Sunil Gavaskar has delivered a scathing critique of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket decline, arguing that the current team would struggle even against India’s B team. Speaking after Pakistan’s crushing six-wicket loss to India in the 2025 Champions Trophy, Gavaskar expressed disbelief at how a country once known for natural cricketing talent has failed to produce players capable of excelling at the highest level.
Gavaskar’s comments came after Pakistan’s top order collapsed in Dubai, with Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan failing to make an impact. While Saud Shakeel (62 off 76) and Khushdil Shah (36 off 39) showed some resistance, the overall lack of intent in Pakistan’s batting lineup was glaring. Rizwan’s slow 46 from 77 balls particularly stood out, with Gavaskar noting how Pakistan’s batting unit lacked urgency, allowing India’s spinners to dominate the middle overs.
Lack of Bench Strength and PSL's Role
One of the key issues Gavaskar highlighted was Pakistan’s lack of bench strength, which he finds surprising given their history of unearthing talented cricketers. He compared Pakistan’s talent pipeline to India’s, attributing India’s depth to the Indian Premier League (IPL), which provides young players exposure to high-pressure situations. In contrast, Pakistan’s PSL has failed to create a similar impact, raising concerns about its player development system.
Gavaskar also lamented how underperforming seniors continue to retain their spots due to a lack of emerging talent. He recalled past greats like Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had unconventional techniques but thrived due to their strong temperament and match-winning abilities. He questioned why Pakistan has stopped producing such players, despite having a T20 league like PSL to groom new talent.
Pakistan’s Cricket at a Crossroads
Gavaskar’s remarks come at a crucial time for Pakistan cricket, as their early Champions Trophy exit could hurt their brand value, sponsorships, and overall fan engagement. With PSL 2025 on the horizon, Pakistan’s cricketing system will be under scrutiny to see if it can bounce back from this setback. However, unless structural changes are made to develop and nurture young talent, Pakistan risks falling further behind teams like India, whose depth in white-ball cricket continues to grow.
