The recent struggles in Pakistan cricket have been accompanied by reports of tension between two of the team’s biggest stars, Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Amid these challenges, former Pakistan opener Mudassar Nazar has laid the blame on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), pointing to their mishandling of leadership roles as the root cause of the friction between the players.
Pakistan cricket has faced continuous controversies, with instability within the PCB causing disruptions both on and off the field. Most recently, Pakistan’s shocking 2-0 Test series defeat at home against Bangladesh has intensified scrutiny on the team. This came after the team’s disappointing performances in major tournaments, including early exits from the 2023 ODI World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup, despite reaching the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup.
Among the issues contributing to Pakistan’s decline is the reported conflict between captain Babar Azam and fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, two of the team’s key players. Nazar, speaking at the ‘Cricket Predicta Conclave’ in Ajman, UAE, criticized the PCB for not providing consistent support to its leadership, which he believes has exacerbated the situation.
“It’s our own fault,” Nazar said, referring to the growing rift between the two players. “We shouldn’t have disrupted the team structure. There was a set captain, and we should have given him a longer tenure. If someone else was chosen as captain, he should have been given enough time to prove himself instead of being removed so quickly.”
Leadership Struggles
Babar Azam served as Pakistan’s captain across all three formats until November 2023, when Afridi was appointed as captain of the white-ball formats. However, Afridi’s stint as captain was short-lived, as Babar soon reclaimed the role. The confusion over leadership roles has led to tension, with Afridi even suggesting publicly that Mohammad Rizwan would have been a better choice for limited-overs captain.
In a recent twist, Babar has once again stepped down from his white-ball captaincy, leaving Pakistan cricket in further uncertainty.
PCB’s Role in Pakistan’s Decline
Nazar, who had an illustrious career for Pakistan between 1976 and 1989, scoring 6,767 runs and taking 177 wickets, was critical of how the PCB has failed to address the growing problems within Pakistan cricket. He noted that the frequent changes in the cricket board’s leadership and policies have done little to stabilize the team.
“It’s a cycle,” Nazar explained. “Pakistan cricket is in a rough patch, and much of that is our own doing. We keep changing the cricket board every few months or years, and that has contributed to our struggles. No one is taking these issues seriously, but I’m hopeful that things will improve. It only takes a few new players to emerge, and suddenly Pakistan can be one of the top teams again.”
Hope for the Future
Despite the current challenges, Nazar remains optimistic about Pakistan cricket’s potential for resurgence. He emphasized that Pakistan continues to produce talented players, and with the right approach, the team could soon be back among the top cricketing nations.
“Cricket goes through cycles, and we are down right now. But before long, you get a few young players who make a name for themselves, and the team is right back in the mix,” Nazar concluded.
As Pakistan grapples with internal issues and leadership instability, Nazar’s remarks reflect the broader sentiment that the PCB must address these challenges if the team is to return to its former glory.
