Cricket, renowned as a game of glorious uncertainties, unfolds as a captivating theatre where moments of brilliance and lapses in concentration intricately shape a team’s destiny. In recent years, however, Pakistan’s cricketing journey has been marked by a persistent struggle in crucial moments, acting as a significant impediment to success in both Test and limited-overs formats.

Entering a new year with hopes of a fresh start, Pakistan found themselves engulfed in the same narrative. In Sydney, mirroring their tribulations in Melbourne, the team relinquished a promising position after securing a lead against Australia for the first time since the Sydney Test in 2010. Aamir Jamal’s heroic performance with both bat and ball, first guiding Pakistan from 228/9 to 313 with the bat and then taking a six-wicket haul to trigger a lower-order collapse that saw Australia get bowled out for 299, was eclipsed as the batsmen faltered, turning a 14-run advantage into a precarious 68/7. Shots from Shan, Babar, and Saud proved to be ill-advised in those critical moments in the game, denying Pakistan an opportunity to secure a historic Test victory in Australia after 28 years.

The defeat in Sydney echoed the struggles in Melbourne, marked by dropped catches and batting collapses at crucial junctures, highlighting a recurring theme of losing games from winning positions.

The recent Melbourne Test against Australia served as a poignant reminder of this all-too-familiar narrative. As Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Rizwan steered Pakistan toward a historic Test victory after 28 years, their dreams were shattered by the relentless force that is Pat Cummins. Cummins, riding high on recent captaincy triumphs, halted Pakistan’s momentum, leaving fans with a sense of profound disappointment.

The Sydney and Melbourne Test losses mirrored Pakistan’s defeats against Australia and England in recent years. Whether in the Multan Test in 2022, the Lahore Test in 2022, or other instances, the pattern persisted — Pakistan found itself in commanding positions, only to crumble in critical moments, resulting in Test defeats.

This struggle to convert advantageous situations into victories has become a hallmark of Pakistan cricket, extending beyond Tests to limited-overs cricket. From the WT20 Semi-final in 2021 to the WT20 Final in 2022 and the 2023 ODI World Cup, Pakistan consistently failed to seize crucial moments, lacking the killer instinct required to secure those wins.

The bar is so low with regards to performance in Australia that fans celebrated basic accomplishments like correct bowling changes, innovative field placements by the captain, and taking 20 wickets in a Test match as a success for the Australian tour; these moments should also be viewed as missed opportunities to break the 28-year-long streak of not winning in Australia. Winning in Australia demands not just playing well but also a burning desire to win, a hunger that propels a team to victory. Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy in 2018, India is a prime example of such desire leading to success. Perhaps he wasn’t the most tactically astute captain, but his desire to win led his side to victory.

The lack of this desire has been Pakistan’s downfall. Contentment with achieving the bare minimum hinders the team’s success. To overcome the challenges that international cricket presents, Pakistan must cultivate a stronger desire to win, relinquishing the tendency to settle for the bare minimum results.

Critique should not solely target players for this lack of desire; they are outcomes of multilayered societal and political systems and structures. The Pakistan Cricket Board similarly mirrors these systems, with instability, followed by selections influenced more by political affiliations than by the competence to oversee cricket efficiently.

To shed this recurring theme, Pakistan must aim high and be unwavering in its plans. The challenge is not about skill; it’s about winning those critical moments that define a match. Whether in Tests or limited-overs cricket, Pakistan needs to develop the killer instinct required to close out games and tournaments successfully.

In conclusion, the narrative of Pakistan cricket must shift from one of missed opportunities and being content with achieving the bare minimum to a culture where there is a constant desire for success. Only then can Pakistan break free from the shackles of repeated defeats in crucial moments and embark on a path toward consistent success.

The opinions expressed solely belong to the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Grassroots Cricket.