Pakistan cricket needs to look beyond privileged group of former players

By Naeem-ul-Haq in USA

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan have crashed out of the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025 well before the start of the knockout phase of the tournament. Isn’t it shameful and disgraceful to perform so poorly at home? Was there any element of shock or even surprise in their early ouster from yet another major global event? 

For those who are well versed with the dynamics of Pakistan cricket, there was hardly any astonishment in the outcome. As a matter of fact, the kind of squad they had selected for the first-ever ICC tournament being staged in the country after 29 years, you didn’t need to be an expert to comprehend what was in store. 

Entering the mega event with just a solitary specialist spinner, whereas others had assembled hordes of slow bowlers, was nothing short of suicide or stupidity. It was evident that merit had been brutally compromised and quite a few talented players were dropped for inducting those who carried recommendations from influential persons. 

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) succeeded in finding resources for renovating cricket stadiums in Karachi and Lahore, at whatever costs, they probably didn’t get the time to turn their efforts in ensuring the formation of a squad which was competitive in the field to say the least. 

It is nothing new really because, in the recent past, the PCB has been held hostage by a group of former cricketers who continue to call the shots at their own whims. 

For the last 15 to 20 years, the Pakistan cricket administration has revolved around the likes of Wasim Akram, Rameez Raja, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Shahid Aslam, Ijaz Ahmed, Aqib Javed, Haroon Rasheed, Mansoor Rana, Intikhab Alam, Iqbal Qasim and a few years. Directly or indirectly, these guys have been running the show in accordance to their own preferences and priorities. 

The heads of the PCB have kept changing, but these former cricketers have had the clout to find their way in the management by hook or by crook. That’s why there is a consistency in intrigues and politicking all along. 

Why don’t the PCB helmsmen turn to people of credibility and proven track record like Aamir Sohail, Jalaluddin, Younis Khan, Rashid Latif and Saeed Anwar? Why don’t we get to see these worthy gentlemen, who served the cause of the game with distinction, in the PCB administration? 

Instead of incorporating cosmetic changes, the PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, should immediately look beyond those who have encircled him to fulfill their own agendas. He should sideline the likes of Wahab Riaz, Aqib Javed, Waqar Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq whose controversial policies have hurt the interests of Pakistan cricket. 

Misbah and Waqar were chiefly responsible for orchestrating the conspiracy against Sarfaraz Ahmed, undoubtedly the most successful of all the Pakistani captains in the recent past. They were guilty of indulging in petty politics to remove Sarfaraz from the scene and hand over the leadership of the team to the quartet of Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan. Together, they have destroyed Pakistan cricket. 

Well, the immediate remedy in my opinion is to take Younis Khan the great on board. He is one person who should be entrusted with the task of building youth cricket. 

He has the rare ability to groom and develop the kind of modern-day cricketers who can graduate to the next level. He can easily contribute to Pakistan cricket what Rahul Dravid did to Indian cricket. 

The PCB will be advised to induct only those former cricketers in the set-up who have had clean record in the past and they are not greedy. Handpicking those with dubious character record may not serve purpose even if they enjoyed some success in the field during their playing days.