Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, has expressed disappointment with Pakistan’s cricket team’s performance in the ongoing Champions Trophy, as per his sister Aleema Khan. Pakistan suffered significant losses, marking the first exit in the tournament. Imran criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi for the state of cricket, suggesting that favoritism harms the sport’s integrity. Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi attributed the team’s decline to management changes initiated during Imran’s tenure, leading to player discontent and ineffective policies. Once a top-ranking team, Pakistan’s cricket is now compared to lower-ranked nations, igniting public frustration.
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan currently in prison, is disappointed with his country’s cricket team’s performance in the ongoing Champions Trophy, as reported by his sister Aleema Khan. Pakistan, the host nation, became the first team to be eliminated from the eight-team tournament after significant defeats to New Zealand in Karachi and India in Dubai. “The PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) founder conveyed his deep sorrow over the loss against India,” Aleema told reporters outside Adiala Jail Rawalpindi following her visit with Imran.
Aleema mentioned that the legendary ex-cricketer, who led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 World Cup, also raised concerns regarding the cricketing qualifications of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
“Imran stated that cricket will ultimately suffer when favoritism dictates decision-making positions,” said Aleema, adding that the cricketer-turned-politician followed the match between the rival teams.
Former PCB chairman Najam Sethi has subtly blamed Imran Khan for the decline of Pakistan cricket. In a post on X, Sethi, whose latest tenure at PCB lasted from December 2022 to June 2023, expressed that the nation has every right to be frustrated with the national team’s performance. After consecutive losses, Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan have exited the tournament.
“The cricket community claims Pakistan has reached its lowest point. How is it that a cricket team that once held the number one position in T20s (2018), Tests (2016), and ODIs (1990 and 1996), which celebrated World Cup victories in 1992 and the Champions Trophy in 2017, is now compared to Zimbabwe?” Sethi noted that the decline began in 2019 when a new management under a new PM/Patron (at the time, Imran Khan was the prime minister and had appointed Ehsan Mani as PCB chairman) altered the domestic cricket structure that had been effective for Pakistan for decades, replacing it with an inappropriate Australian hybrid model.
“Political interference persisted; contradictory PCB policies became commonplace—foreign coaches were hired only to be dismissed, selectors were whimsically appointed, and old players were brought back to mentor and manage.
“Ultimately, player power, ego clashes among captains, and internal team divisions overshadowed ineffective management! The distressing outcome is evident,” Sethi wrote.
The nation is understandably upset. The cricketing community asserts that Pakistan has hit rock bottom. How can a cricket team that previously ranked #1 in T20s (2018), Tests (2016), and ODIs (1990 and 1996), which claimed the World Cup in 1992 and the Champions Trophy in 2017, now be likened to Zimbabwe?
The downfall…
— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 25, 2025
He asserted that Pakistan can undoubtedly revive its cricketing fortunes if everyone acknowledges the nature of the issues and combines the necessary integrity, experience, knowledge, and professionalism to address them.
Shortly after Imran assumed office, Sethi resigned from the PCB.
This opened the door for the selection of Ehsan Mani, a former ICC president.
In 2019, under Imran’s direction, the PCB restructured domestic cricket, abolishing the old system of 16–18 departmental and regional teams competing in domestic tournaments and introducing a six-team first-class structure.
Imran subsequently appointed Ramiz Raja as chairman in 2021 when Mani declined an extension of his contract. Ramiz was replaced by Sethi in December 2022 following the collapse of Imran Khan’s government.
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