'Mein Pakistan jata hoon, ek saal mein team khadi kar ke dikhaunga' - Yograj Singh on coaching Pakistan team
After losing two games in a row, Pakistan failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Host Pakistan's campaign in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was rather disappointing as they suffered an early exit from the tournament. Under Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy, the team suffered back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and India, which had put them on the brink of elimination.
Their destiny was decided when the Kiwis defeated Bangladesh, ensuring that India and New Zealand progressed to the semi-finals from Group A. With this, Pakistan became the first-ever host team to be knocked out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage.
The Men in Green's elimination saw them receive heavy criticism, especially from former Pakistani players, including Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, who publicly criticised the team’s performance and called for changes in the setup.
Meanwhile, former India pacer Yograj Singh has come forward to coach the Pakistan team and help them regain their form. Yograj also slammed Akram and other former cricketers for just commenting on their team's decline rather than actively working towards its revival.
“Wasim is earning money doing commentary. Go back to your country, organise a camp of these players. I want to see which one of you can help Pakistan win the World Cup and if not then resign. Mein jata hoon, ek saal mein team khadi kar kay dikhaunga tum yaad rakhoge (I can coach them. I will build this team in one year and you’ll will remember it). It’s all about passion. I am spending 12 hours here (at his own academy). You will have to give your blood and sweat for your own country," he told as quoted by News18.
Yograj, the father of India’s cricketing legend Yuvraj Singh, has a proven track record as a coach. He has trained several young cricketers, including Arjun Tendulkar, who made an impressive Ranji Trophy debut by scoring a century in his first innings. Despite a short international career, which included just one Test and six ODIs, the 66-year-old has played a crucial role in developing players at the grassroots level.
Pakistan’s disappointing show in the Champions Trophy has not only led to calls for a squad change but also raised questions about the country’s domestic cricket structure. Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar even went on to claim that a ‘B’ Indian team could beat Pakistan on their current form.
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