Australian opener Usman Khawaja believes that repeated restructuring in Pakistan cricket could be the cause of their poor performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Pakistan exited the tournament’s group stage for the first time in their history after suffering defeats in their first two matches. They endured a dramatic super-over defeat against the United States followed by a narrow loss to arch-rivals India, failing to chase down a modest target of 120 runs.

After a match between Ireland and the USA ended in a rain-affected draw, which awarded both teams equal points, Pakistan found themselves indirectly eliminated from the tournament.

Despite rebounding with wins in their remaining two matches — a sluggish victory over Canada and a tense chase against Ireland — Pakistan’s campaign marked their poorest performance in a T20 World Cup.

Speaking at an event in Melbourne recently, Usman Khawaja, originally from Islamabad and now representing Australia, expressed surprise at Pakistan’s loss to the USA, believing Pakistan should have still won. He noted critical moments in the game, such as Haris Rauf’s bowling in the final over and questioned why Shaheen Shah Afridi did not bowl the super over.

Khawaja emphasized the unpredictability of cricket, drawing parallels to Australia’s experiences, where losses happen despite strong performances. He advised focusing on future tournaments and learning from these experiences.

Regarding Pakistan’s team dynamics, Khawaja observed a lack of stability due to frequent changes in selection, coaching staff, and players. He stressed that stability was crucial for consistent performance.

Responding to queries about Babar Azam’s captaincy, Khawaja remarked that it was Azam’s decision to continue leading the team, acknowledging the high expectations placed on Pakistan.

Turning to cricketing strategy, Khawaja highlighted Pat Cummins’ prowess as a bowler, describing him as the best in the world and noting the challenges and opportunities T20 format offers for bowlers.

Expressing concern about England’s performance, Khawaja drew comparisons with Australia and Pakistan’s past tournament strategies, where overcoming initial challenges led to successful runs in previous editions. He cautioned that England’s similar trajectory could pose a threat in the ongoing tournament.