Pakistan Cricket’s Leadership Crisis: Ashwin Expresses Concern
Ravichandran Ashwin, the renowned Indian cricketer, has voiced his concerns over the current state of Pakistan cricket, which has been plagued by leadership instability and poor performance.
Following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the 2023 World Cup, Babar Azam resigned as captain, triggering a series of leadership changes. Shaheen Afridi briefly took over the T20I captaincy before Babar was reinstated, only to step down again.
Ashwin likened the situation to a game of “musical chairs,” highlighting the detrimental impact of frequent captaincy changes on team morale and cohesion. “I am speaking the truth when I say that the current state of Pakistan cricket and the phase they are going through makes me feel a little sorry,” Ashwin said.
He emphasized that despite Pakistan’s abundance of talented players, the instability has shifted the focus from team success to individual performance. “Every cricketer will be so unstable inside the dressing room that he will start thinking about himself and will think less about the team,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin also pointed to Pakistan’s poor recent record, particularly in Test cricket, where they have not won a home Test match in nearly three years. “In the 2023 World Cup, they lost, and then Babar resigned. Then Afridi was made captain, but Babar was reinstated for limited overs, and Shan Masood was made the Test captain. And look at the situation now – Pakistan hasn’t won a Test match at home for more than 3 years,” he stated.
Ashwin’s remarks echo the concerns of many cricket experts who believe that Pakistan’s ongoing leadership issues and lack of stability are hindering their international performance. The team’s inability to find a consistent and effective leadership structure has created an environment of uncertainty and instability, which is affecting the players’ confidence and focus.
