PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi consults former and current cricketers on cricket’s future

English , Snippets , Sports - کھیل اور کھلاڑی , / Tuesday, July 9th, 2024

LAHORE: PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi convened with over two dozen former and current Pakistani cricketers to chart the future course of cricket in the country. The meeting commenced with Naqvi presenting “Pathway to Pakistan Cricket,” detailing the journey from grassroots to the national team.

Sikandar Bakht highlighted the omission of the U19 pathway in the presentation and proposed improvements in domestic cricket scheduling. He emphasized the necessity for players to engage in first-class cricket for national team consideration, a sentiment echoed by all attendees.

Former captain Salman Butt advocated for prioritizing four-day cricket and increasing tours for A teams, U19s, and U16s, particularly to Australia, England, and South Africa. He proposed selecting top performers from regions and departments for a Pentangular Cup.

The meeting also underscored the importance of school cricket, with suggestions for its enhancement. Haroon Rasheed proposed decentralizing coach development and regional administration, advocating for grassroots experience before higher-level appointments, citing Misbah-ul-Haq’s tenure.

Naqvi assured implementation of discussed initiatives, including Yasir Hameed’s proposal for new academies in Islamabad and Peshawar, alongside ground improvements. He pledged enhanced focus on four-day cricket, coach education, and mentorship for five domestic teams.

The attendees included Intikhab Alam, Sadiq Mohammad, Iqbal Qasim, Haroon Rasheed, Salim Altaf, Sikandar Bakht, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shafqat Rana, Rashid Khan, Wajahatullah Wasti, Salman Butt, Misbah-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousuf, Abdul Razzaq, Azhar Mahmood, Yasir Hameed, Imran Nazir, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Amir. Sources PCB