NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan star cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has mentioned the nation’s present cricket disaster started after their well-known 10-wicket win over India on the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.Pakistan had by no means crushed India in a World Cup earlier than that match. Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 68, whereas Mohammad Rizwan made 79 not out as Pakistan chased down 152 with out dropping a wicket. The win was celebrated as a historic second for Pakistan cricket.Nevertheless, Yousuf believes the victory additionally modified the mindset of the gamers and performed a job within the workforce’s decline within the years that adopted.
‘That match… broken us lots’
Yousuf mentioned the gamers grew to become too assured after beating India and failed to know what they wanted to do subsequent.“That match which we received towards India in 2021, that broken us lots. As a result of after that victory, gamers began to suppose that they’d achieved one thing huge. They couldn’t perceive what they needed to do subsequent. When you’re performing nicely, it is best to keep humble. Should you behave together with your collar raised, and get disrespectful, issues will arrive. And a number of them have arrived in Pakistan cricket,” mentioned Yousuf in a dialog on Samaa TV.Yousuf believes the issue was not solely about Pakistan’s outcomes. He feels the workforce’s perspective additionally modified after the well-known win.
Gamers wished to develop into captain
Yousuf additionally blamed the battle for captaincy for a few of Pakistan’s issues.He mentioned gamers grew to become extra concerned about changing into the workforce’s captain as a substitute of taking duty for his or her performances.“Everybody within the workforce was making an attempt to develop into the captain of the Pakistan workforce. The results are nonetheless hurting Pakistan cricket. Have a look at all of the cricket Pakistan has performed within the final four-five years, from ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and Champions Trophy. There was horrible cricket. The PCB has been supporting you all through. So many coaches have come and gone, so many issues have modified simply to attempt to assist the Pakistan workforce. However no participant has stood up and brought duty. Finally, PCB needed to take a step that it did. I again what PCB did,” added Yousuf.
Pakistan in hassle in England
Yousuf’s feedback have come at a troublesome time for Pakistan cricket. The workforce suffered heavy defeats within the first two Exams towards England. Pakistan misplaced the Headingley Check by an innings and 103 runs earlier than struggling a 194-run defeat at Lord’s. The Pakistan Cricket Board then made main modifications in the course of the England tour.Seven gamers – Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar – have been despatched again to Pakistan with one Check nonetheless left within the collection.The PCB additionally eliminated head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul. Seven replacements have been referred to as up, together with 5 uncapped gamers.The choice to make main modifications in the course of a Check collection attracted a number of consideration. Nevertheless, Yousuf mentioned he had no drawback with the PCB’s choice.When requested whether or not the board was proper to take motion with one Check nonetheless remaining, he mentioned: “Sure, there is no such thing as a subject with when PCB have taken motion. The Pakistan workforce is ninth within the World Check Championship standings. They’re ninth as a result of there are solely 9 groups within the desk. Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s fame is getting ruined). So when that’s occurring, the board has to take some steps to enhance.”Yousuf additionally instructed that one thing could have occurred contained in the dressing room that led to the seven gamers being despatched house.
‘It is not simply this one collection’
Yousuf mentioned Pakistan’s issues can’t be blamed solely on the continued England collection.He pointed to the workforce’s poor performances in main tournaments over the previous couple of years.“I don’t see a difficulty with the PCB response. As a result of the workforce has been enjoying horrible cricket. It’s not simply this one collection towards England. We performed within the T20 World Cup last in 2022 and performed in an Asia Cup last as nicely, however since these finals, simply take a look at the performances popping out of this Pakistan workforce,” Yousuf mentioned.Pakistan have struggled throughout codecs in recent times. They have been swept 2-0 by Bangladesh earlier this 12 months, their second 0-2 collection defeat towards the identical opposition after the 2024 house collection.The workforce’s poor performances have raised questions over its management, choice and general path.However for Yousuf, the foundation of the issue goes again to that well-known night time in Dubai in 2021, when Pakistan lastly beat India by 10 wickets in a World Cup match.