Azhar Ali Points To Domestic Cricket's Shutdown As A Key Reason For Pakistan's Test Downfall
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan: Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has attributed his national team's downfall in Test cricket to the shutdown of departmental cricket. Azhar, who has led Pakistan in nine Tests and 31 ODIs, called departmental cricket a "nursery" for Pakistan's national sides and felt that "it's being pushed out."
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently axed two departments -- WAPDA and Sahir Associates -- from the 2026-27 domestic season, calling them out for their "inability to comply" with the new regulations. WAPDA has been one of Pakistan's oldest domestic sides, while Sahir Associates also did not accept the new terms the PCB set.
Azhar pointed out the ignorance of departmental cricket as a key reason for the national team's downfall. "Department cricket is a big need for Pakistan," Azhar told Cricinfo. Read More...
