Former Pakistan cricketer warns of Pakistan cricket's troubling future amid recent struggles

Former cricketer Basit Ali has raised serious concerns about the future of Pakistan’s cricket, warning that if the team does not improve its current form, it may soon find itself needing to participate in the ICC qualifying rounds to secure a spot in major international tournaments.

Speaking on his YouTube channel after Pakistan’s latest series loss against New Zealand, Basit Ali shared his worries about the direction of the team. He emphasized that immediate changes are necessary to avoid falling into the qualifying rounds.

“If we don’t make decisions and improve the foundations of our cricket, we will be forced to play qualifying rounds,” Basit said. 

“We lost all 10 wickets to pacers in the last match. Our top-order batters got out too early, and there seems to be no talent left in Pakistan. Cricket in Pakistan starts with Babar Azam’s name and ends with it,” he added. 

The former cricketer also pointed to a significant turning point in Pakistan’s decline, which he traces back to their defeat in the Super Four stage of the 2023 Asia Cup against India. In that match, Indian batsmen Virat Kohli and KL Rahul dominated the Pakistan bowlers, each scoring centuries and leading India to a convincing 228-run victory.

“The first match of the Asia Cup against India was washed out due to rain. But after Virat and Rahul hammered our bowlers, Pakistan’s batting and bowling have not been the same. Last year, we couldn’t even chase down 119 runs in the T20 World Cup against India,” he said.

Pakistan’s struggles have continued on the international stage. Their hopes of defending their 2017 Champions Trophy title were dashed after a disappointing group-stage exit in the 2025 ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. The team suffered defeats to New Zealand and India, effectively ending their campaign early.

Following the Champions Trophy, Pakistan shifted focus to preparing for future tournaments, including the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup. However, their struggles continued during a tour to New Zealand, where the team faced five T20Is and three ODIs. Despite introducing new players into the squad, Pakistan was defeated 4-1 in the T20I series, and the team was outclassed in the ODIs. In the first match, they were handed a crushing defeat, and in the second, they lost by 84 runs, which gave New Zealand an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

With the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka just an year away, Basit Ali’s concerns serve as a reminder that Pakistan’s cricket team must find a way to regroup and improve if it hopes to avoid further struggles on the world stage.