Former England pacer Stuart Broad has admitted that he regrets describing Pakistan as a “poor side,” saying he now believes the team’s problems stem more from the country’s cricketing structure than the players themselves.
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Broad revisited comments he made before the ongoing Test series against England and again ahead of the Lord’s Test.
Before the second Test, the former England fast bowler had backed his side to complete a 3-0 series win, arguing that England had a significantly stronger team.
“I don’t know what we can really know about this team, but, as I said in the last podcast, which quite a few Pakistani fans took exception to, Pakistan are a poor side and England should win this series 3-0.
If they don’t, it would be an absolute disaster. I haven’t changed my opinion on that at all. England should win this Test series 3-0; they’ve simply got a stronger side,” Broad had said.
However, after watching Pakistan in the first two Tests, the 40-year-old has changed his assessment.
Broad said he received a large number of messages from Pakistani fans following his earlier remarks, which highlighted the passion and emotional connection supporters continue to have with the national team.
“I said before the series that I felt Pakistan were a poor side, and I got a lot of messages and notes on social media from Pakistan. It showed me how much passion, love and drive there still is for Pakistan cricket,” Broad said.
He also acknowledged that Pakistan continues to have plenty of talent, particularly among its fast bowlers and batters.
“There’s so much passion for the game in that country, and there’s talent there. They have bowlers who bowl at 140 clicks and batters who can hit the ball,” he added.
Broad then admitted that calling Pakistan a poor side had unfairly placed the blame on the players.
Having watched the team closely during the series, he instead pointed to Pakistan cricket’s hierarchy, selection process and frequent coaching changes as the main issues behind the team’s struggles.
“I actually regret saying they were a poor side because I feel that blamed the players. Now that I’ve seen them operate in two Test matches, I can quite clearly see that it’s the hierarchy, the selection and the changes in coaching that are the issues,” Broad stated.
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