LONDON (Dunya News) – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said changes to the national Test squad were inevitable, adding that the board is also reviewing factors beyond the team’s on-field performance.
Speaking to the media in London, Naqvi said he was deeply disappointed with the national team’s poor performance. He said the steps taken in England were necessary and added that matters other than performance were also involved, which were currently being reviewed.
The PCB chairman made it clear that there was no fixed rule requiring anyone given a responsibility to remain in the position for three years. He questioned whether South Africa’s defeat against Namibia or India’s loss to Ireland meant their cricket had ended.
Naqvi said the player needed in a particular situation would be given an opportunity, adding that every match was important for Pakistan.
Speaking about Salman Ali Agha’s performance, he said the player was an excellent cricketer but had failed to perform, which was why the matter had been discussed with him.
The PCB chairman said he would not make decisions based on criticism. He said there was an issue whenever someone was appointed and another issue whenever someone was removed. Referring to Pakistan’s recent Test defeats in England, he said things could not have gone worse than they did in the last two Tests.
Naqvi expressed confidence that Test cricket would improve in the coming days, just as Pakistan’s performances had improved in ODIs and T20Is. He said the cricket board was accountable for the results.
He further said that since the arrival of the new coaching team, Pakistan had improved its ODI ranking from eighth to fifth and had won four of six bilateral series during the period.
Talking about the team’s performance during his tenure, Naqvi said Pakistan had moved from ninth to sixth place in T20Is. He added that the national team’s winning percentage had increased from 24% to 74%.
Naqvi said criticism was justified when the team lost a match, but it was unfair to immediately declare that Pakistan cricket had come to an end.
Taking aim at critics, the PCB chairman said some people who had achieved nothing in their lives were criticising others. He said he was not afraid of criticism and also sought opinions from former cricketers.
Naqvi acknowledged that Pakistan’s Test performance had been very poor and said there were several reasons behind it. However, he added that it was not appropriate to discuss some of those reasons at this stage.
He stressed that the discouragement of players needed to end and said he would not allow players to be publicly blamed. He also congratulated the coaching staff and selection committee for the team’s performances in ODIs and T20Is.
Naqvi admitted that mistakes were also made during selection, saying the people involved were not angels. He said they would be held accountable while also being given the opportunity to continue working.
He added that if anyone had a personal grudge against him, they could criticise him, but urged them not to target Pakistan cricket.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan cricket team has reached Birmingham and will hold a training session at Edgbaston Cricket Ground on Thursday. Pakistan and England will play the third Test from September 9 at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.
Major Changes in Test Squad
It may be recalled that following Pakistan’s defeat in the Lord’s Test, the PCB made major changes to the squad and sent seven players, including Imam-ul-Haq, back home.
The board also removed national team head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul from their positions.
Former captain Misbah-ul-Haq also resigned from the selection panel following the major changes to the recent squad.
Aqib Javed’s Explanation
PCB Director High Performance and selection committee member Aqib Javed explained the reasons behind the major changes, saying Pakistan had played two Test matches but the team had not appeared to be competitive, while one Test still remained.
According to Aqib, the team management had a pace-bowling all-rounder, a second wicketkeeper and fast bowler Ubaid Shah, who could bowl at around 140 kilometres per hour, available to them, but decisions were not made to utilise these players.
Aqib said he had asked captain Babar Azam and the coach to include Ubaid Shah in the team because the pace of other bowlers, including Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad, was roughly similar.
He said none of Pakistan’s top seven batters bowled, which was why an all-rounder should have been included in the team.
According to Aqib, a fast bowler capable of bowling at close to 140 kilometres per hour could change the structure of Pakistan’s bowling attack.