It must be a painful experience for anyone who follows Pakistan cricket at the moment. In the last 19 Test matches, the national side has been on the losing end 14 times, a streak that was underscored by a crushing defeat to England at Headingley last week. In that opening Test, England won by an innings and 103 runs, a result that highlighted a troubling combination of ineffective bowling, fragile batting and sub‑standard fielding from the Pakistani team. The second Test is set to begin at Lord's on Thursday, with live coverage on Sky Sports Cricket (the broadcast starts at 10 a.m.
UK time, with the first ball bowled at 11 a.m.). For the pre‑match analysis, senior Cricinfo editor and recognised Pakistan cricket specialist Osman Samiuddin joined former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. Samiuddin used the platform to outline what he believes has gone fundamentally wrong with Pakistan cricket, arguing that the sport in the country has reached an "alarm‑bells" stage and that supporters are increasingly frustrated with the way the game is being administered.
Samiuddin began by addressing the long‑standing debate over the domestic structure. Over the past half‑century Pakistan has swung back and forth between departmental teams—sponsored by government ministries, banks and corporations—and regional sides representing provinces or cities. He argued that the constant tinkering has prevented any real stability. "Whatever structure you finally decide on, you need to stick with it for a decade or more," he said.
"Since the first first‑class season in 1953 the format has been changed almost every year, and that lack of continuity is damaging." He traced the most recent upheaval to the 2019‑20 season, when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) slashed the number of first‑class teams from 16 to six, only to expand again a few seasons later to a total of 16 teams across four first‑class competitions and three limited‑overs tournaments. "When the board reduced the pool in 2019, they essentially eliminated half of the country’s first‑class cricketers overnight," Samiuddin explained. "There were reports of players having to take up taxi driving or other odd jobs because their cricketing contracts vanished." The frequent restructuring has also eroded the quality of domestic cricket, which is the primary breeding ground for future Test players.
Previously, matches were spread across 16 first‑class venues, giving players exposure to a variety of pitches and conditions. In recent years, the schedule has been compressed onto just four or five grounds.
"How can a young batsman like Abdullah Shafique or Imam‑ul‑Haq learn to adapt to different surfaces when they are only playing on a handful of venues?" Samiuddin asked rhetorically. Beyond the domestic turmoil, Samiuddin highlighted the scarcity of Test cricket for Pakistan. The team has not played a double‑digit number of Tests in a calendar year since 2017. By contrast, only a few other nations—Sri Lanka (four Tests), Ireland (three) and Afghanistan (two)—have scheduled fewer than five Tests in 2025.
Pakistan is slated to play nine Tests in 2026, but the lack of regular, high‑quality competition has hampered player development. He also pointed to governance instability at the PCB. Since 2021, four different chairmen have overseen the board: Ramiz Raja, Najam Sethi, Zaka Ashraf and the current chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.
"The chairman’s primary job is running the interior ministry, which is a full‑time, high‑pressure role," Samiuddin noted. "It is reasonable to question how much attention he can devote to cricket administration." The inconsistency at the top has filtered down to player management. Samiuddin cited several promising talents—Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Abdullah Shafique and Naseem Shah—who burst onto the scene only to see their progress stall.
He argued that mismanagement of their careers, whether through inadequate injury rehabilitation, unclear coaching assignments or poor scheduling, has prevented them from reaching their full potential. "Shaheen has only featured in nine of the last 27 Tests since returning from a knee injury, and Naseem has not played a Test since December 2024," he observed.
"Both bowlers have been shuffled in and out of squads without clear communication, which disrupts their development and confidence." Injuries, particularly for fast bowlers, require consistent first‑class match practice to rebuild strength and stamina. Yet Samiuddin pointed out that Shaheen has played hardly any domestic games in the past three years, and the same is true for Naseem.
"A fast bowler needs regular workload to maintain his body," he said. "The current system does not provide that." The broader issue, according to Samiuddin, is the increasing waste of talent.
While some degree of attrition is inevitable in any sporting system, the rate at which Pakistan’s promising players are lost or under‑utilised has accelerated dramatically in the last five to six years. He warned that if the current trajectory continues, cricket in Pakistan could suffer a fate similar to that of hockey in the country or West Indies cricket, where once‑vibrant programs have dwindled due to mismanagement and dwindling public interest.
Fan sentiment, he added, reflects this growing disenchantment. Observers at the Headingley Test noted a surprisingly thin Pakistani crowd, and Samiuddin reported hearing from supporters who are less angry at the on‑field results and more exasperated with the administrative chaos. "People will still travel to Lord's to watch their team, but attendance is shrinking," he said. "We are at a danger point where the alarm bells are ringing.
If nothing changes, the sport could slip into irrelevance in Pakistan." In summary, Samiuddin’s analysis paints a picture of a cricketing ecosystem plagued by constant structural changes, insufficient Test exposure, leadership turnover and inadequate player development pathways. The combination of these factors has led to a decline in performance, a loss of confidence among players, and growing frustration among the fan base. Addressing these challenges will require a long‑term commitment to a stable domestic structure, a clear vision from the PCB’s leadership, and a systematic approach to nurturing and protecting the country’s bowling and batting talent. Only then can Pakistan hope to reverse the current downward spiral and restore its proud cricketing heritage.