Pakistan’s fast bowlers have been under the microscope for a while now. Fans love them. Experts analyze them. Critics tear them apart. But according to former captain Azhar Ali, the biggest reason for their recent struggles might just be… a hashtag.
Yes, you read that right.
Remember the ‘Can’t Play Them’ trend from 2023? It was everywhere. The idea was simple—Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah, was supposedly too good for the opposition. The hype was massive. But since then, things haven’t exactly gone as planned.
And Azhar Ali believes that’s where everything started going wrong.
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Hype vs. Reality
Speaking on a podcast, Azhar pointed out that social media hype can sometimes backfire.
“Remember the hashtag ‘Can’t Play Them’? Everything went bad from there,” he said. “I think managers should not create a fuss about everything on social media.”
His point? It’s great to celebrate victories. But overhyping players can create unrealistic expectations. When results don’t match the hype, criticism hits harder. And in Pakistan, that criticism can be brutal.
The Injury Factor
Azhar also highlighted another issue—rushing bowlers back from injury.
Pakistan’s pace attack has dealt with injuries frequently. But instead of giving them proper recovery time, the management often brings them back too soon.
“The Pakistan team management rushes bowlers back after an injury; their rehabilitation is not done as it should be,” Azhar explained.
He compared it to how India handled Jasprit Bumrah’s injury. The star pacer was out for a year. He could have returned earlier, but India prioritized his long-term fitness over a quick comeback. And now? Bumrah is back to his best.
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Fear of Losing a Spot?
One common argument is that players rush their comebacks because they fear losing their place. But Azhar dismissed this idea when asked about Pakistan’s main fast bowlers.
“All these three or four bowlers which you are talking about—Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah—how will they lose their place? They are proper bowlers,” he said.
It’s a fair point. Pakistan’s pace attack is still one of the best in the world. But to stay at the top, they need better injury management and a mindset shift. Hype is fun, but consistency wins tournaments.
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