Cricket

Pakistan Cricket's Leadership Crisis: Ashwin Expresses ConcernRavichandran Ashwin, the renowned Indian cricketer, has voiced his concerns over the current state of Pakistan cricket, which has been plagued by leadership instability and poor performance.Following Pakistan's disappointing exit from the 2023 World Cup, Babar Azam resigned as captain, triggering a series of leadership changes. Shaheen Afridi briefly took over the T20I captaincy before Babar was reinstated, only to step down again.Ashwin likened the situation to a game of "musical chairs," highlighting the detrimental impact of frequent captaincy changes on team morale and cohesion. "I am speaking the truth when I say that the current state of Pakistan cricket and the phase they are going through makes me feel a little sorry," Ashwin said.He emphasized that despite Pakistan's abundance of talented players, the instability has shifted the focus from team success to individual performance. "Every cricketer will be so unstable inside the dressing room that he will start thinking about himself and will think less about the team," Ashwin added.Ashwin also pointed to Pakistan's poor recent record, particularly in Test cricket, where they have not won a home Test match in nearly three years. "In the 2023 World Cup, they lost, and then Babar resigned. Then Afridi was made captain, but Babar was reinstated for limited overs, and Shan Masood was made the Test captain. And look at the situation now – Pakistan hasn't won a Test match at home for more than 3 years," he stated.Ashwin's remarks echo the concerns of many cricket experts who believe that Pakistan's ongoing leadership issues and lack of stability are hindering their international performance. The team's inability to find a consistent and effective leadership structure has created an environment of uncertainty and instability, which is affecting the players' confidence and focus.

Pakistan cricket has been plunged into further turmoil after Babar Azam announced his resignation as captain of the limited-overs format. The decision comes after a string of disappointing performances, including an embarrassing defeat to the USA in the T20 World Cup.Azam's resignation has been met with mixed reactions. Some, like former captain Rashid Latif, believe it is a sign of a leadership crisis in Pakistan cricket. Others, like Basit Ali, believe it is a sensible decision that will allow Azam to focus on his batting.Azam's decision to step down as captain is the latest in a series of setbacks for Pakistan cricket. The Test team was recently swept aside by Bangladesh at home, and the morale of the international side remains low.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to announce a replacement for Azam. However, it is clear that the team is in need of a new direction.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup campaign has been marred by inconsistency and internal divisions, leaving their Super Eight qualification hopes hanging by a thread.Captain Babar Azam's leadership has come under scrutiny, with reports of two factions within the team: one led by Azam, Mohammed Rizwan, and Shadab Khan, and another including recently sacked Shaheen Shah Afridi. This lack of unity has contributed to Pakistan's poor performances on the field.In their opening match against the USA, Pakistan failed to defend a total of 159, losing in a Super Over. Against India, they were restricted to 113 for 7 while chasing a modest target of 120.Pakistan's qualification chances now rest on defeating Canada and Ireland by large margins and hoping that the USA loses heavily to India and Ireland. However, even in this scenario, Pakistan's dismal net run rate (-0.150) compared to the USA's healthy run rate (+0.626) makes their task extremely difficult.The 2009 champions have looked far from their formidable past, with none of their departments clicking so far. Babar Azam and Shadab Khan have scored runs, but the rest of the batting lineup has struggled. The bowling attack has also been inconsistent, failing to contain opposition batters effectively.Pakistan's fate now lies in the hands of other teams and a stroke of luck. They must win their remaining matches convincingly and hope for favorable results elsewhere to keep their Super Eight hopes alive.