Naqvi meets with Pakistan coaches, ex-cricketers

Former cricketers raise concerns over team selection and leadership shifts

LAHORE:

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has recently held an important meeting with white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood to address crucial coaching matters and strategize for the future.

The discussion centered on developing a comprehensive plan to improve the team’s batting, bowling, and fielding, with a strong emphasis on player fitness as a condition for inclusion in the team.

Recognizing the abundance of talent in Pakistani cricket, the coaches and chairman agreed that the challenge lies in forming effective player combinations.

Chairman Naqvi assured the coaches of his full support, allowing them the autonomy to implement their strategies. The foreign coaches presented their plans to enhance the team’s performance, which were well-received by Naqvi.

Apart from that, a high-level meeting of former cricketers was held at a hotel on Mall Road, Lahore.

The meeting, chaired by PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, aimed to gather insights and suggestions from experienced players to enhance the national cricket setup. According to sources, over fifteen former Test and international cricketers participated in the discussion, exchanging a range of suggestions to bolster the country’s cricket infrastructure. The meeting included notable figures such as Salman Butt, Ijaz Ahmed, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Basit Ali, Intikhab Alam, Asim Kamal, Mohammad Sami, Shafiq Papa, Yasir Hameed, Saleem Altaf, Haroon Rasheed, Yasir Shah, Sikandar Bakht, Wajahatullah Wasti, and Azhar Khan.

A key issue raised during the meeting was the team combination and selection in the recently-concluded ICC T20 World Cup. Some cricketers were not happy over the team’s composition, pointing out an imbalance with too many openers and a lack of reliable middle-order batters.

They argued that this poor selection strategy was detrimental to the team’s performance. Additionally, frequent changes in the captaincy were highlighted as a significant factor contributing to the team’s instability. Some former cricketers repeatedly deemed changes in captaincy harmful for the team, sources say.

The cricketers emphasized the importance of prioritizing fitness without any compromise, underscoring that it is crucial for achieving consistent performance.

In response, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi assured the attendees that the board would take serious steps to address the concerns raised. He committed to improving Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure and other related matters based on the valuable suggestions provided during the meeting.

Former cricketers also voiced concerns regarding the quality of pitches in Pakistan, raising questions about their suitability for high-level cricket matches.

“You have shown your work before. Hopefully, you will also improve cricket,” former cricketers told Naqvi during a meeting.

Mohsin Naqvi has pledged to take all necessary measures to enhance cricket in Pakistan. He emphasized that the focus will be on four-day matches and Under-19 tournaments.

Naqvi highlighted the need to raise the standard of Pakistani coaches, stressing that urgent efforts are required to bring them up to international levels.