“I cannot believe it”- Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on Pakistan cricket’s downfall

India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said it is shocking to note Pakistan cricket’s downfall in the recent past. Pakistan lost the two-match Test series against Bangladesh by 2-0 despite playing in home conditions. The hosts lost the opening Test by 10 wickets whereas they lost the second game by six wickets at Rawalpindi against the Tigers.

Furthermore, Men in Green also could not qualify for the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after they were stunned by the USA in the group stage.

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel, “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.”

Ashwin feels Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has got the right credentials to lead the team in the right direction.

“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?”

Pakistan has had a great legacy as the country has produced legendary players like Waqar Younis, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, Imran Khan, Inzamam ul Haq, Ijaz Ahmed, Salim Malik.

“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?”

On the other hand, Ashwin showered praise on Bangladesh for coming up with a collective show against Pakistan.

“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.”

Pakistan will next take on England in a three-match Test series.