Champions Trophy 2025: Pakistan Cricket Hitting Rock Bottom Is Their Own Doing, Don't Shed A Tear For Them | Opinion

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Cricket fans are a passionate lot, yet irrational at times. Despite witnessing one-sided contests between India and Pakistan in white ball cricket, the desire to see the 'punching' bag get pummeled more often refuses to die down.

There is a large section of fans who have come to terms with the decline in Pakistan cricket. It is almost like how their hockey team has collapsed, now in a state of cancerous decay.

In the old days, dating back to the times when hockey was played on natural grass and then shifted to astro-turf and synthetic surfaces, there was a unique romanticism around these hockey matches. The mind goes back to even a 'five-Test' series in hockey in 1998, played at five different venues, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Hyderabad and Madras (now Chennai). These matches ensured the standard of hockey on view was good.

Once India started shifting gears in hockey and moved to higher levels, Pakistan looked pale. This writer recalls the Asian Games final in Incheon, South Korea, in 2014, when Pakistan lost. Shahnaz Shaikh, the Pakistan coach lamented, if India does not help their hockey, it will be finished.

After India won two back-to-back bronze medals at the Olympics in Tokyo and Paris, what stands out is the massive improvement and consistency. Reasons for it are manifold, foreign coaches like Graham Reid and Craig Fulton firing up a fitter Indian bunch and how spending more money on Indian hockey development has worked.

Sadly, Pakistan hockey is history. The current FIH (International Hockey Federation) President Tayyab Ikram holds two passports, Pakistani and Macau. Yet, he has done little to boost hockey in Pakistan. He actually cannot, for his selfish interests are more important.

If today, people are comparing cricket and hockey and how Pakistan is in steep decline, it is a fair debate. For the 'hosts' to crash out of the Champions Trophy is a disgrace. And with their last match also getting washed out on Thursday (February 27), the tears and misery have been compounded.

Pakistan's sharp decline began long ago, though they were in denial. There are clear reasons for it. For all those who watch the T20 domestic cricket event in their own country, it is a farce. Sixes are hit with the boundary line reduced.

There is no way one can compare the standard of cricket in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the sham which Pakistan hosts. The Pakistanis are happy with it, since they have fallen in love with mediocrity.

Coming back to the latest news of the Asia Cup, an ACC property to be held in September, India has ostensibly decided to host the event in the United Arab Emirates with Sri Lanka as a back-up. The emphasis is on neutral venues.

For those who say Dubai is very hot at that time, cricket has been played there before in hot and humid weather. Players are OK with it as they have prepared for it. Today's T20 cricketers are Alpha Males and can play in any weather. The IPL has ensured it and so have higher standards of fitness and training.

It is not a moot point that the Asia Cup is again going back to the same theme of India versus Pakistan contest. Expectations are, they will run into each other a few times, though exact details have not yet been worked out. Certainly, fans are crazy.

A large number of people from India are ready to fly to Dubai and enjoy these matches, where defeating Pakistan gives them an incredible high.

"As an Indian fan, and a passionate one, for me to have witnessed India defeat Pakistan in Dubai was most thrilling recently in the Champions Trophy. We were sitting in the midst of Pakistan fans and it is nice to see when the Indian team plays so well. Add to it the century from Virat Kohli, I have no qualms in saying these moments give me more joy," said Dr Sunil Tangri from New Delhi.

There are many more like him who went for the Champions Trophy thrills of seeing India defeat Pakistan. If it gets confirmed, Dubai or Sri Lanka will host the Asia Cup, more Indian fans will relish the prospect of India again whacking Pakistan. Has the theme not turned boring when Pakistan keep losing? No, it has not.

Indians want to see their team defeat Pakistan as many times as possible. That is the mindset. Add to it the way the Indian T20 team is composed of so many talented youngsters, there will be more takers for these marquee contests. The India versus Pakistan contests are cricket plus commerce. So what if Pakistan cricket is in steady decline, they have brought it upon themselves.

They 'hired and fired foreign' coaches, some not getting their salaries. 'Desi' coaches in Pakistan are useless, as defined by an Aaquib Javed. Add to it incompetent people like Mohsin Naqvi heading the Pakistan Cricket Board, nothing will change in Pakistan in six months. Unless there is a miracle.

There is a lack of will and corruption in Pakistan cricket towering. As for India, as hosts of the 2025 Asia Cup, they can milk it by having India versus Pakistan matches more times. This is now turning out to be like boxing's heavyweight contests where one pugilist is so weak, he will get smashed. And that is how Pakistan cricket is!