THE recent defeats against minnows United States and archrivals India at the T20 World Cup have exposed yet once again the ills that are afflicting Pakistan cricket, which is going down the spiral due to trivial and unprofessional approach of all concerned. From players and selectors to coaches and the management, no one is doing the right thing. The downfall has been continuing for the last five years.

Babar Azam is considered one of the top batsmen in world cricket, but he has never been able to win key contests for the country. Besides, his captaincy has often led a lot to be desired, and the two defeats again exposed his weaknesses. The players who are not performing consistently should be ousted from the team purely on merit.

At the start of their international careers, most players are humble in their attitude and hardworking in their approach towards the game. They soon become millionaires, if not billionaires, and this triggers a slide that takes the country down with them.

Specific actions are required against individuals who could not chase down as small a target as 120 runs in 20 overs. For God’s sake, let merit prevail somewhere.

Anwar Hussain
Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2024