The performance of Pakistan women’s cricket team in the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup in England has been very disappointing. Amidst the continuous defeats on the field, reports of mutual differences and tension have started emerging from the team’s dressing room.
Although the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has maintained silence on this, media and social media reports are pointing towards deep dissatisfaction within the team.
Pakistani team yearning for victory
The defeat at the hands of Australia at the ground in Leeds on Tuesday night has further increased Pakistan’s problems. This was the team’s fourth consecutive defeat in this tournament. The truth is that ever since the team reached Ireland before this mega event, it has been yearning to open its account of victory. Earlier, the Pakistani team was also defeated in the tri-series against Ireland and West Indies. This string of embarrassing records is not new; Last year also in the 50 over World Cup held in India and Sri Lanka, this team remained at the bottom position in the points table.
Inside story of the confrontation between Wahab Riaz and Fatima Sana
Before the match against Bangladesh, the atmosphere of the Pakistani team became tense when captain Fatima Sana objected to the husband of senior player Alia Riaz staying in the team hotel and threw her out. After this, Alia left the important practice session and went out with her husband. Taking a strict stance on this indiscipline, captain Sana wanted to exclude her from the playing eleven, but due to the intervention of mentor Wahab Riaz, Alia was allowed to play in the match. Ultimately, after the defeat to Bangladesh and Alia’s poor performance, the captain got angry and in front of the entire team in the dressing room, he directly blamed Wahab Riaz for the defeat and ignoring the rules.
Pakistani players defying strategies
It is reported quoting sources that at present the Pakistani cricket team is facing serious internal factionalism. The relationship between the coaching staff and some senior players has become quite strained. The main allegation of the coaches is that the players are completely failing to implement the strategies and plans prepared for the match on the field. By the way, this turbulent atmosphere in the Pakistani dressing room is not new. Earlier, during the team’s poor performance in the 2023 and 2024 ICC World Cups, similar factionalism had come to light, which was later confirmed. The team seems to be struggling with its old disease once again.
Team derailed by PCB’s frequently changing decisions
The unstable decisions of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are also being considered a major reason behind this poor performance and derailment of the team. In the last 3-4 years, the board has made the post of head coach of the women’s team like ‘musical chairs’. In this short tenure, while foreign coaches like Mark Coles were given the responsibility, many local veterans like Junaid Khan, Basit Ali, Salim Jaffer and Mohtashim Rashid were also tried. However, these continuous changes in coaches did not lead to any improvement in the team’s performance, rather the situation worsened further.