Former Pakistan star cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has said the country's current cricket crisis began after their famous 10-wicket win over India at the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai. Pakistan had never beaten India in a World Cup before that match. Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 68, while Mohammad Rizwan made 79 not out as Pakistan chased down 152 without losing a wicket. The win was celebrated as a historic moment for Pakistan cricket. However, Yousuf believes the victory also changed the mindset of the players and played a role in the team's decline in the years that followed.
Yousuf said the players became too confident after beating India and failed to understand what they needed to do next. “That match which we won against India in 2021, that damaged us a lot. Because after that victory, players started to think that they had achieved something big. They couldn’t understand what they had to do next. When you are performing well, you should stay humble. If you behave with your collar raised, and get disrespectful, problems will arrive. And a lot of them have arrived in Pakistan cricket,” said Yousuf in a conversation on Samaa TV. Yousuf believes the problem was not only about Pakistan's results. He feels the team's attitude also changed after the famous win.
Yousuf also blamed the fight for captaincy for some of Pakistan's problems. He said players became more interested in becoming the team's captain instead of taking responsibility for their performances. “Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket. Look at all the cricket Pakistan has played in the last four-five years, from ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and Champions Trophy. There has been terrible cricket. The PCB has been supporting you throughout. So many coaches have come and gone, so many things have changed just to try and help the Pakistan team. But no player has stood up and taken responsibility. Eventually, PCB had to take a step that it did. I back what PCB did,” added Yousuf.
Yousuf's comments have come at a difficult time for Pakistan cricket. The team suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests against England. Pakistan lost the Headingley Test by an innings and 103 runs before suffering a 194-run defeat at Lord's. The Pakistan Cricket Board then made major changes in the middle of the England tour. Seven players - Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar - were sent back to Pakistan with one Test still left in the series. The PCB also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul. Seven replacements were called up, including five uncapped players. The decision to make major changes in the middle of a Test series attracted a lot of attention. However, Yousuf said he had no problem with the PCB's decision. When asked whether the board was right to take action with one Test still remaining, he said: “Yes, there is no issue with when PCB have taken action. The Pakistan team is ninth in the World Test Championship standings. They are ninth because there are only nine teams in the table. Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s reputation is getting ruined). So when that’s happening, the board has to take some steps to improve. ” Yousuf also suggested that something may have happened inside the dressing room that led to the seven players being sent home.
Yousuf said Pakistan's problems cannot be blamed only on the ongoing England series. He pointed to the team's poor performances in major tournaments over the last few years. “I don’t see an issue with the PCB reaction. Because the team has been playing terrible cricket. It’s not just this one series against England. We played in the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and played in an Asia Cup final as well, but since those finals, just look at the performances coming out of this Pakistan team,” Yousuf said.
Pakistan have struggled across formats in recent years. They were swept 2-0 by Bangladesh earlier this year, their second 0-2 series defeat against the same opposition after the 2024 home series. The team's poor performances have raised questions over its leadership, selection and overall direction. But for Yousuf, the root of the problem goes back to that famous night in Dubai in 2021, when Pakistan finally beat India by 10 wickets in a World Cup match.
