There was a time when Pakistani cricket ruled the international arena with absolute authority. Leaders like Imran Khan, legendary batsmen such as Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, alongside a ferocious pace battery featuring Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar, struck fear into the hearts of opponents. Today, however, the sun appears to be setting on that golden era. Consistent success has eluded the nation for a considerable period. This persistent slump within the men’s game has now cast a dark shadow over the women’s national team, where sporting achievements have been utterly eclipsed by controversy and deep-seated internal discord.
The team’s ongoing campaign at the Women’s T20 World Cup in England has been nothing short of disastrous, with Pakistan yet to register a single victory. This poor run of form is not an isolated incident; it follows highly disappointing tours of Ireland and the West Indies, where the team suffered a complete drought of wins. Alongside these failures on the pitch, a major disciplinary crisis has emerged within the camp.
Tensions reached boiling point last Saturday ahead of a crucial fixture against Bangladesh. The conflict began when senior player Aliya Riaz brought her husband, Ali Younis, into her designated hotel room. Upon discovering this, the young captain, Fatima Sana, reacted with immense fury. Citing strict tournament protocols and squad discipline, the skipper ordered Younis to leave the premises immediately. Riaz, however, dismissed the captain’s authority. In open defiance, she skipped the official pre-match training session the following day to go sightseeing with her husband.
This dismissive behaviour further angered the captain, who insisted on dropping the senior all-rounder for the vital clash against Bangladesh. This decision triggered a fierce debate over team selection involving the head coach and team mentor Wahab Riaz. Overruling the captain’s tactical advice, the coaching staff finalised the playing eleven with Riaz included.
The consequences on the field were severe. Pakistan suffered a damaging 23-run defeat at the hands of Bangladesh, with Riaz failing to score a single run. Following the loss, an incensed Fatima Sana lambasted the coaching staff in front of the entire squad. She openly blamed the management for the defeat, accusing the head coach of compromising team discipline and breaching established protocols.
This dramatic confrontation has exposed multi-layered factions within the squad, fracturing relationships between players and the coaching staff. The coach, meanwhile, has reportedly deflected the blame entirely onto the players, claiming that the squad’s inability to execute tactical plans on the field is the true cause of their downfall. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has maintained a strict silence, neither confirming nor denying the existence of this dressing-room mutiny. Despite frequent changes to the coaching staff and management over the last four years, the board has fundamentally failed to instil stability or success within the women’s game.