Following Pakistan's lackluster performance against India in the Asia Cup, former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has unleashed a torrent of criticism against the national team and its management. Kaneria's scathing remarks come in the wake of India's dominant performance in the high-voltage group stage encounter, after which the Indian team deliberately skipped the customary post-match handshake with Pakistan players.
Kaneria didn't hold back, accusing Pakistani officials of a familiar tactic: deflecting blame instead of taking responsibility for their shortcomings. "Pakistan cricket is in a pathetic state right now," Kaneria told IANS. "This always happens: when there is an issue (handshake snub), instead of taking responsibility, they keep blaming others," he added, urging Pakistan's cricketing authorities to be held accountable.
He questioned the very foundation of the team's preparation, stating, "The selectors were entrusted with the responsibility of 22 crore people. What team did you select? What coaching assignments did you give? What was your game plan, strategy, and approach?".
Kaneria didn't shy away from acknowledging the performance gap between the two sides. "Pakistan is not playing well as expected, while India is a top-tier team," he stated. "Judging by their performance in the last game, it is clear that Pakistan's team is not better than the Indian team," the former leg-spinner observed.
The controversy surrounding the handshake snub has only added fuel to the fire. Following the incident, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president, called for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup roster. Naqvi alleged that Pycroft had "requested the captains not to shake hands at the toss" as is customary. The ICC rejected PCB's plea.
Kaneria also criticized the controversies surrounding the side, particularly the much-talked-about handshake incident after the India clash. "The handshake incident caused a big commotion," he said. "If Pakistan continue like this and don't focus on cricket, they will head further toward decline," Kaneria warned.
The former spinner stressed that Pakistan needs a clear strategy, proper planning, and strong execution if they wish to compete with the best. Without structural changes and accountability at the top, Kaneria fears Pakistan cricket could slide further.
According to reports, tensions between India and Pakistan have been increased since the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year. The attack resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians near Pahalgam, with responsibility initially claimed by The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, although the group later denied involvement.
As the Asia Cup progresses, Pakistan faces mounting pressure both on and off the field. The team now faces increasing pressure as they prepare for their Super 4s match against India. The focus remains on how the players and management will address the criticism and improve their performance. The PCB leadership and team management's response to these challenges will be crucial as Pakistan aims to regain their competitive edge in international cricket.
