The Fall of a Giant: Pakistan Cricket's Decline
An in-depth analysis of Pakistan cricket's downfall from its glory days to present challenges, examining causes and potential solutions
The Fall of a Giant: Pakistan Cricket’s Decline
Once known for its fierce bowling attack and classical batting style, Pakistan cricket has found itself in the shadows in recent times. What exactly happened to this powerhouse of cricket? Let’s dissect the reasons behind their struggles and explore potential pathways to recovery.
The Glory Days
Let’s go back to the good old days where Pakistan cricket was undoubtedly one of the best cricketing teams in the world. This was the era of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younas, Javed Miandad and the one and only Imran Khan. The legend that took Pakistan to world glory back in 1992. Those were some days, days that were truly unforgettable. Don’t think it stopped right there after their era stopped a new era arose maybe not as best as the previous one but still, it had some stars in there. I’m talking about Inzamam Ul Haq, Shoaib Akhtar, Younas Khan and last but not least Shahid Afridi. These stars led Pakistan to the t20 wc final in 2007 which was one of the saddest days in pakistan cricket, but they didn’t let there country down and won the second edition in 2009.
The Downfall
The downfall started in 2010 where Muhammad Amir along with Muhammad Asif and Salman Butt got involved in a fixing case and these 3 were key parts of the team. Still in 2011 Pakistan showed fighting spirit in the world cup but unfortunately lost to their arch rivals India in the Semi Finals. In 2012 they ended in the same place but this time they lost to Sri Lanka. Now this is where it went into serious hands, in the 2013 champions trophy they went pointless, in 2015 they lost in quarters and in 2016 they got grouped. Pakistan cricket was in disaster with Sharjeel Khan and the Akmal brothers also stuck in multiple fixing cases. Critics and news channels declared Pakistan cricket done and dusted until the 2017 champions trophy came. This was a huge tournament if they failed to win then a huge squad reform would have occurred however the impossible happened. After Pakistan got humiliated by India in their first match they went on undefeated into the final to play who, India! But this time it was different, Pakistan were determined and were ready to fight no matter what. With the help of Bumrah’s no ball and Fakhar’s fireworks Pakistan posted a huge total of of 337. The show doesn’t stop here, Amir bowled a dream spell taking 3 wickets in the powerplay. India lost badly by 160 runs which was one of their worst defeats in history. A few years of glory continued where Pakistan reached the semis but Mathew Wade crushed their dreams. In 2022 they reached the final with “Qudrat Ka Nizam” but sadly lost a match they also had a chance in. As you know pakistan has been under rubble since 2023 so let me tell you the reason for this downfall.
Reasons
1. Inconsistent Team Selection
- Players are dropped after one or two failures, killing confidence
- No stability in the playing XI, leading to lack of team chemistry
- Favoritism and non-merit-based selections damage team morale
2. Weak Domestic Cricket Structure
- Domestic competitions lack quality, intensity, and exposure
- Poor pitch conditions and outdated training facilities
- Talented players are not properly developed or mentored
3. Frequent Captaincy Changes
- No long-term leadership plan; captains changed frequently
- Captains under pressure from PCB politics and media criticism
- Lack of tactical and inspirational leadership on the field
4. PCB Mismanagement
- Constant changes in PCB leadership and direction
- Decisions driven by politics, not cricketing logic
- No consistent vision for the future of Pakistan cricket
5. Poor Mental Strength and Pressure Handling
- Team collapses under pressure in key moments
- History of choking in knockout or big matches
- Lack of mental conditioning or sports psychology support
6. Fitness and Discipline Issues
- Players often unfit or fail fitness tests
- Poor diet, training habits, and off-field discipline
- Lack of professional standards compared to other top teams
7. Over-Reliance on a Few Players
- Too dependent on Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Rizwan
- No reliable backup or bench strength
- When stars fail, the entire team struggles
8. Coaching and Management Instability
- Frequent changes in coaching staff affect player development
- Foreign coaches often disconnected from local cricket culture
- No long-term coaching strategy or system in place
9. Decline in Bowling Dominance
- Pakistan’s famous fast-bowling legacy is fading
- Bowlers are either inexperienced or injury-prone
- Lack of quality spinners after the Saeed Ajmal era
10. Limited Exposure to Top Teams
- Fewer bilateral series against top teams like India and Australia
- Years of cricket isolation after 2009 damaged growth
- PSL helps, but doesn’t replace international experience
11. Media and Fan Pressure
- Toxic social media environment affects players’ confidence
- Unrealistic expectations after every win or loss
- Constant criticism discourages young talent
The downfall of the Pakistan cricket team is not the result of one bad match or a single failed tournament—it’s the outcome of years of poor planning, unstable leadership, weak infrastructure, and inconsistent decision-making. While the talent in Pakistan is undeniable, the system around it has failed to nurture and support that talent effectively.
If Pakistan cricket truly wants to rise again, it needs more than just passionate fans—it needs structure, patience, professionalism, and a long-term vision. The road to recovery won’t be easy, but with the right reforms and a strong commitment to change, the Men in Green can once again become a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.