The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi has cracked the whip on Pakistani cricketers as part of his overhaul of the cricketing system. This comes after Pakistan’s embarrassing performance in the recent T20 World Cup 2024.
Pakistan failed to qualify for the Super 8s stage after losing to the USA and India in the Group A games in the USA.
This led to Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chief, stating that some surgery would be required to improve Pakistan cricket.
Naqvi has proposed some ideas to improve the quality of cricket in the country after a meeting with stakeholders, including senior men's team white-ball coach Gary Kirsten and Test coach Jason Gillespie in a meeting at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.
Naqvi stated that there will be zero tolerance for violation of discipline and he warned against grouping in the national team. This was after multiple reports of a rift in the Pakistan team after the T20 World Cup and even two star players, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam, were at odds with one another.
The PCB has also made fitness tests essential for players every three months, and fitness will be a crucial consideration for selection. The board also encouraged players to participate in local cricket, implying that No-Objection Certificates to play in abroad T20 tournaments will only be issued to players who are fit and follow domestic cricket laws.
"There will be no compromise on discipline. There will be a zero-tolerance policy against players who violate discipline. There should be unity and consensus within the team. Grouping players will not be tolerated. Management should take strict action on grouping. Disciplinary players will not have a place in the team. Do not accept my recommendation about any player for breach of discipline," the PCB statement quoted Mohsin Naqvi as saying.
The PCB also confirmed that Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten were added to the selection committee. The move comes days after Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq were sacked from the selection committee.
"Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie are fully empowered. I have full confidence in them. Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie have been given a free hand. Hope both will give the best results," Naqvi said.
Pakistan, who have not played international cricket since the T20 World Cup exit, will resume action when they take on Bangladesh in a two-Test series from August 21 at home.
