Pakistan's only win in ICC World Cups over India came in 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai.
After being put into bat by Pakistan, India's batting was rocked by Shaheen Afridi, who dismissed openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul early on, while Hasan Ali took two wickets as India was shot out for 151/7 in 20 overs. Virat Kohli made 57, and Rishabh Pant made 39 on a challenging pitch, while Shaheen Afridi picked 3/31.
In response, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan batted out of their skin and took Pakistan to a 10-wicket win. Azam scored 68* off 52 balls, while Rizwan made 79* off 55 balls as Pakistan registered their first and only win over India in ICC World Cup events and in T20 World Cups.
The 10-wicket triumph against their bitter rivals five years ago, according to the former Pakistani cricketer, harmed the Pakistan team.
“That match, which we won against India in 2021, damaged us a lot. Because after that victory, players started to think that they had achieved something big. They couldn’t understand what they had to do next. When you are performing well, you should stay humble. If you behave with your collar raised and get disrespectful, problems will arrive. And a lot of them have arrived in Pakistan cricket,” said Yousuf in a conversation on Samaa TV.
He also mentioned a time when there was a competition to captain the Pakistani cricket team.
“Everyone in the team was trying to become the captain of the Pakistan team. The consequences are still hurting Pakistan cricket. Look at all the cricket Pakistan has played in the last four or five years, from ODI World Cups and T20 World Cups to Asia Cups and the Champions Trophy. There has been terrible cricket. The PCB has been supporting you throughout. So many coaches have come and gone, and so many things have changed just to try and help the Pakistan team. But no player has stood up and taken responsibility. Eventually, PCB had to take a step that it did. I back what PCB did,” added Yousuf.
The Pakistan team is facing a huge crisis as they have lost the first two tests of the three-game series in England by an innings and 103 runs and 194 runs, respectively.
This led to PCB having a knee-jerk reaction in which they shipped back even players from the squad and replaced them with seven others (including five uncapped players). PCB also banished their head coach, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and his assistant, Umar Gul.
When asked if PCB was justified in acting in the middle of a tour with one test, albeit a dead rubber, still left to play, Yousuf said, "Yes, there is no issue with when PCB has taken action. The Pakistan team is ninth in the World Test Championship standings. They are ninth because there are only nine teams in the table. Pakistan ka naam kharab ho raha hai (Pakistan’s reputation is getting ruined). So when that’s happening, the board has to take some steps to improve.”
Yousuf surmised that a dressing room incident had contributed to the seven players' recall from England during the tour. Additionally, Yousuf cautioned against expecting the seven players sent to replace the seven recalled from England to show results right away.
“I don’t see an issue with the PCB reaction. Because the team has been playing terrible cricket. It’s not just this one series against England. We played in the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and played in an Asia Cup final as well, but since those finals, just look at the performances coming out of this Pakistan team,” Yousuf said.
Pakistan will play England in the third and final Test in Birmingham from September 9 onwards.