Where does Pakistan cricket stand in Asia?

India clearly stand at the pinnacle of both Asian and global cricket.

After suffering a defeat to Australia in the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, they rebounded strongly by clinching the 2024 T20 World Cup. They not only have the financial muscle but also world-class talent, which continues to propel them in pursuit of world titles. India's comprehensive development have enabled them to reach two consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) finals, and they are well-positioned to qualify for a third. Furthermore, their victory in the 2023 Asia Cup further solidified their status as the premier team in Asia.

Meanwhile, Pakistan, once a cricketing powerhouse in the world, find themselves at a critical juncture, as other Asian nations, once deemed underdogs, have started to outshine them. The decline of Pakistan cricket over the past few years, marked by inconsistent performances and internal discord, contrasts sharply with the rise of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, teams that have shown immense resilience despite facing far more significant challenges.

Afghanistan’s meteoric rise

Afghanistan have emerged as a force to be reckoned with. In their first-ever bilateral ODI series against South Africa, Afghanistan not only competed but dominated. They sealed the series 2-0, clinching a historic 177-run victory in Sharjah. South Africa won the last ODI as a consolation but this was Afghanistan's first-ever series win against a top-five ICC-ranked ODI team. The margin of victory in the second ODI was the largest in their ODI history, surpassing their 154-run win over Zimbabwe in 2018.

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This triumph served as poetic justice for Afghanistan, who sought revenge for their humbling defeat to South Africa in the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup, where they were bowled out for just 56 runs. The narrative of Afghanistan cricket is one of struggle and resilience. They don't have a permanent home venue, with many of their matches played in neutral venues like India or the UAE. Their one-off Test match against New Zealand in India was abandoned recently, and they rarely play the longer format. Afghanistan, despite their limitations, are performing with greater consistency and intent than Pakistan in recent times.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan’s star player, epitomizes this grit. Despite suffering a hamstring injury during the second ODI against South Africa, Rashid played through the pain, determined to lead his team to victory.

"I got a hamstring [injury] but I tried my best to stay on the ground till the end, tried my best to do as much for the team as I can," Rashid said after the series win.

His spirit encapsulates Afghanistan’s determination to rise above adversity.

Bangladesh’s resilience amid turmoil

Bangladesh, emerging as a rising force in Asian cricket, have been on an upward journey. Despite suffering a heavy defeat against India in the first Test in Chennai, Bangladesh’s fast bowlers have demonstrated great potential, particularly during their tour of Pakistan, where they impressed with their performances.

The rise of Bangladesh’s cricket team is especially remarkable given the backdrop of political unrest and floods they have faced in recent times. On their Pakistan tour, Shakib Al Hasan, despite his involvement in political controversy and facing legal challenges related to the upheaval that toppled the government, continued to perform with remarkable calm and determination on the field.

Bangladesh squad celebrates a historic series win over Pakistan.AFP

Bangladesh achieved a remarkable whitewash against Pakistan on their home turf, becoming only the second team after England to accomplish this feat in Pakistan. Even with limited preparation due to political instability back home, the team displayed immense resilience and consistency. While Bangladesh’s players are overcoming external challenges and political turmoil, Pakistan’s cricketers seem to falter under internal conflicts and instability.

Sri Lanka: From political and economic crisis to cricketing renaissance

Sri Lanka, a team with a rich cricketing history, have been battling their own set of challenges. The country’s economy has been in freefall since 2022, leading to political instability and intervention that resulted in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) being banned from the ICC last year. The suspension was a result of SLC's failure to meet the ICC's requirement of managing its affairs independently, without government interference in its governance or administration.

However, earlier this year in January, the ICC lifted the ban on SLC, allowing them to return to the international fold. Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 competition has also undergone several revamps. Despite these off-field difficulties, Sri Lanka have demonstrated remarkable resilience on the cricket field. After winning their third Test in England, they backed it up with a victory over New Zealand at home in the first Test.

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Sri Lanka's ability to perform despite their political and economic crises is a testament to the team’s determination. They continue to remain in contention for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. With four wins and four losses in the current WTC cycle, Sri Lanka now boasts a points percentage (PCT) of 50, with 48 points from eight Tests. They have moved up to third place in the WTC standings, following Bangladesh’s defeat to India, positioning themselves just behind Australia and India.

Pakistan’s downward spiral

The once-proud cricketing nation of Pakistan have found themselves in a downward spiral. After a humiliating first-round exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, Pakistan were whitewashed at home by Bangladesh, marking another low point in the team’s history.

The team seems directionless, struggling with internal discord, particularly regarding captaincy, where frequent changes have unsettled the players. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) signed a “momentous” three-year central contract deal last year, which included players receiving a proportion of International Cricket Council (ICC) revenue. Yet, this has done little to lift the team’s performance.

Unlike their Asian counterparts who show grit and determination, Pakistan’s players seem insecure and distracted. Some are unhappy with their roles, such as Iftikhar Ahmed, who sarcastically referred to himself as a tailender before the ongoing Champions Cup, criticizing the team's management. Meanwhile, others, like Shadab Khan, continue to get opportunities despite poor form.

Wahab Riaz, who was a senior manager with the Pakistan team during the 2024 T20 World Cup, criticized the players for lacking game awareness and passion, sentiments that reflect the deeper malaise afflicting Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan cricket heading the hockey route

With Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka excelling, the question arises: where does Pakistan rank in Asian cricket? Despite having the infrastructure, resources, and talent, Pakistan cricket team is falling behind, largely due to internal discord, lack of cohesion, and weak leadership.

The Pakistan hockey team, once a dominant force, recently secured a bronze medal in the Asian Champions Trophy in China, a far cry from their glory days. They lost to China in the semi-finals, a team they helped develop much like Pakistan cricket helped Afghanistan during its formative years. Yet today, both China in hockey and Afghanistan in cricket are set to surpass Pakistan.

Pakistan's Shan Masood reacts to dropping Hasan Mahmud in the covers during the second Test match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.AFP

In previous Asia Cups, Pakistan reached the Super 4 stage by being grouped with a stronger team like India and a weaker side such as Nepal. In contrast, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka battle in a more competitive group for the remaining spots. Given Pakistan’s current form, they may struggle to qualify for the Super 4s if the groupings are fair and they don’t benefit from weaker opponents. As other Asian teams rise, Pakistan risks fading into irrelevance unless they address their deep-rooted issues.

To regain their former glory, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must resolve internal conflicts, build a cohesive team culture, and reignite the passion that once made them a powerhouse in world cricket.