Pakistan cricket has devolved into an experimental laboratory. Over the past three years, management has rotated captains, shuffled coaches, and revamped squads across all formats. Yet despite constant experimentation, one grim constant remains: an alarming lack of performance.
The fundamental flaw is not a lack of domestic talent; it is the absence of a long-term vision and player security.
The Bench-Warmer Dilemma: Picked, Ignored, and Axed
A hallmark of the current selection culture is calling up emerging players only to bench them. Young pacers like Akif Javed and Ali Raza earned selections for competitive tournaments, yet spent crucial series carrying drinks before being discarded without playing a single match.
If a player is good enough to make the 15-member squad, why deny them the chance to showcase their ability on the pitch? Selecting talent without granting game time defeats the entire purpose of a transition phase.
The Saad Baig Precedent: One Match and Out
The handling of wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig exposes this reactive mindset. Baig was sidelined after just one underwhelming outing to make room for returning senior names like Shadab Khan.
Recalling seasoned players without demanding consistent domestic performances while discarding emerging youngsters after a single failure sends the wrong message. It tells domestic performers that merit takes a backseat to familiar names whenever results dip.
Cross-Format Confusion: The Plight of Saim Ayub & Mohammad Haris
The board’s cross-format management remains equally disjointed. When a batter experiences a dip in T20 form, it frequently triggers an unmerited exclusion across ODIs and red-ball cricket.
Talents like Saim Ayub and Mohammad Haris have endured a frantic cycle of rapid call-ups, abrupt drops, and sudden recalls. Instead of providing technical guidance and targeted format assignments, the selection committee shuffles players erratically, destabilizing their confidence.
The India Contrast: Backing Over Panic
To see the value of continuity, one only needs to look across the border. When the Indian team management identifies a talent—such as Sanju Samson—they grant a defined, multi-series cushion. Players know they will receive eight to ten games without fearing immediate exclusion after one low score.
In Pakistan, virtually every cricketer enters the field looking over their shoulder. Playing under constant pressure to preserve a spot stifles modern, aggressive cricket.
