On 2nd September 2023, 11 Pakistanis took the field against India in their Asia Cup clash.

But after the rain came, only eight returned.

Three were missing.

Shaheen. Naseem. Rauf.

They eventually returned, but they were never quite the same.

And maybe that was the moment Pakistan’s cricket changed.

The pace attack that once looked almost unfair began to fracture.

Naseem’s shoulder injury ruled him out of the World Cup, while Rauf’s side issue and Shaheen’s own battles with fitness and form showed just how fragile that trio had become.

Fast forward to 2026.

Pakistan still have Shaheen. They still have Naseem. But the frightening three-man attack we once imagined feels like a memory long gone.

And right now, Pakistan cricket isn't just fighting the opposition.

It's fighting itself.

Seven players have just been sent home. The Test coach has been sacked. The selection committee is in turmoil. Pakistan have lost the series to England 2–0, and haven't even passed 200 in an innings.

The team that once looked like it had the foundations of something special now looks like it's constantly starting again.

Different captain.

Different coach.

Different selectors.

Different combinations.

Same problems.

And that's the saddest part.

Because Pakistan don't lack talent.

They lack stability.

The talent is still there.

The jerseys are still green.

The fast bowlers are still running in.

But somewhere between that rainy night in Colombo and where Pakistan stand today...

something went missing.

Heard that PCB asked for explanation for Rizwan’s selection (and axed him anyway)

I always thought he was decently consistent with the runs, good scores, partnerships, cares about performing and winning and other than appealing incessantly, he seems to be playing his part well.

Why was he also in cross hairs?

The eight-team DP World Women’s Asia Cup is set to be played from 28 August to 13 September at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium with all 15 matches beginning at 7.30pm PKT. Pakistan are placed in Group A alongside Hong Kong – China, India and Thailand. Group B consists of Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates. 

Pakistan will face Thailand on 1 September, India on 5 September and Hong Kong, China on 7 September, while the semi-finals will take place on 10 and 11 September. The final is scheduled on Sunday, 13 September. 

Pakistan women’s squad for ACC women’s Asia Cup 

Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar.

Reserves – Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Sadaf Shamas 

Support Staff

Wahab Riaz (coach/mentor), Ayesha Ashar (team manager), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Waleed Ahmed (performance analyst), Moeen (strength & conditioning coach), Dur Samand (Physiotherapist) and Raza Rashid Kitchlew (media manager) 

https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/59236-pcb-seeks-explanation-over-rizwan-imams-selection-for-england-west-indies-tests

Let me preface this by saying that I am in now way siding with the PCBs handling of the cricket team and its management. These players like Imam, Rizwan, Salman should have been sacked, Ali Usman and Khurram performed badly. Even though there is a fifer for Ali Usman but at what cost?

I believe they also should've gotten rid of Saud, Shan and Abdullah. You cannot stay in the team when performing 1 in 10 matches! Not a single one is dependable.

I sympathise with the bowlers but they are also utter shite. No discipline in line and length whatsoever. Still they are young and much to learn. Khurram was expensive yes but at the end of the day also young and can improve. The same with Ali Usman. It baffels me why did they not use Abrar for this tour or even Sajid Khan when they took him with?!?

Get a clean slate and new blood in! But then again this management has been stooping to new lows every day of the week so absolutely no hope for the future.

Still at the end most of them deserved the sacking and so do the ones still in the team!

If what M Wasim said is true, this is insane.

If this has been happening for years, why did nothing happen? Guys like KG and Haseebullah grind for years and still get questioned over discipline for nothing and only asking why they not playing, while Imam stays untouchable.

If this is true, that's a massive double standard in Pakistan cricket and our cricket is dead and players like imam should be banned for life for playing with emotions

- Misbah-ul-Haq has resigned from Pakistan's selection committee.

- PCB did not consult him while selecting the seven new players. (ARY News)

Misbah has resigned, but somehow the person at the centre of Pakistan cricket’s problems, Aqib Javed is still there.
For far too long, blame has been shifted, excuses have been made and accountability avoided.
How much longer can this continue?
Enough is enough.
Pakistan cricket needs accountability, competence and results not hacks burning it to the ground!!!

https://www.geosuper.tv/latest/59242-babar-azam-suffers-fever-ahead-of-third-test-against-england

Seeing the troubling news coming out of PCB everyday, i have this itch to do something. 2022 Shaheen injury was like the last time i felt deeply emotional about the team and since then kind of gone numb caz of mess after mess after mess.

Tut i feel PCB has no limit to how low it can get. they are the masters of taking in raw talent and ruining it. this whole circus now has made us a laughing stock. i haven't ever seen cricinfo writing be this openly calling out PCB's bullshit..

same for other media cells too. and the people who will be most effected by this circus are young talents like Azan etc. PCB is effectively crushing the next 15 years of our cricket by these decisions. but i wonder, what, practically can be done? anybody got any ideas?

Post credit: u/aliayyaz90

Like, when tf are they gonna leave the team? Please get tf out; no one likes you.

I would genuinely sacrifice one of my limbs so these 2 can leave Pakistan cricket for good😭😭😭

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Absolutely savage article that cuts PCB to ribbons. The fury dripping from every word you can almost feel