Former Pakistan coach Mohammad Yousuf has claimed that the team’s 10-wicket win over their arch-rivals, Team India, in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 had a damaging effect on the Pakistan team, which is currently visible.
Speaking on Samaa TV, Yousuf reckoned that the national players need to stay humble. He went on to add that a lot of Pakistani players started to think that they had achieved something big after defeating India by 10 wickets in the mega event in 2021.
“That match which we won against India in 2021, that damaged us a lot. Because after that victory, players started to think that they had achieved something big. They couldn’t understand what they had to do next. When you are performing well, you should stay humble. If you behave with your collar raised, and get disrespectful, problems will arrive. And a lot of them have arrived in Pakistan cricket,” said Yousuf in a conversation on Samaa TV.
Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) released seven players after suffering a Test series defeat to England. PCB also axed the Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul.
PCB removed Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad from the Test squad and brought in Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah to the third Test, which is scheduled to start on September 9 in Birmingham.
“Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket. Look at all the cricket Pakistan has played in the last four-five years, from ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and Champions Trophy. There has been terrible cricket. The PCB has been supporting you throughout. So many coaches have come and gone, so many things have changed just to try and help the Pakistan team. But no player has stood up and taken responsibility. Eventually, PCB had to take a step that it did. I back what PCB did,” he added.
“Yes, there is no issue with when PCB have taken action. The Pakistan team is ninth in the World Test Championship standings. They are ninth because there are only nine teams in the table. Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s reputation is getting ruined). So when that’s happening, the board has to take some steps to improve,” he noted.
