Pakistan criticised by former greats for poor performance against Zimbabwe

Time for a change in Pakistan cricket?

The Pakistan cricket team’s performance has come under the scanner after the team’s disappointing loss in the second Test against Zimbabwe.

Former Pakistan cricketers have termed the loss as embarrassing and shameful after Pakistan became the first team other than Bangladesh to lose a Test against Zimbabwe in 12 years.

Ramiz Raja said that current captain Misbah-Ul-Haq has run out ideas and said that the team needs a new captain with fresh ideas.

“He has given all he could to Pakistan cricket as captain but there is now a predictability and staleness in his captaincy and our brand of cricket, “said Raja.

“He seems to have run out of ideas, so we need someone with fresh ideas. I think Misbah’s shelf-life is over and with these ideas we will stand nowhere before South Africa (in UAE). It seems excitement and aggression is at the lowest point in our cricket, we want to avoid defeat and this hot-and-cold, up-and-down performances must change,” he added.

Former pacer Shoaib Akhtar also expressed his disappointment at the team’s performance.

“Misbah is leading the worst-ever Pakistan team,” he said. “We don’t have good bowlers, we don’t have good batsmen and if Misbah is prominent amongst the batsmen then it shows because, with due respect, Misbah is not world class,” he said.

However, PCB interim chairman Najam Sethi defended the team and said losing is a part of the game.

“So what if we lost against Zimbabwe. Winning and losing is part of the game and even Australia is down these days, so it’s a pattern of ups and down. Pakistan had fallen in depths of disgrace over fixing issues, but things are stable now and they have started respecting us back,” he said.