‘India lost to Ireland. Is cricket over?’: Mohsin Naqvi hits back at critics, defends restructuring of cricket in Pakistan | cricket news
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has responded to growing criticism of Pakistan cricket, questioning whether a few defeats should be enough to declare the sport in the country “over”, while pointing to India’s recent T20I loss to Ireland as an example of how even the best teams can suffer unexpected setbacks.Speaking to the media in London, Naqvi defended the PCB’s controversial decisions during Pakistan’s disastrous Test tour of England and insisted that the team’s recent struggles should be seen in the broader context of its improved white-ball record.“Let me ask you something: South Africa lost to Namibia and India lost to Ireland. Did cricket end there too?” Naqvi said.The PCB chief’s reference to India came as he sought to push back against those who have questioned Pakistan’s leadership following back-to-back heavy losses in the Test series against England.“Yes, one thing is important: we will bring whoever we need here. If someone doesn’t click or perform, what can we do? Every game and every series is important for us,” he added.
‘Is our cricket over?’
Pakistan suffered an innings, 103-run defeat in the opening Test before losing the second match at Lord’s by 194 runs. The results gave England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and prompted a major revamp of the visiting team.The PCB released seven players (Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad) ahead of the Birmingham Test, while also bringing in several younger players.Naqvi defended radical changes and rejected claims that Pakistan cricket had reached its nadir.“You used to be ranked eighth in ODIs, which has now gone up to fifth. You have had six ODI series, of which you have won four, but still, our cricket is over?” said.“Our success rate has increased from 24 per cent to 73 per cent, and I’m not just talking about one or another specific match, but still, is our cricket over?”Pakistan is currently fifth in the ODI rankings and sixth in T20Is, according to Naqvi, who argued that rebuilding a struggling team could not happen overnight.“It is not possible to take a team from number nine to number one in three or six months. There is a long way to go,” he said.
Naqvi takes aim at critics
Naqvi was particularly scathing of those who criticized the PCB and its handling of the team, saying he was not opposed to criticism but questioned the credentials of some of his detractors.“I have never been afraid of criticism and I never will be,” he said.“Those players who have never achieved anything in their lives, when they talk like this, it’s not reasonable.”He said he regularly sought opinions from former cricketers and would accept criticism when it came from respected figures.“If a great player like Wasim Akram spoke, I would take him seriously,” Naqvi said, while insisting that some critics were more interested in attacking him personally than addressing the problems of Pakistan cricket.At the same time, Naqvi acknowledged that the PCB had made mistakes, especially in selection, and said he was willing to take responsibility.“Sometimes mistakes are also made in the selection. I am responsible for that and we have to work on it,” he said.The board’s selection decisions have come under increased scrutiny after it issued notices to selection committee members Aaqib Javed, Misbah-ul-Haq and Asad Shafiq, seeking explanations on Rizwan and Imam’s recommendations.Misbah subsequently decided to resign from the selection committee.Despite the turmoil, Naqvi insisted that changes were necessary if the players were not performing and that he would not allow the team to become demoralized.
