After the host crashed from the Champions Trophy in the group stage, the darkness and demands for wholesale changes engulfed Pakistan, who was crazy for cricket.
The title holder lost the opening game to New Zealand on Wednesday with 60 runs in Karachi. The six-wicket defeat to Archrivals India on Sunday then pushed them to the brink of an early exit.
Pakistan needed Bangladesh to beat New Zealand on Monday to maintain a slim hope for a place in the semi-finals, but the outcome was reversed.
Thursday’s match against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi has been reduced to a Dead Rubber match.
“We’ve been supporting these players over the past few years, and they haven’t improved what they’ve learned,” former captain Wasim Akram told AFP news agency.
“It’s time for a massive shake-up. We need to improve our domestic cricket system so that we can produce high-quality cricketers rather than regular cricketers.”
The lack of competitiveness on domestic cricket and low-quality pitches has been criticized for not preparing players for the international stage.
Pakistan’s sports are also curtailed by frequent changes to the cricket committee, coaching team and selection panels, critics say.
According to the observer, such changes are driven by politics and are not merit.
“I feel very disappointed by the state of cricket in Pakistan,” said former captain Rashid Ratif.
“We have to follow merit and take experts to manage the game, not people politically.
“Frequent changes to the Pakistan Cricket Committee (PCB), Select Committee and Captain failed to properly set up and form a team.”
The stab wounds of the country enjoyed holding its first major cricket tournament in 29 years after major security improvements.
Former Pakistan captain and popular all-arounder Shahid Afridi accused Pakistan of playing outdated cricket.
“In 2025, Pakistan was playing cricket styles in the 1980s and 1990s, while other teams were well on their way to adopt an offensive, modern style,” he said.
“We need to have a complete overhaul of the system so that we can produce players with a positive mindset.”
“Cricket is dying in Pakistan.”
“We were thrilled that the international events have finally returned to our country, but the joy was short-lived,” said Umar Shiraj, 26, a pharmacist at Rawalpindi.
“The hardest part about being a Pakistani fan is praying that other teams will lose,” he laughed. “It hurts. I’m mad.”
Pakistan’s Champions Trophy Flop is nothing new. They also crashed from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India’s first round.
They were then sent out at the same stage last year during the Twenty20 World Cup in the US and the West Indies. This is a tournament won by neighbouring India.
Pakistan finished last month with ninth place in the World Test Championship after drawing the home series with the West Indies.
The latest blunder, and the soil of my hometown, represents a new low.
“It’s a shame they didn’t even fight,” said Naseem Satti, a 46-year-old government worker.
“We don’t have quality bowlers or reliable batsmen. It seems cricket is dead in Pakistan.”
Asma Batool, a 52-year-old housewife, emphasized what cricket means to the people of Pakistanis.
“Cricket is our only source of entertainment for our youth,” she said.
“Our country finds comfort in this game.”
Injury, a fatal blow in poor form
Mohammad Rizwan was appointed Pakistan’s whiteball skipper in October, leading Pakistan to a 2-1 ODI victory over World Champions Australia.
They also won in Zimbabwe and won the first home whitewash in South Africa 3-0.
However, burgeoning opener Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury during subsequent testing in South Africa and Pakistan. Pakistan has delayed the announcement of the Champions Trophy squad until the deadline to wait for Ayub’s fitness, even if the left-handed man fails to recover.
To add to the home team’s anguish, fellow opener Fahar Zaman was removed from the rest of the tournament after his first match (60 losses to New Zealand).
The much untwisted paced attacks of Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Harris Rauf rested to keep the Test series fresh, but they looked rusty and couldn’t control death.
When Zaman was ruled out, the team brought Imam ul Haq as a replacement. He made only ten as Pakistan was crushed by title favourites with six wickets.
In a surprising move, they were included in the team’s all-rounders Khushdil Shah and Faheem Ashraf, based on their performance in Bangladesh’s Twenty20 league. Ashraf hasn’t played ODI in two years or Khushdil three times.
Latif called these choices “political choices” and denounced external influence.
Fans criticize “losers’ thinking”
For fans, the loss to India has brought a heartache that is now familiar to them.
Karachi cafe owner Moiz Umah said that customers asked him to change TV channels and “avoid humiliation” to witness the champion’s trophy being defeated by India.
“For the majority of Indian innings, a considerable number of people turned their backs on the match. They faced friends instead of screens. It was a disappointment,” said the 45-year-old Karachi.
Fans who didn’t look away saw Pakistan’s outclass Pakistan for the second time in eight months at the ICC event, following the clash at the ICC T20 World Cup.
“It was a huge match and we whispered,” said Zain Mursalen, 42, amid a calm moody crowd in Karachi that gathered to watch the match. I did.
“We love to see good cricket and Pakistan not producing it — again.”
In the garrison city adjacent to the capital Islamabad, the atmosphere became gloomy from the start before Indian star batter Virat Kohli hit an unbeaten 100.
“They came to the game with a loser’s mindset and didn’t try to attack,” said Rasheed Saleem, 53. “They don’t think they realize how discouraged they are to see their fans fall like this.”
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