash spell - no idea why it was hailed so much in PAK. It ensured Wahab played for Pak without any performances for a good few years.

 

[Kianig89]

Let's be pragmatic events happened during Xia era had no impact on Pakistan cricket.
1. Misbah' failed scoop at 2007 WT20 final 2. 2009 SL Team attack
3. 2010 fixing saga

These 3 events are the main cause Pakistan cricket became stunted and regressed at a rapid pace. Misbah bizarre shot not only cost Pakistan a world title over India but also creates a mental block in players mind for an India Pakistan game, IndoPak rivalry since that game has been one sided and India has dominated bullied and left us stranded.
That Misbah blunder also gave birth to IPL which added to the competitive advantage of Indian cricket and they are out of sight from Pakistan.

The Sl.team attack made us helpless and we have to play games in wilderness but with literally no fans this had created a mental pressure on players as most of the upcoming players were not accustomed to performing in a jam packed stadium, Similarly it also hurt our FTP and the lack.of games further galvanised the situation.

Last but not least the spot fixing saga not only cost us three top class players who would serve us for atleast 5 years. The progression of Pakistan cricket was halted with stop gap approaches and soft attitude of our players to win the media and courteously of other teams. This also resulted in selecting players well above the average age and an abundance of average players were given Pakistan caps like Tanvir Ahmed Sohail Khan Imran Khan Jr. Same Aslm to name a few.

All in all a professional and dynamic approach was required to take Pakistan cricket forward but the political interference and instability just worsen the situation.
A complete dissemble of management and performance review is required to move ahead.

 

[topspin]

I would also add, Pakistan making last year's WT20 final.

Making it to the final was a curse in disguise because the PCB saw the outcome as a success for Pakistan cricket so all was forgiven despite having played such mediocre cricket through the competition.

Babar’s horrible captaincy and all the other flaws were forgotten so were therefore not addressed. This should’ve been his last appearance as white ball captain.

Had we lost against Zimbabwe and then crashed out straight after this defeat, I’m certain Babar's position as captain would've been untenable

By no means am I suggesting Pakistan would've made semi-finals in this World Cup if he was replaced as captain but at least it would enable Babar to focus on his batting and the team to benefit from having a more competent captain lead the side.

 

[ArabKnight]

Imran Khan deciding to meddle in the cricket affairs of the country. This guy as PM decided to reduce the domestic teams to 6 and also decided to remove Azhar Ali as captain and replace him with Babar.

When he made Babar captain, Babar ended up losing all three ICC events he would captain Pakistan in. World T20 2021, 2022 and now the World Cup 2023.

Also, his decision to reduce the domestic team to 6 is the reason why we dont have a spinner today. 6 domestic teams meant that teams would carry 1 spinner each which were usuaully the psl stars. Pakistan today has no spinner cause of the stupid domestic structure we had in place.

Those are all Ramiz Raja’s ideas. Not IK. Stop lying!

 

[topspin]

In addition to the above, you also have to add Misbah's half century in Mohali during the 2011 World Cup. The worst half century I've ever seen from a Pakistan player. He was playing for his place in the side because he was afraid of being dropped. This innings gave birth to an era of stat padding and the pursuit of milestones. That's the harsh reality.

 

[Major]

Those are all Ramiz Raja’s ideas. Not IK. Stop lying!

Imran Khan reveals he asked PCB Chairman to appoint Babar Azam captain

Former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister Imran Khan is elated over the Men in Green's performance against New Zealand in the first semi-final of the T20 World Cup.

cricketpakistan.com.pk

 

[DeadlyVenom]

We are a poor country with almost zero investment in education, fitness and sports. Despite us being a cricket-mad nation, we produce cricketers who have a limited knowledge of cricket and fitness.

How do you solve these problems in a country where conspiracy theories run rife, and where there is major illiteracy? The cricketing fraternity, devoid of basic analytical and critical thinking skills, often falls prey to unfounded conspiracy theories which in turn create a toxic culture of blame and denial.

How do you solve these problems in a country where we play musical chairs with chairmen, coaches and domestic structure? In my lifetime ( mid 30's) I've lost count of the changes that have been made, many times it's been one step forward and two steps backward? The lack of consistent and visionary leadership has resulted in short-sighted decisions, impeding the growth and development of a domestic cricketing infrastructure. This 'musical chairs' phenomenon not only disrupts the strategic direction but also affects the players

How do you solve it in a country where sportsmen generally believe that eating meat is what makes you a good cricketer? Or water makes you fat? Or losing weight decreases power?

The general reaction to a major defeat is to blame past events, blame players lack of courage or the new trend of "friendship". The problem isn't Babar Azam or 1992. If none of those events in the OP hadn't happened - we'd be in the same mess. Its the whole system. The whole country. Will we ever be able to change it?

 

[ArabKnight]

I would also add, Pakistan making last year's WT20 final.

Making it to the final was a curse in disguise because the PCB saw the outcome as a success for Pakistan cricket so all was forgiven despite having played such mediocre cricket through the competition.

Babar’s horrible captaincy and all the other flaws were forgotten so were therefore not addressed. This should’ve been his last appearance as white ball captain.

Had we lost against Zimbabwe and then crashed out straight after this defeat, I’m certain Babar's position as captain would've been untenable

By no means am I suggesting Pakistan would've made semi-finals in this World Cup if he was replaced as captain but at least it would enable Babar to focus on his batting and the team to benefit from having a more competent captain lead the side.

I think that was a blessing in disguise or else we wouldn’t see this big of a humiliation in this WC.

 

[Smbhayi]

That Misbah blunder also gave birth to IPL which added to the competitive advantage of Indian cricket and they are out of sight from Pakistan

Lol misbah nothing to do with ipl.. it was born to kill icl.. lalit modi administrative and McCullum instant fireworks was the reason of ipl success..

 

[Sherazkhalid]

Imran Khan deciding to meddle in the cricket affairs of the country. This guy as PM decided to reduce the domestic teams to 6 and also decided to remove Azhar Ali as captain and replace him with Babar.

When he made Babar captain, Babar ended up losing all three ICC events he would captain Pakistan in. World T20 2021, 2022 and now the World Cup 2023.

Also, his decision to reduce the domestic team to 6 is the reason why we dont have a spinner today. 6 domestic teams meant that teams would carry 1 spinner each which were usuaully the psl stars. Pakistan today has no spinner cause of the stupid domestic structure we had in place.

Well, his idea of eliminating departmental teams made sense and having teams based on regions, 6 maybe less, maybe double the size but then you need to have feeder teams/academies that will create competition to get to the main region teams.

 

[chinaman00]

6 domestic teams was a brain-dead decision. Comparing a population of 250 million to a country of 40 million people is pure stupidity. Good that you brought this up. This should be added as another point.

Pakistan is a one-sport country. By having only 6 teams, you are alienating at least 70% of the player pool in the country to be able to play at the second highest level in cricket.

6 teams will make the domestic structure more competitive ensuring only the best play in the domestic circuit, which means the national team will get more polished and experienced players instead of the current mediocrity we see.

 

[Major]

Lol misbah nothing to do with ipl.. it was born to kill icl.. lalit modi administrative and McCullum instant fireworks was the reason of ipl success..

let them believe what they want to.

people dont know that IPL was in works before the world t20. ICL and ZEE made it happen much faster

 

[topspin]

I think that was a blessing in disguise or else we wouldn’t see this big of a humiliation in this WC.

If Pakistan had crashed out after losing to Zimbabwe after the group stage, do you think Babar would've been leading this team?

I know we need a big reality check so we can finally start the "reset" but you never want to see your side fail so badly in an ODI World Cup.

 

[Major]

Well, his idea of eliminating departmental teams made sense and having teams based on regions, 6 maybe less, maybe double the size but then you need to have feeder teams/academies that will create competition to get to the main region teams.

every player was jobless without department.

No feeder teams or academies were created.

 

[ArabKnight]

If Pakistan had crashed out after losing to Zimbabwe after the group stage, do you think Babar would've been leading this team?

I know we need a big reality check so we can finally start the "reset" but you never want to see your side fail so badly in an ODI World Cup.

We won’t get a big reset unless it’s the ODI WC. They would’ve made Rizwan or Shadab captain & kept Babar as stooge-in-partner.

 

[chinaman00]

We are a poor country with almost zero investment in education, fitness and sports. Despite us being a cricket-mad nation, we produce cricketers who have a limited knowledge of cricket and fitness.

How do you solve these problems in a country where conspiracy theories run rife, and where there is major illiteracy? The cricketing fraternity, devoid of basic analytical and critical thinking skills, often falls prey to unfounded conspiracy theories which in turn create a toxic culture of blame and denial.

How do you solve these problems in a country where we play musical chairs with chairmen, coaches and domestic structure? In my lifetime ( mid 30's) I've lost count of the changes that have been made, many times it's been one step forward and two steps backward? The lack of consistent and visionary leadership has resulted in short-sighted decisions, impeding the growth and development of a domestic cricketing infrastructure. This 'musical chairs' phenomenon not only disrupts the strategic direction but also affects the players

How do you solve it in a country where sportsmen generally believe that eating meat is what makes you a good cricketer? Or water makes you fat? Or losing weight decreases power?

The general reaction to a major defeat is to blame past events, blame players lack of courage or the new trend of "friendship". The problem isn't Babar Azam or 1992. If none of those events in the OP hadn't happened - we'd be in the same mess. Its the whole system. The whole country. Will we ever be able to change it?

Well said.

Issues facing Pakistan cricket are structural and emphatic of a countrywide breakdown of governance.

 

[shariqnoor]

We are a poor country with almost zero investment in education, fitness and sports. Despite us being a cricket-mad nation, we produce cricketers who have a limited knowledge of cricket and fitness.

How do you solve these problems in a country where conspiracy theories run rife, and where there is major illiteracy? The cricketing fraternity, devoid of basic analytical and critical thinking skills, often falls prey to unfounded conspiracy theories which in turn create a toxic culture of blame and denial.

How do you solve these problems in a country where we play musical chairs with chairmen, coaches and domestic structure? In my lifetime ( mid 30's) I've lost count of the changes that have been made, many times it's been one step forward and two steps backward? The lack of consistent and visionary leadership has resulted in short-sighted decisions, impeding the growth and development of a domestic cricketing infrastructure. This 'musical chairs' phenomenon not only disrupts the strategic direction but also affects the players

How do you solve it in a country where sportsmen generally believe that eating meat is what makes you a good cricketer? Or water makes you fat? Or losing weight decreases power?

The general reaction to a major defeat is to blame past events, blame players lack of courage or the new trend of "friendship". The problem isn't Babar Azam or 1992. If none of those events in the OP hadn't happened - we'd be in the same mess. Its the whole system. The whole country. Will we ever be able to change it?

Those are external factors and last year I mentioned on this forum that Pakistan will never become a big cricketing nation until it becomes strong economically. The economic situation of Pakistan is bordering on bankruptcy. Parents cannot afford to send their kids to play cricket when they are scrambling to put food on the table.

India before 2000 was nowhere near a great cricketing nation. Their fortunes changes when their economy post 2000 grew dramatically. This is no coincidence. The effects of a growing economy filters down to every segment of life and sports was no exception for India. Just look at their performance in the Asian Games. They are fast becoming a global sports country rather than being just a one-sport country which they were before 2000.

Pakistan has very dark times ahead. Until they fix their economy, I expect nothing from Pakistan cricket.

 

[chinaman00]

Well said.

Issues facing Pakistan cricket are structural and emphatic of a countrywide breakdown of governance.

Emblematic”

 

[Sherazkhalid]

every player was jobless without department.

No feeder teams or academies were created.

Well that is what needs to change, people need to play on region based teams rather than department based teams, that is what will generate interest among people, tell me anywhere in the world a known leagues where the electric company plays against water & sewage company and people come to cheer for those teams.

 

[Sherazkhalid]

Those are external factors and last year I mentioned on this forum that Pakistan will never become a big cricketing nation until it becomes strong economically. The economic situation of Pakistan is bordering on bankruptcy. Parents cannot afford to send their kids to play cricket when they are scrambling to put food on the table.

India before 2000 was nowhere near a great cricketing nation. Their fortunes changes when their economy post 2000 grew dramatically. This is no coincidence. The effects of a growing economy filters down to every segment of life and sports was no exception for India. Just look at their performance in the Asian Games. They are fast becoming a global sports country rather than being just a one-sport country which they were before 2000.

Pakistan has very dark times ahead. Until they fix their economy, I expect nothing from Pakistan cricket.

Well we have NS back, everything will be great now

 

[Major]

Well that is what needs to change, people need to play on region based teams rather than department based teams, that is what will generate interest among people, tell me anywhere in the world a known leagues where the electric company plays against water & sewage company and people come to cheer for those teams.

bro, no one cares whether a region team or department team is playing. plzz

There were no soo called central punjab or northern fans here. It doesnt generate interest, this is just some false sense that people around here have created for the justification of those 6 teams.

I dont care what happens anywhere in the world. The department system was working in Pakistan because departments offer a job

 

[shaaik]

6 domestic teams was a brain-dead decision. Comparing a population of 250 million to a country of 40 million people is pure stupidity. Good that you brought this up. This should be added as another point.

Pakistan is a one-sport country. By having only 6 teams, you are alienating at least 70% of the player pool in the country to be able to play at the second highest level in cricket.

Just watch the ongoing quad-e-azam final that’s currently going on then come back to this thread to discuss this point. If this is the talent that’s representing 250 million in the grandest of stages, the quad-e-Azam final then you would realize how right Imran khan was. Just compare this years quad-e-azam tournament with the last 3 year’s tournaments you will get all your answers..

 

[shariqnoor]

Regional teams make sense. Of course they do. That's what builds fan base and loyalty.

However, you also have to keep into mind the realities of your own country.

Pakistan is a bankrupt country. Regions mean that players are dependent on salaries provided by the PCB/Regional Association and are practically jobless if they are not selected to play. Pakistan's economy doesn't have the money to sustain such expenditure to bear all the salaries of the cricketing pool in the country. This is where departments came in. They gave salary to players with the comfort of a cushy job at the end of their career. This gave comfort to the players as well as to parents that their kids can make a living.

 

[Saanji]

People might not agree but I genuinely believe there have been certain events that have actually caused damage to Pakistan cricket.

1) World Cup 1992 win: The win itself wasn't problematic. The manner of the victory, though, has caused immense damage. The whole cornered tigers story has infused a level of mediocrity and a willingness to not improve the culture of Pakistani cricket. Suddenly, winning from a position of complete despair became somewhat of a mystical triumph. Articles started appearing on how Pakistan roars back from nowhere. "Haal" is a term coined by journalists that is somehow celebrated. One day the team will beat peak Australia, the other day shell a complete home series to Zimbabwe. And all of this was beautifully wrapped up in a present called "inconsistency" which was to be believed as something extraordinary. It's been nearly 32 years since this World Cup win, yet every tournament is compared to World Cup 1992.

2) Champions Trophy 2017 win: Again, the same situation repeats itself. On the brink of elimination and somehow manages to win the tournament against all odds. Hailed as a revelation. Proceeds to get whitewashed by NZ 5-0 in ODIs straight after. No introspection because we've just won the Champions Trophy. If the effects of 1992 were slightly wearing thin, 2017 reinforced everything that Pakistan should have been vying to get away with. Back to square on with the "underdogs winning against all odds" mentality. What's worse was it gave Mickey Arthur a free reign as he was thought of as a super coach. What does he do next? Play 3 fast bowlers in UAE and get whitewashed. Gets another opportunity to coach Pakistan because he won the 2017 Champions Trophy

3) Wahab Riaz's spell to Watson: Only Pakistan could hype up a spell that did nothing for Pakistan. Lost the match comfortably. But what it did was allow Wahab Riaz to play unconditionally for the next 6-7 years. Pakistani fans lapped up all of that spell and Brian Lara's "I'll pay Wahab's fine" comment to end up with zero output from Wahab over the next half-a-decade.

4) Nawaz's cameo against India in Asia Cup 2022: That innings where he came in and smashed 40 odd to allow the team to chase 180+ against India was just debilitating for Pakistan. It may have meant that Pakistan won that match but it ensured Nawaz got a run in the team for the next 1 year without any accountability despite him choking time and time again in crunch situations (most notably World Cup match against India). Had he not played that innings, Pakistan might have tried other spinners and possibly found 1 good-ish spinner. Nawaz's batting was always non-existent but that 1 fluke innings has cost Pakistan dearly and still continues to cost them.

Pakistan's problem has always been lack of game-awareness and as the years pass by, the lack of talent on the pitch is growing along with it. There is no individual brilliance now in the team that can mask these other inconsistencies. If Pakistan somehow miraculously manages to win this tournament (highly unlikely) this will perpetuate another cycle of mediocrity where inconsistency will be rewarded handsomely. An absolute thrashing at a global tournament is probably good news for Pakistan cricket as that might force people to introspect.

Even 2009 t20 world cup was same right. Lost initial warm ups and group game and then roared back.

 

[Savak]

The PCB needs to stop these Test and ODI selections on the basis of PSL. Even the T20 Selections should not be based on PSL alone. Every top PSL performer needs to be told to play first class cricket if he wants to play for Pakistan and if he wants to given NOC's for leagues abroad.

The Pakistani national team on average must play 10-12 test matches and around 20 ODI's every year to stay up to date with the actual formats.

 

[Saanji]

People might not agree but I genuinely believe there have been certain events that have actually caused damage to Pakistan cricket.

1) World Cup 1992 win: The win itself wasn't problematic. The manner of the victory, though, has caused immense damage. The whole cornered tigers story has infused a level of mediocrity and a willingness to not improve the culture of Pakistani cricket. Suddenly, winning from a position of complete despair became somewhat of a mystical triumph. Articles started appearing on how Pakistan roars back from nowhere. "Haal" is a term coined by journalists that is somehow celebrated. One day the team will beat peak Australia, the other day shell a complete home series to Zimbabwe. And all of this was beautifully wrapped up in a present called "inconsistency" which was to be believed as something extraordinary. It's been nearly 32 years since this World Cup win, yet every tournament is compared to World Cup 1992.

2) Champions Trophy 2017 win: Again, the same situation repeats itself. On the brink of elimination and somehow manages to win the tournament against all odds. Hailed as a revelation. Proceeds to get whitewashed by NZ 5-0 in ODIs straight after. No introspection because we've just won the Champions Trophy. If the effects of 1992 were slightly wearing thin, 2017 reinforced everything that Pakistan should have been vying to get away with. Back to square on with the "underdogs winning against all odds" mentality. What's worse was it gave Mickey Arthur a free reign as he was thought of as a super coach. What does he do next? Play 3 fast bowlers in UAE and get whitewashed. Gets another opportunity to coach Pakistan because he won the 2017 Champions Trophy

3) Wahab Riaz's spell to Watson: Only Pakistan could hype up a spell that did nothing for Pakistan. Lost the match comfortably. But what it did was allow Wahab Riaz to play unconditionally for the next 6-7 years. Pakistani fans lapped up all of that spell and Brian Lara's "I'll pay Wahab's fine" comment to end up with zero output from Wahab over the next half-a-decade.

4) Nawaz's cameo against India in Asia Cup 2022: That innings where he came in and smashed 40 odd to allow the team to chase 180+ against India was just debilitating for Pakistan. It may have meant that Pakistan won that match but it ensured Nawaz got a run in the team for the next 1 year without any accountability despite him choking time and time again in crunch situations (most notably World Cup match against India). Had he not played that innings, Pakistan might have tried other spinners and possibly found 1 good-ish spinner. Nawaz's batting was always non-existent but that 1 fluke innings has cost Pakistan dearly and still continues to cost them.

Pakistan's problem has always been lack of game-awareness and as the years pass by, the lack of talent on the pitch is growing along with it. There is no individual brilliance now in the team that can mask these other inconsistencies. If Pakistan somehow miraculously manages to win this tournament (highly unlikely) this will perpetuate another cycle of mediocrity where inconsistency will be rewarded handsomely. An absolute thrashing at a global tournament is probably good news for Pakistan cricket as that might force people to introspect.

2 decades of Shahid afridi should find mention.

 

[Bewal Express]

bro, no one cares whether a region team or department team is playing. plzz

There were no soo called central punjab or northern fans here. It doesnt generate interest, this is just some false sense that people around here have created for the justification of those 6 teams.

I dont care what happens anywhere in the world. The department system was working in Pakistan because departments offer a job

But the quality this year was absolutely awful, it wasn't that great before but compared to this tripe it was competitive. No doubt it needed tweeking, not enough FC Matches and lack of bounce was a problem but the actually playing elevens seemed to care and you had to fight to stay in the team. In their desperation to prove IK wrong they went back to a terrible system and when we already weak and talent identification is poor or its just not there, we are at the bottom of the heap in White ball cricket.

 

[Bewal Express]

Regional teams make sense. Of course they do. That's what builds fan base and loyalty.

However, you also have to keep into mind the realities of your own country.

Pakistan is a bankrupt country. Regions mean that players are dependent on salaries provided by the PCB/Regional Association and are practically jobless if they are not selected to play. Pakistan's economy doesn't have the money to sustain such expenditure to bear all the salaries of the cricketing pool in the country. This is where departments came in. They gave salary to players with the comfort of a cushy job at the end of their career. This gave comfort to the players as well as to parents that their kids can make a living.

Why was the quality this year so bad. I watched some of the games on YouTube and it was no better than watching Birmingham league cricket

 

[ArabKnight]

The PCB needs to stop these Test and ODI selections on the basis of PSL. Even the T20 Selections should not be based on PSL alone. Every top PSL performer needs to be told to play first class cricket if he wants to play for Pakistan and if he wants to given NOC's for leagues abroad.

The Pakistani national team on average must play 10-12 test matches and around 20 ODI's every year to stay up to date with the actual formats.

Selections based off PSL?

I’m sorry but where are the performers of PSL:
Imad Wasim
Azam Khan
Saim Ayub

Who the hell selected?
Saud Shakeel
Usama Mir

 

[Bewal Express]

every player was jobless without department.

No feeder teams or academies were created.

And what trees did these guys uproot when they came back in. FC cricketers should be part of competitive league,not a job creation scheme.

 

[160KPH]

Selections based off PSL?

I’m sorry but where are the performers of PSL:
Imad Wasim
Azam Khan
Saim Ayub

Who the hell selected?
Saud Shakeel
Usama Mir

Gonna be honest bro, I don’t think any of those guys would’ve saved us. Even with them we have zero wicket taking spin option. Imad Wasim doesn’t turn the ball at all.

 

[Major]

And what trees did these guys uproot when they came back in. FC cricketers should be part of competitive league,not a job creation scheme.

FC cricketers are not going to play for free. FC cricketer means professional cricketer, professional cricketer is someone that is paid money. Regions dont have money to give, so who to rely on? Departments.

 

[ArabKnight]

Gonna be honest bro, I don’t think any of those guys would’ve saved us. Even with them we have zero wicket taking spin option. Imad Wasim doesn’t turn the ball at all.

The issue was the batting my guy. We collapsed 2 times this tournament and put a very low total in the 3rd loss.

 

[160KPH]

The issue was the batting my guy. We collapsed 2 times this tournament and put a very low total in the 3rd loss.

We should’ve set a higher target but only taking 2 wickets in the entire innings is horrible

 

[JaDed]

We are a poor country with almost zero investment in education, fitness and sports. Despite us being a cricket-mad nation, we produce cricketers who have a limited knowledge of cricket and fitness.

How do you solve these problems in a country where conspiracy theories run rife, and where there is major illiteracy? The cricketing fraternity, devoid of basic analytical and critical thinking skills, often falls prey to unfounded conspiracy theories which in turn create a toxic culture of blame and denial.

How do you solve these problems in a country where we play musical chairs with chairmen, coaches and domestic structure? In my lifetime ( mid 30's) I've lost count of the changes that have been made, many times it's been one step forward and two steps backward? The lack of consistent and visionary leadership has resulted in short-sighted decisions, impeding the growth and development of a domestic cricketing infrastructure. This 'musical chairs' phenomenon not only disrupts the strategic direction but also affects the players

How do you solve it in a country where sportsmen generally believe that eating meat is what makes you a good cricketer? Or water makes you fat? Or losing weight decreases power?

The general reaction to a major defeat is to blame past events, blame players lack of courage or the new trend of "friendship". The problem isn't Babar Azam or 1992. If none of those events in the OP hadn't happened - we'd be in the same mess. Its the whole system. The whole country. Will we ever be able to change it?

Those would make sense yes but you were playing Afghanistan not BD or India to make that excuse of country’s economy…

 

[ArabKnight]

We should’ve set a higher target but only taking 2 wickets in the entire innings is horrible

Higher targets usually means more wickets falling.

Rauf and Mir are nothing bowlers.

 

[Major]

But the quality this year was absolutely awful, it wasn't that great before but compared to this tripe it was competitive. No doubt it needed tweeking, not enough FC Matches and lack of bounce was a problem but the actually playing elevens seemed to care and you had to fight to stay in the team. In their desperation to prove IK wrong they went back to a terrible system and when we already weak and talent identification is poor or its just not there, we are at the bottom of the heap in White ball cricket.

even after this loss and world cup exit if you want to sit here and defend Imran than you are also part of the problem.

if you cant accept the mistakes some patrons made than whats the point of dissecting the issues in our cricket.

 

[gibsyhesperis]

We are a poor country with almost zero investment in education, fitness and sports. Despite us being a cricket-mad nation, we produce cricketers who have a limited knowledge of cricket and fitness.

How do you solve these problems in a country where conspiracy theories run rife, and where there is major illiteracy? The cricketing fraternity, devoid of basic analytical and critical thinking skills, often falls prey to unfounded conspiracy theories which in turn create a toxic culture of blame and denial.

How do you solve these problems in a country where we play musical chairs with chairmen, coaches and domestic structure? In my lifetime ( mid 30's) I've lost count of the changes that have been made, many times it's been one step forward and two steps backward? The lack of consistent and visionary leadership has resulted in short-sighted decisions, impeding the growth and development of a domestic cricketing infrastructure. This 'musical chairs' phenomenon not only disrupts the strategic direction but also affects the players

How do you solve it in a country where sportsmen generally believe that eating meat is what makes you a good cricketer? Or water makes you fat? Or losing weight decreases power?

The general reaction to a major defeat is to blame past events, blame players lack of courage or the new trend of "friendship". The problem isn't Babar Azam or 1992. If none of those events in the OP hadn't happened - we'd be in the same mess. Its the whole system. The whole country. Will we ever be able to change it?

Without doubt the single best post on PP for years.
Pakistan is a country with deep systemic, structural issues and this pervades its cricket.
A lack of attention to governance, the assumption that talent can replace formal cricket pathways and a constant belief that a miracle is about to happen with the appointment of some (usually foreign) coach.

Until these issues are addressed (and they won’t be) Pakistan will remain a mediocre mid-ranking cricket side (which, to be fair, it has been for most of its history).
The worst posters are the ones who blame the players for not trying or not caring — they try (and they care) but are as much victims of the country they originate from as we are as fans.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Those would make sense yes but you were playing Afghanistan not BD or India to make that excuse of country’s economy…

There is an overall decline of every institution in Pakistan. The Afghan win is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things but the system will not produce consistently good players.

 

[160KPH]

Higher targets usually means more wickets falling.

Rauf and Mir are nothing bowlers.

Yeah absolutely, Rauf has no clue what to do with the new ball. He’s just a death bowler guy and Usama is as bad of a leg spinner as Shadab is

 

[JaDed]

There is an overall decline of every institution in Pakistan. The Afghan win is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things but the system will not produce consistently good players.

Haven’t Afghans almost come out from the same system?

Only being able to take 2 wickets is really uninspiring performance.

 

[Farabi]

Selections based off PSL?

I’m sorry but where are the performers of PSL:
Imad Wasim
Azam Khan
Saim Ayub

Who the hell selected?
Saud Shakeel
Usama Mir

Usama Mir and Rauf were also performers of PSL.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Haven’t Afghans almost come out from the same system?

Only being able to take 2 wickets is really uninspiring performance.

They aren't winning things either. I don't think the Afghans no matter how good they are will ever win an ICC event or major trophy. They are another side that exist despite the system rather than because of it. Sooner or later their luck at unearthing gems will run out.

 

[emranabbas]

We should’ve set a higher target but only taking 2 wickets in the entire innings is horrible

Come on bro you were saying 200 was enough Lol

We should have posted 320+ but our bowling was also rubbish

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Without doubt the single best post on PP for years.
Pakistan is a country with deep systemic, structural issues and this pervades its cricket.
A lack of attention to governance, the assumption that talent can replace formal cricket pathways and a constant belief that a miracle is about to happen with the appointment of some (usually foreign) coach.

Until these issues are addressed (and they won’t be) Pakistan will remain a mediocre mid-ranking cricket side (which, to be fair, it has been for most of its history).
The worst posters are the ones who blame the players for not trying or not caring — they try (and they care) but are as much victims of the country they originate from as we are as fans.

Yeah for the most part they give their 100%. I do believe that Babar is giving it all as a captain, that he and Rizwan are not deliberately stad padding when they approach milestones, and that Shadab etc are the best we have to offer.

That belief is much scarier than believing in yaar-dosti culture and players deliberately playing for stats etc.

So while I somewhat agree with the OP that 1992 is an event that has cost Pakistan cricket, I don't blame the event itself ( I mean who wouldn't want a world cup victory) I believe the reaction to it and how it has been mythologised, which is down to the structural issues you mention.

 

[Markhor]

Terms like unpredictability, cornered tigers and mercurial should be expunged from the record. It's embarrassing how we still rely on these cliches as substitutes for process.

However Shariq what you're listing are symptoms and not the causes.

1) The PM (Patron) appoints the PCB Chairman

According to Peter Oborne, there were valid reasons to formally connect politicians to the game post-Partition. The aim was to attract financial support to a cricket structure literally starting from scratch.

Now with cricket the undisputed national sport, there's no need for this constitutional relic. Imran spoke for decades about this and I'm disappointed he didn't end this while PM.

In a stable society, this would be merely problematic. When PMs change constantly and change Chairman - who inturn change coaches and selectors - planning becomes impossible and is the biggest impediment to our cricket. In the 2019-23 cycle, we've had four Chairmen alone ! THAT embeds inconsistency and umpredictability into our cricket.

2) Lack of exposure to IPL post-2009

Whether Pakistanis want to admit it, IPL for white-ball cricketers now is what English County Cricket was for Test cricketers. It's no coincidence our white-ball cricket declined post-IPL ban.

Our guys are missing out on exposure to the world's best coaches, data analysts, sharing dressing rooms with top foreign players and a ruthless competitive environment. PSL is a distant second in all aspects.

Also there's exposure to Indian conditions which is quite varied. Despite this WC being held across the border - Pakistan are more foreign to India than even the SENA teams.

3) Lack of TV rights revenues + Broken Economy

Everyone agrees we must invest in grounds, pitches, A tours, domestic cricket and coaches. Now where's the money coming from ?

PCB's TV revenues aren't in the same stratosphere as the Big 3. Our sports broadcast market is monopolised by state-owned PTV so the private sector has never developed. To use an Indian comparison - we're still in the Doordarshan Era.

Anyone interested in this topic - search Lost In Transmission by Shoaib Naveed. Can't the private sector step in ? Unfortunately Pakistan's economy is only kept alive by IMF loans and largesse of China.

It's no coincidence the most successful cricket teams are the most stable nations (despite their many flaws). And it's no coincidence the teams that've declined in last 20 years - Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe - are governed shambolically.

4) Domestic cricket

The ongoing QEA Final sums it up. Dead wickets (inconducive to the bowling and playing of spin), a morass of mediocrity, with scant participation from our top cricketers.

The rest are second-order issues. We cannot easily address 2) but we can fix the other issues ourselves. Until we do, just accept the few pieces of fruit from this rotten harvest.

 

[Sherazkhalid]

even after this loss and world cup exit if you want to sit here and defend Imran than you are also part of the problem.

if you cant accept the mistakes some patrons made than whats the point of dissecting the issues in our cricket.

Yes, let's put everything on IK, now that NS is back we are going to lift trophy after trophy going forward.

 

[Visaal-E-Yaar]

On this issue we can talk for hours. I just want to add some more points in OP.

As a nation
Our rulers deliberately didn't give quality education to people since 1970 because they don't want to loose vote bank. Well educated minds makes a hell of difference in every field of life i.e sports.
Btw literacy rate in pakistan is currently 55% and we don't know whether this information is accurate or not governments fake the digits alot.
Some independent surveys says it's not more than 42%.
We need to give quality education on equality to everyone.

Example:
1. Any educated mind will give priority to abrar over mir.
2. Any educated mind will not give another over to rauf after conceding 24 runs in his first over.
3. Any educated mind will not give free run to batsman like imam after he got out on short ball two times. Just tell him go back to domestics.
And list is very long.

Curruption & Nepotism
This is the biggest reason we failed in every field of life. When your chairman is currupt you cannot held anyone accountable. 2011 to present just look at history.
Oct 2011 - Zaka ashraf
June 2013 - Najim sethi
January 2014 - Zaka asraf
Feb 2014 - najim sethi
May 2014 - shehryar khan
Aug 2017 - najim sethi
Aug 2018 - ehsan mani
Sep 2021 - ramiz raja
Dec 2022 - najim sethi
July 2023 - zaka asraf

By that we can see how much politics involved in PCB. Each chairman have thier own agendas and favorites.

 

[Major]

Yes, let's put everything on IK, now that NS is back we are going to lift trophy after trophy going forward.

oh bhai, imran himself as patron decided he wants to chnage the captain, he wants to change the domestic structure.

when the guy himself admits these things and if they dont work out you critsize. This nonsense of making people demigods and overlooking their faults just cause you love them is the reason why Pakistan cricket lost today.

 

[Sherazkhalid]

oh bhai, imran himself as patron decided he wants to chnage the captain, he wants to change the domestic structure.

when the guy himself admits these things and if they dont work out you critsize. This nonsense of making people demigods and overlooking their faults just cause you love them is the reason why Pakistan cricket lost today.

IK is not even there for close to 18 months now, but let's keep on blaming him, why wasn't Babar removed if IK decision was so bad?

 

[Major]

IK is not even there for close to 18 months now, but let's keep on blaming him, why wasn't Babar removed if IK decision was so bad?

he made him the captain and change the domestic structure. No one wanted to get in the mess of removing him as captain and be the bad guy in media cause the babar fan brigade is toxic.

like i said, if you want to defend your party, than you are also part of the problem.

lesson should be, even if you are an ex cricketer, you should not meddle in PCB.

 

[Rana]

Add Rizwan’s 131* against Sri Lanka

Imam said we are capable of chasing 350 regularly because of it.

People might not agree but I genuinely believe there have been certain events that have actually caused damage to Pakistan cricket.

1) World Cup 1992 win: The win itself wasn't problematic. The manner of the victory, though, has caused immense damage. The whole cornered tigers story has infused a level of mediocrity and a willingness to not improve the culture of Pakistani cricket. Suddenly, winning from a position of complete despair became somewhat of a mystical triumph. Articles started appearing on how Pakistan roars back from nowhere. "Haal" is a term coined by journalists that is somehow celebrated. One day the team will beat peak Australia, the other day shell a complete home series to Zimbabwe. And all of this was beautifully wrapped up in a present called "inconsistency" which was to be believed as something extraordinary. It's been nearly 32 years since this World Cup win, yet every tournament is compared to World Cup 1992.

2) Champions Trophy 2017 win: Again, the same situation repeats itself. On the brink of elimination and somehow manages to win the tournament against all odds. Hailed as a revelation. Proceeds to get whitewashed by NZ 5-0 in ODIs straight after. No introspection because we've just won the Champions Trophy. If the effects of 1992 were slightly wearing thin, 2017 reinforced everything that Pakistan should have been vying to get away with. Back to square on with the "underdogs winning against all odds" mentality. What's worse was it gave Mickey Arthur a free reign as he was thought of as a super coach. What does he do next? Play 3 fast bowlers in UAE and get whitewashed. Gets another opportunity to coach Pakistan because he won the 2017 Champions Trophy

3) Wahab Riaz's spell to Watson: Only Pakistan could hype up a spell that did nothing for Pakistan. Lost the match comfortably. But what it did was allow Wahab Riaz to play unconditionally for the next 6-7 years. Pakistani fans lapped up all of that spell and Brian Lara's "I'll pay Wahab's fine" comment to end up with zero output from Wahab over the next half-a-decade.

4) Nawaz's cameo against India in Asia Cup 2022: That innings where he came in and smashed 40 odd to allow the team to chase 180+ against India was just debilitating for Pakistan. It may have meant that Pakistan won that match but it ensured Nawaz got a run in the team for the next 1 year without any accountability despite him choking time and time again in crunch situations (most notably World Cup match against India). Had he not played that innings, Pakistan might have tried other spinners and possibly found 1 good-ish spinner. Nawaz's batting was always non-existent but that 1 fluke innings has cost Pakistan dearly and still continues to cost them.

Pakistan's problem has always been lack of game-awareness and as the years pass by, the lack of talent on the pitch is growing along with it. There is no individual brilliance now in the team that can mask these other inconsistencies. If Pakistan somehow miraculously manages to win this tournament (highly unlikely) this will perpetuate another cycle of mediocrity where inconsistency will be rewarded handsomely. An absolute thrashing at a global tournament is probably good news for Pakistan cricket as that might force people to introspect.

id

 

[Rana]

OP why don’t you also mention Misbah’s appointment as director of cricket and chief selector in 2019?

He laid the foundation of this disaster today

 

[PakPremi]

oh bhai, imran himself as patron decided he wants to chnage the captain, he wants to change the domestic structure.

when the guy himself admits these things and if they dont work out you critsize. This nonsense of making people demigods and overlooking their faults just cause you love them is the reason why Pakistan cricket lost today.

Imran has not been in picture for almost two years, did Najam Sethi and /or Zaka Ashraf or for that matter Sharifs not seen Babar's lackluster captaincy and tem performances? They had ample time to change captain.

 

[Bewal Express]

FC cricketers are not going to play for free. FC cricketer means professional cricketer, professional cricketer is someone that is paid money. Regions dont have money to give, so who to rely on? Departments.

I want to play FC, does that mean I should get the chance. I would even pay to play. Good FC players should be well paid but the system was clogged up with rubbish and the System IK came up with wasn't perfect but it was the 1st real attempt at reform.

 

[Bewal Express]

OP why don’t you also mention Misbah’s appointment as director of cricket and chief selector in 2019?

He laid the foundation of this disaster today

No he didn't. Look over a period of 24 years( with the odd exception). Not qualified in 2003, 2007, SF in 2011, not Qualified in 2015 or 2019.

 

[Major]

I want to play FC, does that mean I should get the chance. I would even pay to play. Good FC players should be well paid but the system was clogged up with rubbish and the System IK came up with wasn't perfect but it was the 1st real attempt at reform.

it doesnt work taht way. professional cricketers are to be paid a salary as they have their needs. Professional sports is a job itself.

 

[Bewal Express]

even after this loss and world cup exit if you want to sit here and defend Imran than you are also part of the problem.

if you cant accept the mistakes some patrons made than whats the point of dissecting the issues in our cricket.

This system is your system,this is your guys and this is 24 years in the making. Who has been in power for 21 of the 24 years and you have the audacity to blame IK

 

[Rana]

No he didn't. Look over a period of 24 years( with the odd exception). Not qualified in 2003, 2007, SF in 2011, not Qualified in 2015 or 2019.

Of course he didn’t for you because he was appointed by your idol

 

[wasim-fan]

Question is how good is this team really. Truth is competing with India in a one off and with them not being used to Pak players gave a false feeling of being at par or close. Asia cup defeat broken the veneer and false sense of confidence. Team has been downhill since then.

 

[Bewal Express]

it doesnt work taht way. professional cricketers are to be paid a salary as they have their needs. Professional sports is a job itself.

And that is good but you have to be good enough to play. The standard is so poor that our international players barely stand out in the Birmingham Parks league. Agha and Mir both played parks league and were only a little better than the most of the taxi drivers.

 

[Bewal Express]

Of course he didn’t for you because he was appointed by your idol

So explain 2003,2007, 2015 and 2019. Your posts add nothing to anything..just plain rubbish.

 

[Professionalismandflair]

Selections based off PSL?

I’m sorry but where are the performers of PSL:
Imad Wasim
Azam Khan
Saim Ayub

Who the hell selected?
Saud Shakeel
Usama Mir

Azam khan? Fitness test FAIL

 

[shariqnoor]

Terms like unpredictability, cornered tigers and mercurial should be expunged from the record. It's embarrassing how we still rely on these cliches as substitutes for process.

However Shariq what you're listing are symptoms and not the causes.

1) The PM (Patron) appoints the PCB Chairman

According to Peter Oborne, there were valid reasons to formally connect politicians to the game post-Partition. The aim was to attract financial support to a cricket structure literally starting from scratch.

Now with cricket the undisputed national sport, there's no need for this constitutional relic. Imran spoke for decades about this and I'm disappointed he didn't end this while PM.

In a stable society, this would be merely problematic. When PMs change constantly and change Chairman - who inturn change coaches and selectors - planning becomes impossible and is the biggest impediment to our cricket. In the 2019-23 cycle, we've had four Chairmen alone ! THAT embeds inconsistency and umpredictability into our cricket.

2) Lack of exposure to IPL post-2009

Whether Pakistanis want to admit it, IPL for white-ball cricketers now is what English County Cricket was for Test cricketers. It's no coincidence our white-ball cricket declined post-IPL ban.

Our guys are missing out on exposure to the world's best coaches, data analysts, sharing dressing rooms with top foreign players and a ruthless competitive environment. PSL is a distant second in all aspects.

Also there's exposure to Indian conditions which is quite varied. Despite this WC being held across the border - Pakistan are more foreign to India than even the SENA teams.

3) Lack of TV rights revenues + Broken Economy

Everyone agrees we must invest in grounds, pitches, A tours, domestic cricket and coaches. Now where's the money coming from ?

PCB's TV revenues aren't in the same stratosphere as the Big 3. Our sports broadcast market is monopolised by state-owned PTV so the private sector has never developed. To use an Indian comparison - we're still in the Doordarshan Era.

Anyone interested in this topic - search Lost In Transmission by Shoaib Naveed. Can't the private sector step in ? Unfortunately Pakistan's economy is only kept alive by IMF loans and largesse of China.

It's no coincidence the most successful cricket teams are the most stable nations (despite their many flaws). And it's no coincidence the teams that've declined in last 20 years - Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Zimbabwe - are governed shambolically.

4) Domestic cricket

The ongoing QEA Final sums it up. Dead wickets (inconducive to the bowling and playing of spin), a morass of mediocrity, with scant participation from our top cricketers.

The rest are second-order issues. We cannot easily address 2) but we can fix the other issues ourselves. Until we do, just accept the few pieces of fruit from this rotten harvest.

I never listed the causes of Pakistan's problems. Just listed how some events which we thought were good have actually caused immense damage to Pakistan cricket.

My first and foremost cause of Pakistan's decline in cricket and in all other sports will be the economic collapse of the country. A close second will be the moral collapse in people. Corruption in Pakistan is actually rewarded. I can go on an on as to the problems plaguing Pakistan cricket but that's for another time.

 

[shariqnoor]

OP why don’t you also mention Misbah’s appointment as director of cricket and chief selector in 2019?

He laid the foundation of this disaster today

Ok so add him in your points.

 

[Rana]

Ok so add him in your points.

No, you should be honest and add it.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

It wasn't the Nawaz cameo in Asia Cup that caused damage, it was actually the last over in the wc 2022 when 16 runs were needed. Before and after that match, there's literally two Nawazes. He was pretty economical and confident with ball in hand in LOIs before that game and after that, he hasn't regained his confidence back. He was doing pretty well with the aggressive cameos around then which totally ceased after that game. Apart from that Asia Cup match, he won us 2 matches in NZ before wc2022 as well by coming in at 4.

Sometimes too much faith can be harmful for a player. Babar backs his players too much, (at times to a point of breaking point). Khushdil and Asif Ali reached that late last year. Seems like Nawaz has gone past it now as well.

Shadab was doing fine till late last year. His loss of form has been infuritating. He is unable to control the ball anymore something he was doing expertly in Australia last year. His batting has never really developed. That happens when you don't work on your basics. Shadab hasn't played FC cricket for over 3 year now I believe.

Our players get NOC's for every t20 league yet no one bothers playing county (apart from the trio of Shan, Zafar and Azhar. and Azhar is retired, and Zafar probably doesn't want to represent Pak again). Mickey for all his power with Derbyshire hires Haider and Zaman Khan but doesn't want to invest in areas we are severely lacking: a seam bowling allrounder. A stint in county could do wonders for Aamer Jamal. Fahim Ashraf is a lost cause for LOIs.

 

[shariqnoor]

No, you should be honest and add it.

No. Why should I, when I don't believe in it.

 

[Rana]

No. Why should I, when I don't believe in it.

There you go.

You are part of the problem

 

[Mamoon]

The day we accept that we're mediocre, we have no talent and our cricket culture is rotten to the core, we will be able to take the first step towards redemption.

Pakistan cricket needs a factory reset to end this never-ending cycle of mediocrity. Unfortunately, PCB and the fans are equally delusional and the ex players and media who criticize the team are driving their own agendas and settling scores. They have no idea why Pakistan is struggling and what corrective measures need to be taken to rectify it.

This is why they all talk a good game until you hand them over the reigns. Pakistan cricket will never be fixed. Never. It is time for fans to lower expectations. There is a massive gulf between what the fans expect from the team and what the actual capability of the team is.

 

[MMHS]

Emotional post, without much substance to be honest.

Winning a WC is the pride of a nation - had that 1992 WC not been won, the way PAK cricket is heading, I doubt if we could ever see a PCT winning another WC in our life time.

Same can be said for 2017 (or 2009) - success should bring encouragement, enthusiasm to the nation, it it back fires than the problem is somewhere else.

Wahab or Newaz incident is not even worth mentioning- if a nation with 60+ years of glorious past of producing fast bowlers gets overwhelmed by one spell of express loose cannon fodder bowling, then problem is with the shallowness of the generation.

To me one, and only incident that really pulled PCT to this level - I mean, PAK can crumble chasing even 150 against Associates, it can happen; being put in on a damp wicket any team can loose 3/4 in no time against mediocre pacers and loose the game ….But, defending 282 against Afghan hacks (no offence - congrats for their win, but PAK made their batting great today, more than they themselves), under lights at Chennai, that too without a drop of dew - they lost the game the way big teams win against minnows in practice mood …… or I drive to Montreal from Toronto - get a speedy start to avoid GTA traffic, then just take the foot off the gas so that I can gossip around with family, finally for last few KMs again speeding to reach the destination in time!!!

1998 - PCA (Professional Cricketers’ Association) forced ECB to reduce the quota of allowed foreigners in County cricket from almost unlimited to only one - so that impacted three countries: directly WIN & PAK - who didn’t (still don’t) have proper domestic cricket & SAF, as their opportunist white players found a back door to learn cricket in SAF and move to UK - Kolpack.

WIN, I can explain - small separate island nations with small economy and even smaller population; a population that is blessed by all sorts of modern sports talent - so, an obsolete game like cricket fell behind the packing order. SAF I can understand- these white players don’t belong to the country, don’t have any ownership of the flag or bondage to the land; their opportunist ancestors moved to south from Britain for better fortune; this generation is exploiting the opportunity to move to opposite direction.

My confusion is with PAK - why!!!! 4th/5th largest population in world, extreme fan following, cricket being the only sport’s remaining where the national flag can be seen in global stage, a century long cricket culture, genetically/physically not challenged to carry on the legacy, significantly better infrastructure compared to other sports in the country and incomparable financial capacity for the board, compared to most other national institutions…… still why?

 

[shariqnoor]

There you go.

You are part of the problem

It's ok. I feel the same when you lobby for criminally convicted players to play for Pakistan. That's moral collapse right there.

 

[Rana]

It's ok. I feel the same when you lobby for criminally convicted players to play for Pakistan. That's moral collapse right there.

But you are no different when you lobby for self serving leeches, without realising that the ones you lobby for (opposing my so called moral collapse) are also filling up their own pockets and their agents pockets

Everyone is in it for themselves.

 

[heddie19]

FC cricketers are not going to play for free. FC cricketer means professional cricketer, professional cricketer is someone that is paid money. Regions dont have money to give, so who to rely on? Departments.

Region based teams should be sponsored by departments. The dept. system is flawed at so many levels.
Who will have emotion to play for Habib bank or Pak railways?