The Mohsin Naqvi-led Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided not to extend the contract of the women’s national team head coach, Mohammad Wasim, following the team’s dismal and winless run at the recent ICC Women’s 2025 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Citing a PCB source, news agency PTI reported that Chairman Naqvi expressed profound disappointment over Wasim’s failure to elevate the team’s performance during his tenure, which saw the ‘Women in Green’ finish at the bottom of the table without a single victory.
Disappointing World Cup Performance
Pakistan’s campaign was marked by consistent failure to secure a win, culminating in an early exit from the race for the semi-finals.
- Result: Pakistan finished with zero wins from their seven group-stage matches.
- Standings: They accrued only three points from three rained-out matches and suffered four defeats.
- Table Position: As of the conclusion of their group stage matches, they sat seventh on the points table out of eight teams.
The team’s struggles were compounded by external factors, including the controversial decision to schedule all of Pakistan’s matches in Sri Lanka due to political tensions with host India. Their fixtures in Colombo fell during the Northeast monsoon season, resulting in three matches being washed out by rain, including a crucial fixture against eventual semi-finalists England, where Pakistan’s bowlers had the opposition under significant pressure.
Criticism Focuses on Batting Failure
Mohammad Wasim’s criticism has heavily focused on the team’s persistent weakness in batting. The former international batter, who represented Pakistan in 18 Tests and 25 ODIs, was expected to bring about a noticeable improvement in this department, which remains the team’s Achilles’ heel.
In addition to batting concerns, internal reports cited a lack of effective communication and coordination between Wasim and other members of the coaching staff.
Wasim’s year-long tenure also included overseeing a semi-final exit in the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka and a poor showing in the Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa, where the team managed only one win from four games.
The PCB is now reportedly in discussions with potential foreign candidates to take over the head coach role, mirroring the structure of the men’s team, which is currently led by New Zealander Mike Hesson. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has also ordered a comprehensive review of the women’s team’s performance to address the systemic issues exposed by the World Cup flop.