The Bangladeshi cricket team’s tour of Pakistan was at risk due to the country’s domestic issues, with curfews limiting the players’ practice opportunities. The PCB offered them the chance to arrive a few days early to practice, and despite initial concerns, once they arrived in Pakistan, their focus remained solely on the game. Even after Shakib Al Hasan faced a murder FIR in the country, it did not affect his performance—a testament to commitment.
The Pakistani cricket team is facing a whitewash at home against Bangladesh in the Test series, an outcome few would have predicted. This is undoubtedly a significant disappointment for every Pakistani. Since Pakistan played its first Test in 1952, this could be considered the worst defeat in 72 years. A major factor has been the failure of the bowling line-up. In the past, we had fast bowlers like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar, but now we are lagging in this area. While Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah are good bowlers, their pace has decreased due to fitness issues.
Mir Hamza is currently bowling well and should have been included in the first Test. Khurram Shahzad provided a crucial spell in the second Test, offering Pakistan a chance to win. However, despite taking 6 wickets for 26 runs, the team allowed a significant score, weakening their grip on the match. Pakistan also faces issues in spin bowling, with Abrar Ahmed not meeting expectations and Nauman Ali not being selected.
I advise the PCB to seek the help of former cricketers like Mushtaq Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Saeed Ajmal to find new spinners and address the shortage in this area. We used to win matches by preparing spin-friendly pitches at home, but we’ve lost this advantage. If we now prepare fast pitches, our own batsmen struggle. Who will benefit from spin-friendly pitches.
Not long ago, Pakistani players were dominant on their home grounds. It was said that they would score heavily at home but struggled abroad. Now, neither home nor away performances are satisfactory. Problems start with the opening batsmen. Abdullah Shafiq started his career well but has since faced continuous failures. There is no justification for consistently giving opportunities to underperforming players; alternatives should be considered. Similarly, while Saeem Ayub is undoubtedly talented, he needs to play consistent big innings to secure a place in the team.
Shan Masood’s start as captain has been poor, possibly due to added pressure affecting his batting. However, since he has been given this responsibility, he should be given ample time to prove himself. As captain, expectations from him are high. I am most disappointed with Babar Azam, who has the potential to change the course of a match single-handedly but has been struggling with continuous failures. This issue began during his captaincy, and even without the additional burden, his lack of runs is puzzling
For Pakistan to defeat teams like England and others, an in-form Babar is crucial. After a long time, we have found exceptional batting talent that should not be wasted. Saud Shakeel started the series against Bangladesh brilliantly but also faltered later. He needs to address his shortcomings quickly. Mohammad Rizwan starts well but tends to get out suddenly, and he should focus on building substantial partnerships with the lower-order batsmen. Salman Ali Agha also needs to improve his performance.
We need players who can score double centuries. Before the series, there was talk of positive batting, but the reality was quite the opposite, with players merely trying to save their wickets. I believe the Pakistani team management underestimated Bangladesh, leading to the current predicament. Had the first innings of the first Test not been declared at 448 runs, the results might have been different. Attempting to score up to 600 runs could have put pressure on the opposing team.
Excessive confidence has also been detrimental. Jason Gillespie’s tenure as head coach has begun with failures, but he deserves time to prove himself. It’s premature to form a judgment about him. The PCB should give opportunities to domestic performers. If Harirah was selected for the home series, he should have been played. The same players who performed well before seem to have suddenly underperformed, and the reasons need to be identified. If there are mental issues, they should be addressed. Currently, I, along with other cricket enthusiasts, am deeply disappointed with the situation, but hope remains that improvements will come.