In every walk of life, there's someone we look up to - a role model who inspires us to strive for greatness. For some, it's a business tycoon like Bill Gates or Elon Musk, who have revolutionised the way we live and work. For others, it's a tech giant like Steve Jobs or Sundar Pichai, who have transformed the world with their innovative ideas. In the world of entertainment, it's a Hollywood A-lister like Leonardo DiCaprio or Julia Roberts, who have captivated audiences with their talent and charm. But when it comes to sports, a role model is more than just a hero - they're a game-changer. They're the ones who make their teams win, who break records, and who leave us in awe of their skills.
In Pakistan, cricket is more than just a sport - it's a national obsession. It's a passion that unites the country, a source of pride and joy that transcends borders and boundaries. And over the years, we've been blessed with some of the greatest cricketers of all time.
From the legendary Imran Khan, who led Pakistan to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1992, to the mercurial Javed Miandad, who dominated bowling attacks with his fearless batting. From the pace duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who terrorised batsmen with their speed and swing, to the batting maestro Younus Khan, who scored centuries for fun. And from the 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led a young team to a historic victory, to the likes of Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, who entertained fans with their explosive batting and clever bowling.
These stars have made cricket a beloved sport in Pakistan, inspiring generations of young cricketers to take up the game. They've given us moments to cherish, matches to remember, and a sense of pride that's hard to find anywhere else. But as Pakistan's recent performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 has shown, those glory days seem to be behind us. The team's consistent inconsistency has led to a decline in interest, and the once-mighty Pakistan cricket team is now struggling to find its footing.
The question on everyone's mind is: what went wrong? Was it the PCB's failure to focus on creating stars, instead prioritising the self-promotion of its chairman before and during the Champions Trophy? Did the PCB's obsession with making its chairman a celebrity distract from the team's preparations and ultimately contribute to their downfall? Or was it something more sinister?
Did the ICC truly give Pakistan a fair chance to host and defend the trophy, or was it a gift to India all along? It's a story of triumph and tragedy, of glory and heartbreak. It's a story that will make you laugh and cry, and maybe, just maybe, inspire you to take action.
Sliding down
Pakistan cricket has faced a precipitous decline in recent years, with various factors contributing to this downfall. The team's inconsistent performance, poor management, and lack of strategic planning have all taken a toll on the sport's reputation and success.
The PCB has experienced frequent changes in leadership, with four different chairmen since September 2021: Ramiz Raja, Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf, and Mohsin Naqvi. This constant upheaval has created instability, making it challenging for the team to develop a cohesive strategy.
The captaincy has also been a revolving door, with Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan all taking turns leading the team. This lack of continuity has disrupted team dynamics and hindered the development of a consistent play style.
The coaching staff has undergone significant changes, with Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie both leaving their positions due to conflicts with the PCB. This lack of continuity in coaching has deprived players of stable guidance and consistent training methodologies.
The quality of home pitches has been a significant challenge, with abrasive and uneven surfaces affecting the team's performance. The lack of exposure to quality playing conditions has led to increased pressures and underperformance on foreign soil.
The strained relationship between India and Pakistan has resulted in a significant loss of revenue for the PCB, as India has severed cricketing ties with Pakistan except for ICC events. This financial constraint has limited the PCB's ability to invest in the team's development and infrastructure.
Pakistan was given a chance when the hosting of the Champions Trophy 2025 was assigned to the country. The management and the team had a great opportunity to make an impact and revive the lost glory of the star players and management. However, the entire focus seemed to be on making the chairman popular by continuously sharing updates on every move he made before and during the Champions Trophy.
Although he should be praised for the speed of work he showed in building the infrastructure (or perhaps just the cosmetic improvements to make the Champions Trophy look better), people often joke that “while building the stadiums, the management forgot to build a strong team.” Once the tournament started, it became evident that not only was the team weak, but the stadium infrastructure and management were also inadequate, preventing the event from being a success for Pakistan.
Now, with the final of the trophy being held in Dubai, where India has been playing all their matches, while other teams have to travel back and forth from Pakistan to Dubai just to play against India, it seems that the ICC had long ago decided to make things in favor of one single team.
Champions Trophy disappointment
Pakistan's performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 was nothing short of disastrous. The team's losses to India and other teams exposed their poor batting and bowling performances, lack of consistency, and inadequate strategy.
One of the most disappointing losses was against arch-rivals India. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, but their innings never gained momentum. Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam added 41 runs before Babar was dismissed for 23. Imam was run out shortly after, and despite a solid partnership between Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's total of 241 was easily chased down by India. Virat Kohli's unbeaten century led India to a comfortable 6-wicket victory.
Pakistan's struggles continued against other teams, including Bangladesh. The match in Rawalpindi saw Pakistan's batting and bowling units fail to deliver once again. The team's inability to adapt to different playing conditions and opposition strategies was evident throughout the tournament.
Pakistan's batting lineup, which includes talented players like Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Salman Ali Agha, and Mohammad Rizwan, while one of the key player Fakhar Zaman was left injured, failed to deliver consistently. The team's bowling unit, comprising experienced players like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, also struggled to take wickets and contain opposition batsmen.
One area that deserved special mention was the lack of impact from their spinners. Pakistan's decision to select only one specialist spinner, Abrar Ahmed, raised eyebrows. Although Abrar had a decent outing against India, taking 1/28 in 10 overs, his overall performance in the tournament was underwhelming. The lack of a second specialist spinner hurt Pakistan, particularly on tracks that offered turn.
In contrast, teams like India and New Zealand boasted strong spin departments. India's four-pronged spin attack, featuring the likes of Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, proved to be a game-changer on several occasions. New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell, and Glenn Phillips formed a potent spin trio that troubled opposition batsmen.
Pakistan's failure to invest in quality spinners has been a long-standing issue. The team's reliance on part-time spinners like Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz has not yielded the desired results. To compete with the best teams in international cricket, Pakistan needs to develop a strong spin department that can take wickets and control the flow of runs.
Another are where the team is expert at is team's inconsistency and strategy, which was evident in their selection choices and on-field decisions. The constant changes in the playing XI and the inability to adapt to different playing conditions and opposition strategies were major factors in Pakistan's poor performance.
Veterans get flak
With the team failing to win a single match and ultimately finishing at the bottom of their group, some of the key players who the nation was relying on are being criticised and blamed for this performance. This dismal performance was not just a one-off failure, but rather the result of years of struggles and inconsistencies.
Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's wicket-keeper captain, failed to accelerate and deliver under pressure, despite hitting a boundary off his first ball in the match against India. Rizwan's leadership was also under scrutiny, with some critics arguing that he needs to work on his mental toughness and develop strategies to handle pressure situations better.
Babar Azam, one of Pakistan's top batsmen, faced criticism for his performance in the Champions Trophy 2025. His innings of 64 runs off 90 balls against New Zealand in the opening match was particularly underwhelming, with many questioning his slow run rate and high number of dot balls. In fact, he faced 52 dot balls in that match, which put pressure on the rest of the team and ultimately contributed to their loss.
Babar's slow run rate has been a concern for some time, with his strike rate in T20Is being lower than many of his contemporaries. According to recent statistics, Babar's strike rate in T20Is is around 129, which is lower than players like David Warner, Aaron Finch, and Virat Kohli. Additionally, Babar's dot ball percentage is relatively high, which can make it difficult for him to accelerate and score quickly.
Cheteshwar Pujara, the Indian batsman, even took a dig at Babar's slow run rate, saying that "no one told him to face so many dot balls". While Babar is undoubtedly a talented batsman, his slow run rate and high number of dot balls are areas that he needs to work on if he wants to take his game to the next level.
Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan's star fast bowler, was also criticised for his inconsistency and poor performance. Despite having the ability to take wickets, Shaheen struggled to maintain a consistent line and length, which made it difficult for him to trouble opposition batsmen. Furthermore, Shaheen's change in landing and throwing the ball while bowling was questioned by critics, who argued that it affected his accuracy and effectiveness.
Selection woes
Pakistan's lack of bench strength was also a major concern, with legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar stating that even an India B team could defeat them in their current form. The team's inability to find suitable replacements for injured players, such as Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, further exacerbated their struggles. In contrast to Pakistan's struggles, teams like India and New Zealand have shown remarkable consistency and depth in their squads.
The Pakistan cricket team's dismal performance has sparked intense criticism over the selection process and coaching shifts. Many experts and fans believe that favoritism played a significant role in the squad selection, with some players being picked despite not being in form. This has led to questions about the leadership and vision of the PCB.
The selection of Faheem Ashraf in the Pakistan cricket team has been a topic of discussion. Ashraf, an all-rounder, was included in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but his performance has been underwhelming.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali criticised the team selection, stating that deserving players like Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Hasnain were overlooked. The selection process has been marred by controversy, with some players being picked despite not being in form, while others were surprisingly left out.
Shoaib Akhtar also pointed out an issue saying that it is beyond his understanding that the players who are first excluded from the squad are called back again. He also said that if Naseem Shah, Shaheen and Haris were given to him they would have been star bowlers today and suggested that they should be given rest for now.
The coaching shifts have also been a subject of controversy. Former Pakistan test coach Jason Gillespie labeled his successor, Aaqib Javed, a "clown" and accused him of undermining Gillespie and ex-white-ball coach Gary Kirsten. This public spat highlights the instability and infighting within the PCB, which can have a negative impact on the team's performance.
Furthermore, the constant changes in the coaching staff and selection committee have created uncertainty and confusion within the team. As Javed pointed out, Pakistan has changed 16 coaches and 26 selectors in around two years, which can make it difficult for any team to achieve consistency and success. The PCB needs to address these issues and provide stability and continuity if they want to see improvements in the team's performance.
In search of a star
The Pakistan cricket team is gearing up for their upcoming tour to New Zealand, and a new team has been announced. The team selection brings a fresh wave of young players, coaching staff changes, and management shifts.
The new team boasts exciting young talent, including Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, and Mohammad Ali, who have been rewarded for their impressive performances in the Champions One-Day and T20 Cups. These players bring a new level of energy and enthusiasm to the team. Samad's aggressive batting style, Nawaz's consistent run-scoring, and Ali's impressive bowling figures make them players to watch.
Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the new T20I captain, with Shadab Khan as his vice-captain. This change in leadership brings a new dynamic to the team. Javed will continue as the interim head coach, while Mohammad Yousuf has been appointed as the batting coach. These changes aim to revitalise the team's performance, especially in the T20 format.
The new team faces several challenges, including adapting to New Zealand's conditions and competing against a strong home team. However, this tour also presents opportunities for the young players to gain international experience and for the team to regroup and refocus after a disappointing Champions Trophy performance. With a packed cricketing calendar ahead, including the Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026, this tour is crucial for Pakistan's preparations.
As the new team takes shape and performs on the field, what additional changes can be made to propel the Pakistan cricket team to greater heights? Will these changes ultimately lead to the emergence of a star player who can inspire and unite Pakistani fans, the nation, and aspiring young cricketers?