Pakistan is heartbroken over cricket. Imported by British colonials, it is now the favourite sport in the world’s fifth most populous country. But the Pakistani team’s recent record of defeats in international competitions has left fans bitter and raising many questions. Why has Pakistani cricket become so bad?
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From our correspondent in Islamabad
Historically, the cricket is a sport in which the Pakistan excels, with three world championship titles to its name. But the country recently fell to eighth place in the international rankings. A total debacle for the Pakistani team, which owes it in particular to a defeat against BangladeshSeptember 3, 2024. The Bangladeshi team is not, however, known to be a rival of Pakistan, considered one of the reservoirs of the best players in the world.
In June, the Pakistani team suffered another defeat against the UNITED STATESduring the World Cricket Championship. For many fans these defeats are humiliating and generate incomprehension and frustration.
An allegory of the country’s economic situation
Cricket is not immune to nepotism and corruption, which are endemic in Pakistan. One player in particular has unleashed the most harsh criticism on social media: Azam Khan. This batsman for the Pakistani team continues to be a starter in international competitions, despite his poor results. He is, in reality, the son of a former international player, whose network of influence is very extensive. The reasons for his presence in the team are an open secret in Pakistan but trigger the fury of fans.
Another aberration also denounced by cricket experts is the accumulation of mandates of the resident of the Cricket Federation, who is none other than the current Minister of Interior. He has no experience in this sport adored in Pakistan and he combines two functions which have nothing to do with each other.
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On social media, radio shows and television, many Pakistanis are expressing their frustration, saying how outraged they are that cricket, a source of joy and pride, has fallen so low. Some are drawing parallels with the situation in the country and lamenting that nepotism and corruption are taking a toll even on those who excel in their field.
A team struggling to adapt
But Pakistan’s woes are not the only cause of his team’s setback. A cricket fan and enthusiast in Islamabad acknowledges that cricket has evolved over the decades. The game has modernised: it is faster, more complex, but the Pakistani approach has remained the same. According to him, cricket is the latest victim of an outdated approach to sport in Pakistan, squash and hockey having already suffered the same. The country used to be a benchmark in these sports. But mismanagement, lack of resources and demands have had a direct impact on the performance of Pakistani players.
At the same time, international competition is becoming increasingly fierce, with the entry of the United States into the cricket arena, for example. Their approach to the sport and their investments are allowing their players to challenge Pakistan, a historically cricketing nation.
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