Former Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal has strongly criticised the Pakistan national cricket team following their recent Test series defeat against Bangladesh. The Pakistani team suffered four consecutive Test match defeats against Bangladesh, experiencing a series whitewash initially in Rawalpindi, followed by consecutive losses in Mirpur and Sylhet during their subsequent tour of Bangladesh.
Speaking on the YouTube programme The Game Plan, the 44-year-old former cricketer offered his congratulations to the Bangladeshi squad while expressing deep frustration regarding the systemic state of Pakistan cricket. Akmal noted that despite facing domestic protests and political instability back home, the Bangladeshi team remained focused on their core performance, which he described as a significant achievement. Conversely, he lamented that despite years of repeated internal discussions, nothing within the Pakistani cricketing setup had changed over the last six to seven years.
Recent Test Match Results: Pakistan vs Bangladesh
The table below outlines the consecutive Test match defeats suffered by Pakistan against Bangladesh across the two bilateral series:
Criticism of Fitness Standards and Selection Policies
Akmal, who represented Pakistan in 268 international matches, stated that he does not foresee any structural improvement in the national team’s performance over the next four to five years under the current operational framework. He asserted that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) must make difficult and significant executive decisions to arrest the decline.
A primary point of Akmal’s criticism was directed at the board’s fluctuating fitness criteria and player selection procedures. He pointed out an operational inconsistency regarding the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and domestic first-class tournaments:
“Not a single player is ever deemed unfit during the PSL. As soon as domestic cricket commences, official letters regarding player unfitness begin to arrive. Not a single such notification is issued during the PSL. When this remains the prevailing mindset, how can cricket improve?”
He argued that the inclusion of non-cricketing individuals and institutional egos within the administrative hierarchy has compromised the selection process, leading to a system where merit and skill are undervalued.
Comparison with International Selection Standards
The former player further questioned the mechanical nature of the board’s physical fitness tests, noting that players who demonstrate the stamina to score substantial runs or bowl 18 overs a day in domestic matches are being disqualified or sidelined based on arbitrary athletic benchmarks. He criticized administrators for terminating careers over half-a-minute delays in a two-kilometre running trial or the inability to complete specific jumping drills, stating that past eras produced superior cricket without such administrative complications.
Drawing a direct comparison with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Akmal alleged that favoritism and personal friendships dictate selections in Pakistan, whereas neighbouring teams prioritize national performance. He highlighted how established Indian performers—such as Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shikhar Dhawan—were dropped from their national squad when required, proving that their administration prioritises the sport and the team above individual relationships. Akmal concluded by advising PCB officials to alter their mindset and personally observe domestic matches to evaluate the actual physical confidence and capability of players on the field.