Pakistan Cricket Team fall to 8th in latest ICC T20I rankings
Pakistan Cricket Team has suffered a massive fall in global rankings. In the 2025 ICC annual T20I update, they slipped to the 8th position. This sharp drop reflects a turbulent 2024 season full of failures. Pakistan’s performances in 2024 were below expectations. The team struggled in bilateral series and key matches. They failed to build momentum throughout the year. This article explores the main reasons for Pakistan’s T20 downfall.
2024 Series Losses Damaged Ranking Points
Pakistan Cricket Team faced several defeats in 2024. They lost to New Zealand 4-1 in early 2024. That series exposed flaws in both batting and bowling. Later, they were humiliated by Ireland in a T20I match. Even lower-ranked teams challenged them. Pakistan also failed to win convincingly against teams like Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Every series loss affected their ICC points. As a result, their ranking suffered in the 2025 update.
Batting Unit Failed to Deliver Under Pressure
Batting was a major issue in 2024. Openers failed to provide stability. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan played well, but support was missing. Middle-order collapses became common throughout the year. Pakistan cricket team tried many changes. But players like Azam Khan, Saim Ayub, and Iftikhar Ahmed didn’t step up. There was no consistent finisher in 2024. Strike rates were low. Run chases ended in panic.
Leadership Changes Created Confusion
In 2024, Pakistan cricket team saw captaincy drama. Shaheen Afridi was named T20 captain in late 2023. But after just one series, he was replaced. Babar Azam returned before the T20 World Cup 2024. Such changes hurt team unity. Players didn’t know their roles. Strategies kept changing. Pakistan lacked a strong leader throughout 2024. That instability showed on the field.
Disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 Campaign
Pakistan cricket team had high hopes for the 2024 T20 World Cup. But they failed to progress past the group stage. They lost crucial matches and couldn’t handle pressure situations. Their defeat against Ireland was the tournament’s biggest upset. The batting collapsed in that game. The loss crushed their confidence. It also sealed their exit from the tournament. This poor show impacted their 2025 rankings heavily.
Outdated Tactics of Pakistan Cricket Team
Modern T20 cricket requires smart tactics and data use. In 2024, Pakistan cricket team lacked a clear game plan. Bowling changes looked random. Batting orders kept shifting. While other teams used match-ups and analytics, Pakistan stayed traditional. They relied too much on individual brilliance. That doesn’t work in today’s T20 cricket.
Major Problem for Pakistan Cricket Team
Pakistan’s fielding was below par in 2024. Dropped catches and misfields cost them matches. Their fitness levels also raised concern. Many players appeared slow and unfit during key games. Pakistan cricket team needs to improve fitness standards. Better fielding can turn close games. In 2024, it often did the opposite.
Team Selection Criticized
Fans and experts questioned Pakistan’s squad choices in 2024. Performers in domestic cricket were ignored. Meanwhile, some out-of-form players kept getting chances. Pakistan cricket team didn’t give consistent chances to young talents. Players like Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Haris were in and out. Such policies affected morale and performance.
No Reliable Finishers in the Lower Order
Finishing power was missing in 2024. Pakistan’s scoring rate in death overs was very low. They lacked players who could hit big in the final overs. Pakistan cricket team tried Iftikhar, Shadab, and Nawaz. But none delivered regularly. Without finishers, T20 games slip away in the last few overs.
Coaching and Support Staff Under Scrutiny
Pakistan cricket team had multiple coaching changes in 2024. The support staff lacked global T20 experience. Tactical errors were visible throughout the year. T20 cricket needs specialist coaches. In 2024, Pakistan didn’t have any top-tier foreign T20 minds. That showed in poor strategies and match preparation.
Mental Toughness Missing in 2024 Performances
Pakistan cricket team looked mentally weak in crunch situations. Close games were lost due to pressure. Confidence was missing after early defeats. They need better mental training. Sports psychologists and match simulations can help. In 2024, Pakistan lacked composure when it mattered most.
New Pakistan Cricket Team Under Salman Ali Agha
Under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan’s revamped T20 team suffered a 4-1 series defeat to New Zealand in March 2025. The tour exposed key weaknesses in Pakistan’s lineup, particularly in the powerplay phases with both bat and ball. The team was bowled out for just 91 in the first match—its lowest T20 total in New Zealand—and continued to falter under pressure throughout the series.
While Agha showed flashes of form with the bat, including a half-century in the final match, his side was consistently outplayed by a more settled New Zealand unit. Despite the disappointing results, Salman Agha focused on the positives, especially the exposure and opportunities given to younger players like Hasan Nawaz and Sufiyan Muqeem. He acknowledged the challenges of adapting to different conditions but maintained that such tours are crucial for developing future match-winners.
His leadership emphasized patience and long-term planning, suggesting that rebuilding the T20 squad would require consistent backing for emerging talent rather than short-term fixes. The series served as a testing ground, and while results didn’t favor Pakistan, the intent to build a more competitive unit was clear.
Conclusion: Pakistan Must Regroup for a Strong Comeback
Pakistan cricket team’s fall to 8th in ICC T20 rankings is serious. It reflects a year of poor planning, weak performances, and lack of direction. But the talent is there. With the 2026 T20 World Cup in sight, it’s time to reset. Build a strong core. Pick consistent players. Focus on tactics, fitness, and leadership. Only then can Pakistan rise again in T20 cricket.
Also read this : https://cric92.com/world/tom-bailey-drops-phone-in-county-game-icc-code-breach/