Pakistan cricket team has been eliminated from the Champions Trophy despite being both the defending champions and the host nation. This is not the first major tournament in which the Pakistan team has faltered—previous performances in the Asia Cup, World Cup, and T20 World Cup have mirrored the same pattern. Under pressure, the team struggles to fight in unity. Pakistan’s meek surrender, devoid of any fight, is not merely a result of a talent deficiency but also stems from a system in constant flux. For instance, over the past three years, the team has experienced 26 changes in the selection committee, 8 coaching changes, and 4 different captains. The trend speaks volumes of the erroneous course of Pakistan cricket. Following their disappointing defeat against India in the Champions Trophy, the media and social media platforms were inundated with videos, negative commentary, and harsh analysis. After a loss, the subcontinent has a long-standing tradition of expressing frustration violently and verbally attacking the defeated players. At the core of the passion in this region lies a deeper animosity towards the opposing nation rather than an earnest love for one’s own team or for cricket itself. This sentiment extends beyond the Pakistan-India rivalry, now encompassing Bangladesh and Afghanistan too. In such encounters, it is no longer a sport but a battle.
The team’s deficiencies were again exposed in Pakistan’s matches against New Zealand and India. Even the team selection came under intense scrutiny, with numerous former players attempting to settle old scores. Sub-continental pitches demand the presence of quality spinners, yet it is clear that the team lacked a regular spinner. Among the fast bowlers, the recent performances of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf raised concerns, particularly given their costly bowling figures. While Naseem Shah is regarded as the bowler with a better average, his wicket tally has been insufficient. The dilemma lay in the absence of viable replacements—players with superior records, big-match experience, and the ability to bowl at speeds approaching 150 km/h. The reality is that no suitable alternatives exist, primarily because of a lack of proper player development. Thus, the team’s hands were tied from the word go. Although a highly accomplished batsman, Babar Azam has recently struggled with form, which has added to the team’s woes. The middle-order batting continues to be a source of inconsistency and failure, and this trend persisted in the latest tournament. The opening, middle-order batting, and bowling have all faced significant challenges, leaving little to celebrate. Skipper Muhammad Rizwan’s performance stood out as the best among the batsmen, but shouldering the entire team’s responsibility was monumental.
The absence of another regular spinner was a critical oversight, and it is a grave error, not merely a mistake, to overlook the importance of a spinner on sub-continental pitches. The decision to open with out-of-form Babar Azam was also a glaring misjudgment, as there were no viable substitutes for the opening positions. Babar is undoubtedly a world-class batsman, and only the selection committee could have made such an error by altering his position. Perhaps the most troubling aspect, as highlighted by several former cricketers, is the lack of cohesion and camaraderie within the dressing room. How can a divided team perform cohesively on the field if player selection is based on personal connections rather than merit? What can be expected when a team is chosen based on friendship rather than genuine performance and skill? Having invested considerable financial resources in renovating stadiums for the Champions Trophy, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must now direct similar efforts towards rebuilding the national team since it necessitates a significant turnaround to regain its standing as a serious contender in international cricket. Of course, the responsibility for this transformation rests with the PCB.