Sikandar Bakht is a seasoned presenter, broadcaster, and commentator and a well-recognized face for both domestic and international cricket games. To explore the reasons behind the Pakistan Team's decline, Saj talks with Sikandar Bakht, who offered his insights into the inner workings of Pakistan cricket.

By Saj Sadiq (10 Sept 2024)

Sikandar Bakht is a seasoned presenter, broadcaster, and commentator and a well-recognized face for both domestic and international cricket games.

In the past year, Pakistan has faced significant setbacks in cricket, including being knocked out in the group stages of both the ICC Men’s ODI and T20 World Cups, and suffering a home Test series defeat to Bangladesh. This is arguably one of the worst periods in Pakistan’s cricket history.

To explore the reasons behind this decline, Saj talks with Sikandar Bakht, who offered his insights into the inner workings of Pakistan cricket.

Some of the key highlights of this interview are:

Test match drought: Stressed that the limited number of Test matches significantly hampers players' exposure and experience, leading to a generation unprepared for the rigors of red-ball cricket.

Shift towards T20: Emphasized the growing obsession with white-ball formats, noting that this shift is reshaping player priorities and undermining the importance of developing the skills necessary for Test cricket.

Specialist players needed: Pointed out the lack of specialist spinners and the over-reliance on pace bowlers in diverse conditions, highlighting this as a gap in strategic planning and player selection.

Grassroots Investment: Emphasized the need for investment in grassroots initiatives, including coaching and infrastructure, as essential steps for reviving cricket in Pakistan and cultivating future talent.

Commentary path: Emphasized the importance of learning and gaining practical experience in commentary, encouraging aspiring commentators to explore various avenues in sports media.

Emerging talents: Expressed optimism about the pool of promising young cricketers in Pakistan, highlighting their potential to lead the nation's cricket forward.

Watch the full interview here:

"What we see today is perhaps the lowest I have seen": Sikandar Bakht | PakPassion Exclusive (youtube.com)