Pakistan cricket is once again at the receiving end of the criticism. Babar Azam relinquished captaincy in T20Is and ODIs amid a poor phase in international captaincy and months away from Champions Trophy 2025 at home. Seeing the state of affairs in Pakistan cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin said that he feels sorry for the players considering they are skilled.
“I am speaking the truth when I say that the current state of Pakistan cricket and the phase they are going through makes me feel a little sorry. Because some of the most exceptional cricketers have played for Pakistan, and it was such a great team. If you look at it from a cricketer's perspective, this is a proud cricketing nation. And where are they lacking in skill? They have so many skilled players,” Ashwin said in a video that is making rounds on social media.
Ashwin weighed in on the ‘muscial chairs’ going on in Pakistan cricket. He also pointed out that Pakistan have not won a Test at home in a long time.
"And sometimes, their whole musical chairs situation is truly something. The music keeps playing, and they just think about grabbing a chair; that's how it feels. In the 2023 World Cup, they lost, and then Babar (Azam) resigned. Then (Shaheen) Afridi was made captain, but Babar was reinstated for limited overs, and Shan Masood was made the Test captain. And look at the situation now – Pakistan hasn't won a Test match at home. I mean, they haven't won a Test match for a long time, maybe around 1000 days. It's been almost 3 years," added the veteran Indian all-rounder.
Ashwin in top form
Ashwin was recently named ‘Player of the series’ for bagging 11 wickets and scoring a century in the two-Test series against Bangladesh. He will be back in action when India take on New Zealand in the three-Test series starting October 16 at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Pakistan face English challenge
Meanwhile, Shan Masood-led side will lock horns with England at Multan Cricket Stadium in the Test series starting October 7. Captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the first Test as he is yet to recover from the injury sustained during The Hundred.
