After 29 years, Pakistan had the opportunity to host an ICC event, but instead of capitalizing on home advantage, the Pakistan cricket team delivered one of its most disappointing performances. Competing in Group A, Pakistan finished at the bottom of the table, raising serious concerns about the team's form and future.
Despite having star players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, and Agha Salman, the team failed to deliver under pressure. This raises a critical question: Why is the Pakistan cricket team, once a dominant force, continuously underperforming in major tournaments?
A String of Disappointments in ICC Events
The decline of Pakistan's cricketing prowess has been evident for several years. The problems began to surface during the T20 Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai, where Pakistan lost twice to Sri Lanka, including a critical defeat in the final. Later that year, in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, Pakistan faced humiliating losses against India and Zimbabwe. Despite a lucky break through other teams' performances, Pakistan reached the final only to lose in a one-sided contest.
The 2023 Hybrid Model Asia Cup further exposed Pakistan's vulnerabilities. Despite being ranked as the number one ODI team and the media hype suggesting an easy win, Pakistan was eliminated in the group stage. The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 held in India was another disaster. Pakistan lost to India, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, and England, failing to qualify for the semi-finals.
The poor form extended to the 2023-25 World Test Championship, where Pakistan sits at the bottom of the points table, suffering whitewash series defeats against Australia, South Africa, and Bangladesh. The T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA was another debacle, with Pakistan crashing out in the group stage after losses to India and the USA. Now, with the 2025 Champions Trophy set to be hosted by Pakistan, early elimination seems to be a recurring theme.
Who Is Responsible for Pakistan Cricket's Decline?
The blame for Pakistan's consistent failures lies with the players, the management, and the system. Since 2021, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has undergone four chairmen, eight coaches, four captains, and 26 selectors. This constant upheaval has led to a lack of consistency and direction.
One of the most questionable decisions was the removal of Mickey Arthur. Under his coaching, Pakistan improved significantly and even won the 2017 Champions Trophy under Sarfaraz Ahmed's captaincy. However, when Ramiz Raja became PCB chairman, he dismissed Arthur, a move widely criticized as detrimental to team development.
Without a stable structure, expecting players to perform consistently is unrealistic. Frequent changes in leadership and decision-makers prevent the team from building a cohesive strategy, directly affecting on-field results.
Why Does Pakistan Struggle in Multi-Team Tournaments?
A troubling pattern has emerged: Pakistan performs well against weaker teams like Bangladesh, Ireland, and Zimbabwe but falters against stronger opponents in high-stakes, multi-team tournaments. Even against these lower-ranked teams, victories are often hard-fought and unconvincing.
When faced with top-tier competition, the team relies heavily on star players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and Naseem Shah, but collective team effort is often missing. Without the intent to win and a lack of fighting spirit, the team's performance continues to decline.
What Lies Ahead for Pakistan Cricket?
If the current trends continue, the future of Pakistan cricket looks bleak. Fans are deeply disappointed and frustrated with the team's lack of commitment and intensity on the field. Without addressing the systemic issues and fostering a culture of meritocracy and consistency, Pakistan's cricketing glory days may become a distant memory.
The Champions Trophy 2025 on home soil turned into yet another disappointment, with Pakistan facing an early exit from the tournament. However, significant reforms are needed across the board—from leadership stability to player development—to restore Pakistan's cricketing pride and deliver performances worthy of their passionate fanbase.
