In overcast conditions at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, experienced Bangladesh cricketer Shakib Al Hasan hit a boundary off Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed to secure a six-wicket victory for his team in the second Test match, marking their first-ever Test series win against the home side. Celebrations ensued as Shakib embraced teammate Mushfiqur Rahim, with the rest of the team joining in on the field. Prior to this historic win, Bangladesh had only won one out of 13 matches against Pakistan. As Pakistan captain Shan Masood and his team left the field, the gloomy skies reflected the state of Pakistani cricket, as they had just suffered a clean sweep in a home Test series for only the second time in history. The men’s team had not won a Test match at home since February 2021, with a winless streak of 10 games. Bangladesh fans rejoiced as their team made significant strides towards victory at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
The recent performances of the Pakistan cricket team have been disappointing across all formats, despite their historical success in cricket. The glory days of winning the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup in 1992 and the T20 World Cup in 2009 seem like a distant memory. Pakistan has faced defeats against lower-ranked teams in bilateral series and surprising outcomes in global events. Their last notable performance was in November 2022 at the T20 World Cup in Australia, where they lost to England in a one-sided final.
Since November 2022, Pakistan’s cricketing journey has been tumultuous. They failed to progress beyond the first round at the T20 World Cup 2024, suffering a shocking loss to the United States, who were tournament debutants. Leading up to the tournament, Pakistan also suffered a defeat in a T20 match against Ireland for the first time. In the Cricket World Cup 2023, held in India, Pakistan lost five out of nine matches, exiting the tournament in the group stage. Of their last five Test series, Pakistan managed to win only one, against Sri Lanka in July 2023. Their recent record in Tests, ODIs, and T20s reflects a concerning trend of underperformance.
The instability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has been a major factor contributing to the team’s struggles. Since late 2022, the PCB has seen multiple changes in leadership, with three different chairmen overseeing the cricket board. This instability has led to frequent changes in coaching staff and team leadership, creating uncertainty and inconsistency within the team. The revolving door policy in coaching appointments has had a detrimental effect on the players, with seven different coaches taking charge since November 2022.
Key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan have been underperforming, despite their potential. The constant changes in coaching staff and leadership roles have impacted their form and confidence on the field. Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood expressed disappointment at the team’s recent performances, acknowledging the need for improvement and learning from past mistakes. Despite his struggles as a batter, Masood has the potential to be a successful captain if given the support and time to develop his game. Pakistan faces a challenging road ahead, with England looming as the next formidable opponent.