Kevin Pietersen raises concerns over standard of Pakistan cricket after Bangladesh defeat

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has expressed concerns about the current state of Pakistan cricket following their heavy defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi. Pakistan's 10-wicket loss was a historic setback, marking their first-ever defeat to Bangladesh in Test cricket.

Pietersen, who previously played in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for Quetta Gladiators, took to X (formerly Twitter) to question what has gone wrong with Pakistan cricket. He recalled the high standards of the PSL during his time, praising the local players and their work ethic. However, he expressed his surprise at the recent decline in performance, particularly in the wake of such a disappointing loss.

"What happened to cricket in Pakistan? When I played the PSL, the standard of that league was tremendous, the players had a very good work ethic and the youngsters on display were magic. What’s happening there?," Kevin wrote.

The match raised many eyebrows, particularly regarding Pakistan's team selection. Despite scoring a solid 448-6 in the first innings, Pakistan opted for an all-pace attack, which failed to deliver as Bangladesh posted a commanding 565 runs, largely thanks to a superb 191 from Mushfiqur Rahim. The game, which seemed destined for a draw, took a dramatic turn as Pakistan crumbled in their second innings, managing only 146 runs. Bangladesh then chased down the modest target of 30 runs with ease, sealing a historic win.