‘Winning against India hurt us a lot’: Mohammad Yousuf explains the decline of Pakistan cricket

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has said that the country’s current cricket crisis started after their famous 10-wicket win over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.Pakistan had never beaten India in a World Cup before this match. Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 68 while Mohammad Rizwan made an unbeaten 79 as Pakistan chased down 152 without losing a wicket. The win was hailed as a historic moment for Pakistan cricket.However, Yousuf believes the win also changed the mindset of the players and played a role in the team’s decline in subsequent years.

‘That match… hurt us a lot’

Yousuf said the players were overconfident after India’s defeat and could not understand what to do next.“That match we won against India in 2021 hurt us a lot. Because after that win, the players started thinking they had achieved something big. They didn’t understand what to do next. When you perform well, you should remain humble. If you behave with your collar up and disrespectful, problems will come. And a lot of them have come to Sama TV cricket.”Yousuf believes the issue was not just about Pakistan’s results. He feels that the team’s attitude has also changed after the famous win.

The players wanted to become the captain

Yousuf also blamed the captaincy struggle for some of Pakistan’s problems.He said the players became more interested in becoming the captain of the team instead of taking responsibility for their performances.“Everyone in the team tried to captain the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket. Look at the cricket Pakistan played in the last four five years, from ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and Champions Trophy. It was terrible cricket. PCB supported you all the time. So many coaches and no players changed, but the team changed and didn’t change, that’s how Pakistan stood. PCB finally she had to take the step she did,” Yousuf added.

Pakistan in trouble in England

Yousuf’s comments came at a difficult time for Pakistan cricket. The team suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests against England. Pakistan lost the Headingley Test by an innings and 103 runs before suffering a 194-run defeat at Lord’s. The Pakistan Cricket Board then made major changes midway through the England tour.Seven players – Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar – have been sent back to Pakistan with one Test remaining in the series.The PCB also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul. Seven substitutes were called up, including five uncapped players.The decision to make major changes in the middle of the Test series attracted a lot of attention. However, Yousuf said he had no problem with the PCB’s decision.When asked if it was right to take the action with one Test left, he said, “Yes, there is no problem with the PCB taking the action. The Pakistan team is ninth in the Test World Cup standings. It is ninth because there are only nine teams in the table. Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s reputation is being destroyed, so when it has to be done, the board has to take some action.”Yousuf also hinted that something may have happened inside the dressing room that led to seven players being sent home.

“It’s not just this one series”

Yousuf said Pakistan’s problems cannot be blamed solely on England’s ongoing series.He pointed to the team’s poor performances in major tournaments in recent years.“I don’t see a problem with the PCB’s response. Because the team is playing terrible cricket. It’s not just about this one series against England. We played in the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and we played in the Asia Cup final as well, but since this final, just look at the performance of this Pakistan team,” Yousuf said.Pakistan has been struggling with different formats in recent years. Bangladesh swept them 2-0 earlier this year, their second 0-2 series defeat against the same opposition after the 2024 home series.The team’s poor performances have raised questions about its leadership, selection and overall direction.But for Yousuf, the root of the problem goes back to that famous night in Dubai in 2021 when Pakistan finally beat India by 10 wickets in a World Cup match.