What Are The Changes Needed In Pakistan National Cricket Team Setup?

If we look at the past performance of Pakistan cricket team from the last few years, they are one of the teams in international cricket that have disappointed cricket fans all over the world after losing games against Afghanistan, Ireland, USA recently in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, the Shaheens are facing a lot of criticism for their poor performance. But what are the reasons that year by year, Pakistan’s cricket team performance is getting degraded in all three formats? Is it their dependency on old players despite not performing or loopholes in the selection committee? 

Everyone around the world wants to know the reason for this problem. Through this article, we are going to talk about a few points that the Pakistan cricket team should consider and make some changes in the national cricket setup.

It would not be wrong to say that there was a time when Pakistan cricket team was considered one of the strongest teams in the world along with its neighbours India. But with time, things changed where the Gentlemen’s game evolved and more focus has been given to fitness and training so that players can play with their full potential in all three formats. However, the Pakistan team which lifted the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup under the captaincy of Imran Khan in 1992 is not the same yet, who used to dominate batters with their fierce pace attack and destructive batting line-up.

1. Ground level Problem

It takes a long time to form a team and for that, every cricket nation needs to improve its roots, which is forming a player on the ground level, giving them a proper platform to craft their talent and skills and if we talk about Pakistan cricket board in it it’s, they are not investing that much amount of money in domestic cricket which is causing them to find you and talented players from the ground level.

2. Mediocre players

One of the reasons for the Pakistan national cricket team is supporting Mediocre players despite not performing as per their skills. If we look at their top players' last 2 years' stats in international cricket, they are not up to the mark, knowing this too, the PCB pick them in the squad and keeps backing them up until they don't perform.

3. No Stability

Pakistan national team don’t have any stability in their team, as several times we have seen them changing captaincy in different formats, which causes the team to look for a single leader who can lead his team and keep players united on and off the field. Before start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, the Shaheens' captaincy was done by star pace bowler Shaheen Afridi. However, just before entering the marquee event they re-appointed Babar Azam as the Captain of the team.

Apart from this, there is a lot of debate and internal politics between the coaches of the Pakistan national team, which keeps changing from time to time from Morner Morkel to Garry Coursten.

These were the three main points that the Pakistan national team should look out for. Apart from this, the Men in Green are currently playing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 and they are grouped in A along with India, Ireland, Canada and co-hosts of the tournament USA. Additionally, after losing their first 2 games of the tournament against USA and India, Babar Azam and co. have found their first win yesterday against Canada by chasing a total of 106 runs in 18 overs. With this, they have got the much-needed 2 points on the table, and are placed in 3rd position after India and USA. To qualify for the Super 8 stage Pakistan needs to win their upcoming game against Ireland and USA need to lose in their next 2 games.

Pakistan Squad

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan