Former Pakistan cricketer Yasir Arafat has shared his thoughts on the differing cricketing cultures of Pakistan and South Africa, based on his experience as a High-Performance Coach for both teams.
In a recent interview, Arafat highlighted a major difference in the mindset of the two teams, especially regarding their attitudes toward learning and development.
Arafat suggested that this distinction could be a crucial factor influencing their varying degrees of success on the international stage.
“I have been a High Performance Coach for both Pakistan and South Africa. The main difference I’ve observed is that even the most talented and seasoned South African players are eager to learn, which stands in stark contrast to the environment among Pakistani players,” Arafat explained.
He also remarked that in South Africa, players—regardless of their level of experience—are receptive to feedback and consistently work to improve their skills.
In contrast, he mentioned that the culture within the Pakistan team poses challenges in creating an environment that encourages continuous learning.
He further stated that the national team’s poor performance is linked to top players who have set a benchmark by not prioritizing the Pakistan team, instead choosing to play in smaller leagues.
“If you prioritize playing in leagues over domestic cricket, it might send a message to upcoming players that those already on the team are more focused on league play than representing the Pakistan national team, ” he said.
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“This is another reason in the decline of Pakistan cricket team,” he concluded.
It’s important to note that Pakistan cricket is facing criticism for their disappointing performances in recent one-day events.
Green Shirts experienced a setback when they lost the tri-nation ODI series final to New Zealand, suffering two defeats during the series.
Subsequently, Pakistan hosted a significant ICC event for the first time since 1996, featuring six nations in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Unfortunately, the Men in Green were the first team eliminated from the tournament after consecutive losses to New Zealand and India, and their last group match against Bangladesh was canceled due to rain.
In the current five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Pakistan has struggled, trailing 3-1, with the final match scheduled to take place in Wellington on March 26.
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