PAKISTAN’S back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and India in the Champions Trophy have once again exposed the flaws in the country’s cricketing system.

While the players’ performances will naturally be scrutinised threadbare, the real issue lies in the poor management within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is currently being led by a person with no prior cricketing experience.

The appointment, like many earlier ones, was politically driven rather than based on merit. Instead of focussing on long-term planning, the PCB continues to operate on the basis of temporary fixes, leading to inconsistent team selection, lack of player development, and poor strategy. In fact, other cricketing nations are progressing through structured planning, while Pakistan is struggling due to weak leadership.

To revive cricket in Pakistan, we must depoliticise the PCB, and appoint profe-ssionals with knowledge of international cricket. Furthermore, a strong domestic system, merit-based selections, as well as long-term planning are essential to bring respectability to the national team. Without serious reforms, we will continue to disappoint millions of passionate fans.

Wasif Khaliq Dad
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2025