The Pakistan cricket team has shown below-par performances recently. The likes of Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi have failed to put up a desired result for the team and it has impacted the team, altogether.
In the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan finished five as the side failed to qualify for the semi-final spot. The side also lost against Afghanistan as they were beaten by 8 wickets.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s performance was tedious and questionable as they not only failed to qualify for the semi-finals but also lost to the USA – a side who was playing their first-ever World Cup. And even before the World Cup, the side lost to Ireland as well, for the very first time in the T20 history.
But moving towards the home Test season, the expectations were towering. It was expected that the side will show some improvement and finally will win something to cherish their fans but, alas, the win drought and wait continues.
In the first Test against Bangladesh, Pakistan suffered a horrible and humiliating defeat as the Bengal Tiger won the game by 10 wickets.
On the 5th day of the game it was expected that the game would be headed towards a draw but Bangladesh had a different plan and meanwhile, Shan-led Pakistan team had zero plan.
The batters lost their calm quickly as they could not prove their mettle under the pump, leaving Bangladesh just 30 runs to win. Mushfiqur Rahim was the lone centurion for the Bangladesh side as he racked up 191 runs before getting dismissed by Mohammad Ali and guess what his catch was also dropped by Babar Azam.
Adding insult to injury, Pakistan has also been fined for slow-over rate during the Test game and if anything, it also had docked them six points.
Hosts Pakistan were found to be six overs short during the Test and lost six World Test Championship points, while visitors Bangladesh – wrote ICC
Pakistan were fined 30% of their match fee while Bangladesh were penalised 15%. Captains Shan Masood and Najmul Hossain Shanto pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, so there was no need for formal hearings – wrote ICC
Taking this all situation into account, Kevin Pietersen, English former cricketer, took to X, and questioned the “standard” of the Pakistan cricket team.
“What happened to cricket in Pakistan? When I played the PSL, the standard of that league was tremendous, the players had a very good work ethic and the youngsters on display were magic”
Pietersen wasn’t the only person to criticise and question the standard of the Pakistan cricket team. The former cricketer and PCB Chairman also voiced his concerns over this downfall of the Pakistan team as he said:
“The Bangladesh fast bowlers seemed more penetrative, while our bowlers were involved more in enjoying the dismissals and creating drama around them rather than impressing with their performances. The speeds of Pakistan’s fast bowlers are less”
Michael Vaughan also reacted to this situation saying Pakistan team is really in a “mess”
The second Test of the ongoing series will begin from August 30 at Rawalpindi.
