Following recent criticism of the team’s performances, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced a major overhaul in the cricket system to enhance the quality of the sport. Naqvi consulted with other PCB stakeholders, as well as white-ball and red-ball team head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie. Both Kirsten and Gillespie will now be part of the selection committee along with former players Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, and the current team captains in both formats.
In response to reports of star bowler Shaheen Afridi disrespecting coach Gary Kirsten, Naqvi emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards disciplinary violations and warned players against forming factions within the team. Fitness has been emphasized in the selection process, with players required to undergo testing every three months.
Naqvi stressed the need for discipline within the team and announced that Kirsten and Gillespie have been granted autonomy by the board to enhance the national team’s performance. He also mentioned that stringent guidelines would be followed for player applications for NOCs to play in foreign leagues, focusing on fitness and availability for the national team.
All players must participate in domestic cricket, and selectors will monitor this before selecting players for national teams. The meeting attendees unanimously agreed on a zero-tolerance policy for disciplinary issues and forming player groups, with strict penalties to maintain team unity. Plans are also in place to upgrade high-performance centers nationwide to strengthen grassroots cricket, with new centers in Islamabad and Peshawar overseen by Gillespie and Kirsten.
(With PTI Inputs)
@Cricbun
