England’s Kevin Pietersen questions Pakistan team’s performance

“When I played PSL, players had good work ethic, youngsters on display were magic,” says ex-English skipper

Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen questioned on Monday Pakistan’s poor performance against Bangladesh, asking what had become of the Men in Green.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by ten wickets in the series opener at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium on Sunday, recording their maiden Test victory over the hosts.

Pietersen recalled the time when he played the Pakistan Super League (PSL), in a tweet, saying that the level of the cricket league as well as Pakistani players, especially the younger ones, was amazing.

“What happened to cricket in Pakistan? When I played the PSL, the standard of that league was tremendous, the players had a very good work ethic and the youngsters on display were magic.

“What’s happening there?” he wondered.

Pakistan, who declared their first innings on 448-6, were bowled out for 146 in their second, which left Bangladesh needing 30 runs to go 1-0 up in the two-test series.

Bangladesh openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam chased down the target within seven overs.

Pakistani cricket experts blamed overconfidence of players and poor management of the national cricket board for the loss.

Former opener Ahmad Shahzad held those pulling the strings from behind the curtain in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responsible for the defeat.

“I will not blame players here. I will blame the PCB, its chief and those who have been giving advices for the past 10 to 12 years in the board and do not come forward,” he said.

He said the current PCB management, including PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, was responsible for the dismal performance as it once again incorporated the same players in the team who put personal statistics before the team.

Senior journalist Abdul Majid Bhatti blamed overconfidence and poor planning for the loss and also demanded accountability of veteran players, “who could not perform well in the previous 12 to 14 matches”.

The second test of the two-match series between the Green Shirts and The Tigers, also in Rawalpindi, begins on August 30.

The Test matches between Pakistan and Bangladesh are being played as part of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25.