The Pakistan cricket team faced its most significant setback in the T20 World Cup, failing to advance to the second round of the competition for the first time. The team’s performance has deeply disappointed Pakistanis, who are calling for severe action against the entire team, selectors, and a comprehensive restructuring of the cricket system under the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Their unexpected loss to the USA, followed by a painful defeat against India, has put the Pakistan team in a dire situation.
Their faint hopes hinged on the USA losing to Ireland and other matches going their way to secure a spot in the second round. However, rain intervened, resulting in the abandonment of the USA versus Ireland match, shattering Pakistan’s hopes and forcing them to return home with heads hung low.
The team’s elimination from the T20 World Cup has left fans disappointed and furious.
A resident of Islamabad expressed their anger at the team’s performance in the World Cup, calling for the removal of all the players, team selectors, and coaches. They insisted that a new system should replace the current setup entirely.
He added that ongoing favoritism among certain players, the captain, and his allies has completely destroyed the team. These individuals, he claimed, receive substantial monthly payments from the PCB. According to him, these players manipulate the board and selectors to ensure their preferred players remain in the team while sidelining talented newcomers who have excelled in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), leaving them benched.
Former players and commentators have criticized the cricketers and the board for allowing lobbying within the team. They argue that all the players should be sent back to the domestic circuit for at least two years before being considered for the national team. They believe that a ‘group of four’ players in the team has ruined the careers of deserving players who perform consistently in the domestic circuit but are overlooked for national selection and left on the sidelines in the dressing rooms.
The Pakistan team’s premature exit from the T20 World Cup has left cricket fans deeply disappointed. They are criticizing the players for their below-par performances, the captain Babar Azam for his perceived lack of leadership and match understanding, and the selectors for overlooking young players who were in the squad but did not get a chance to play.
In response to the team’s poor showing, the PCB is preparing for a comprehensive overhaul and review of the team’s performance. Major decisions are expected to be made in the coming days to address the issues and make necessary changes.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has indicated that a major overhaul is necessary for the team, suggesting that players’ central contracts, including those of the captain Babar Azam and other senior players, are likely to be cancelled.
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