Is Pakistan cricket in crisis?

Well it looks as though the Pakistan cricket is in crisis when the news broke out that the retired Pakistan batsman Mohammed Yousuf has been called back into the Pakistani 16 member squad for the upcoming one day series against England in England. Of course, since the past two years or so, nothing has been able to be told regarding Pakistan cricket. In the beginning, it was only a problem for Pakistan cricket team in Pakistan. But, now, the Pakistan team is facing unbearable defeats outside as well, with the most recent one being the loss in the 1^st and 2^nd tests against England.

Not only did Pakistan lose both the aforementioned tests but also they were bowled out for a score less than 100 in both the tests. They have to consider themselves lucky for not getting all out for a score less than 100 in all the four innings they played. Nevermind that they did well to bowl out the Aussies unexpectedly for a score of 88 in the first innings of the 2^nd test last month. In early 2009, almost all cricketing nations started boycotting their tours of Pakistan for reasons not necessary to be cited specially. And, the only team that toured Pakistan had to pay the price for the same.

And then, Pakistan did which no other team in the world could do when they spent more than a year without playing a test match. This was also the year which Pakistan spent without hosting a test match on its home soil which is evident. Not even Bangladesh were able to achieve such a feat and Pakistan must be proud to have entered the record books for the wrong reasons. With teams viz Australia, New Zealand,England and South Africa along with India (obviously) dropping plans to tour Pakistan, one had to wonder as to what made Sri Lanka tour the nation. Were the Sri Lankans trying to justify that they are lions indeed as their flag suggests!

Off late, their performance is also found following the security situation back home. They were the first team to lose all matches to any team when they lost three tests, five one dayers and the lone T20 game that was played late last year. West Indies - who toured Australia at the same time were successful in drawing a match. Following this, the PCB took a drastic step by dropping eight players from the side and later on dropped the idea itself which is a different issue. Now, the worst of all is that Mohammed Yousuf is called back to the one dayers that follow against England.

The PCB never called back Wasim Akram, Saeed Anwar or Waqar Younis once they retired. But, the case with Yousuf is a different one and shows the insecurity in Pakistan cricket as well similar to the one in Pakistan.