That win against India damaged us a lot: Yousuf's brutal verdict on Pakistan's decline

Former Pakistan batting great Mohammad Yousuf has traced the national team's decline back to one of its most famous victories -- the 10-wicket demolition of India at the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.

Yousuf's comments come in the wake of Pakistan's crushing defeats in the first two Tests of their three-match series in England, after which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) responded by replacing seven players and head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed -- a move many have viewed as another low point for Pakistan cricket.

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But according to Yousuf, the rot had begun much earlier.

Pakistan's victory over India in 2021 was their first against their arch-rivals in either an ODI or T20 World Cup, but Yousuf believes the historic triumph created a damaging sense of entitlement within the side.

Rather than a lack of ability, he pointed to attitude problems and a loss of humility as the beginning of everything that followed.

“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. 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,” Yousuf said in a conversation on Samaa TV.

“Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket. Look at all the cricket Pakistan has played in the last four-five years, from ODI World Cups, T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and Champions Trophy. There has been terrible cricket. The PCB has been supporting you throughout. 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. Eventually, PCB had to take a step that it did. I back what PCB did,” he added.

The PCB's response to Pakistan's latest humiliation was drastic.

Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Khurram Shahzad, Aamir Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar were sent home with one Test still remaining on the tour. Of the seven, the latter two had not played a match but were still penalised.

They were replaced by Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, both of whom have previously represented Pakistan, along with uncapped players Arafat Minhas, Mohammed Imran Jr, Said Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.

Pakistan lost the first Test against England by an innings and 103 runs before suffering a 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord's on Sunday.

The visitors' batting collapsed in both matches, with none of their innings reaching 200. Saud Shakeel, whose defiant 97 helped Pakistan fight to delay defeat at Lord's, was the only Pakistani batter to come close to a century.

Asked whether the PCB was justified in taking action in the middle of a tour, with one Test -- albeit a dead rubber -- still to play, Yousuf gave an emphatic defence of the board.

“Yes, there is no issue with when PCB have taken action. The Pakistan team is ninth in the World Test Championship standings. They are ninth because there are only nine teams in the table. Pakistan’s reputation is getting ruined. So when that’s happening, the board has to take some steps to improve,” he said.

Yousuf, however, warned against expecting the seven replacements brought into the squad to produce an immediate turnaround.

“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. We played in the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and played in an Asia Cup final as well, but since those finals, just look at the performances coming out of this Pakistan team,” Yousuf said.

Pakistan's white-ball coach Mike Hesson has since been handed responsibility for the Test side. The third Test begins at Edgbaston on September 9.