The Pakistan cricket team is facing one of its toughest phases, as it recently suffered two consecutive defeats at home against Bangladesh in a Test series. This marks only the second time in history that Bangladesh has won a bilateral Test series on foreign soil with two or more matches. Their previous success came against the West Indies in 2009. Pakistan’s struggles are highlighted by the fact that they have not won any of their last ten home Tests, with their last victory coming against South Africa in Rawalpindi in December 2021.
Babar Azam Under Fire for Poor Performance and Leadership
Pakistan’s captain, Babar Azam, is under intense scrutiny following his disappointing performance in the series against Bangladesh. Babar managed to score only 64 runs across four innings in the two Tests, leading to widespread criticism. Adding to the controversy, former Pakistan chief selector Mohammad Wasim has accused Babar of being stubborn and resistant to suggestions from the selection committee.
Wasim, who served as the chief selector from December 2020 until his removal in December 2022, claimed that Babar frequently opposed the committee’s recommendations. He described Babar as a captain who was difficult to work with due to his unwillingness to accept advice.
Leadership Shake-up in Pakistan Cricket
The turmoil in Pakistan cricket has led to significant changes in leadership. Babar Azam stepped down from the captaincy following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. He had been leading the team in white-ball cricket and was expected to guide them through the T20 World Cup 2024. However, his struggles in the Test format have raised questions about his overall leadership. Shan Masood has now taken over the Test captaincy, while Babar continues to captain the limited-overs teams.
Gary Kirsten to Oversee Pakistan’s Domestic ODI Competition
Amidst these challenges, Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Gary Kirsten, has been tasked with overseeing the upcoming domestic one-day competition, the Champions Cup. This tournament will serve as a crucial platform for evaluating the performance and fitness of Pakistan’s players ahead of the upcoming white-ball matches. Kirsten will be assisted by physiotherapist Cliff Deacon and strength coach Drex Simon in conducting fitness assessments for the Test team and other international players.
As Pakistan cricket navigates this turbulent period, all eyes will be on how the team and its leadership respond to the mounting pressure and whether they can turn their fortunes around in the coming months.
