Former Pakistan all-rounder Yasir Arafat, an ECB Level 4 coach, shared his thoughts on Pakistan cricket’s struggles and solutions in an exclusive interview with Saj for PakPassion. Yasir criticized PCB’s focus on white-ball formats, neglecting Test cricket, and praised Australia and England’s emphasis on red-ball priorities for consistent success.                                                                                                                                                   

By Saj Sadiq (17-01-2025)

He discussed declining fitness among fast bowlers, the importance of structured domestic cricket, and Shan Masood’s captaincy under pressure. Yasir also highlighted Pakistan's challenges in balancing franchise and international cricket, emphasizing the need for reforms. His insights outline a clear path to rebuild Pakistan cricket.

Main topics covered in this interview:

The Commitment of Pakistani Players to Test Cricket: Exploring the dedication of Pakistani cricketers to the longest format and the steps needed to revive passion for red-ball cricket.

Aqib Javed's Role and Impact on Pakistan Cricket: Highlighting Aqib Javed’s contributions and strategic decisions that have shaped Pakistan’s cricketing progress.

Evaluating Pakistan’s Pace Bowling Unit: An analysis of the current state of Pakistan’s fast bowlers, focusing on their fitness, pace, and performance trends.

Shan Masood as Pakistan’s Test Captain: Assessing Shan Masood’s leadership in Tests and how he can influence the team’s future direction in red-ball cricket.

Watch the full interview here:

https://youtu.be/F_0AUTKxjXs?si=G6ErVFSMna__1xWZ