One of the most exciting shows for the World Cup coverage is Game On Hai, consisting of former cricketers: Saqlain Mushtaq, Sana Mir, Muhammad Hafeez, and Umar Gul in the panel, and presenters: Zainab Abbas and Sikander Bakht.
In the recent post-match show analysis, Saqlain Mushtaq spoke about players playing to their potential and their natural game:
They have reached this stage by playing individually in the streets, their own way, not produced straightaway from the High Performance Center… their potential gets crushed when they are imposed with certain ways…
This is such an important factor that is still lacking in Pakistan Cricket, regardless of the number of changes for the head coaches, player support staff, and the players themselves.
The factor is surely important, but it is really funny why something that is pretty clear is still not there for Pakistan Cricket?
Before answering this, it is important to mention why what Saqlain Mushtaq has said are words of gold.
Pakistan Cricket has never had a consistent domestic structure or clear, consistent player pathways for raw talent to be polished and filtered into the high-level sport.
It has mostly been the players playing with the hunger they have for the game, following the role models, creating their own plays when playing the game, and acquiring success in doing so that they get highlighted and picked up for Pakistan eventually.
This is surely the case for Pakistan. The players are not that groomed when they reach the highest level and end up with a number of adjustments, with that changing their own game that got them there makes them highly confused. Back to the question, the answer surely relies on inconsistency in the system itself.
From the constant changes at the highest level, to constant change in strategy, people, criteria, and even the way of preparation, how can a player express themselves if they might only have the next two games to get a place in the third game?
If mentally they are in a state where their mind is thinking and ending up being double-minded by thoughts like: “I need to perform to gain a spot in the next game, I am being watched, I need to play this way or I will be out…” they will never be able to even absorb what they are being taught, let alone being imposed with new strategies.
When there is uncertainty in the methods being used, personnel, will the coach be there the next day itself? Then how can we expect the players to trust themselves with the fact that it is okay to play their own way with full confidence, there will not be a sudden consequence of doing so.
On the flip side, if a highly accomplished coach is coaching a team and bringing in new methods and strategies for preparation, trusting those is critical by the whole team.
Mentally absorbing that, believing in that and in him is so important, and vice versa. Is it the ambiguity that a certain coach will not be with us for the long term, he is foreign so might not understand our culture, can end up being mental barriers to fully commit to playing your best for the country.
More so, if different players and staff are not all in the same vision, it shows from the confusion on the field.
To achieve this collective trust in the same vision, factors like personal clarity of your own values as a person, attitude you want to have as a player, knowing your game, having mutual belief and agreement in the views about your game between the player and the coach, your relationship with other players off the field, all have a role to play in the level of belief you have in that vision.
This is important for each individual, and collectively it is amplified as a team, like 14 players carrying the same current when they walk. That current will not be strong enough if the individual currents are not on the same frequency.
As seconded by Muhammad Hafeez and emphasized on clarity in role specification, it is again something that Pakistan Cricket lacks. Not only knowing the role you have to play, but owning it, feeling the responsibility for it, is vital.
This again stems from your hunger for the game, clarity in your goals, trust in yourself, in the environment, and in the vision of the team, something every single person in the squad has to believe in enough truly for it to have an influence on the field and have odds in their favor.
This is surely backed by the recent research work done in cricket as well, where factors like player and coach relationship, communication, personal attributes of the players turned out to be the most important factors for player development and success (research conducted by author and being published in 2026).
With such experienced and highly knowledgeable players and role models like Saqlain Mushtaq, Sana Mir, Umar Gul, Muhammad Hafeez, and many more, it is sad that Pakistan Cricket is still in the same dilemma many years ago, and this World Cup will test our nerves again. Here is still wishing Team Pakistan all the best!
About the Author: Fizza Abid (Instagram: @fizzaa.abid | Twitter: @FizzaAbid9) is a former Pakistani domestic cricketer and football player who transitioned into a prominent career in international sports management. (First Chevening Scholar Sport Manager from Pakistan, first ICC female leadership programme mentee 2021, and, first female sport manager from Pakistan to work for FIFA WC 22)
