Pakistan cricket was reeling Wednesday after its first-ever Test defeats against Bangladesh, the latest in a string of poor performances which have seen the game hit rock bottom.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The cricket-mad nation was left in despair after losing the second Test in Rawalpindi by six wickets on Tuesday as Bangladesh swept the series 2-0.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It was the 10th winless home Test in a row for former powerhouses Pakistan and came hard on the heels of failing to get out of their groups at both the 50-over and T20 World Cups in the past year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a huge setback and our cricket is at a crossroads," former Pakistan captain and legendary fast bowler Wasim Akram told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"For a former player and captain, and a lover of the game, I was left embarrassed at the way they have lost from good positions. I simply don't get it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"We are losing consistently on home turf and that says a lot about the quality of our cricket," added Akram, who played 104 Tests and 356 one-day internationals for Pakistan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The defeat to Bangladesh comes hard on the heels of chastening losses against Afghanistan and the USA in the ODI and T20 World Cups respectively.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
- Dismal record -<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan also have a dismal record in Tests at home in the past three years -- six defeats and four draws, including England's first-ever 3-0 series sweep there in 2022.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ominously, in-form England are Pakistan's next visitors and will play three Tests beginning in Multan on October 7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Pakistan are not faring any better away from home, they lost all three Tests in Australia earlier this year -- their sixth successive whitewash there since 1999.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"People have started to hate cricket," former international player and regional coach Basit Ali told AFP.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Bangladesh has shown us the mirror of what we are at international level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's a cliche that wins and losses are part of the game, but this is a seismic shock."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Ali, who played 19 Tests and 50 ODIs for Pakistan, echoed the consensus among fans and commentators that the international team seems disjointed on the field.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Pakistan did not play as a unit and players looked scattered," he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It is sad and embarrassing to say that this is Pakistan's team."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The loss also saw the Pakistan side battered by the national press, which said disunity stemmed from problems at the very top.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Pakistan team's rapid downward spiral has been alarming, to say the least," said the Express Tribune newspaper on Wednesday. The sequence of high-profile losses "makes the mind boggle", it added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n