'Good for nothing': Danish Kaneria lambasts Pakistan cricket, calls it 'a shame after 70 years'

Former Pakistani spinner Danish Kaneria has harshly criticized the country's cricket system, expressing disappointment after Pakistan's 0-2 Test series loss to England. Kaneria questioned the team's selection, coaching, domestic cricket structure, and the lack of accountability within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The team's defeat in the Lord's Test gave England an unassailable lead in the series.

Following the loss, Pakistan released seven players and removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. However, Kaneria believes that merely changing personnel will not address the underlying issues plaguing the team.

Kaneria highlighted the decline in Pakistan's cricket competitiveness and the loss of the fighting spirit that once characterized the team. He criticized the constant changes in leadership and selection, stating, "It's a shame that after 70 years, Pakistan has gone through such a disaster. There is no logic, selection committee, or game plan.

They are just good for nothing. You see, such a bad performance. If a person loses, he tries and fights before losing. The fight has to be visible. Here, there’s no fight. No one knows anything."

He questioned the rationale behind short-term appointments of coaches and selectors, emphasizing the need for stability and individuals willing to accept responsibility for both wins and losses. Kaneria was particularly unhappy with Pakistan's bowling options, pointing out the underutilization of experienced players like Mohammad Abbas and Noman Ali, who had performed well. "Who is Muhammad Shahzad? Where did he come from? He doesn’t have any line or length. No swing, no reverse swing. Nothing."

Furthermore, Kaneria criticized Pakistan's batting approach in English conditions, specifically the dismissals of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. "Like a player of the caliber of Babar Azam is getting out like this. This is pathetic. And then you are keeping Rizwan for so long. I don’t know what he is doing. Why is he even there?"

Kaneria believes the root of the problems lies in the weakening of domestic cricket and the closure of departmental cricket, which have reduced the quality of Pakistan's talent pool. He emphasized the importance of first-class cricket and regular monitoring of domestic matches by selectors. "The reason is that the talent pool has been eliminated. There is no doubt there’s talent pool in Pakistan, but this selection happens mostly based on the Pakistan Super League."

The cricketer called for a strong selection committee, an experienced coach, and a stable group of players who are given ample time to develop. "There are only a few players around whom Pakistan cricket revolves. There is no improvement. Need a strong coach and a strong selection committee." Ultimately, Kaneria hopes to see Pakistan regain its competitive spirit, noting, "We also used to lose. But fight and lose. At least fight. Fight, try at least! But there is no effort."