In the world of Pakistani cricket, blame often falls squarely on the shoulders of players and captains whenever the national team falters. From underwhelming World Cup campaigns to high-profile defeats, the outcry is swift, emotional, and frequently unforgiving. But when we strip away the noise and examine the systemic disorder behind the scenes, a critical question emerges: Is it the players or the captain who should be blamed, or is the real problem far deeper?
Turning Points of Tragedy: How Pakistan Cricket Lost Its Way
The past year has seen an unprecedented level of administrative instability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Since Mohsin Naqvi was appointed chairman on February 6, 2024, Pakistan cricket has lurched from one controversial decision to another.
Haris Rauf was stripped of his central contract the very day Naqvi took charge, only to have it reinstated just over a month later.
Shaheen Afridi was removed as T20 captain after just a few months. Babar Azam returned, then stepped down again by October.
A revolving door of appointments followed. Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Hafeez, Gary Kirsten, Jason Gillespie, Mohammad Yousuf, and others were either sacked, resigned, or embroiled in controversy.
The T20 World Cup 2024 ended in humiliation, with Pakistan crashing out after defeats to the USA and India, failing to make the Super 8s. What followed was more confusion than correction.
By the end of 2024, the selection committee had dropped heavyweights like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah. These decisions did not necessarily reflect performance, but rather a broader, chaotic reshuffle.
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Mismanaged and Misled: The Rotten Core of Pakistan Cricket
This is not just about selection or poor on-field execution. The timeline reveals a more concerning issue: a leadership and structural integrity crisis.
Wahab Riaz publicly clashed with Usman Wallah, Director of International Cricket, over player NOC issues and miscommunication.
Players like Asif Ali and Fakhar Zaman complained about their calls being ignored, decisions being delayed, and a lack of professionalism at the top.
Multiple high-profile resignations, including coaches, selectors, and PCB directors, suggest that internal dysfunction, not performance, is the primary disease.
Leadership in Name Only: Players Expose the Truth
The frustration is not just observed. It is being voiced by the players themselves. After Pakistan’s early exit from the Champions Trophy and a poor run in New Zealand, senior batter Mohammad Rizwan openly stated:
“Everyone knows I don’t have any powers. Very little is in my hands.”
That line speaks volumes. When even senior players feel powerless, when decisions are made above their heads without transparency or strategy, how can they be expected to perform with clarity or confidence?
The Blame Game: Sacrificing Captains to Save the System
It is easy to blame the captain after every defeat. It is a familiar ritual in Pakistani cricket. But consider this: how can any captain succeed when they are appointed and removed mid-series, when coaching staff are changed at random, and when communication from the board is inconsistent at best?
Leadership needs clarity. It needs consistency. Instead, captains like Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and even Mohammad Rizwan have become symbolic punching bags, bearing the blame while the real issues remain untouched.
Tracing the Blame: Where Does Accountability Lie?
Of course, players must be held accountable for their performance. But performance is the end product, not the root. You cannot expect a system in chaos to produce consistent results.
The new appointments, such as Mike Hesson as white-ball coach and Aaqib Javed as Director of the High Performance Center, offer a chance at a reset. But without introspection at the top and true administrative reform, these appointments may become just another episode in an endless cycle of short-term fixes.
Conclusion: Targeting the Wrong People
So, is it the players’ or the captain’s fault?
The answer is clear. Not entirely. Largely not.
Until the system that surrounds the players becomes stable, transparent, and professional, no captain, no matter how tactically sharp or inspirational, will succeed. Pakistan cricket does not need more scapegoats. It needs honest accountability, long-term planning, and a commitment to the game that goes beyond politics.
