Most of us do remember how Pakistan performed exceptionally well in the new format of cricket (T20) ever since its inception in 2003. Even after losing the World Cup to India in the inaugural edition in 2007, our cornered tigers did not give up and went on to win the next one.
However, in the present scenario, they have not even been able to get close to their previous achievemnts in the format, and have clearly fallen behind the rest of the world in the modern day approach to the game.
Their failures were evident in 2022 but were covered up due to them reaching the final of the T20 World Cup downunder. The miraculous win of the Netherlands over South Africa was a fleeting chance for the Pakistanis to take their redemption, but they weren’t able to go past the final hurdle.
They had already lost the finals of the Asia Cup, and now their poor planning was glaring at them in the face, but they could not see it. So why can’t the fans see the passion and fight they used to see? Let’s dissect some of the key areas of improvement.
The Domestic System of Pakistan
The fans had to handle an embarrassing upset in every World Cup since then, but still, the management could not find the reasons for their inadequate playing style. The failure of the Pakistani cricket team is closely linked with the failure of the domestic system of Pakistan.
Constant chopping and changing of the domestic structure season after season has not allowed the players the room to develop their game. Furthermore, fast-tracking the players to the national side has also done more harm than good, for both the player and the national team.
The Management
Other than this, the management of the board has been changing a lot, and PCB has experienced four different chairmen in the last three years, which has led to a lack of clear vision and direction.
How can the team build trust when the coaching staff is always changing? With every new chairman, the selection committee and the coaching staff change as well.
This uncertainty and instability at the top have trickled down to the players, leading to their lack of confidence and low morale. Long-term strategies by the old management have also been disrupted, leading to inconsistent performances.
All these changes have brought confusion and inconsistency in the playing style. The coaching styles and personal goals of players have changed so many times due to these changes. This is why we need to ask: Are these management changes more about politics than improving the team?
Inadequate T20 Playing Style
Moreover, the intent of the Pakistani batsmen needs to be changed into a more aggressive one. The Pakistani team has not been able to adapt to the new approach, unlike the other mights of the sport. We can see the Pakistani batsmen hesitating to utilize the power play in a proper hostile method. This playing style not only decreases the runs but also gives the momentum to the other team.
The batters need to focus on capitalizing on the loose deliveries rather than survival. This factor had been highlighted by Ali Khan, a bowler in the US cricket team, as well, after their stunning victory against the Men in Green in the recently concluded 2024 T20 World Cup.
We need to ask why the team appears to lack confidence in playing aggressive cricket even against weaker bowling attacks. The lack of intent by the batters of the Pakistani team is the biggest obstacle in their way to success.
Fakhar Zaman is the only batsman in the top order known for his bashing, and even he has started to come out at number four in the T20 side. The players need to realize that the lack of bashing and intensity makes it too easy for the opponent to dominate the game.
Unity
In 2021, everyone talked about the unity in the Pakistani team, and now everyone talks about the disunity. At this point, a palpable sense of disunity exists in the team. The players aren’t on the same page. This disharmony is evident in the way they play, with visible frustration and poor coordination.
All this started when the captaincy musical chairs was started by the multiple PCB regimes. Appointing Shaheen Afridi for only one series before re-appointing Babar as captain left a sour taste in the team and the fans alike.
This captaincy saga brought politics within the team, creating differences among the players. These differences could be seen on the pitch and were highlighted by many journalists and experts.
People like Wasim Akram have also talked about this, which indicates the seriousness of this matter. All this has resulted in the breakdown of communication, leading to decreased morale, as well as tension within the team. This disunity has hindered effective collaboration, making it difficult to leverage the diverse skills and perspectives of team members.
Although I would ask, even after addressing and resolving all the problems, can the team still reach the pinnacle of success and become the best?
About the Author: Haroon Khan is a high school student who has been following cricket since his childhood and aims for a future in cricket.
The opinion piece represents the views of the author, not the organization as a whole.
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