Newly-sworn-in Prime Minister Imran Khan believes that Pakistani cricket needs to go through a revamp in order to become better and more important.

Imran met some prominent former Pakistan cricketers at the Prime Minister House on Saturday and discussed introducing some major changes in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) at an administrative level.

Among those who attended this brief yet special meeting were some of the players who played with Imran and were part of the 1992 World Cup winning side, like Javed Miandad, Mudassar Nazar, Abdul Qadir, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Moin Khan, Rameez Raja, Mushtaq Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, and Zakir Khan — a close friend of Khan.

The meeting was also attended by former India cricketer and current Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu. Khan told his peers that he intends to keep discussing and listening to their advice in order to enhance Pakistani cricket.

The new prime minister conversed and hosted everyone respectfully despite his busy schedule. He met the cricketers individually and expressed his gratitude to them for their presence as well as for helping in "my career".

Imran talked and joked with his former teammates, but talked about reforms and improvements for the betterment of Pakistan's cricket scene in all seriousness. He made clear his intention to work for the advancement of the game and asked his fellows for their viewpoints and assistance in doing so.

According to sources, he wished to eliminate the departmental cricket in order to give prominence to the regional cricket. The premier believes that departmental cricket is the root of cricket's destruction, the sources said, adding that Abdul Qadir, the former leg-spinner, advised against the elimination of the department teams.

The sources said the PM suggested that a new cricket system would be introduced, wherein eight regional teams would participate in first class, whereas another eight would partake in Grade 2.

On the other hand, when Navjot Sidhu inquired about the next chairperson of the PCB, Khan looked towards Ehsan Mani and smiled, sources stated, adding that Mani was also present apart from former PCB head Khalid Mahmood.

(with inputs from geo.tv)