Crisis in Pakistan Cricket: Two years of historic declines and systemic failures
Crisis in Pakistan Cricket: Two years of historic declines and systemic failures
By Nawaz Gohar ; Over the past two years, the performance of the Pakistan national cricket team has faced a persistent decline, characterized by humiliating defeats in global tournaments, bilateral series, and matches against teams historically considered underdogs.
These dismal results have raised serious questions not only regarding team management but also about the overall structure of Pakistan cricket. The national side has remained under intense scrutiny due to unexpected losses and repeated failures on the world stage.
During this period, Pakistan suffered defeats at the hands of several teams previously viewed as weaker opponents. In T20 Internationals, the team lost to Ireland and the United States, failing even to qualify for the second stage of the T20 World Cup.
The situation in Test cricket has been equally disheartening. The national team suffered a 0-2 whitewash against Bangladesh on home soil and faced the ignominy of an innings defeat despite scoring 556 runs in their first innings of a Test match.
Furthermore, losses to Zimbabwe in both ODI and T20 formats served as a major shock to cricket enthusiasts. In the Champions Trophy, the national side failed to secure a single victory, failing to reach the semi-finals. During this time, Pakistan also recorded its worst-ever defeat in T20 history.
The struggle of the bowling department was highlighted when the team conceded 92 runs in the first six overs of a T20 match. Additionally, Pakistan lost seven out of eight matches against a depleted New Zealand side, while the batting lineup collapsed for a mere 110 runs in a T20 against Bangladesh.
The national team also failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup and recently suffered an ODI series loss to Bangladesh alongside a third consecutive Test defeat.
According to cricket experts, these results reflect a dire need for large-scale administrative, technical, and strategic reforms. Without such intervention, the team’s international reputation faces further erosion.
