Rashid Latif Declares Pakistan Cricket at Its Lowest Ebb

Synopsis

Former captain Rashid Latif highlights that the recent performances of the Pakistan cricket team are at their lowest point, citing selection issues and inadequate support from grassroots levels, especially following their dismal results in the 2025 Champions Trophy and series against New Zealand.

Key Takeaways

Pakistan cricket is at its lowest point.
Recent defeats highlight selection issues.
New Zealand's conditions challenged Pakistani players.
Need for a stable supply of talent from domestic levels.
Comparisons with India illustrate structural issues.

New Delhi, April 6 (NationPress) Following the humiliating experience of finishing without a win at their first significant home tournament since 1996 during the 2025 Champions Trophy, Pakistan faced disheartening defeats of 4-1 and 3-0 in the T20I and ODI series respectively against New Zealand.

In an exclusive conversation with IANS, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif attributed the team's failure in the bilateral series to the added bounce on New Zealand pitches and ongoing selection dilemmas.

“After the Champions Trophy, the team has bilateral commitments, followed by the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for 38 days. I find this perplexing, especially as they performed poorly. The conditions in New Zealand differ significantly. The ball used to seam and swing, but the bounce has been problematic for our batsmen. Additionally, the selection has not been optimal, leading to further complications,” Latif stated to IANS.

With the PSL set to kick off on April 11, Latif highlighted the concerning ‘lack of supply’ for the Men in Green. He underscored the necessity for consistency and immediate reforms within the team, pointing to recent ICC tournament performances as alarming indicators. The former wicket-keeper also stressed the importance of keeping high-profile players challenged with emerging talents ready to take their positions.

“It all begins at the grassroots level. Our focus remains on elite players, neglecting the domestic circuit that essentially disrupts the supply chain. First-class, PSL, and domestic T20 formats have stagnated over the past five years. There have been five changes in PCB chairmanship in four years, and the selection committee's instability has further exacerbated the situation. We have faced significant losses, including the T20 World Cup, Champions Trophy, and the 2023 ODI World Cup. This is not reflective of Pakistan's former cricketing standards; we are at our nadir,” he asserted.

“We possess star players like Babar, Shaheen, Haris, Rizwan, and Fakhar. However, relying on a few key players while the supply line is severed creates complications. Comparisons with India arise because they have players ready to step into any role. Improvements are essential across all levels from grassroots to domestic,” he concluded.