Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has delivered a blunt assessment of Pakistan’s national cricket team, questioning the side’s courage, fighting spirit, and overall character following a dismal performance during their ongoing tour of England.
Pakistan’s campaign in England started on a disastrous note, with convincing heavy defeats in the opening two Tests at Headingley and Lord’s. Across four innings, the batting lineup repeatedly crumbled, failing to breach the 200-run mark even once. The first Test concluded inside three days, whilst the second match stretched into the fourth day largely due to weather delays rather than sustained resistance on the field.
In the wake of these heavy losses, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping adjustments to the squad. Seven players were sent home mid-tour to make way for several younger prospects, alongside yet another shift in the coaching staff. Sarfaraz Ahmed was replaced as Test coach, with white-ball coach Mike Hesson taking over the red-ball responsibilities.
However, de Villiers maintained on his YouTube channel that the root cause of Pakistan’s decline lies with the players on the field rather than the administrative instability within the board.
“I don’t see that extra effort or grit from a lot of players in Pakistan’s batting lineup,” de Villiers stated. “They simply lack the courage and the fight needed at this level.”
Reflecting on the fundamental demands of five-day cricket, the legendary batter stressed that Test matches are ultimately tests of individual resolve rather than mere showcases of technical flair.
“It is not always about playing pretty cricket. Sometimes it gets ugly, and it might look terrible to watch, but you have to stay out there and keep fighting,” de Villiers remarked. “I used to view Test cricket as the ultimate test of character. Right now, that is precisely what Pakistan seem to be missing—a bit of character, a bit of fight.”
Drawings comparisons to his own international career, the former Proteas skipper noted that personal records were secondary to demonstrating resilience in tough conditions. He urged Pakistan’s senior players to take collective responsibility instead of relying solely on the captain. According to de Villiers, four or five experienced figures need to step up, set an example, and show the younger players what is required to win international matches across all formats.
While directing his primary criticism at the squad’s performance, de Villiers acknowledged that the PCB’s persistent “chopping and changing” culture has hindered stability. The national setup has seen repeated changes in leadership and management over recent years, including the high-profile departures of head coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten following internal frictions.
With Babar Azam reinstated at the heart of the team’s leadership structure, de Villiers expressed hope that the star batter will finally be granted a extended run to establish stability, provided his teammates rally behind him and emulate his standard of play.
