Aside from India, it’s evident that there are only a few countries with a significant cricket following. Pakistan is indeed one of the few with passionate cricket fans.
Based on recent data, major tournaments like the ICC Cricket World Cup are extremely popular in the country with over 237 billion minutes in viewership.
So, it’s not surprising that the nation has produced some of the most talented cricket players in history. Pakistan’s national team has already participated in numerous major cricket tournaments including the World Cup, Asia Cup, and World Test Championship.
Their last major title came in 2017 during the ICC Champions Trophy. This was when they defeated their biggest rivals, India, by 180 runs during the final at The Oval.
Performance Issues
So yes, it’s been a while since the team has brought a cricket trophy home, and their fans are surely not happy. However, we can say that their attempts can still be considered fruitful.
In the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, they finished 5th. It was a bit of a letdown, but they had notable victories, especially against that year’s champions England.
In 2021, they were able to reach the T20 World Cup. They were also able to defeat India in a thrilling match, but Australia beat them them in the semi-finals. During the 2022 edition of the same tournament, they reached the final but were unfortunately defeated by England.
Last year was rough and this is when frustration from fans started to get louder. They again finished fifth in the group stage during the 2023 Cricket World Cup despite the World Cup being played in conditions similar to home. The only high point was the 345 run chase during a match against Sri Lanka.
Numerous factors have played a part in the team’s performance decline. There have been frequent leadership changes, and they simply have struggled with consistency across all cricket formats.
This year, they were upset by the USA in the T20 World Cup, and lost 2-0 at home to Bangladesh, a result that has all but ended their WTC hopes.
Then there’s also the constant shuffling of players in and out of the team that has prevented them from establishing a stable and cohesive unit.
Domestic Structure and Talent Development
While international matches are more exciting for cricket fans, the structure of domestic tournaments or matches can also play a role in Pakistan’s performances.
The first-class tournaments in Pakistan, such as the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, have often been criticized for their lack of competitiveness. This is mostly why even when it comes to virtual cricket betting, domestic matches aren’t as popular even for the Pakistanis themselves.
Then there’s also the quality of pitches and facilities. Many of the local pitches in the country are not up to international standards. They’re either too flat or too spin-friendly, and this is why it can be said that some players aren’t adequately prepared for the varied conditions they will face internationally.
When it comes to talent development, some areas that can be improved include having a robust system for identifying and nurturing young talent.
Maybe more remote areas should be included in age-group tournaments and having more talent scouting programs and cricket clinics can also help the talents. PCB head Mohsin Naqvi said in an interview once, that there is a problem in the selection committee because there is no pool of players to choose from.
Talks of Political Interference
Political tensions and international relations can have a significant impact on Pakistan’s cricketing ties. The ongoing conflict with India, for example, has resulted in a limited number of bilateral series between the two countries.
Pakistan needs to engage in diplomatic efforts to ensure that it maintains good relations with other cricket nations and has the opportunity to play regular international matches.
There have also been claims of nepotism within the PCB, where appointments are made based on political connections rather than merit. Many are saying this is why the team is starting to be made up of unqualified individuals.
Journalist and former PCB media manager Iftikhar Nagi has recently talked about this. According to him, this has a knock-on effect on team performance.
“When we have chaos and chronic instability within the management of the board it will reflect on-field performances,” he explained in an interview with AFP.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan also shares the same sentiments. Khan is currently in jail, but he recently released a statement about his current situation and covered a bit about Pakistan’s cricket scene.
He said, “Favourites, have been imposed to run a technical sport like cricket. What are Mohsin Naqvi’s qualifications?
“Nations are destroyed when corrupt and incompetent people are placed into positions of power in state institutions,” he added.
Conclusion
Naqvi has said that more changes will be made after Pakistan lost the India match in the T20 World Cup earlier this year. However, if they continue to have limited access to a talented pool of players back home, it might take a while for Pakistan to get back on track.
For now, Pakistan fans can only hope things improve for their favorite team and their local cricket industry.