Express Tribune Editorials 20th September 2026

Cricket crisis

The PCB currently finds itself in a state of absolute disarray following a disastrous 3-0 Test series whitewash against England. Marking Pakistan's worst-ever Test performance on English soil, the catastrophic defeat has triggered an unprecedented, chaotic fallout that leaves more questions than answers.

In an aggressive purge, seven players were abruptly sent home mid-tour. The axe also fell heavily on the management, with head coach Sarfraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul both being summarily sacked. While a squad overhaul is understandable after such a humiliation, the sheer scale and suddenness of these dismissals point to a deeper systemic collapse within the dressing room rather than a standard cricketing rebuild.

Adding fuel to the fire are disturbing reports regarding top cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq. Both players were reportedly questioned by officials during the tour, and are currently going through cybercrime investigation at home. While the exact reasoning behind this interrogation remains unconfirmed, a rampant media landscape has filled the vacuum with damaging rumours, including unsubstantiated whispers of match-fixing. While these extreme allegations currently seem to lack substance, their mere existence in the public domain severely damages the integrity of Pakistan cricket.

In moments of crisis, silence is a liability. The PCB cannot afford to operate behind closed doors while the national team's reputation crumbles. Speculation will continue to morph into perceived truth unless definitive facts are presented. The board must immediately come forward with total clarity, explicitly stating the precise reasons behind the management sackings, the player repatriations, and the nature of the player questioning. Only transparent communication can halt the toxic rumour mill and begin the painful process of rebuilding trust.

Environment paradox

Pakistan has made a remarkable improvement in the biennial Environmental Performance Index, rising 22 spots since coming in third from the bottom in the 2024 rankings. But despite the improvement, the report - a collaboration between the World Economic Forum, Yale University and Columbia University - says our score is still below the South Asian regional average, and our performance on air quality is simply appalling.

Pakistan ranked 157th out of 177 countries ranked, with a score of 29.03, compared to the South Asian average of 31.81. Pakistan also did well on the forest Indicator, ranking 14th in the world. But we ranked near the bottom for environmental health, 175th, with an air quality score of 7.54. The low ranking is not surprising. Lahore's annual average PM2.5 concentration remains 22 times higher than WHO guidelines and cuts life expectancy by an average of seven years. Still, it is embarrassing considering the frequency with which the government and NGOs highlight Pakistan's small climate change footprint relative to the impacts we bear. Being the worst at something requires substantial malfeasance on our own part. And it is not just air. Pakistan also ranks low in heavy metal exposure, and is just 140th in the sanitation and drinking water score.

While the government does deserve some credit for moving the country in the right direction, it must not mistake a modest improvement for a job well done. Environmental issues take decades to address, and losing focus for even a little while can be the difference between success and failure. And though environmental initiatives are indeed expensive, it has also been estimated that the economy loses about one per cent every year due to climate change-related events. If we invested even a fraction of that in climate change mitigation and environmental uplift, the benefits would be immeasurable.

A tense calm

A tense standstill has gripped Rawalpindi and Islamabad as the twin cities brace themselves for major protest demonstrations. Jamaat-e-Islami, farmers' groups and PTI plan to demonstrate inside the capital, respectively demanding the removal of the petroleum development levy, agricultural relief, and the release of Imran Khan from jail. Labeling the moves as an attempt to incite lawlessness, the government has warned of a stern crackdown. The Interior Minister, referencing an Islamabad High Court order, has made it loud and clear that no entry or disruption will be tolerated. Security forces are on a high alert to strictly maintain law and order.

Escalating political friction between the government and the opposition signals further instability. The six-party opposition alliance – TTAP – has proposed an All Parties' Conference, though its timing relative to PTI's September 27th protest remains undecided. The ruling coalition has arguably missed vital opportunities to de-escalate by squeezing the opposition's political space. Complying with the Supreme Court's August 18th order to transfer Imran Khan to a private hospital and resume regular meetings would have been a beneficial confidence building measure. By opting to challenge the court's directives instead, the government has inadvertently motivated the opposition to double down on its aggressive stance.

The only viable path forward is a meaningful dialogue with the opposition, driven by a sincere intent to address their core grievances. The PTI-TTAP wish-list centres on securing lawful relief for political prisoners, repealing legislative measures that undermine the spirit of the Constitution and establishing a clear roadmap to empower state institutions, including the Election Commission. These objectives should logically serve as a common denominator with the government, making unconditional parleys the most constructive way forward. Ultimately, both the ruling coalition and the opposition must budge from their rigid positions and compromise in the supreme national interest.