String of defeats

Pakistan cricket faces scrutiny after a loss to England in Multan, raising concerns over leadership and performance.

Even home turfs are becoming an increasing point of vulnerability for Team Pakistan. After being whitewashed by Bangladesh this past August, the Shan Masood men have been delivered yet another home soil humiliation. Pakistan's loss to England in the first Test in Multan, by an innings and 47 runs, has not only deepened concerns about the team's overall form but also raised questions about the leadership of Masood – under whom the team also suffered a 3-0 Test whitewash in Australia in January this year – and the quality of the playing conditions.

A major talking point has emerged regarding Pakistan's notoriously flat and rock-hard pitches, which have failed to offer any advantage to the home side's bowlers. England capitalised on these conditions in a stunning fashion, with Harry Brook and Joe Root crafting an extraordinary 454-run partnership, the highest in England's Test history. Brook's 317 and Root's 262 ensured England's dominant declaration at 823-7, placing immense pressure on the home team. Despite their respectable first-innings total of 556, Pakistan crumbled in the second innings, managing only 220 runs. Jack Leach's 4-30 led a ruthless England bowling attack that tore through Pakistan's batting order, leaving the hosts with no answers on Day 5. The quick dismissals raised further scrutiny about the new captain, who now faces intense pressure after overseeing six consecutive Test defeats - the worst start for any Pakistan captain in history. Shockingly, for the first time in the history of cricket spanning 137 years, a team scoring 500-plus runs in the first innings went on to lose the match, and that too by an innings.

With fans and pundits growing frustrated with the team's performance; the leadership, strategy and even the infrastructure of the game in Pakistan are under review. PCB also deserves blame for its handling of captaincy changes and the internal divisions that appear to plague the team. A divided dressing room not only affects on-field performance but also hampers long-term growth of the team. PCB must take responsibility and implement a more stable leadership structure.