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Mohammad Yousuf and Ahmed Shehzad have given their take on the ongoing debacle of the Pakistan National Cricket Team. Yousaf believes that the Pakistani players must take most of the responsibility, but Shehzad feels the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) cannot escape criticism.
Their comments came after Pakistan suffered crushing defeats in the first two Tests against England. Yousuf has questioned the players’ passion and focus, while Shehzad has pointed towards repeated problems with coaches and the way the PCB manages the team. Amid this, Nasser Hussain furious as PCB turns Pakistan Cricket into a laughingstock.
Mohammad Yousuf blames Pakistan players for the downfall
As Pakistan gear up to save their pride in the third and final Test in Birmingham, Mohammad Yousuf said that the players are mainly responsible for the national team’s current situation.
He defended the PCB following the shocking call to exile seven players and coaches by saying that the board has already provided the team with better facilities and more money than previous generations received.
Yousuf said that the main problem is the lack of passion among the current players. The former coach believes that many players are more focused on earning money from franchise leagues than improving their performances for Pakistan.
The legendary batter also questioned the use of paid social media accounts to defend players instead of letting their cricket speak for them. Amid this, Jason Gillespie blames Aaqib Javed for Pakistan’s England chaos.
Mohammad Yousuf said, "The responsibility lies with the players. The board has given them more money and facilities than any previous side. They have no passion; everyone is running after league money. They must answer with performance, not through paid social media accounts.”
Ahmed Shehzad blames PCB for Pakistan cricket's downfallm
Ahmed Shehzad has a different view. He admitted that the players deserve criticism, but he believes the PCB is also responsible for Pakistan’s downfall across the formats over these years.
Shehzad pointed out that the overseas coaches have left their roles after they were not given the freedom to work by the PCB. He also feels Pakistan has struggled with its local coaching system. Several former Pakistan legends, including Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousaf, have had coaching roles, but the team has still failed to find long-term stability.
Ahmed Shehzad said during the same discussion, “Obviously there is criticism on the players. The world is doing it. You all have been criticising. But is the board free from responsibility? Foreign coaches do not stay."
"Gary Kirsten and others left because they were not allowed to work. Local coaches have been a disaster. Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Yousaf Bhai and Azhar Mahmood – these are all legends. All this work is done in their presence, and then they say, "We are not allowed to work."
Ahmed Shehzad recalls Mickey Arthur’s Era
He recalled Mickey Arthur’s time with Pakistan. The former batter feels Arthur was able to control the team and make the players follow his plans because of his strong coaching background, but the same authority could not be imposed on the other coaches, and that’s the problem.
Shehzad further added, “When Mickey Arthur was there, players performed because he could impose things. When you bring coaches without that background, players ask them, 'What have you done yourself?' 'That is why they do not last.”
