‘Look at what the ratings used to be’: PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi hits back at critics amid Pakistan cricket turmoil | Cricket news
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended the major changes made to the PakistanTest team during the ongoing England series, saying the decisions were “essential”.Pakistan has made sweeping changes ahead of the third and final Test against England, scheduled to begin on September 9.The move came after Pakistan lost the first two Tests badly, with England taking a 2-0 lead. Pakistan lost the first Test by an innings, while the second Test ended in a 194-run defeat.
Naqvi responds to the criticism
The changes have drawn heavy criticism from former Pakistani cricketers, fans and analysts. However, Naqvi said he was not worried about the backlash and maintained that the decisions taken during the England tour were necessary.He said he was also examining issues beyond the team’s poor performance but believed this was not the time to discuss matters unrelated to cricket. While acknowledging Pakistan’s disappointing Test results, Naqvi pointed out the improvements in the team’s white-ball cricket during his tenure.“I have never been afraid of criticism, and I never will be. Those who say cricket has been ruined since I came – look at the ranking it was before,” he said as quoted by Geo News.
Big changes in the testing team
After the second loss, the PCB released seven players from the team: Muhammad Rizwan, Imamul Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Owais Zafar, and Khurram Shehzad.The board replaced them with five uncapped players, along with Saim Ayoub and Abdullah Fadl, who together have just 10 matches of experience. The new players include Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jr., Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Rezaullah.PCB also made changes to the coaching staff, appointing Mike Hesson as head coach and Ashley Noffke as bowling coach. Both are already part of Pakistan’s white-ball coaching staff. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Omar Gul have been relieved of their coaching duties.
