The decline of national cricket team: Urgent reforms needed

Cricket, once the pride of our nation, has been facing a steady decline in recent years. What was once a powerhouse producing world-class talent now struggles to compete at the highest level. This downward spiral is not accidental but a result of deep-rooted structural and systemic failures. If immediate corrective measures are not taken, our cricketing legacy could be at serious risk.

The discontinuation of

departmental cricket

For decades, the departmental cricket structure played a pivotal role in nurturing talent in Pakistan. We have a long list of legends who were either products of the departmental cricket structure or became refined, world-class players by being part of it. That structure provided cricketers with financial security, competitive match experience, and a structured pathway to international cricket. With its discontinuation, the opportunities for young and emerging players had diminished significantly. The absence of a well-organised domestic circuit means fewer players are being groomed properly, leading to a direct impact on the quality of cricketers reaching the national team. Opponents of Departmental Cricket structure may argue that English and Australian cricket have thrived for decades with County and State teams. However, it is important to acknowledge that these counties and states have always been financially strong.

Brand and celebrity culture

We must move away from the celebrity culture and stop treating senior players as brands. Every player must understand that their place in the team is earned through performance, not reputation. While continuity in the cricket team is vital and cannot be ignored, it should never come at the cost of accountability. Past glories should be cherished, but they cannot serve as a lifetime guarantee of selection-only players’ consistent performance and impact should determine their future in the team. No one is above the game, and neither the players nor selectors should consider any player as indispensable.

Lack of performance

monitoring and accountability

A successful cricketing system thrives on transparency and accountability. Unfortunately, our current structure lacks a proper mechanism to track and evaluate player performance effectively. Other leading cricketing nations have data-driven selection methods and well-defined fitness and form benchmarks. Without a structured monitoring system, players are rarely held accountable for underperformance, leading to a culture of complacency. This lack of accountability results in a stagnant team where mediocrity is tolerated rather than challenged.

Meritocracy must be the prime selection criterion

The national team must be a reflection of the best talent available, not of favoritism or past performances alone. Selecting players based on merit will not only strengthen the team but also send a clear message to emerging cricketers that consistent performances at the domestic level will be rewarded. This will motivate young players to strive for excellence, knowing that international opportunities are within their reach.

Format-specific selections

Another critical flaw in the selection process is the assumption that success in one format translates into the other. Each format, i.e. Test, ODI, and T20 demands a different skill set, temperament, and approach. Selecting players without considering these differences leads to inefficiency, where specialists are overlooked in favor of all-format selections. The team must adopt a format-specific strategy to ensure it has the right personnel for each version of the game.

Enhancing mental strength

It is high time that key stakeholders recognize cricket as not just a game of skill but also of mental strength. Unfortunately, many of our players come from backgrounds where they have limited access to education, which may hinder their ability to assess and analyze even their own strengths and weaknesses, particularly in terms of mental resilience. To address this, a well-structured training and development program must be introduced to enhance both the mental and emotional preparedness of our players for big stage.

Mastering the basics of

modern cricket

To compete at the highest level, the team must master the fundamentals of the game.

Tactical Batting Approach: Batters must learn to find ways to disrupt the opposition’s plans, forcing bowlers to adjust. If batters allow bowlers to settle into a rhythm and stick to their Plan-A, the team will always be on the back foot.

Strike Rotation: Batters must focus on rotating the strike instead of getting stuck at one end. The mindset should be to take a run on every ball and only decline if there is no opportunity and not the other way around. The important thing is to convey the right message to your opponent and to your dressing room. Cricket is a game of both skill and mindset. But as you progress to higher levels, mindset plays an increasingly dominant role in the equation.

Phase-specific strategies

Both batters and bowlers must have different strategies for different phases of the game. In modern cricket, teams plan meticulously for powerplays, middle overs, and death overs in limited overs cricket. Similarly, in test cricket, team must learn to plan and take the game forward session-by-session.

Effective utilisation of DRS: This is another area where we lag behind. DRS has become a crucial aspect of the game, and it must be used smartly and responsibly. Available reviews should be treated as a strategic lifeline for the team, not as personal opportunities for individual players. There needs to be a clear, agreed-upon consultation process for using DRS, as review opportunities are limited and can be costly if wasted carelessly. Our team often lacks such tactical adaptability.

Adapting to the modern

game techniques

The game of cricket has evolved dramatically over the past 15-20 years. Teams now rely on analytics, aggressive tactics, and dynamic game plans. Unfortunately, our team is still content to operate with a mindset from the 1980s, relying on outdated strategies. To remain competitive, we must embrace modern cricketing philosophies, integrate sports science, and develop players who can adapt to the ever-changing demands of the game.

The way forward

The decline of our cricket team is not irreversible, but it requires urgent reforms. Bringing back a structured domestic system, enforcing accountability and discipline, ensuring merit-based selections, and adapting to modern-day cricketing demands are the need of the hour. If these issues are addressed with sincerity and commitment, there is no reason why our team cannot reclaim its rightful place among the world’s best.

Cricket is more than just a sport in our country. It is a passion, a unifying force. It’s time for the decision-makers to take smart and bold steps to revive our cricketing fortunes. The nation deserves a team that competes with pride and excellence

Click here to read article