Pakistan set for more cricket drama with PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi reportedly set to sack another head coach

Mohammad Wasim is set to be sacked as the head coach of the Pakistan women’s cricket team after a dismal campaign in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, in which the Fatima Sana-led side bowed out in the group stage after failing to win a single match.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed unhappiness over Wasim’s performance as head coach since he was appointed to the role in June last year, according to news agency Press Trust of India which quoted a source in the board.

And it’s not just the disappointing World Cup campaign that is the cause for his exit. Wasim, a former middle-order batter who represented Pakistan in 18 Tests and 25 ODIs, has been criticised for failing to improve the women’s team’s batting despite it being an area of expertise. He has also come under the PCB’s scrutiny for his communication and co-ordination with other members of the coaching staff.

Pakistan had also suffered a semi-final exit in last year’s Asia Cup, which took place shortly after Wasim’s appointment. Later that year, Pakistan bowed out of the T20 World Cup with just one win in the UAE with just one victory in four outings.

The PCB is expected to announce a replacement soon with discussions currently underway.

How Pakistan failed to win a single game at the World Cup

As for the ongoing World Cup, Pakistan had begun their campaign by getting completely outplayed by Bangladesh before suffering an 88-run defeat against arch-rivals India . They would then suffer a hat-trick of defeats with a 107-run loss against Australia despite restricting the defending ODI world champions to 221/9.

Fatima and Co, however, have also been incredibly unlucky throughout the tournament, with three of their seven group matches ended up getting washed out. Pakistan, after all, were the only team to play all of their matches at a single venue – Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.

And they were robbed of what appeared a certain victory over England , having restricted the Nat Sciver-Brunt-led side to 133/9 and cruised to 34/0 in reply before the heavens opened up.

Three of their next four matches met a similar fate – with the game against South Africa, which they lost by 150 runs (DLS method) only getting a decisive result due to the fact that the Pakistanis had batted 20 overs in their run chase.

Depending on the result of the India vs Bangladesh fixture, the final match of the group stage that is currently underway in Navi Mumbai, Pakistan could either finish seventh or at the bottom of the table.