Pakistan Cricket 2025: Leadership Changes or Just Another PCB Experiment.
Pakistan cricket remains trapped in a cycle it never escapes: instability masked as “fresh direction.” The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), under increasing pressure from fans and former players, has once again restructured leadership. Critics argue that this change is more reactionary than strategic.
Leadership Shuffle or Leadership Confusion?
The PCB’s decision to appoint Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain for both T20 and ODI formats is presented as a bold youth-oriented move. However, history suggests otherwise. Pakistan cricket often hastily promotes star players, burdening them with leadership and blaming them when results deteriorate. While Shaheen’s aggressive style and popularity endear him to fans, effective captaincy requires stability over symbolism.
Meanwhile, Shan Masood continues as Test captain, a decision seemingly based more on convenience than vision. Shan’s composed demeanor is beneficial, but with erratic Test scheduling and frequent team changes, even a steady leader struggles to manage a constantly changing team.
Series Win, Same Old Issues
Pakistan’s recent 2-1 victory over South Africa in the T20I series offers a brief respite in an otherwise unstable year. After a significant 55-run loss in the first match, Pakistan recovered with two victories, anchored by Shaheen’s early breakthroughs and Babar Azam’s steady performance. However, this success highlights persistent issues: inconsistent batting, a weak middle order, and reliance on individual talent rather than systematic planning. One series win does not cover up years of structural deficiencies.
The PCB’s Short Memory
Critics believe the PCB’s primary issue is not talent, but institutional forgetfulness. Each leadership crisis prompts cosmetic solutions: a new captain, a new coach, a new mantra. What Pakistan cricket truly needs is a long-term strategy. Until this changes, even the most talented captains will battle issues they didn’t cause.
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The appointments of Shaheen and Shan may appear as change, but actually depict a familiar cycle of decisions made under pressure without foresight. Unless the PCB focuses on building for the future instead of reacting to present challenges, Pakistan cricket will continue in its unending loop of new captains and ongoing crises.
