‘The issue is not Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi…’: Nasser Hussain rips Pakistan cricket apart ahead of 2nd Test | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Former England skipper Nasser Hussain has launched a scathing critique of Pakistan cricket’s management, arguing that the core issue lies not with players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, or Naseem Shah, but with the instability and lack of forward planning within the system.
Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of Pakistan’s second Test against England, Hussain underlined the constant changes in selectors, coaches, and captains as the root cause of the team’s struggles.
“The issue is not Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, or Naseem Shah,” Hussain said. “The issue is behind the scenes in the way Pakistan cricket runs.”
In his valiant attack on PCB‘s structure, Hussain discussed how the lack of structure leads to reactionary decisions, such as Babar’s sudden exclusion after the first Test. “In the paper, I saw there were 26 different selectors; in another, it said 27. Nobody can keep count. How many have England had? Two or three, maybe. But if you keep changing selectors, coaches, captains—constantly shuffling leadership—it’s impossible to plan ahead. No successful business or sports team works that way. When you operate with short-term thinking, you show up unprepared, and by the time you lose the first Test, you’re already scrambling for solutions,” he further added
He also pointed out that, while Pakistan face financial challenges compared to wealthier cricket boards, their internal issues compound the problem. “Their cricket and some of it, you give them a bit of leeway because of the way the finances of the world game have gone with the big three, and they’re picking up the scraps like other nations are. So I really feel for Pakistan cricket and we mustn’t be too harsh on them, but at times, they shoot themselves in the foot,” Hussain remarked.
Reacting to Hussain’s remarks, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram posted a cryptic message on X, saying, “I think finally boys are on to something here.”
Pakistan are under pressure to bounce back in the second Test, which begins on Tuesday in Multan.
The team has made four changes, including debuting batsman Kamran Ghulam and adding three spinners to take advantage of the re-used Multan pitch.
Pakistan’s selection choices are seen as a desperate attempt to level the series after being humiliated by England in the first Test, where the visitors declared at a massive 823-7 and won by an innings and 47 runs.
