‘Unreasonable’ to say cricket in Pakistan has finished: PCB chief Naqvi

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has dismissed claims that cricket in Pakistan has ended as "unreasonable," citing the country's improved rankings as evidence to the contrary. Speaking to reporters in London, Naqvi challenged critics to look at other nations where cricket has reportedly finished, such as South Africa's recent loss to Namibia and India's loss to Ireland.

The PCB faced criticism for replacing seven players and two coaches during the Test tour of England, with fans, pundits, and former players all expressing discontent. Former captain Azhar Ali noted that such decisions can cause insecurity among players, who need stability to perform. Naqvi, however, dismissed the notion that the Pakistani cricket team is at its worst.

He pointed out that the white-ball teams have shown improvement, with the ODI ranking rising from eighth to fifth. Despite winning four out of six ODI series, Naqvi maintains that the cricket scene in Pakistan is far from finished, citing a success rate increase from 24% to 73%. While acknowledging the need for improvement in Test cricket, Naqvi emphasized that it was unfair to label the team's performance as terminal.

He also defended the PCB's right to make changes to the team, stating that the board is accountable for the results. Naqvi suggested that removing underperforming players is sometimes necessary, using the example of Salman Ali Agha, who was initially stand-in captain but later dropped. The PCB chief stressed that transforming a team from ninth to first place takes time and that significant progress is expected.

Naqvi urged critics to focus on the team's performance rather than targeting him personally, warning that their scorn was aimed at criticism of his decisions. The Pakistan cricket team, along with Naqvi, received a royal welcome at Buckingham Palace, where they met with King Charles. The team will play the final Test against England at Edgbaston on September 9.