One of Pakistan cricket's selectors, and former cricketer Aaqib Javed, has recently shared a conversation he had with India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, where the latter expressed concern over the deteriorating state of Pakistan cricket. According to Aaqib, Gambhir was baffled by the recent struggles faced by Pakistan cricket, despite the wealth of talent within the country.

The last 12 months have indeed been difficult for Pakistan. The national team has seen a revolving door of captains, coaches, chiefs, and selectors. To compound matters, the USA eliminated them from the T20 World Cup 2024, and just last month, Bangladesh secured a historic 2-0 Test series win over Pakistan.

Aaqib Javed, who represented Pakistan in 185 matches and is regarded as one of the country’s most successful ODI bowlers, revealed this during a podcast. He recounted meeting Gambhir during India’s tour of Sri Lanka, where the Indian coach expressed disbelief at the state of cricket in Pakistan.

“Gambhir asked me, ‘What has happened to Pakistan cricket despite so much talent? What’s going on?’” Aaqib shared during the podcast.

The former pacer further explained that Gambhir, while observing the global cricket landscape, noted that the decline of Pakistan cricket could diminish one of the sport's most thrilling matchups—India vs. Pakistan.

“He (Gambhir) feels sorry because there are only a few top teams left, and the India-Pakistan matches provide the biggest thrill. If Pakistan’s team continues to fall, one of cricket’s biggest rivalries loses its charm. People in the ICC laugh about it,” he elaborated.

Pakistan's Test cricket record has also been concerning. Since 2022, the team has played 11 home Test matches without a single victory. Out of these, seven ended in defeat, with the other four drawn. This includes a historic 2-0 series loss to Bangladesh, as well as a defeat in the opening match of a three-Test series against England.

To tackle the team's dismal performance, the Pakistan Cricket Board appointed a new selection committee, decreasing its size from seven to five members. The committee, headed by former pacer Aaqib Javed, features Aleem Dar, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, and Hassan Cheema. Additionally, the captain and head coach have been removed from the voting process in team selections.