New Delhi, Sept 6: Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf has attributed a significant part of the country’s cricketing decline to its historic 10-wicket victory over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup, saying the result changed the mindset of players and fuelled overconfidence.
Pakistan had never defeated India in a World Cup before that encounter in Dubai. Led by Babar Azam’s unbeaten 68 and Mohammad Rizwan’s 79 not out, Pakistan chased down India’s 152 without losing a wicket, recording a landmark victory that was celebrated across the country.
However, Yousuf believes the triumph proved to be a turning point of a different kind, with players failing to remain humble and losing sight of what was required to sustain success.
“That match which we won against India in 2021, that damaged us a lot. Because after that victory, players started to think that they had achieved something big. They couldn’t understand what they had to do next,” Yousuf said in a conversation with Samaa TV.
The former Pakistan batting great said sustained success requires players to remain grounded regardless of major victories.
“When you are performing well, you should stay humble. If you behave with your collar raised, and get disrespectful, problems will arrive. And a lot of them have arrived in Pakistan cricket,” he said.
Yousuf also identified the battle for captaincy as another major problem within the Pakistan set-up, alleging that players became more interested in securing leadership positions than concentrating on their own performances and responsibilities.
“Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket,” he said.
Yousuf pointed to Pakistan’s performances across major tournaments over the past four-five years, including ODI and T20 World Cups, Asia Cups and the Champions Trophy, arguing that repeated failures showed that the problem was much deeper than a single series or tournament.
He also criticised the lack of accountability among players despite the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) making repeated attempts to revive the team’s fortunes through changes in coaching and management.
“So many coaches have come and gone, so many things have changed just to try and help the Pakistan team. But no player has stood up and taken responsibility,” Yousuf said.
His comments come amid a major crisis for Pakistan during the ongoing England Test tour, where the visitors suffered heavy defeats in the first two matches. Pakistan lost the Headingley Test by an innings and 103 runs before going down by 194 runs at Lord’s.
The PCB responded with sweeping changes during the tour, sending seven players — Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar — back home with one Test remaining.
The board also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant coach Umar Gul, while calling up seven replacements, including five uncapped players.
The decision to make such major changes in the middle of a Test series attracted considerable attention, but Yousuf backed the PCB’s move and said the timing of the action was not an issue.
“Yes, there is no issue with when PCB have taken action,” he said.
Yousuf noted that Pakistan were ninth in the World Test Championship standings and argued that the team’s poor performances had begun to affect the country’s reputation.
“Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s reputation is getting ruined). So when that’s happening, the board has to take some steps to improve,” he said.
He also suggested that developments inside the dressing room may have contributed to the decision to send the seven players back to Pakistan.
Yousuf stressed that Pakistan’s problems should not be viewed solely through the prism of the England series.
“I don’t see an issue with the PCB reaction. Because the team has been playing terrible cricket. It’s not just this one series against England,” he said.
Pakistan’s recent struggles have extended across formats. The team was swept 2-0 by Bangladesh earlier this year and had also suffered a 0-2 home-series defeat against the same opposition in 2024.
Yousuf said Pakistan’s run to the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and the Asia Cup final showed the team had opportunities to succeed, but performances subsequently deteriorated.
The former star’s assessment comes at a time when Pakistan cricket faces mounting questions over leadership, player accountability, selection and its overall direction — issues that, in Yousuf’s view, can be traced back to the mindset created after that celebrated night in Dubai in 2021.
