Performance in Bangladesh a wake-up call: Tauseef

KARACHI: Former Test cricketer Tauseef Ahmed has said that Pakistan’s back-to-back defeats against Bangladesh are a serious concern and serve as a wake-up call for the PCB, especially with the T20 World Cup only a few months away.

The tournament is scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February and March 2026. Speaking to The News on Wednesday, Tauseef said the defeats exposed major flaws. “All cricket fans saw how the batting collapsed to 15 for 5 while chasing just 133 runs,” he said.

He warned that time is short, with only 5–6 months left for preparations, and yet Pakistan is losing to lower-ranked teams. Tauseef dismissed the idea that the pitch was to blame for the loss. “Bangladesh dropped catches and conceded boundaries and still Pakistan lost,” he said.

He questioned why Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled so badly against ordinary Bangladeshi bowlers. “Pakistan cricket is facing one of its worst crises, from domestic to franchise levels. Decisions are not being made on merit,” he said. “If our batters can’t perform against Bangladesh’s medium pacers, how will they fare against stronger teams like Australia, South Africa, England, New Zealand, and India?”

Tauseef urged PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to question those responsible for player selection, training programmes, and coaching appointments. “When a team performs this poorly, it raises serious concerns about coaching and selection,” he added.

“It’s time to give full opportunities to the new players who are part of the squad. In the upcoming series against West Indies, Pakistan must adopt a fresh strategy and mindset, keeping the 2026 T20 World Cup in mind,” he said.