Pakistan cricket has reached its lowest point in recent history, suffering a humiliating six-wicket defeat against Bangladesh in the second Test in Rawalpindi. This marks the first time Bangladesh has defeated Pakistan in a Test match and series.
The defeat has sent shockwaves through the Pakistani cricket community, with former stalwarts expressing their dismay and concern. Javed Miandad, a former Test captain, lamented the state of Pakistani cricket, stating that it was “hurting” to witness the team’s decline.
The second Test saw Bangladesh’s batters dominate the second innings after Pakistan dropped pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi and rested Naseem Shah. Pakistan had initially put Bangladesh on the back foot, reducing them to 26 for 6 in their first innings. However, a spectacular partnership between centurion Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz rescued the visitors.
Miandad believes that the players have lost confidence due to the turmoil within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He pointed to the frequent captaincy and management changes as factors that have destabilized the team.
Former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq echoed Miandad’s concerns, highlighting Pakistan’s poor home record in recent years. He emphasized the importance of batsmen scoring runs, especially in home conditions.
Record-breaking batsman Younis Khan attributed Pakistan’s struggles to a lack of mental strength. He believes that the team needs to overcome its current crisis by developing a clear mindset.
Former Test batter Ahmed Shezad criticized the batsmen for their inability to handle pace and movement, suggesting that the future of Pakistani cricket is bleak if they cannot improve in this area.
Former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim urged the team management to groom existing and upcoming spinners, as Pakistan’s best chance of success at home lies in utilizing spin-friendly pitches.
With this latest setback, Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the final of the World Test Championship appear to have evaporated. Captain Shan Masood’s lack of runs has added to his woes, while senior batter Babar Azam has also struggled to make an impact.
Despite the team’s poor performance, red-ball coach Jason Gillispie and his white-ball counterpart Gary Kirsten have advised the PCB and selectors not to panic, as it could further dent the players’ confidence. Gillispie and high-performance coach Tim Nielsen will return to Australia for a short break.
