KARACHI:
“Rijwan (rizwan) bhai, listen to one thing—give me some tips about wicketkeeping and batting in T20,” Litton Das once said to Rizwan a few years ago.
“Now his acting has started—50 rupees will be deducted for overacting,” Litton Das recently mocked Rizwan.
Whether it’s cricket or any other field, respect comes from performance. If your performance is strong, you don’t need to say anything—people respect you automatically. When that’s not the case, some people reveal their true nature. You may remember how some Pakistani cricketers, including Amir, used to be overly impressed by Kohli—asking for his bat or getting autographs on their shirts. One shouldn’t be mentally overawed by anyone, as it affects performance on the field. However, Litton Das’s behavior isn’t right either. Banter is one thing, but provoking someone through humiliation is not appropriate.
Interestingly, these Bangladeshi players go quiet when playing against India. Afghan players also behave cautiously, perhaps hoping that compliance will earn them IPL contracts. Pakistanis have a history of treating others well, yet often receiving no acknowledgment in return. How did things reach a point where Bangladeshi cricketers are now mocking us? It doesn’t take rocket science to understand—we are responsible ourselves.
Let’s put it mildly: when you consistently lose four Test matches and both home and away series to an average team, this is bound to happen. No one could have imagined such defeats at the hands of Bangladesh. In the past, even the thought of facing Pakistani fast bowlers would disturb top batters’ sleep. Now, those we select as fast bowlers and all-rounders might feel embarrassed seeing those titles next to their names.
The lack of genuine fast bowlers is a real issue that needs to be addressed. Our former stars earned fame and wealth from the country, but most now live abroad and only return when there’s money to be made. Waqar Younis occasionally serves as a coach or commentator, otherwise spending time in Australia. Wasim Akram has kept himself relevant but avoids taking responsibility. Did either of them try to find bowlers like themselves? Did Inzamam-ul-Haq or Javed Miandad look beyond their relatives for talent? What did they contribute?
The current team’s condition is largely due to senior players. No one took responsibility, though in the final innings some scored a few runs just to retain their place. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s top cricketers have performed consistently.
Saud Shakeel’s attitude and arrogance suggest he coached Don Bradman, but what is his actual performance? Babar Azam, given his caliber, should be scoring double centuries, yet he seems content with small scores. Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, and Mohammad Rizwan also lack consistency. Shan disappointed as captain too.
Like Salman in T20s, Shan is a very polite person—but such qualities matter when arranging marriages, not when appointing a cricket captain. A captain must be strong on the field and hold players accountable; otherwise, they take things for granted. Shan often looked isolated, suggesting teammates haven’t fully accepted him. Despite his efforts to bond, he failed to assert authority.
Before taking reviews, Shan had to run around consulting teammates. Rizwan even gave contradictory advice after taking catches. Reviews were wasted on not-out decisions and not taken on actual outs. The team was already struggling in the ICC World Test Championship, and losing 8 points due to slow over rates ended even faint hopes of reaching the final.
Everyone knows 15 overs per hour are required, and umpires regularly remind teams of shortfall. So how did this mistake happen?
Criticize Shan Masood, but also see that the team isn’t united—everyone seems to be playing for themselves. Earlier, we blamed losses on selection issues. Now, who exactly is missing? New players are talented, but you can’t field an entire team of them. A mix of experienced players and youngsters is ideal.
Azaan Owais and Abdullah Fazal showed promise in the first Test, but failed in the second when responsibility increased—and that’s not their fault; they need time to settle.
Now everyone is eyeing captaincy again. Babar’s fans want him reinstated, despite his past failures as a leader and the negative impact on his batting and relationships. The board might not go that route, and Salman Ali Agha could get an opportunity.
Whatever the decision, it should benefit Pakistan cricket. Fans are rapidly losing interest in the game. Urgent steps are needed to improve performance—otherwise, just hold two PSL seasons a year, since at least Pakistan doesn’t lose there and people can enjoy some peace.
