Azhar Ali blames departmental cricket's demise for Pakistan's Test decline

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali, speaking to the Guardian on 7 September 2026, blamed the winding-down of departmental cricket — where government and corporate employers funded teams and paid player salaries — for hollowing out Pakistan's talent pipeline. Reducing domestic sides without replacing that financial safety net has pushed young cricketers to leave Pakistan, he said. The warning carries weight: Pakistan have lost 15 of their past 20 Tests and sit bottom of the World Test Championship for a second straight cycle.