Imran Khan Blamed for Pakistan's Disastrous Champions Trophy Exit: 'We're Now Being Compared to Zimbabwe

Pakistan's humiliating exit from the Champions Trophy, as defending champions and hosts, has sparked outrage and frustration within the cricket community. The national team, after suffering two crushing defeats in their opening Group A matches last week, was unceremoniously knocked out of the tournament in the group stages.

NAJAM SETHI BLAMES IMRAN KHAN FOR 

PAKISTAN'S DECLINE IN CRICKET

In a scathing social media post, Najam Sethi, the former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), pointed the finger at ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan for the downfall of Pakistan's cricketing fortunes. The former PCB head, who served between December 2022 and June 2023, expressed disbelief over how Pakistan, once a cricket powerhouse with a rich legacy, now finds itself being compared to the likes of Zimbabwe.

Sethi lamented the country's fall from grace, reflecting on how Pakistan once held the No. 1 position in both T20 and Test rankings, and even won the ICC World Cup in 1992 and the Champions Trophy in 2017. Yet, the current state of the team is one of deep frustration.

"The nation is understandably angry,"Sethi wrote." The cricket fraternity says Pakistan has hit rock bottom. How did a cricketing nation that was once at the top of the world rankings in all formats, with iconic victories under its belt, end up being equated with Zimbabwe?"

THE ROOTS OF PAKISTAN'S 

DECLINE IN CRICKET

Sethi traced the origin of Pakistan's cricket downfall to 2019 when a new PCB management system was introduced under the leadership of Ehsan Mani, who was appointed by Imran Khan's government. According to Sethi, the restructuring of domestic cricket — replacing the long-standing system with a foreign-inspired Australian hybrid model — was a major misstep. He also highlighted political interference, contradictory policies, and constant changes in leadership and management as contributing factors to the team’s current plight.

"The downfall began in 2019 when a new management was put in place under a new Prime Minister/Patron who altered the domestic cricket structure that had served Pakistan well for decades. They replaced it with an ill-suited Australian hybrid model, Sethi explained. "Political interference continued, and contradictory PCB policies became the norm — foreign coaches were hired and sent packing, selectors were whimsically chosen, and old players were brought in to mentor and manage the team. Meanwhile, power struggles between players and egos led to further chaos."

Sethi’s frustration was evident as he blamed this mismanagement for the disastrous results the team is now facing.

Hope for Revival: Can Pakistan's Cricket Bounce Back?

Despite the current crisis, Sethi remains hopeful about the future of Pakistan's cricket. He believes the country can restore its cricketing legacy if the issues are identified and the right measures are taken to address them.

"We can certainly restore our cricket fortunes if we recognize the nature of the problems and bring in the integrity, experience, knowledge, and professionalism required to fix them,"Sethi wrote optimistically, signalling the path to recovery.

CHANGES IN THE PCB LEADERSHIP AND DOMESTIC STRUCTURE

The decline began after Sethi’s second term as PCB chairman ended in 2019 with the election of Imran Khan as Prime Minister. This led to the appointment of Ehsan Mani, who swiftly introduced reforms including the restructuring of domestic cricket. The shift to a six-team first-class structure, replacing the previous model based on 16-18 regional and departmental sides, caused ripples of dissatisfaction among many within the cricketing community. 

After Mani’s resignation in 2021, former cricketer Ramiz Raja took over as PCB chairman. His tenure lasted until December 2022, when the fall of Imran Khan’s government led to Sethi returning for a third term as PCB chairman. 

A LONG ROAD AHEAD FOR PAKISTAN CRICKET

While the current state of Pakistan's cricket is undeniably bleak, Sethi’s call for reform and a return to professionalism offers a glimmer of hope. With a clear strategy and an understanding of the underlying issues, there remains a possibility of reviving the nation's cricketing glory. However, the road to redemption will require significant changes in both governance and the culture of Pakistan cricket.