Continuing decline

The Pakistan cricket teams tour of New Zealand, which concluded last week, has led to widespread disappointment among cricket fans. The team suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat in the T20 Series and a 3-0 whitewash in the ODIs against New Zealand’s ‘B-team’. Pakistan’s lack of professionalism and poor game awareness was evident throughout the series. Captain Muhammad Rizwan admitted to the team’s struggles, acknowledging that they failed to capitalise on key moments and that the death overs continued to haunt them. This lack of improvement raises questions about the evolution of cricket in Pakistan, especially after repeated failures despite promises of change. New Zealand’s selection of a weak team, largely consisting of unsold IPL players, was a tactical masterstroke, as these players performed excellently across all departments – batting, bowling and fielding. They were all fighting to prove that they belonged on the biggest stage.

This latest loss was preceded by the group-stage exit in the ICC Champions Trophy and, possibly, signals the possible end for head coach Aqib Javed. The PCB must act decisively and hire a professional coach who can bring fresh ideas and better execution to the team.

Sarib Ijaz

Rawalpindi