The decline of Pakistan cricket

Pakistan’s status in the cricketing world has declined precipitously. The reasons for this, according to some of the leading figures of Pakistan cricket, range from security issues to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s internal problems, a change in players’ attitudes and the ICC’s “shoddy handling of various issues”. Daily News and Analysis’ Ankita Pandey talks to Asif Iqbal and Javed Miandad about the sorry state of the game in their country.

“The 80s and the 90s were certainly the best years of Pakistan cricket… Even early 2000. Somewhere between early 2002 and 2003 we saw a tremendous change in the players’ attitude towards the game,” he says.

“By this I mean that cricket took backstage and senior players in particular led the decline in team ethics and discipline. The juniors lacked proper encouragement and opportunities as the old brigade clung to each other and kept a tight hold on the reigns. Not necessarily for cricketing reasons. Sporting culture was no longer a part of the dressing room.”

Meanwhile, Pradeep Magazine, in his article in the Hindustan Times, attributes Pakistan’s lack of money-power as the main reason for cricket’s regression in the country.