Azhar Ali Reveals What’s Wrong With Pakistan Cricket

Former Pakistan captain and ex-national selector Azhar Ali has highlighted what he believes is the core issue in Pakistan cricket: an abundance of talent but a lack of a proper system to develop it.

Speaking in a recent interview, Azhar said Pakistan consistently produces gifted youngsters, yet most of them fail to progress due to inadequate grooming and structural weaknesses within the cricketing setup.

“We are blessed with the number of players we have and the talent they possess,” he said. Recalling a training camp earlier this year, he mentioned that foreign coaches were stunned by the depth available.

“They told me that out of 30 players, around 18 or 19 were good enough to represent Pakistan Under-19, and could walk into any Under-19 team in the world. In their own countries, they might only find five or six of that level.”

Azhar stressed that despite this natural advantage, Pakistan lacks a system capable of turning promising youngsters into polished first-class or international cricketers.

According to him, only a small number eventually break through, and those who do often rely on exceptional natural ability or personal guidance from senior players and experienced coaches.

“Most of our players don’t get the extra care and grooming they require,” he added. “We should be providing that support, but unfortunately, we don’t have such a system in place.”