Pakistan Cricket: A Never-Ending Drama

Ever been in a situation where you wanted to avoid witnessing two people yell and shout at each other, but cannot ignore the drama? Well, that, in a nutshell, is Pakistan cricket at the moment. For a team which had naturally gifted and talented players, they are now struggling to come up with an XI to play the game. It is almost sophomoric, akin to what a Sunday hit-out with friends would look like. 

The recent tour of England had created a lot of excitement in their ranks, especially after beating West Indies in the Port of Spain Test match. Remember, the English themselves are trying to put their house in order after the entire fiasco with Ben Stokes and his eventual retirement. 

The first Test in Leeds saw the visiting side led by Salman Agha (more on him later) lose the game inside three days. The margin of loss was an innings and 103 runs, but the problems were much greater. Joe Root’s side batted for 89.5 overs. Pakistan, on the other hand, batted for 48.1 and 37.3, which totals 85.4. It is still 25 balls less than what the hosts managed. 

Shadow of Imran Khan hovers in Lord’s long room 

The second Test match in Lord’s got off to a dramatic start, not because the visiting side had bowled out the hosts or batted well. Imran Khan’s sons Kasim and Sulaiman’s interview with Michael Atherton had created a stir. 

Put this into perspective. The first day’s play began close to lunchtime, and the cricket was decent, with three wickets falling. Drama was on the other side of lunch as reports came out that the team was threatening to boycott after the interview was broadcast. 

But again, if a dysfunctional family is having issues, the best thing to do would be to pull the curtains and let things cool down. But this is Pakistan cricket and the entire dirty linen was washed in public view. The same long room which has seen and will witness many past, present, and future greats pass through became the source of a coffee-table topic of conversation. 

Imam ul Haq’s attempted show of strength that impressed none

To top it off, opening batter Imam Ul Haq didn’t come out to open the innings with Azan Awais, and that job was given to Shan Masood, which set tongues wagging. It was later revealed that the batter had suffered an injury. Mohammad Wasim, their former batter and selector, revealed that the player had already pulled such a stunt once in 2022. 

Mohammad Amir too joined the chorus, but it was Stuart Broad who summed it up best. “That’s all for show. He has got a bit of stick from the media and maybe his teammates. Whatever. You can do that inside the indoor school without anyone seeing. You don’t have to come wearing shorts and tape and hobble around like that. I am not impressed with that.”

There was no need for the batter to come out. In simple terms, it is bad PR, but then again the current dispensation does have a feeling “Badnaam hue toh kya hua, par naam toh hua.” For those seeking translation, it would be: any publicity is good publicity. Plastered leg, hobbles on the field, it almost looked like a move to create Instagram reels and shorts, which six months down the line would be called heroic attempts. 

Where are the skills?

For years, it was almost a set team, remember as a young boy watching Saeed Anwar scoring a century in the 2003 World Cup or Shoaib Akhtar steaming in to bowl at above 90 miles per hour. Inzamam ul Haq (Imam’s uncle), Younis Khan, and Mohammad Yousuf scored runs with ease irrespective of venue or conditions. 

Now in 2026, this side has managed to bat a total of 173.5 overs in the two Tests. One day of Test cricket has 90 overs. Babar Azam's side hasn’t been able to last two full days on the field as a batting unit.  

Not only does this team lack the skills, but they have a feeling that they are better than their predecessors. Shadab Khan, during the T20 World Cup 2026, had stated: “Former players can give their views, but they didn’t beat India in a World Cup, which we did in 2021. They are legends but didn’t beat India.”

The current team’s only claim to fame is that they beat India in 2021, and few have even worn T-shirts adorned with the scoreline on subsequent match days. For a nation which is obsessed with pitting itself against India, here’s a reality check. The Men in Blue have won three ICC titles and played the 2023 ODI World Cup final since then. Pakistan, in the same time, have failed to make it to the knockouts of any of the tournaments. And they failed to chase down 120 against India in the 2024 T20 World Cup, ICMYI!!!

Drama unfolded after the game ended

Once the game ended on Sunday with England posting another comprehensive win, there was panic in the opposition camp. Mohammad Rizwan’s dismissals had convinced everyone that the player should be sent back home along with Imam ul Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad and two others. 

Salman was Pakistan skipper in the first Test when Babar Azam was injured. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will replace Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul (head coach and bowling coach). 

What happens next?

Still, eight days are left for the third and final Test to begin, and I fully expect the Pakistani side to provide some more drama and entertainment. For a team which produced world-class players and rare talents, they are now producing soap operas.

If you have made it all the way and are offended by what you have read, then there are two things that can be done. One can criticise this article, or two, contemplate, because the never-ending drama isn’t impressing anyone.