Pakistan Vs Bangladesh ICC Cricket World Cup 2023: PCB Is Downgrading The Morale Of Its Cricketers, Says Danish Kaneria

Babar Azam's captaincy has been questioned after Pakistan have suffered four successive losses in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.

Danish Kaneria (right) has spoken about Pakistan cricket team. (Photo: AP, X)

Former Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has slammed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for ‘downgrading the morale’ of Pakistani players at the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 by focusing ‘less on cricket and more on geo-politics’. After a series of lost games, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam faced a lot of criticism over his captaincy skills and his batting. In the latest development in Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam’s alleged WhatsApp chat surfaced, followed by Inzamam-ul-Haq stepping down as the chief selector of the national men's team.

Taking to social media platform X (previously Twitter) Kaneria shared a sarcastic post stating, “While Team Afghanistan is focusing more on cricket and less on politics, Team Pakistan is focused less on cricket and more on geopolitics. @TheRealPCB is downgrading the morale of its cricketers by constantly issuing removal warnings to the captain in case of poor performance. This is happening when team selection is already in question.

“Babar Azam's private chats have been leaked and Inzamam-ul-haq has stepped down as chief selector after his alleged involvement in player management company. Pakistan’s team is going through a worse phase. It is time for some major changes in PCB as well as the team,” he added.

While Team Afghanistan is focusing more on cricket and less on politics, Team Pakistan is focused less on cricket and more on geopolitics. @TheRealPCB is downgrading the morale of its cricketers by constantly issuing removal warnings to the captain in case of poor performance._

— Danish Kaneria (@DanishKaneria61) October 31, 2023

Amid all this chaos, there is also a growing suspicion about Babar’s white ball captaincy, which is at stake after his team’s performance in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Pakistan are currently at the seventh spot in the tournament standing. Having started their campaign with two successive wins, the Pakistan team lost their next four outings -- to India, Australia, Afghanistan and South Africa respectively – to be on the verge of elimination.

The Men-in-Green are facing off against Bangladesh at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday. Pakistan are bowling first in Kolkata after Bangladesh skipper Shakib al Hasan has won the toss elected to bowl first. Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has picked up a couple of early wickets by dismissing Tanzid Hasan and Najmul Hossain Shanto in his first two overs.