File photo by Babar Azam©Twitter
After Pakistan’s recent Test series defeat against Bangladesh at home, criticism has been widespread. What’s worse is that this is not a one-off defeat. Pakistan’s cricket team has been suffering from poor form for the past few months. From the 2023 ODI World Cup to the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan’s performance has not been satisfactory. There have been too many changes at the top with Babar Azam being removed as captain only to be reinstated a few weeks later as the white-ball captain. Now, according to a report in Cricket Pakistan, Babar Azam may be sacked once again and Mohammad Rizwan will be appointed as the white-ball captain.
The report also claimed that Rizwan can become the captain in all three formats.
The cricket-mad nation was left in despair after losing the second Test in Rawalpindi by six wickets on Tuesday as Bangladesh swept the series 2-0. It was the 10th consecutive home Test without a win for former powerhouse Pakistan and came hot on the heels of failing to progress from their pools in the 50-overs and T20 World Cups last year.
“We are constantly losing at home and that says a lot about the quality of our cricket,” added Akram, who played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan.
The loss to Bangladesh comes on the heels of defeats to Afghanistan and the United States at the ODI and T20 World Cups respectively. Pakistan also have a dismal record in home Tests over the past three years – six losses and four draws, including a first-ever 3-0 series sweep by England in 2022.
Unfortunately, in-form England will be Pakistan's next visitors and will play three Test matches, starting in Multan on October 7. Pakistan are not having any better luck away from home – they lost all three Test matches in Australia earlier this year, their sixth consecutive win there since 1999.
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