By Azeem Ghumman
Former Pakistan Under 19 captain
Presently, the Pakistan cricket team has hit the new low. Shortly, after the 2023 World Cup, Babar Azam was brough down from his white bowl captaincy by ex-chairman of the PCB and instantaneously replaced by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Under his captaincy, Pakistan in a five-match T20I series in New Zealand, managed to win only one game. As soon the team’s returns, a new management emerged out of the blue and Mohsin Naqvi was appointed as the new chairman, PCB. However, Babar Azam was later re appointed as the T20 cricket team captain until the end of the 2024 World Cup in the United States.
These unforeseen shifts in the cricket dynamic were never good for the team or the management either. I believe that Shaheen should have continued to be the captain atleast till the Worldcup since one good or bad series cant stereotyped him.Babar as a captain had three T20i series before the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 includin first one at home against New Zealand. The series was a tie with 2-2 against Kiwis. against the second lot of the team, as most of their players were busy in the IPL.
For the series against Ireland and England, the Pakistan cricket team experimented with some new players, including Irfan Khan Niazi, Saim Ayub, and Azam Khan.Pakistan’s match against Ireland looked like an ordinary match but even Ireland beat them In the first T20 game, though Pakistan then bounced back as relatively stronger, However, I doubt that it would have increased any moral for the Pakistan team . Furthermore, the next series against England was tough but two matches were omitted due to rain whilst other two were miserably lost.
Fortunately, Pakistan seemed good in sticking to their plan to open with Saim Ayub, who could win any match given the conditions. Hence forth, young Azam Khan has the ability to win matches alone, were both given good chances by the Pakistani team before the World Cup, and it seemed that they would eventually be in the playing 11.Pakistan’s spin attack was the most concerning as Babar was relying heavily on Shadab Khan, who lost confidence as a bowler .However, the spinner, Abrar Ahmed, who could have been Pakistan’s biggest trump card, was barely given any chance before the World Cup.
According to the WorldCup schedule, Pakistan was in a weaker group with only India as the main team and other associate teams such as Canada, Ireland, and the USA. Pakistan was potentially the favorite for the Super 8 as two teams would have qualified for it.
The start of the World Cup was nothing short of a nightmare for Pakistan as they first played against the USA. Initially, they dropped Saim Ayub, whom they had supported for the past three series and said he was definitely going to be our opener for the World Cup. They compelled him to play 23 T20 games without any success. They dropped him in such a mega event for which they were grooming him. In my view pakistan played the wrong 11 specially when captain himself saying at toss it looks like there is alot of moisture in the pitch and still they didnt played one extra spinner which was a strange thing ,Pakistan only scored 159 runs and defiantely struggled against the spinner badly, while if you see the Pakistan bowling line-up It was full of pace bowlers more and few must have thought that 159 would be enough for USA team that but it was wrong. Pakistani spinners even in that conditions in shape of shadab didnt performed in such conditions and were unable to provide support to other pace attack
Pakistan certainly was let down by their spin department.
The USA eventually tied the game and proceeded to score 18 runs in the super over against veteran pacer Muhammad Amir, which Pakistan failed to chase.
The second game against India was massive. Surprisingly, they dropped two players whom they were backing the most, including Azam Khan. The second decision clearly demonstrated that Pakistan’s plan and practice over the past 3-4 months were eclipsed. Pakistan was attempting to try something new . They won a crucial toss and bowled first. The Pakistani seamier bowled brilliantly and eliminated them for just 119. It seemed like Pakistan would be able to easily chase it, but Pakistan, with its pure defensive approach, couldn’t chase it. Strangely they played all 20 overs and scored only 113 runs, while 3 wickets remaining.
Pakistan stood victorious for the remaining two games against Ireland and Canada. Fortunately, Babar played till the end against Ireland or it would have tanked badly.
This was meant to happen due to the sudden management reshuffle in the last quarter. However, it was significant to bring back retired players to represent you at the World Cup? It was essential to request that someone leaves the UAE and play for Pakistan?. This demonstrates that domestic players and tournaments are not being entrusted. Additionally, dropping your trump card players Saim Ayub and Azam Khan further elucidates that Pakistan spent nearly 4 months planning for this big fat event, however, failed to trust it themselves.
After the Worldcup Pakistan has made few changes specially to the Selection committee by erasing Abdur razzaq and Wahab riaz and recently New selection committee announce the team for Test series against Bangladesh with its Leader Shan masood who showed great intent in his last series against Australia,This will be Pakistan first international cricket amid worldcup 2024 USA
