Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has criticised the Pakistan cricket team’s lack of resolve, warning that the nation’s ongoing struggles stem as much from a deficit of courage on the pitch as they do from administrative instability off it.
De Villiers’ comments came after Pakistan suffered humiliating back-to-back Test losses against England at Headingley and Lord’s. The visitors collapsed under pressure in both encounters, failing to reach the 200-run mark in any of their four innings. The series opener was wrapped up in just three days, while the second Test stretched into the fourth day only because of rain delays rather than sustained resistance from the batting unit.
In the fallout, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) instituted drastic changes. Seven players were dropped and sent home mid-tour, replacing them with younger prospects, while Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed as Test coach in favour of white-ball coach Mike Hesson.
Evaluating the situation on his YouTube channel, de Villiers argued that constant personnel shifts obscure the fundamental duty of the players.
“I don’t see that extra effort or grit from a lot of players in Pakistan’s batting lineup,” de Villiers remarked. “They simply lack the courage and the fight needed at this level. 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. Right now, that is precisely what Pakistan seem to be missing—a bit of character, a bit of fight.”
Drawing on his own international career, the former Proteas skipper emphasised that Test cricket is a test of personal fortitude rather than a vehicle for individual milestones or vanity. He urged senior players to stop leaving the burden of responsibility solely to the captain. According to de Villiers, four or five core players must collectively step forward, set a visible standard, and show the squad’s younger cohort what is required to win international matches across all three formats.
Despite his focus on the playing group, de Villiers acknowledged that the PCB’s persistent “chopping and changing” culture severely undermines team stability. Frequent reshuffles at the board level and within the coaching staff—evidenced by the recent departures of high-profile coaches Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten following internal frictions—have left players navigating constant uncertainty.
With Babar Azam reinstated at the centre of the team’s leadership structure, de Villiers expressed hope that the top-order star will be granted an extended tenure to rebuild the side, provided his teammates rally behind him and match his application on the field.
