In a move that’s ruffled more than a few feathers back home, former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif has announced his World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 “Team of the Tournament”—and not a single Pakistani player made the cut.
The lineup, revealed after South Africa’s dramatic WTC title win at Lord’s, leans heavily on players from winning or high-performing teams. It features the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Joe Root, and Kagiso Rabada, with South African captain Temba Bavuma named skipper of the eleven. But from Pakistan? Not a soul.
This isn’t just an oversight—it’s a statement.
Who Made the Cut—and Why
Latif’s XI includes:
Openers: Yashasvi Jaiswal (India) and Usman Khawaja (Australia)
Middle order: Joe Root (England), Temba Bavuma (South Africa, captain), Harry Brook (England), Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka)
Wicketkeeper: Kyle Verreynne (South Africa)
Bowlers: Nathan Lyon (Australia), Matt Henry (New Zealand), Jasprit Bumrah (India), Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
With four South Africans and two Englishmen, the selection clearly rewards consistency and match-winning impact over the full WTC cycle. Joe Root, for example, amassed nearly 2,000 runs, while Rabada and Bumrah terrorized batting lineups with both control and venom. Latif’s preference for form and results is clear.
Why No Pakistanis?
Honestly, it’s hard to argue against the logic—even if it stings. Pakistan’s WTC campaign was marred by inconsistency. While there were moments of brilliance—Babar Azam’s classy innings here and there, or Shaheen Shah Afridi’s fiery spells—the lack of sustained impact hurt their players’ case.
“It’s not about talent—Pakistan has plenty of that,” said cricket analyst Mazhar Arshad on X. “But when you look at the numbers and match-winning contributions, they just don’t stack up this cycle.”
Stats back him up. No Pakistani batter breached the 1,000-run mark. None of the bowlers were among the top five wicket-takers. Rizwan, once hailed as one of the world’s most complete wicketkeepers, struggled to assert his presence in the longer format.
A Wake-Up Call?
For Pakistani cricket fans, this omission feels like a cold splash of reality. It’s not just about being left out of a fantasy XI—it’s about what that exclusion represents. A country with a proud Test history failing to put forward even one player worthy of a symbolic honor says a lot about where the team stands.
“This isn’t about disrespecting anyone,” Latif said during a recent YouTube segment. “It’s about rewarding performance. And honestly, we didn’t have that consistency from Pakistan in this cycle.”
The takeaway? Pakistan’s cricketing leadership has work to do. This isn’t about chasing headlines or public outrage—it’s about developing players who can deliver, week in and week out, against the best in the world.
Because next time someone puts together a WTC XI, Pakistan should be more than just a footnote.
