The Resurrection of Pakistan Cricket: From Multan’s Graves to Rawalpindi’s Heights

Two weeks ago, Pakistan cricket lay seemingly dead and buried. The obituary was written, the body interred beneath the scorching Multan sun. But in true, mythical Pakistani fashion, what seemed like the lifeless remnants of a once-proud side stirred. It clawed its way back from the grave, shedding decay with every stride, not just to haunt England but to bewilder critics and revive the legend that defines Pakistan cricket—the art of impossible comebacks.

As the series progressed, the ashes of a fractured side scattered over Multan were swept up by a rising storm. A transformation was underway. Like a phoenix, Pakistan cricket emerged—beating wings of grit and unpredictability—soaring to heights only they dare to dream. When the battle concluded in Rawalpindi, England, the aggressors, stood bewildered and broken, reduced from record-breakers to vanquished travellers in unfamiliar terrain. It was Pakistan at its quintessential best, reminding the world why they remain the most enigmatic and dangerous side in world cricket.  

From Bazball to Baffled: Unmasking England’s Kryptonite

England had arrived armed with their flamboyant, fearless “Bazball” strategy—a revolution of relentless aggression. But revolutions, too, have their undoing. Pakistan dismantled Bazball not with brute force, but with subtle mastery. The key was an audacious gamble: abandon pace, embrace spin. On home soil, they rolled out turning tracks from Day 1, entrusting the outcome to wily spinners and dogged batsmanship rather than pace-heavy Twenty20 bowlers.  

Pakistan’s response was anything but predictable, turning to forgotten soldiers like Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. It was a high-risk, high-reward manoeuvre—and it worked. On surfaces designed to erode the visitor’s confidence, England’s batters faltered, undone by turn, drift, and guile. As the dust settled, Pakistan had not only levelled the series but also clinched a momentous win in Rawalpindi, securing a long-awaited home series victory after three and a half years.

The Phoenix Rises: Grit and Glory in the Crucial Moments 

Pakistan cricket’s biggest challenge over the past year was not talent but temperament. They had stumbled in critical junctures, surrendering from seemingly winning positions—a pattern that demanded change. And this time, when the moment came, they chose *resilience.* In the second and third Tests, where collapse seemed imminent, the batsmen rediscovered the value of patience and grit.  

None embodied this transformation more than Saud Shakeel. His stoic 134 off 223 balls was an innings of survival and defiance. It wasn’t just another hundred; it was an assertion that Pakistan would no longer squander opportunities. Shakeel’s innings was crucial, not just because of the runs, but because it anchored the team during troubled waters. Lower-order contributions from Noman Ali (45) and Sajid Khan (48 not out) provided the perfect support, stitching partnerships of 88 and 72 to propel Pakistan to a vital first-innings lead of 77.  

The bowlers, in turn, played their roles to perfection. Noman and Sajid—armed with the knowledge that every turn of the ball would bite into England’s resolve—tore through the visitor’s batting line-up. The third day witnessed a collapse that exemplified Pakistan’s mystique: their spinners ran rampant, England crumbled, and Pakistan clinched victory with panache.

Unpredictable but Unrelenting: The Way Forward

Pakistan’s story is one of defiance. It is a side that thrives in chaos yet remains maddeningly inconsistent. They are a team capable of genius and disaster in the same breath, and unpredictability remains both their strength and their Achilles' heel. This series win is a reminder that the phoenix has risen again, but the real challenge is sustainability.  

Too often, Pakistan has dazzled with fleeting brilliance only to sink back into mediocrity. The victories earned here were forged through discipline, strategic thinking, and hard work—qualities that cannot be taken for granted. If Pakistan are to reclaim their place among cricket's elite, they must now build on these triumphs with consistency and purpose.  

The phoenix may have soared over Rawalpindi, but the blue skies of international cricket demand more than momentary flights. The future lies in nurturing this momentum, shedding complacency, and mastering the delicate balance between flair and discipline. Only then can Pakistan truly escape the gravitational pull of inconsistency that has long been their undoing.  

This is Pakistan cricket—maddening, majestic, and mythical. They are not just survivors but shape-shifters, capable of turning defeat into triumph at will. And as history shows, those who underestimate Pakistan do so at their peril. After all, they remain what they have always been—the most unpredictable, thrilling force in world cricket.

Thank You 

Faisal Caesar 

Pakistan Cricket: A Legacy of Triumphs, Chaos, and False Dawns

Pakistan cricket has long embodied a paradox—oscillating between brilliance and bewilderment. It is a team that, historically, has needed crisis as a catalyst for revival. The pattern is familiar: humiliation precedes resurgence. Time and again, it takes a crushing defeat—what one might metaphorically call a punch to the face or a kick to the gut—for Pakistan to reawaken. 

Consider the state of affairs before the second Test at Multan against England. The team was in shambles, still reeling from their World Cup misadventures the previous year, and their defeat in the opening Test only deepened the despair. Drastic changes followed: key players were dropped, sparking heated debate and confusion. Yet, by the close of Day 4 in Multan, the narrative had shifted dramatically. Pakistan had secured a convincing victory, momentarily quelling the chaos. But was this triumph a genuine turning point or just another fleeting glimmer of hope? 

Since the departure of Imran Khan from cricket, Pakistan has perfected the art of masking deep-rooted issues. They falter one week, bounce back the next, and create the illusion of stability. In reality, the problems are swept under the carpet, only to resurface later. What Pakistan cricket has lacked—and continues to lack—is a robust system that fosters resilience and consistency. Too often, they rely on bursts of individual brilliance rather than the reliability of a structured approach. 

A System Built on Whims, Not Wisdom

For over three decades, Pakistan cricket has thrived on unpredictability, depending on raw talent to carry the day. While this has resulted in some spectacular victories, the credit goes to gifted individuals rather than any coherent system. The team’s inability to cultivate dependable cricketers who can sustain their form across series reflects the absence of long-term planning. Players emerge, dazzle briefly, and then vanish without a trace. 

This tendency was exemplified in Multan, where the veteran spin duo of Nauman Ali and Sajid Khan reminded the world of Pakistan’s tradition of producing exceptional spinners. At a combined age of 69, both thrived on a pitch tailored to their strengths, securing seven-wicket hauls and etching their names in the record books. Their efforts joined the ranks of iconic performances such as Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz's feats at The Oval in 1997 and Fazal Mahmood’s heroics against Australia in 1956. 

Remarkably, this was only the third instance in Pakistan’s history where spinners took all 20 wickets in a Test match. Yet, the question lingers: why weren’t bowlers like Nauman and Sajid given such opportunities earlier on home soil? The answer lies in Pakistan’s penchant for inconsistency—using players sporadically and discarding them just as quickly. 

The Role of Intelligence in Team Building

Intelligence in cricket isn’t just about reading the pitch; it’s about selecting players best suited for each format and nurturing them with consistent opportunities. Pakistan’s long-standing tendency to rotate squads haphazardly—without a clear strategy—has hindered the development of a cohesive unit. In the longer formats, patience is essential. Players need to feel secure in their place, free from the constant fear that each match might be their last. 

A prime example of Pakistan’s potential lies in Kamran Ghulam, who could emerge as the solution to the team’s middle-order woes in both Tests and ODIs. Similarly, the likes of Asad Shafiq, Saud Shakeel, and Salman Ali Agha offer promise. With a blend of experience and youth, these players could form the backbone of the batting order, while Aamer Jamal and Mohammad Rizwan provide the finishing touch. But this vision will only materialize if Pakistan cricket embraces a culture of consistency and planning. 

Leadership and Legacy: Beyond Short-Term Success

A key factor in Pakistan’s future success will be leadership. The captain must lead by example, guiding the team through rough patches with composure and clarity. More than ever, the need for capable backups is vital, ensuring that the team has depth across all formats. Yet leadership alone cannot solve systemic issues—it must be accompanied by institutional reforms that prioritize long-term growth over short-term fixes. 

Levelling the series against England may offer temporary relief, but for Pakistan cricket to truly rise, it must transcend its reliance on spontaneous brilliance. A system built on consistency, intelligence, and foresight is the only sustainable way forward. 

The Road Ahead: From Chaos to Consistency

Pakistan’s cricketing history is punctuated with moments of glory, but those moments have often been followed by periods of decline. This cycle of chaos and resurgence has become all too familiar. The challenge now is to break free from this pattern and build a system that nurtures talent methodically. Pakistan must learn from its past—not merely celebrate victories or lament defeats but strive for consistency across all formats. 

In the end, it’s not enough to survive on gifted talent alone. Pakistan cricket needs to cultivate a culture where success isn’t a product of whim but the result of strategy, patience, and vision. Only then can Pakistan move from being a team of mercurial highs and lows to one that dominates the cricketing world consistently and meaningfully.

Thank You

Faisal Caesar