Pakistan Cricket Board Under Fire After Bangladesh Test Debacle
Pakistan’s humiliating Test series defeat to Bangladesh has sparked widespread criticism, with former fast bowler Yasir Arafat launching a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Arafat slammed the PCB for prioritizing one-day matches over red-ball preparation ahead of the crucial Test series against England. He pointed out that Pakistan’s bowlers were severely lacking in fitness and technique, and that the team had not played first-class cricket in over a year.
“This series is ending, and your grey areas have been highlighted,” Arafat said. “Fitness issues, technique issues, and pitches. Today I heard Jason Gillespie and the high-performance coach are going back to Australia. You are conducting an ODI tournament. These decisions I don’t understand. The PCB is a circus.”
Arafat’s comments come as the PCB considers alternative venues for the Test series against England, with Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) being potential options. The original venue, Karachi National Stadium, is undergoing renovations for next year’s Champions Trophy.
The PCB’s decision to shift the second Test to Rawalpindi was also met with criticism, as the pitch was deemed to be too flat and conducive to high-scoring draws.
Pakistan’s Test team has now lost four consecutive series, including a 3-0 whitewash against England last year. The team’s poor form has put them almost out of contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final.