R Ashwin criticizes Pakistan's 'musical chairs' between Shaheen and Babar, highlights instability in dressing room: 'I feel sorry...'

The recent defeats have not only shocked fans, but they have also sparked conversations about a sense of growing dissatisfaction within the team. Reports of internal conflicts and uncertainty surrounding leadership roles have only added to the already existing instability within the dressing room.

In what has been described as a ‘musical chairs’ scenario, Pakistan cricket has seen multiple leadership changes in recent times. Former captain Babar Azam stepped down from the limited-overs captaincy after Pakistan’s exit from the 2023 World Cup; fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was handed the reins in T20Is, but he was later removed to reinstate Babar in white-ball cricket, only for Babar to resign from the role again earlier this month.

Pakistan’s record in red-ball cricket at home has been abysmal, too, with the team not having won a Test match on home soil for nearly three years, a worrying stat that speaks volumes about their current state. Ravichandran Ashwin, the star Indian spinner who recently bagged the Player of the Series award against Bangladesh, has expressed his concerns over the uncertainty in Pakistan cricket.

In a widely circulated video, Ashwin remarked that constant captaincy changes have left the team in a state of confusion, with players now more focused on their personal game rather than contributing to the collective success of the side.

“I am speaking the truth when I say that the current state of Pakistan cricket and the phase they are going through makes me feel a little sorry. Because some of the most exceptional cricketers have played for Pakistan, and it was such a great team. If you look at it from a cricketer's perspective, this is a proud cricketing nation. And where are they lacking in skill? They have so many skilled players,” Ashwin began.

"And sometimes, their whole musical chairs situation is truly something. The music keeps playing, and they just think about grabbing a chair; that's how it feels. In the 2023 World Cup, they lost, and then Babar (Azam) resigned. Then (Shaheen) Afridi was made captain, but Babar was reinstated for limited overs, and Shan Masood was made the Test captain. And look at the situation now – Pakistan hasn't won a Test match at home. I mean, they haven't won a Test match for a long time, maybe around 1000 days. It's been almost 3 years," said Ashwin.

Ashwin said that the unpredictability surrounding the Pakistan cricket setup leads to players focusing more on their individual performance rather than the collective good.

“What would I think as a cricketer? Should I focus on my game or on the team? Every cricketer will be so unstable inside the dressing room that he will start thinking about himself and will think less about the team,” said Ashwin.

As of now, Shan Masood, who was appointed as the Test captain last year, is the only player in leadership role in the team. He will be leading the team into a crucial three-match Test series against England, starting in Multan.