Why are Pakistan the worst Test side in the Southern Hemisphere?

[Nikhil_cric]

I really think it's more a lack of talent than anything else.

Sure, they are not the best at tactics and strategy but when you consider that since 2011 World Cup,

1. Pakistan have lost every Test in SNA .

2. Bangladesh drew a Test series in NZ

3. Sri Lanka won a series in South Africa

4. West Indies drew a Test series in
Australia

These teams are not as well resourced and less so than Pakistan

Pakistani bowlers , dare I say it, are less talented than all these nations because they simply can't take 20 wickets as a unit.

And so they get exposed evey single time in the Southern Hemisphere

Thoughts?

 

[SpiritOf1903]

They're mentally weak. It's as simple as that.

And the pseudo-piety plays a big part in that.

Fail to prepare etc

 

[Hitman]

Lack of talent.

 

[MenInG]

Lack of talent.

Try something original.

 

[adi_62941]

Lack of winning attitude. Becomes too cute when they see any foreign cricketer i dont know why maybe because of high insecurities.

Internal politics which is part and parcel of our society and culture. Nobody wants to see some one succeeding more than him, leg pulling

Highly insecure and selfish players who only thinks how to secure their place for next match/series

 

[Hitman]

Try something original.

Unprofessionalism, from top to bottom.

 

[aboveandbeyond]

The wickets in Pakistan are the major issues. Be it domestic or international, playing on roads benefits no one . And until that changes, The National team will struggle .

 

[Usman Chadda]

The current players have no hunger to play for the national team.

Our T20 captain is happy to trundle along in the late 120s in longer formats, before unleashing himself in T20 leagues.

The culture is rotten.

They are good in the format they like to play. I’m sure @Nikhil_cric can work up statistics in the last two T20 WC played in two entirely different regions of the world and Pakistan pace bowling was instrumental in getting them to the semis and the finals consequently.

None of these players want to play ODI and Test cricket, simple as that.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Because Test format is not PCT priority.

 

[hitthestump]

The downfall of Yasir Shah.

When Yasir’s form disappeared, so did Pakistan’s.

 

[Energy]

It's not the current phase, you have to be consistently and generationally poor to not compete in SNA for more than a decade. Yes, the current group of players are perhaps unreliable, and upon seeing big bucks in ILT and BPL they've sounded too desperate. It's a reality check as well i.e. play a couple of seasons in leagues and be sorted. You can't blame the players for running after money.

But the sad part is that they're failing in the leagues too. Which means they are regressing. And you can't blame the PCB or anyone else for it.

The CL 2017 winning team consisted of young Fakhar, Hassan, Shadab, Babar, Imad and logic would dictate that Pakistan would compete, if not dominate different formats going forward. If it was another board, they would have done a better job of keeping this core group together and firing. Because the PCB is more interested in chair of thrones.

 

[Maliq_Mudasir]

Not having a 2-3 batters with sound technique to play swing and bounce.

Not having any reliable bowler who bowls hard length with good pace. Shaheen is too predictable and Naseem gets injured every now and then. Bowlers who have pace, don't have line and length and those who are good in hitting right length lack pace.

Unsafe slip cordon, pakistan was always poor in slips. I guess we have just 1 player ( Younis) who has 100+ catches in slips. We drop 3-4 catches per match.

These are some basic things to focus on, which you expect from a team playing international cricket over 7 decades now.

 

[hitthestump]

Because Test format is not PCT priority.

This. Test cricket does not pay the bills for PCB.

Particularly when we are already deprived of playing India and when SENA countries are so reluctant to tour us, there is simply less money in prioritising this format.

And it’s not just the landscape of internationals. Hardly anybody in Pakistan turns up to watch cricket played with a red ball, even if the entry is practically free.

PCB would much rather skip to the limited overs leg of any tour so they will get big crowds in. Financially it’s a no brainer for them.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

The current players have no hunger to play for the national team.

Our T20 captain is happy to trundle along in the late 120s in longer formats, before unleashing himself in T20 leagues.

The culture is rotten.

They are good in the format they like to play. I’m sure @Nikhil_cric can work up statistics in the last two T20 WC played in two entirely different regions of the world and Pakistan pace bowling was instrumental in getting them to the semis and the finals consequently.

None of these players want to play ODI and Test cricket, simple as that.

Even if we accept that argument , that was only 2 successive World T20's and the pace attack did fall apart in the semis in 2021. They gave up the then highest chase in Dubai involving top sides.

They failed in Asia Cup 2022 final.

Even the recent bilateral series in NZ, the pacers were getting hammered.

And it was a format which you say they like playing.

Only in World T20 2022 did they look threatening consistently but they wilted under Kohli's assault.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Because Test format is not PCT priority.

It's not a priority for BD, WI and SL either. They make even more losses in Tests.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Even if we accept that argument , that was only 2 successive World T20's and the pace attack did fall apart in the semis in 2021. They gave up the then highest chase in Dubai involving top sides.

They failed in Asia Cup 2022 final.

Even the recent bilateral series in NZ, the pacers were getting hammered.

And it was a format which you say they like playing.

Only in World T20 2022 did they look threatening consistently but they wilted under Kohli's assault.

India's pace bowling got absolutely destroyed like a minnow in the 2022 semi-final, doesn't make them bad bowlers does it? One or two isolated games aside, by and large in two editions consecutively the pace bowling got Pakistan to the knockout stages and that's reflected in the tournament stats.

This current bunch specially loves playing T20 cricket and they have all made their names in T20 cricket, that cannot be denied. Most of them have ended up playing longer formats based on T20 cricket, which is very wrong and speaks volumes about the direction our cricket is headed to at the moment.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

India's pace bowling got absolutely destroyed like a minnow in the 2022 semi-final, doesn't make them bad bowlers does it? One or two isolated games aside, by and large in two editions consecutively the pace bowling got Pakistan to the knockout stages and that's reflected in the tournament stats.

This current bunch specially loves playing T20 cricket and they have all made their names in T20 cricket, that cannot be denied. Most of them have ended up playing longer formats based on T20 cricket, which is very wrong and speaks volumes about the direction our cricket is headed to at the moment.

Actually it does make them bad. Bhuvaneshwar in particular was exposed for his lack of pace and skill. Shami got destroyed as well.

But Bhuv wasn't playing all formats and Shami redeemed himself by having a ridiculously good 50 over World Cup

PAK bowlers are not only playing all formats but they are getting wrecked across all formats now .

T20's, 2023 World Cup, Tests - both at home and in Southern Hemisphere.

 

[Usman Chadda]

Actually it does make them bad. Bhuvaneshwar in particular was exposed for his lack of pace and skill. Shami got destroyed as well.

But Bhuv wasn't playing all formats and Shami redeemed himself by having a ridiculously good 50 over World Cup

PAK bowlers are not only playing all formats but they are getting wrecked across all formats now .

T20's, 2023 World Cup, Tests - both at home and in Southern Hemisphere.

Let's wait for the T20WC in June. If they under-perform at the one format they are decent at, then this point might be valid.

For now, as far as I can see, the players just don't have the talent nor the drive to play the longer formats.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Let's wait for the T20WC in June. If they under-perform at the one format they are decent at, then this point might be valid.

For now, as far as I can see, the players just don't have the talent nor the drive to play the longer formats.

Fair enough.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

As an indian looking in, i dont think think team showed hunger or absolute desperation to win. you can see this on the field in the way they field. i am not sure if this is a coaching or a leadership issue, or the fact that did you learn anything from the last few tours, but i defo feel team has potential & can achieve much better results than this.

 

[adi_62941]

The wickets in Pakistan are the major issues. Be it domestic or international, playing on roads benefits no one . And until that changes, The National team will struggle .

This is not an issue. We have worst record playing in home as compare to other full member countries. Your players do not have winning attitude.

 

[Statpadder Inc]

The biggest issue is pakistani pitches. They are used to flat roads which have the lowest amount of bounce in the world and thus find hard to deal in challenging conditions where the ball rises above waist height

 

[aboveandbeyond]

This is not an issue. We have worst record playing in home as compare to other full member countries. Your players do not have winning attitude.

Wickets are the issue. Certainly the standard of the wickets.

Even the touring sides have criticised the quality. And until this gets stressed,

A. Pakistan will struggle away
B. Will not produce quality players.

The character of the wickets has badly declined .

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Our first choice line ups arent good enough and neither are our surprise factors.

For example West Indies beat Aus with Shemar Joseph who has played two test matches and bowled with a broken foot

India did it with net bowlers.

We tried once with Musa Khan who never played again and Khurram who got injured.

 

[adi_62941]

Wickets are the issue. Certainly the standard of the wickets.

Even the touring sides have criticised the quality. And until this gets stressed,

A. Pakistan will struggle away
B. Will not produce quality players.

The character of the wickets has badly declined .

In my point of view, we had these type of wickets from last 50 years. We produce great players who came on scene playing on these wickets and grounds. Its quite difficult to understand that how we produced bowlers like wasim, waqar, imran, sarfraz, shoaib etc from these type of phatta surfaces

 

[ahmadharis1]

Poor team management... not enough planning or preparation going into tests... selecting players based off of t20 and PSL performances instead of domestic matches... talent level is also an issue

 

[Buffet]

I think lack of self belief otherwise 1-2 games could have been won.

Normally this you see from Minnows but Pakistan is not really a minnow.

Bowling has normally declined. Batting was never a strong point. Fielding has always been poor.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Pakistan just doesn't have very good players in this current generation. Even in the recent test series in Australia it was the newcomers like Jamal who performed best. Too many of Pakistan's pace attack only know how to bowl with an old ball.

Pakistan batting has been poor since the retirement of Yousuf, Innzamam and Younus Khan. The new generation are too flaky beyond Rizwan and Babar.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Pakistan just doesn't have very good players in this current generation. Even in the recent test series in Australia it was the newcomers like Jamal who performed best. Too many of Pakistan's pace attack only know how to bowl with an old ball.

Pakistan batting has been poor since the retirement of Yousuf, Innzamam and Younus Khan. The new generation are too flaky beyond Rizwan and Babar.

Pakistan's strength was always a fast bowling and with so many injuries in recent past is actually letting them down.

Once they will back with their known attack so it will obviously increase their confidence and help improve their overall performance.

 

[AamirWarraich]

Pakistan’s situation in cricket kinda mirrors their situation as a nation. Unprofessionalism and ill discipline is rife from top to bottom. We are all arrogant amongst ourselves and lack humility. We have both a superiority complex and an inferiority complex.

The Pakistani populace is suffering from poverty and lack of education.

The government has been run by incompetents for decades.

We have a lack of proper cricket culture. The success of Pakistan cricket from late 70s to early 90s was because we had players led by people like Asif Iqbal, Imran Khan and others who were very well educated and dedicated to training and fitness. Even then Pakistan underachieved according to many experts.

We don’t necessarily lack talent. The idea of talent itself is misplaced. Pakistanis think we can bring kids off the street and make them superstars.

The reality is that India, Australia, England, South Africa, and New Zealand (compare NZ population to Pakistan) are all way more organized than us.

We ruin any talented players that we do get, like we have ruined Shaheen. Meanwhile we overhype others like Rauf.
Look at Shamar Joseph and how he bowled 12 overs in a row despite being injured. And look at Rauf chickening out of the Australia series. I can’t blame Rauf that much because players have a right to earn whatever money is offered to them.

We have some guys recently like Misbah and Younis who made the most of their limited talent and worked very hard. But they are incompetent administrators and coaches. The board has new people in charge every month.

The stadiums are a joke, the pitches are a joke, the marketing is a joke, the hype we make is a joke, everything from the first class structure down to club and school cricket needs a revamp.
The country needs to stabilize before the sports teams and organizations can get proper funding.
Right now whatever funds are available get eaten up by bureaucrats in every field in Pakistan.

The entire nation needs a complete reset. God help us. Pakistan ka Allāh hi Hafiz hai.

We have some young talent coming through in the U—19 teams and some raw talent in the first class structure. But we are effectively minnows now in international cricket.

I pray that we get a good administration in the country and good governance across the board. Otherwise the new talent we have coming through will get injured or mismanaged or fail to develop like usual.

As many other more seasoned posters on here have mentioned before is Pakistani fans should significantly lower their expectations, and suffer through this until we finally get competent people and a culture of professionalism.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Let's wait for the T20WC in June. If they under-perform at the one format they are decent at, then this point might be valid.

For now, as far as I can see, the players just don't have the talent nor the drive to play the longer formats.

Knocked out in first round of T20 World Cup because they couldn't defend 159 against 18th ranked USA. Thia attack keeps falling short in crucial matches.

 

[Aang_The_last_airbender]

I really think it's more a lack of talent than anything else.

Sure, they are not the best at tactics and strategy but when you consider that since 2011 World Cup,

1. Pakistan have lost every Test in SNA .

2. Bangladesh drew a Test series in NZ

3. Sri Lanka won a series in South Africa

4. West Indies drew a Test series in
Australia

These teams are not as well resourced and less so than Pakistan

Pakistani bowlers , dare I say it, are less talented than all these nations because they simply can't take 20 wickets as a unit.

And so they get exposed evey single time in the Southern Hemisphere

Thoughts?

Because the earth is truly flat, and Pak boys cant play ulta pulta. Its not fair
JK

 

[JaDed]

Because Test format is not PCT priority.

Neither is T20 when they selected Azam Khan

 

[gani999]

The current players have no hunger to play for the national team.

Our T20 captain is happy to trundle along in the late 120s in longer formats, before unleashing himself in T20 leagues.

The culture is rotten.

They are good in the format they like to play. I’m sure @Nikhil_cric can work up statistics in the last two T20 WC played in two entirely different regions of the world and Pakistan pace bowling was instrumental in getting them to the semis and the finals consequently.

None of these players want to play tests or odis.

Going by how they have performed in this tournament, it looks like Pakistan's players aren't keen on T20s either.
I mean, losing to the USA? Seriously!
In addition to poorly performing players esp batsmen, I believe the problems run deeper. Theree's possibly some serious issue with the team, that is affecting morale.

 

[Markhor]

Can't play in the Northern Hemisphere either it seems.

 

[bones]

Can't play in the Northern Hemisphere either it seems.

It’s beggars belief that after skimming through many posts you are the first person who actually studied geography.

 

[Shaheenthefalcon]

We are bad and don't deserve this test status…minnows we become and even worse than SL. Shameless people backing them up.