Pakistan cricket report card: The good, the bad and the ugly

Pakistan cricket has faced a period of significant upheaval and poor performance. Following two heavy defeats against England, the team management removed seven players and the head coach. This unexpected decision has been met with criticism, with former coach Mickey Arthur lambasting the frequent changes in personnel as the reason for their current struggles.

Despite the team's overall poor form, with 15 losses in their last 20 Tests and failing to qualify for knockout stages in recent T20 World Cups, there are some bright spots. In recent years, Pakistan has shown some promise in T20 cricket, reaching the final of the 2025 Asia Cup and making it to the Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup. They also defeated Australia by 111 runs in Lahore, their biggest T20I defeat. In ODIs, Pakistan has a respectable record of 17 wins and 15 defeats in 32 matches since 2024.

Individual players have shown flashes of brilliance, with spinner Abrar Ahmed ranking second in ICC rankings for ODIs and T20s, and opening batter Sahibzada Farhan ranking second in T20 batting. However, the lack of stability within the team, with seven coaching changes in the last five years and multiple captaincy changes, has hindered their progress. This instability is causing anxiety among players and management alike, with long-term success seeming elusive.