The Cricket Circle

Pakistan lost the ODI series 2-1 against Bangladesh in 2026, and honestly this is a serious wake-up call for Pakistan cricket.

What is more worrying is the excuse coming from management that this is a “young team” and they need confidence. This argument does not make sense. Around 70% of the players in this squad are not new to international cricket. Farhan has already played nearly 50 T20Is. Rizwan and Agha have played close to or more than a hundred international matches. Faheem, Hussain Talat, Rauf and Shaheen have been part of the setup since 2019. Wasim Jr and Abrar Ahmed have also played dozens of international matches across formats. If such experienced players cannot compete with a 10th-ranked team, how will Pakistan ever become the top team in world cricket?

This is the time for serious thinking and proper planning. Where are players like Abdullah Shafique, Saud Shakeel and Kamran Ghulam, who can strengthen the middle order? In the top order, Imam, Fakhar and Babar have proven records in ODI cricket, yet they are being dropped based on T20 performances. ODI and T20 are different formats and should be treated accordingly.

If Pakistan truly wants to build a strong team for the 2027 World Cup, selectors should start giving consistent opportunities to players like Zaman Khan, Sufyan Muqeem and Abbas Afridi while also bringing back reliable ODI performers. Stability, proper roles and long-term planning are the only way forward.

Pakistan cricket needs honest decisions now, not excuses.

There seems to be a serious mental block within the Pakistan national cricket team when facing the India national cricket team. Other teams play India with composure and execute their plans normally, but Pakistan often collapses under pressure — even on batting-friendly pitches where India bats comfortably. It sometimes looks as if they’re playing on a green, seaming Test pitch on Day 1 instead of a flat surface.

Even associate teams appear to compete more freely against India. On paper, Pakistan is clearly a stronger side, yet their performances in these matches resemble those of an underdog team. It feels like a psychological issue more than a technical one, and perhaps professional sports psychologists or structured mental conditioning could help address this recurring problem.