ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended major changes made to the national team and coaching staff during the Test series against England, saying the decisions were necessary given the circumstances.
Naqvi said he was deeply disappointed by Pakistan’s poor performance but added that he was not afraid of criticism and would not be deterred by it in the future.
Speaking to a private television channel in London, Naqvi said the decisions taken in England were necessary in view of the situation facing the team.
He also said several other cricket-related matters were under consideration, although he would not discuss them in detail at this stage.
The PCB chairman said he would take criticism seriously when it came from prominent former players such as former captain and Pakistan great Wasim Akram.
However, he said criticism from people who had not achieved anything significant in the game did not carry much weight for him.
Naqvi also rejected allegations that he was not giving enough time to cricket, saying those making such claims were not aware of the facts.
He further argued that some people who express concern over Pakistan cricket were more interested in criticizing him personally than addressing issues within the sport.
At the same time, Naqvi acknowledged that Pakistan’s Test performance had been “extremely disappointing”, while maintaining that the team’s position in white-ball cricket had improved.
According to Naqvi, Pakistan are currently ranked fifth in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI rankings and sixth in T20 cricket.
Pakistan’s struggles in the Test series against England intensified after they suffered an innings-and-103-run defeat in the first Test and a 194-run loss in the second. England consequently took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Following the second Test, the PCB released Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Mohammad Owais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad from the Test squad.
In their place, the board added Saim Ayub, Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jr., Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah as replacements.
The board also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul from their positions, while assigning the Test team to a white-ball coaching panel comprising Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke.
Subsequently, the PCB selection committee members Aaqib Javed, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq were asked to provide written explanations within 24 hours regarding the basis and reasons for selecting Rizwan and Imam.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has decided to resign from the selection committee. According to sources, Misbah has informed the PCB of his decision and will serve his notice period before formally stepping down.
