‘Major surgery’ in Pakistan cricket begins as PCB rolls out sweeping reforms

Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, current team captains up for selection committee; rigorous fitness assessments on charts

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has introduced an extensive series of reforms aimed at revitalising Pakistan cricket, with a strong emphasis on enhancing grassroots development and improving player performance across all tiers.

As per the meeting led by Chairman Mohsin Naqvi today, under the new initiatives, high-performance centres nationwide are slated for upgrades, with plans underway to establish new centres in Islamabad and Peshawar.

Renowned coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have been enlisted to oversee these pivotal expansions.

Naqvi also announced that former Test cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, alongside current team captains, will join the selection committee.

He noted that the move aims to fortify talent scouting and selection processes in both white-ball and red-ball formats.

Naqvi added that every player will now undergo rigorous fitness assessments quarterly, with mandatory participation in domestic cricket leagues.

The revamped one-year central contract structure will link player performance and fitness directly to contract categorisations.

Regarding concerns on player incentives, the PCB has opted to maintain current central contract amounts while introducing stringent guidelines for issuing No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

It is to be noted that only players meeting rigorous fitness and performance criteria will be eligible for international league participation.

The board has also adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards indiscipline, with strict penalties set for any instances of player misconduct or groupings that undermine team unity.

The National Cricket Academy (NCA) plans to appoint dedicated coaches for Shaheens and Under-19 teams, alongside organizing regular tournaments to nurture emerging talent.

Evaluations of domestic contracts will ensure equitable opportunities across all tiers of cricketing talent under the oversight of Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, Usman Wahla, and Nadeem Khan.