Former England captain Nasser Hussain has launched a pointed critique of Pakistan's cricket management, asserting that the primary issue with the team's performance lies in the instability within the system, rather than with key players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, or Naseem Shah.
Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of Pakistan's second Test against England, Hussain emphasized that the lack of long-term planning and frequent leadership changes are undermining the team’s progress.
"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."
The former cricketer specifically pointed to the frequent changes in Pakistan’s cricket leadership, highlighting how such a disorganized approach makes it impossible to plan effectively for the future.
"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 said.
He also noted that, while Pakistan faces financial constraints compared to wealthier cricket boards, their internal issues exacerbate the challenges.
"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," he remarked.
Hussain's comments come as Pakistan prepare for their second Test against England in Multan, following a crushing defeat in the first match. England declared at a commanding 823-7 and won by an innings and 47 runs, leaving Pakistan desperate for a response. The team has made four changes, including debuting batsman Kamran Ghulam and adding three spinners to adapt to the conditions of the re-used Multan pitch.
In response to Hussain's remarks, former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram shared a cryptic post on social media platform X, saying, "I think finally boys are on to something here," further hinting at agreement with the need for change in Pakistan cricket.
It is worth noting that the home side has notably announced their playing XI, featuring four spinners and just one pace bowler. In contrast, England benefits from the return of skipper Ben Stokes. Currently, England leads the three-match Test series 1-0, with the second match scheduled to begin on October 12 in Multan.
Pakistan's Playing XI for the Second Test: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (C), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (VC), Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt), Jamie Smith (wk), Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir