Former Pakistan cricket greats and fans demanded a new captain and coach on Sunday after an embarrassing defeat to minnows Zimbabwe in the 2nd Test in Harare.
Zimbabwe, who only resumed playing Tests in 2011 after a six-year exile due to lack of players and facilities, scored an upset 24-run win against No.4-ranked Pakistan on Saturday, squaring the two-match series at 1-1.
The defeat left Pakistan’s cricket fraternity in shock as former players urged authorities to revamp the team.
Former captain Ramiz Raja said the Pakistan team needed a fresh skipper to replace Misbah-ul Haq.
“Misbah contributed to a change of environment and gave stability to the team but he seems to have run out of ideas, so we need someone with fresh ideas.”.
Pakistan face No.1 Test team South Africa next month in the United Arab Emirates.
Raja said every captain has a shelf life and 39-year-old Misbah has spent it.
“I think Misbah’s shelf life is over and, with these ideas, we will stand nowhere in front of South Africa,” said Raja, now a commentator.
“It seems excitement and aggression is at the lowest point in our cricket, we want to avoid defeat and these hot-and-cold, up-and-down performances must change,” said Raja.
Former paceman Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan needed a vibrant coach to replace Dav Whatmore, the former Australian batsman who took over last year.
“Pakistan must address its batting woes because batting is letting us down; it has gone down badly,” said Akhtar.
He blamed Pakistan Cricket Board directors for the slump in the team’s performance.
“Misbah is leading the worst-ever Pakistan team. We don’t have good bowlers, we don’t have good batsmen and, if Misbah is prominent amongst the batsmen, then it shows because, with due respect, Misbah is not world class,” said Akhtar, who retired in 2011.
Another former captain Aamir Sohail said Pakistan cricket needs revamping.
“We need to uplift our domestic cricket which is not producing top-level players and that’s why we are struggling at international level,” said Sohail.
People on the street showed anger over the team’s embarrassing defeat, hoping a local coach could solve the problems.
“No more Whatmore,” said Saqib Ali, a cricket fan in Faisalabad. “He is minting money but not producing any results.”