New Delhi, September 1: The Pakistan cricket team is once again in the spotlight due to its poor performance. Under the captaincy of Babar Azam, the team is currently in England for a three-match Test series. After losing the first two Tests, Pakistan finds itself trailing 2-0 in the series. Following this defeat, questions are being raised about the team’s management and performance. Former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria stated that he has never seen such a dire situation for the Pakistan cricket team in the last 70 years.
In an exclusive interview, Kaneria discussed various aspects of the Pakistan cricket team, including batting, bowling, captaincy, team selection, and management. He expressed deep disappointment with the current state of the team.
Kaneria remarked, “The condition of the Pakistan cricket team is the worst it has been in the last 70 years. Losing is not the issue, but there is no sign of struggle or resilience from any player. This is the worst situation.”
He added, “No one is willing to take responsibility for the team’s poor performance. Whether it’s the players or the selectors, no one has stepped up. The team is operating without any strategy. Babar Azam was removed as captain and then reinstated. Sarfaraz Ahmed was appointed as the Test coach but is now being removed as well. If someone is given responsibility, they should be given adequate time. Are we going to replace Babar again with Shan Masood?”
Kaneria mentioned that he had heard rumors of Younis Khan being appointed as the chief selector, which he found encouraging. Younis has worked hard and contributed significantly to Pakistan cricket. He possesses the ability to build a strong team. However, the Pakistan Cricket Board did not accept his terms, and he was not appointed. The current management has worsened the team’s situation. “You are going to England to play Test cricket, yet your fast bowler can only bowl at 120 km/h, while you need bowlers who can bowl at 140 to 150 km/h. We lack quality spinners. Test matches are won by bowlers, and we don’t have competent bowlers,” he stated.
He continued, “Mohammad Abbas plays county cricket in England and bowls well. You bring him into the team and then drop him. Sajid Khan performs well, yet he is also dropped. The bowlers in the team are mediocre and lack international-level skills.”
Kaneria also criticized the batting lineup. “Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan seem clueless about how to bat. The way Babar got out to Archer was laughable. Lower-order batsmen get out like that. Babar couldn’t even get in front of the ball. It’s baffling why Rizwan is still in the team; his batting and keeping are both average.”
Pointing out the selectors’ shortcomings, Kaneria said, “I heard there are seven changes for the third Test against England. Why weren’t these players brought in earlier? They don’t even know which team to field. Pakistan was once known for its fast bowlers, but that’s no longer the case. We used to have excellent spinners. Now, we have no good batsmen, fast bowlers, or spinners. I wonder why they are even playing.”
He praised the Bangladesh team, noting that they lost the second Test against Australia but won the first Test impressively. “They have bowlers who can bowl over 140 km/h, while we have nothing. Bangladesh has a great coaching team, and we see the results. We need to bring in better coaches from abroad. Coaches come here, but they dislike interference from local people, which is a problem.”
Kaneria expressed concern about the reputation of Pakistan cricket globally. “Pakistan cricket is becoming a laughing stock. Fans are losing interest in watching matches. If fans stop watching, broadcasters will also lose interest in showing the matches. Our team is being rated lower than county teams in England. What could be worse? We need to hold people accountable. We must establish responsibility within the administration, selectors, and coaching staff to ensure they give talented players a chance instead of forming teams based on relationships. Aaqib Javed has held multiple positions, but where is our cricket heading? We don’t have good cricket anymore.”
The former spinner reflected on how they used to lose but fought hard. “At least put up a fight. There’s no effort here. Everyone is getting paid. The decline of Pakistan cricket is due to changes in the domestic cricket structure. Previously, there were competitions like the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Patron’s Trophy, which involved departments. This structure led to the continuous improvement of Pakistan cricket. Now, that structure has changed, and departmental cricket has been abolished. This has harmed Pakistan cricket. We are not producing better players. The English model was brought here, but it has not worked.”
Kaneria praised the BCCI for including a clause in player contracts requiring participation in domestic cricket. “No one from our side plays domestic cricket,” he said.
He concluded by stating that there is no shortage of talented players in Pakistan, but they are being strategically sidelined. The selection of the Pakistan team is based on the Pakistan Super League (PSL), which lacks quality. Our domestic cricket is challenging, and while there are good players, why don’t selectors attend domestic matches? Why aren’t they selecting the best players? They are paid for this. Selectors only go on tours and make selections over tea during meetings. In our time, selectors would attend matches and gather feedback from umpires about players. Umpiring in domestic cricket is now based on relationships, lacking proper knowledge.
Leave a Comment