Pakistan cricket hit a fresh low after a dismal 3-0 Test whitewash in England.
However, debutant Razaullah provided a brief moment of hope with a dazzling cameo in the final Test. His performance offered little relief from a tour marked by poor results and major changes.
Pakistan’s struggles also continued off the field. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sacked head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul during the series.
The PCB also removed seven players from the squad. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s fragile batting collapsed repeatedly and failed to cross 200 in five of the six innings.
Major Changes Fail to Improve Pakistan’s Results
White-ball coach Mike Hesson took charge for the third and final Test. However, the change failed to reverse Pakistan’s fortunes.
The turmoil grew further after Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq faced an investigation by the national cybercrime agency. Authorities reportedly examined allegations involving the leaking of team information.
Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram said he had expected the decline.
“It’s a disappointing state but I could see this coming for the last five years,” Akram told AFP.
He also rejected the idea of blaming one person or one factor. According to Akram, several issues have contributed to Pakistan’s decline.
Former captain Shahid Afridi also described the situation as “bleak.”
“These are gloomy times in Pakistan cricket,” Afridi said. “You don’t disrespect players like this and your system is not strong.”
Pakistan’s Cycle of Changes Continues
Frequent changes after poor results are not new for Pakistan cricket.
Pakistan has had three Test captains and six head coaches over the past three years. The PCB has also had five different chairmen in five years.
Such frequent changes have affected long-term planning and development.
Player punishments have also followed major defeats in the past.
After Pakistan suffered a 3-0 Test whitewash in Australia in 2010, the PCB banned then-captain Mohammad Yousuf and senior batter Younis Khan indefinitely. The board also disciplined five other players, including Afridi.
Test Cricket Results Remain a Major Concern
Pakistan’s defeat at Edgbaston marked their 16th loss in their last 21 Tests.
The result left Pakistan ninth and last in the World Test Championship standings. They also finished in the same position during the previous WTC cycle.
White-ball cricket has offered little encouragement either.
Pakistan exited the ODI Champions Trophy in the first round last year. The tournament marked the return of major international cricket to Pakistan after a 29-year wait caused by security concerns.
The team has also struggled in T20 cricket.
Pakistan failed to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Two years earlier, they suffered another disappointing group-stage exit.
That campaign included a shock defeat against the United States.
No Quick Fix for Pakistan Cricket
Former leg-spinner and 1992 World Cup winner Mushtaq Ahmed blamed Pakistan’s decline on poor planning.
“We had a great number of match-winners and a strong legacy, and that is why we produced results in the past,” Ahmed told AFP.
“Now the decline is steep and will take time to fix.”
Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure also remains a concern. The inconsistent system has struggled to prepare players for the demands of international cricket.
Akram believes Pakistan currently lacks enough quality in red-ball cricket.
“We need to realise that we lack talent in red-ball cricket. White-ball teams are okay,” he said.
He also warned against blaming the PCB chairman alone.
“It’s easy to blame the PCB chairman but when we were sleeping and not addressing the overall flaws then such a fall happens,” Akram said.
Fans Losing Interest in Pakistan Cricket
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s poor performances are affecting fan interest.
Mohammad Afzal, a banker, said his family has gradually lost interest in the sport.
“All my four sons and I used to play in a local academy but in the last two years we all have lost interest as our team is not doing well,” he said.
He believes Pakistan needs strong measures to rebuild interest in cricket.
“Cricket is fast losing ground in Pakistan and we need strong measures to revive the glory,” Afzal said.
Pakistan now faces a difficult rebuilding process. The latest England series showed that frequent changes alone cannot solve the team’s deeper problems.
The PCB will need long-term planning, a stronger domestic structure and greater stability if Pakistan wants to return to consistent success in Test cricket.
