"I cannot believe it"- Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on Pakistan cricket's downfall
Team India's veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has given his thoughts on the downfall of Pakistan cricket. The Men in Green have come under the scanner following their lacklustre performances in the recently concluded two-match home Test series against Bangladesh.
Bangladesh scripted history, claiming their first-ever Test win over Pakistan with the 2-0 whitewash. Commenting on Pakistan's dismal run in international cricket, Ashwin opined that it wasn't easy to beat Pakistan around 10 years back.
In his latest YouTube video, Ashwin said (from 3:45):
"Keeping all this aside, Pakistan cricket, to see where it is right now, it wasn't possible 10 years ago with Misbah, Younis Khan, even when they used to play in UAE. Back then, it was very tough to beat Pakistan, right? You had the likes of Yasir Shah, you had the likes of a couple of left-arm spinners coming in. All these guys, to where they are right now, I cannot believe it."
Pakistan's Test skipper Shan Masood has had a terrible start to his tenure, losing each of his five Tests as the captain. Ashwin mentioned that it was tough for Masood to lead the side, considering that Babar Azam is at the forefront of Pakistani cricket.
Suggesting that Masood has the potential to be a successful captain, the 37-year-old added (from 4:21):
"I feel terribly bad for somebody named Shaan Masood. I will tell you why. Shaan Masood is a very smart cricketer. I know that guy. He speaks a lot of sense. He can be a really good captain for Pakistan.
"But handling a Pakistan cricket team at this point of time, where somebody like Babar Azam is not the captain and he is a poster boy for Pakistan, it cannot be an easy dressing room, right?"
Elaborating about how Pakistan have had a great cricketing legacy, he said (from 3:02):
"Genuinely speaking, Pakistan cricket's history, Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Imran Khan, Inzamam ul Haq, Ijaz Ahmed, Salim Malik. I can just keep on going on. This legacy, Saeed Anwar, Aamir Sohail, what legacy that country and that cricket team have?"
Pakistan suffered a 10-wicket defeat in the Test series opener against Bangladesh at Rawalpindi. The hosts failed to make amends in the subsequent must-win fixture, slumping to a humiliating six-wicket loss.
"Extraordinary turn of events for Bangladesh" - Ravichandran Ashwin
Commenting on Bangladesh's historic Test series win, Ravichandran Ashwin mentioned how the side must have felt the heat of the political turmoil back home. He noted that Bangladesh's victory will mean a lot to the team, considering the circumstances.
Ashwin remarked (from 1:08):
"Extraordinary turn of events for Bangladesh and generally, when your back is up against the wall, things get tough. And that's why the victory is sweet, they say. Just like how Rohit Sharma took a photo with the World Cup in his bed, Shanto took a photo of this trophy on his bed."
Bangladesh will now tour India for a two-match Test series. The first Test will be played in Chennai from September 19.