‘The match we won against India in 2021 T20 World Cup damaged us a lot’ – Mohammad Yousuf’s candid take on Pakistan’s recent downfall

Mohammad Yousuf has offered a candid assessment of Pakistan cricket’s recent struggles, tracing the roots of the team’s decline to a significant moment from five years ago. The former Pakistan batter has pointed to the team’s performance in international cricket across multiple formats as evidence of a deeper problem that emerged following a landmark victory.

Pakistan defeated India by 10 wickets on October 24, 2021, in the T20 World Cup, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 79 not out and Babar Azam making 68 not out in the successful chase of 152. This was Pakistan’s first World Cup win over India in any format, and the team achieved the victory without losing a wicket. According to Yousuf, the consequences of this triumph set in motion a chain of events that would harm Pakistani cricket.

“That match which we won against India in 2021, that damaged us a lot. Because after that victory, players started to think that they had achieved something big. They couldn’t understand what they had to do next,” Yousuf said on Samaa TV.

“When you are performing well, you should stay humble. If you behave with your collar raised, and get disrespectful, problems will arrive. And a lot of them have arrived in Pakistan cricket,” he added.

Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team: Yousuf

Yousuf identified internal competition for the captaincy as a major factor in Pakistan’s subsequent decline across multiple tournaments. The 52-year-old highlighted the team’s poor performances in recent ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups, Asia Cups and Champions Trophy competitions as direct consequences of this internal struggle.

“Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket. Look at all the cricket Pakistan has played in the last four-five years, from ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and Champions Trophy. There has been terrible cricket. The PCB has been supporting you throughout,” Yousuf said.

“So many coaches have come and gone, so many things have changed just to try and help the Pakistan team. But no player has stood up and taken responsibility. Eventually, PCB had to take a step that it did. I back what PCB did,” Yousuf mentioned.

Pakistan’s England tour and squad overhaul

Pakistan overhauled their squad after losing the first two Tests in the three-match series against England. They made as many as seven changes mid-tour, which has become a talking point in the cricket fraternity. While many have criticised the move, Yousuf supported the PCB’s move to ring in the changes.

“Yes, there is no issue with when PCB have taken action. The Pakistan team is ninth in the World Test Championship standings. They are ninth because there are only nine teams in the table. Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s reputation is getting ruined). So when that’s happening, the board has to take some steps to improve.”

The team lost to England by 194 runs at Lord’s and by innings and 103 runs at Headingley. In response to these defeats, the Pakistan Cricket Board recalled seven players mid-tour and replaced them with seven others, five of whom were uncapped. The recalled players included Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar, while Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammed Imran Jr, Said Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah were brought in as replacements.

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The Pakistan Cricket Board also made changes to the coaching staff, removing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul from their positions. Yousuf expressed support for the board’s decisive action in response to the team’s poor performances.

“I don’t see an issue with the PCB reaction. Because the team has been playing terrible cricket. It’s not just this one series against England. We played in the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and played in an Asia Cup final as well, but since those finals, just look at the performances coming out of this Pakistan team,” Yousuf said.