“Look deeper through the telescope and do not be afraid when the stars collide towards the darkness, because sometimes the most beautiful things begin in chaos.”
This quote aptly sums up Pakistan cricket. In Pakistan’s cricketing journey, beautiful things often emerge from chaos, only to end abruptly. Such is the state of the game that changes within the team and management occur almost every month, if not daily.
Beauty Emerging From Chaos
Pakistan’s recent win in an ODI series against Australia after 22 years painted a picture of triumph. After that, Pakistan lost to Zimbabwe in the first one-day international, showcasing the stark contrasts that define the team. Not too long ago, Bangladesh hammered Pakistan in a test series 2-0 followed by a loss in the first test against an English team. This debacle plunged the team and the board into a phase of darkness, but the second Test against England brought a glimmer of hope—beauty emerging from chaos.
However, stability remained elusive. Due to the losses major players, including both batters and bowlers, were unceremoniously dropped from the team under a newly appointed selection committee after the first test against England. This committee was formed after numerous selectors were cycled through in a remarkably short time. Another big thing was the resignation of World Cup-winning foreign coach Gary Kirsten before the Australia series, who never even got the chance to coach the Pakistan team after his appointment in an ODI before being replaced. This departure has once again reignited the debate over the need for local or foreign coaches
Local or Foreign Coaches Game of Musical Chairs
The new selection committee as I am writing now is operating under interim head coach Aaqib Javed, including Azhar Ali, former umpire Aleem Dar, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema but you never know with Pakistan cricket what happens next.
Aaqib Javed has been appointed interim white ball head coach, and current red ball coach Jason Gillespie is expected to step down soon, citing instability within the setup and some issues.
This instability that we see on the field goes deeper into the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as well, where the chairmanship has become a game of musical chairs, although it has a history of rotation of Chairmans now and then. Over the past two years, Pakistan has seen four PCB chairman. From 2019 onwards, the turmoil has engulfed every level of the team. In just a few years, Pakistan has tried 10 head coaches and changed captains five times.
It began in 2019 when former captain Misbah-ul-Haq took on the roles of head coach and chief selector. Since then, a long list of coaches and players has been shuffled in and out of the setup.
Turmoil In PCB Timeline
Board presidents:
From 2021 to the present, Pakistan cricket has witnessed a succession of chairpersons leading the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Ramiz Raja held the position from 2021 to 2022, followed by Najam Sethi, who served from 2022 to 2023. Zaka Ashraf took over in 2023 and remained in charge until 2024. Currently, Mohsin Naqvi leads the PCB, having assumed the role in 2024.
Coaches:
From 2019 to 2024, Pakistan cricket has seen a series of coaching appointments: Misbah-ul-Haq (2019–2021), Saqlain Mushtaq (2021–2023), Abdul Rehman (interim, 2023), Grant Bradburn (2023), Mohammad Hafeez (2023–2024), Azhar Mahmood (interim, 2024), Gary Kirsten (white-ball, 2024), Jason Gillespie (red-ball, 2024–present), and Aqib Javed (interim white-ball, 2024–present).
Chief selectors:
From 2020 to 2024, Pakistan cricket has seen several chief selectors shaping the national team. Mohammad Wasim served from 2020 to 2022, followed by Shahid Afridi, who held the position from 2022 to 2023. Haroon Rasheed briefly took charge in 2023, succeeded by Inzamam-ul-Haq later that year. Wahab Riaz also held the role, having assumed the position in 2023.
Leadership Turmoil and Pakistan Cricket
The chaos off the field reflects on the field as well. Frequent captaincy changes have left the team struggling for leadership. Muhammad Rizwan currently holds the captaincy, but there’s no guarantee he will retain it tomorrow. The constant reshuffling has affected players’ performance, particularly pace bowler Shaheen Afridi, who is still grappling with the challenges of leadership. Similarly, Pakistan’s star batter finds himself far from his best form.
This instability also raises questions about whether local or foreign coaches can bring the necessary stability to guide the team forward. So, Chaos may give birth to beauty in Pakistan cricket, but it also ensures that beauty rarely lasts.
Instability: Performance Dip and Future
The constant reshuffling within the Pakistan Cricket Board has cast a shadow over the players, unsettling their confidence like a ship adrift without a captain. If this trend persists, it sends an unspoken message to foreign coaches that they are unwelcome in these turbulent waters. The revolving door of leadership has already tarnished Pakistan’s reputation, painting a bleak picture that may deter foreign coaches from ever stepping ashore. The PCB must recognize that this erratic approach is not just a bump in the road but a slow-burning fuse that could lead to long-term damage. Stability and foresight are the anchors needed to steer the ship toward success.
New Way Forward for Pakistan team
There is always something with the chaos that comes with the beauty of solutions or curiosity of thinking what is the best way forward or new way to solve things. Pakistan cricket should go in that way where they have long-term planning. They should think about hiring local or foreign coaches but sticking to the mantra of consistency will reap good rewards.
