Pakistan national cricket team suffered another major setback after losing a third straight Test match to Bangladesh national cricket team, extending a painful run that has raised fresh questions about the team’s direction, selection policies and leadership.
The latest defeat came days after Pakistan lost the ODI series in Bangladesh and crashed out of the 2026 T20 World Cup before the semi-finals stage.
The result added to a long list of failures that have damaged Pakistan’s reputation across all formats during the past two years.
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Pakistan lost a T20 International to Ireland cricket team before the 2024 T20 World Cup and then suffered a shocking defeat against United States national cricket team in the same tournament.
The team also failed to qualify for the Super Eight stage of that World Cup.
Months later, Bangladesh swept Pakistan 2-0 in a historic Test series on Pakistani soil. The defeat marked Bangladesh’s first ever Test series win against Pakistan.
Pakistan’s red-ball struggles worsened when the side lost a Test match by an innings despite scoring 556 runs in the first innings.
The team also suffered embarrassing defeats in white-ball cricket.
Pakistan lost both an ODI and a T20I against Zimbabwe national cricket team during a chaotic period marked by inconsistent batting and poor bowling performances.
World Cup failures and historic defeats increase pressure
Pakistan entered the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy with hopes of revival but failed to win a single match. The side also missed out on a semi-final place in the tournament, extending its poor record in ICC events.
The team later recorded its worst ever defeat in T20 International history during a crushing loss that exposed major flaws in bowling and fielding.
In another alarming statistic, Pakistan conceded 92 runs in the first six overs of a T20I, one of the most expensive powerplay performances in international cricket history.
The batting unit also collapsed for 110 against Bangladesh in a T20I earlier this year.
Read More: T20 World Cup Disaster: Rare Moment in Pakistan Cricket History as PCB Fines Squad
Pakistan’s struggles against a weakened New Zealand national cricket team side further increased criticism of the team management.
Pakistan lost seven of eight matches against New Zealand despite several senior Kiwi players missing because of franchise cricket commitments.
Former players and analysts have repeatedly criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board for frequent captaincy changes, inconsistent selection policies and instability within the coaching setup.
Questions grow over future direction
The team’s decline has sparked intense debate among fans and former cricketers in Pakistan. Many critics now question whether Pakistan cricket has entered one of the weakest periods in its modern history.
Pakistan still possesses world-class talent, particularly in fast bowling, but inconsistent performances continue to overshadow individual brilliance.
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Fans have also expressed frustration over repeated collapses in high-pressure tournaments and poor performances against lower-ranked sides.
For a team that once dominated world cricket with unpredictability and flair, the recent results reflect a sharp and worrying decline.