Following Pakistan’s 61-run defeat to India in the ICC T20 World Cup, former star batter Mohammad Yousuf has called for an end to political interference in the country’s cricket affairs and urged sweeping reforms within the team structure.
Reacting to the loss, Yousuf expressed deep disappointment, describing the period as “the darkest phase in our cricket history.”
He said the defeat was painful for fans and former players alike, adding that “the heart weeps tears of blood” over the team’s continued decline.
In a strongly worded statement, the former cricketer demanded the removal of incompetent individuals from key administrative and team positions.
He stressed that until political interference and personal agendas are eliminated from cricket management, Pakistan would not be able to rebuild the formidable side it once had.
In a separate message posted on X (formerly Twitter), Yousuf said that the time of senior players such as Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, and Shadab Khan had passed in the T20 format, asserting that the national side now requires fresh performers and a new direction.