Former Pakistan cricketer Imran Khan is very disappointed after his team lost the first Test at home to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh registered a historic 10-wicket victory in the first Test in Rawalpindi. The victory came as a breath of fresh air amid civil unrest across the country.
Meanwhile, it was a disappointing defeat at home for Pakistan, who have not won a Test match since 2022. They last won a test match at home against South Africa in February 2021.
Their nine-game home winless streak is their second-longest all-time winless streak.
They had failed to win eight home games twice previously (March 1959-1964 and October 1998-2000). Their worst run remains 11 matches without a win between February 1969 and March 1975.
The loss pushed them down to 9th in the WTC points table. They will need to win the second Test against Bangladesh to level the series and stay relevant in this WTC campaign.
After Bangladesh, they play England in a three-Test home series in October.
Pakistan captain Shan Masood was heavily criticized for not including a spinner in the 11th over, as they deployed an all-round attack that failed to do the job in the first Test.
Although the pitch didn’t offer much spin in the first innings, Bangladesh spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan took seven wickets between them to take the lead in the second innings.
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Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Imran Khan lashed out at the Mohsin Naqvi-led national cricket establishment while expressing his disappointment with the performances of the senior men’s national team.
He even chalked up the loss to Pakistan at home as he shamefully accused the Naqvi-led Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of “ruining” the sport in the country.
Imran Khan criticizes Mohsin Naqvi and PCB
“Cricket is the only sport that the entire nation watches with great interest on television, but even this has been destroyed by powerful circles who have brought in an unprofessional, favored official to maintain the administration,” Imran Khan said, as quoted by X account.
“For the first time we (Pakistan) didn’t make the top four in the World Cup or the top eight in the T20. And yesterday we suffered a humiliating defeat against Bangladesh and hit a new low. Just two-and-a-half years ago, this team beat India by 10 wickets. , we lost to Bangladesh by 10 goals in these two and a half years,” he added.
He later criticized PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his involvement in corruption.The PCB chairman, who took control of the board in February 2024, also serves as Pakistan’s Federal Home Minister.
Meanwhile, Naqvi now has all fingers pointing at him, with former cricketers and cricket experts questioning him and holding him responsible for the sorry state of affairs in Pakistan cricket.
After Pakistan’s first Test loss to Bangladesh, Naqvi promised to change the face of Pakistan cricket: “Hopefully, I will solve the problems in Pakistan cricket.” And changes are on the way.”
