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Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
The agony & heartbreak of a millennial cricket fan
From 1999 to 2025, Pakistan cricket's cycle of heartbreak continues. Will there ever be an end to this agony? As I sat in front of the TV, watching Pakistan's CT 2025 campaign come to a screeching halt, I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions: shock, disappointment, and heartbreak. Being a millennial, I've always been obsessed with cricket, particularly Pakistan's team. Growing up, I experienced the highs of winning the 2009 T20 World Cup, as well as the lows, including the 1999 World Cup defeat, when then-captain Wasim Akram made the shocking decision to bat first on a wet surface. This was followed by the 2003 exit, which was particularly significant because Pakistan's three cricket legends announced their retirements: Wasim Akram (who was the leading wicket-taker in World Cups with a tally of 55), Waqar Younis, the then-captain, and Saeed Anwar. The 2007 World Cup was another disappointment, as Pakistan failed to advance beyond the group stage after being knocked out by Ireland and even a greater tragedy occurred with the sudden death of Head Coach Bob Woolmer a day after the defeat. Although Pakistan managed to win the 2009 T20 World Cup, hopes were dashed again when the team lost the semi-final of the 2011 World Cup against India in Mohali. Now, the most painful heartbreak is undoubtedly the early exit of Team Green from the ICC CT 2025, an event that Pakistan was hosting after a gap of three decades. Pakistan's 1999 World Cup final nightmare relived It's the second time, like me, among many countrymen are facing the similar heartbreaks, 26 years later. I still remember, I was a kid at that time, and we had recently bought a 14-inch color television at home. I didn't even know how to operate the remote panel, but after fixing the terrestrial antenna, I sat down on the sofa and started watching the 1999 World Cup final. The game progressed — remember, we had been world champions just seven years earlier and, at that time, we were the strongest side in '99 world cup. We had Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar, who scored back-to-back hundreds, Shoaib Akhtar, with the strongest middle-order pair of Inzamam-ul-Haq and Ijaz Ahmed, and the trio of all-rounders: Azhar Mahmood, Abdul Razzaq, and Shahid Afridi. And of course, Saleem Malik and Saqlain Mushtaq, making a solid balance to the batting and bowling departments. Alas, we couldn't grasp the trophy, as Team Pakistan crumbled against the Australian bowling attack and were all out for 132. What? 132 all out! The grief still haunts me, and the agony is beyond words. I couldn't watch the remaining game. I went to sleep and only woke up to the news while preparing my school bag next day: the Aussies had won. Twenty-six years ago, that crushing defeat left an indelible mark on my heart, and the pain still lingers. And now, again, Pakistan has made an early exit from the Champions Trophy, a tournament the nation has had to wait 29 years to host. It's beyond words to explain the feelings of Pakistani cricket enthusiasts, who have been left reeling from the team's dismal performance. A cricket passionate nation with illussions & paranoia Our generation has suffered many setbacks at the hands of the national team, and now we don't have the courage to endure more. It's time for the cricket board to prepare for surgery on the Green Shirts. We don't need these Kings - Babar, Speed Guns Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah, and Haris Rauf. Hot take: their central contracts should be terminated, and they should be sent back to domestic cricket. If they perform well there, we can consider their return to the team; otherwise, let them go. Pakistani cricket needs to transform itself according to the demands of modern cricket. We're still stuck in the 90s, while the world has moved far ahead. India is a clear example; their cricket and infrastructure are at least a decade ahead of us. Pakistani cricket has a long journey ahead, and it needs to start today. Otherwise, the decline of Pakistani cricket, which has begun with this Champions Trophy, will only worsen, and Pakistani cricket fans will never want that to happen. We have a rich cricket legacy, how can we watch it disappear before our eyes? For Pakistan... all is on the line! But we must not lose hope. Instead, it's time for us to come out in large numbers to fill the stadiums to capacity for each remaining game, regardless of the fact that home team has been knocked out of the tournament. If we fail to do so, which I doubt, it will be a setback not only for Pakistan cricket but also for future generations. Cricket is a shared passion, and we must live in the moment and graciously accept defeat with open hearts. Whether we win or lose, we shouldn't lose our spirit, because, as they say: 'all is on the line'.
Express Tribune
22-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Ex-players dismayed by poor Pak show
Pak cricket team played like a bunch of schoolboys against a very professional Black Caps outfit in the opening game of ICC CT 2025 that has irked the former players. PHOTO: AFP Former Pakistan players have expressed their disappointment at the national team's dismal performance against New Zealand in the opening game of the ICC Champions Trophy in Karachi on Tuesday. Ex-skipper Wasim Akram, former batsman Basit Ali, ex-keeper-batsman Kamran Akmal, former fast bowler Sikander Bakht and a few others came out guns blazing against Pakistan's poor and spineless show on Tuesday that has already jeopardised their chances of advancing in the mega event.. Ex-skipper Wasim Akram, while commenting on the match, said he was shocked at the complete lack of planning on the Pakistan team's part in the match. "In my entire cricketing career and for the years I have been associated with the game, I have seldom seen any Pakistan team perform so poorly and so sketchily as they did against the Black Caps on Tuesday," said Wasim. "Ok yes, the injury to Fakhar was a setback for them, but the chaos and panic that followed was alarming and said a lot about the lack of any kind of rational or mature thinking in the team's camp. "From sending Saud Shakeel to open the innings to Babar Azam's inexplicable defensive approach in batting to our wayward bowling and lack of winning intent were all reflective of the chaos that is currently prevalent in the Pakistan camp," observed Wasim. "Of course, we have all been pointing out the blunders made in the selection of the Champions Trophy squad, but what transpired on Tuesday was totally unexpected for all of us. It was as if a bunch of schoolboys were up against professionals and just did not know what to do to survive in the contest." Former player Basit Ali also lamented the way Pakistan caved in against New Zealand. "I am sorry but I have lost all faith in Babar and Shaheen (Afridi) because it seems that they have forgotten how to bat and bowl under pressure," said Basit while assessing the Tuesday defeat. "Instead of leading from the front with their solid performances, they proved to the worst of the lot and at no stage looked like the match-winners they used to be about a year and a half ago. Sikander also expressed his disgust at the lack of any strategy from skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Company to restrict or counter New Zealand during their innings. "Haven't they (Pakistan) learned a thing from the tri-nation losses to the Black Caps? Are they in some sort of trance that they have forgotten how to bat, bowl or field?" asked the former fast bowler while speaking in a Tv show. "And I want to know just why did Rizwan not come out to open with Babar because he has the experience and has good understanding with Baber to provide a sensible start to the innings," argued Sikander. "Sending Saud to open was a clear blunder, so was not utilizing all of Salman Agha's overs when New Zealand batsmen Will Young and Tod Latham were on the charge. It seemed that the entire think tank in the dressing room was absolutely clueless about tackling the opposition onslaught." Kamran also minced no words as he launched a scathing attack on the selectors for selecting a misfit, unbalanced squad for the important mega event. "All the teams in the world have selected at least three spinners for the Champions Trophy but the hosts who have erred badly by selecting just one specialist spinner and one specialist opening batsman," said Kamran. "It has been a horribly wrong selection to say the least and Pakistan is paying the price for that already. Why was a prolific opener like Imam-ul -Haq, a gifted spinner like Sufyaan Muqeem and a brilliant fielder Irfan Niazi were ignored for such an important event that is taking place in Pakistan after 30 long years?" he questioned. "As a result of our shoddy show against New Zealand on Tuesday, Pakistan is on the brink of ouster from the mega event. They must now win their next two games or it is curtains for them which will be an utterly shameful for all of us," he concluded.
