Pakistan Cricket in Crisis? Ex-Cricketers Blame Selection and Strategy for Recent Failures

Following Pakistan's defeat to India in the Champions Trophy, criticism against the national team has intensified. Pakistan, which is hosting the mega tournament, lost its opening match to New Zealand and suffered another setback against its long-time rival, India. The losses have sparked strong reactions from former players and cricket analysts in Pakistan, with some declaring that the country's cricket has "died."

Former Pakistan opener Ahmad Shehzad expressed his frustration, stating that cricket, once a source of national pride, has now declined significantly. He criticized the team's selection process and accused officials of favoring certain players.

"We all know how the Pakistan team is selected. If we do not speak out about what is happening in Pakistan cricket, the outside world will assume everything is fine. People believe there is no favoritism in selection, but that is incorrect. Players are chosen based on preferences. We once thought cricket was the only sport left in Pakistan. Now, even that is gone," Shehzad said in an interview with a television channel.

Former left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir also weighed in, advising the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to prioritize domestic performers over Pakistan Super League (PSL) players when selecting the national squad.

Pakistan cricket legend Shahid Afridi stated that he was not surprised by the team's struggles in the Champions Trophy. He attributed the losses to an outdated approach, saying, "If you play in 2025 with a mindset from the 1980s and 1990s, these results are inevitable."

Afridi further criticized Pakistan's cricket administration, saying that officials still do not understand how to assemble a competitive squad for different conditions. He lamented Pakistan’s lack of success in ICC tournaments since their 2017 Champions Trophy triumph and urged the team to adopt a more aggressive approach when facing top-ranked opponents.