Pakistan cricket needs a reboot

Former Pakistan skipper and star batter Babar Azam

First, some hard numbers. Pakistan’s 2-0 loss against Bangladesh saw them slip to eighth in the ICC Test rankings with a rating-points of 76. This is their lowest rating-points since 1965.

Pakistan haven't won a home Test since their victory over South Africa in February 2021. They have lost six matches during this period and drew four. For a top team, this is the worst barren home streak in the 21st century. New Zealand had gone more than 10 home Tests without a win in the 1990s.

As per ESPNcricinfo stats, over the last two-and-half years, the combined average of Pakistan fast bowlers have plummeted to 37.90 and their strike-rate went down to 65.9. Only Afghanistan and Zimbabwe seamers have performed worse.

The 2-0 series win in Pakistan was Bangladesh’s finest hour. For Pakistan cricket, it was arguably their lowest point. They lost to the United States in this year's T20 World Cup. But certain factors can contribute to cause major upsets in shorter formats. Test cricket is a different thing, where the stronger teams are expected to win, especially on home soil. Pakistan lost the first Test after declaring their first innings on 448/6. They lost the second after having their opponents reeling at 26/6.

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Pakistan cricket is seemingly in free fall, across formats. They were knocked out in the Super Four in last year's Asia Cup. Exited from the group stage in last year's World Cup (50-over format). Suffered a 3-0 whitewash in the Test series in Australia. They also failed to qualify for the Super Eights in this year's T20 World Cup. The home defeat to Bangladesh was the nadir.

During a conversation a few days ago, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif was lamenting the fact that the whole system has become unstable. “There is no stability in the board. There is no stability in selection. Fast bowlers are not being managed properly and they are losing pace alarmingly,” Latif told this correspondent.

He added: “Take the case of Shaheen Shah Afridi. Two years ago, he was bowling at 145 kph. Now he is bowling in mid-130s. And this is not a case in isolation. Pakistan seamers have been losing pace and the specialists in the team, from medical staff to physios, should come up with an explanation.”

Shaheen and Naseem Shah were dropped for the second Test and a relatively inexperienced bowling attack allowed the Bangladesh tail to wag.

According to former Pakistan opener Shoaib Mohammad, the majority of the current players “don't have the mental strength and skill-set” to perform under pressure. He refused to read too much into the rift rumours. “When you go out there in the middle, you are there as an individual. You play for your personal pride.”

Pakistan's decline is not good news for world cricket. They are probably the second-most popular team in the world. The sooner they get their act together the better. Pakistan cricket needs a reboot.

In exclusive arrangement with RevSportz