Author: shahzad.malik

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, broke silence on the reports regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) seeking a security consultant for their upcoming Test tour.

Earlier today, it was reported in Bangladeshi media, that the BCB has approached the federal government to provide them with a security consultant.

“Look providing safety is up to them (Pakistan) and we go there because they assure us to provide state-level security and after they assured us about it, the tour was fixed,” BCB cricket operation chairman Jalal Yunus told reporters on Wednesday.

“At the same time we have requested the government to give us a security consultant during the tour who will maintain communication with them at all times regarding the security issues,” he said.

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Meanwhile, a PCB spokesperson from Lahore, said it is BCB’s right to have a security consultant before affirming that the touring party has not expressed any security concerns.

“Security managers or consultants are now considered part of the player support personnel just like a media manager or a team doctor. Even at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and other bilateral series, teams have traveled with security managers,” the PCB spokesperson said.

“If the Bangladesh Cricket Board wants to include a security consultant as part of their team management for the upcoming Test tour, then it is their prerogative. But as on now, the BCB have not expressed any security concerns with the PCB.

“In fact, and as part of international norm, the PCB shared the security plan along with the MoU with the BCB last month and received no queries or additional requests.”

It is worth mentioning here that the Bangladesh cricket team will touch down in Pakistan on August 17, while the first Test match will commence on August 21.

The second match of the series will be played from August 30 to September 03.

It is pertinent to mention here that the series between Pakistan and Bangladesh is part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025.

The Green Shirts boast an undefeated record against Bangladesh, securing 12 victories out of 13 games, while one match ended in a draw.

READ: BCB confirms Shakib Al Hasan’s availability for Pakistan Tests

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has decided to hand over the power to make cricket decisions to the former captain Waqar Younis, according to sources.

The sources revealed that Naqvi would oversee the administrative affairs only, while Waqar would be responsible for all the decisions regarding international and domestic selection committees, players’ No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and other important cricket matters.

According to the PCB Constitution 2014, the chairman has the authority to delegate his power to someone, thereby enabling the transfer of powers to Waqar Younis.

Meanwhile, Naqvi himself is currently focused on the administrative affairs of the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled to be hosted by Pakistan.

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“Waqar Younis will be in charge of all matters related to the national team. He will oversee the national selection committee, white ball and red ball coaches,” sources claimed.

Waqar has previously served as the head coach and bowling coach of Pakistan cricket team after retiring in 2003.

On the other hand, Mohsin Naqvi is set to become the new president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for a two-year tenure, according to sources.

The reports indicate that Pakistan has been authorized to chair the ACC and Mohsin Naqvi is set to assume the role in January 2025. The decision was made during the ACC meeting held in Bali in January 2024.

For the unversed, Mohsin Naqvi currently holds two key positions in Pakistan as he is not only PCB chairman but the Interior Minister as well.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi set to replace Jay Shah as ACC president

LAHORE: Pakistan Shaheens will play four additional four-day and six 50-over matches this year at home against Bangladesh A and Sri Lanka A in August and November, respectively.

Pakistan Shaheens are currently playing a four-day series against Bangladesh A in Darwin, Australia.

Following the second four-dayer between the two teams which will conclude on 29 July, they will go toe-to-toe in two four-dayers from 10-13 August and 17-20 August in Pakistan (Venues TBC). The four-dayers will be followed by three 50-over matches on 23, 25, and 27 August.

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In November, Sri Lanka A will visit Pakistan for five matches against Pakistan Shaheens. The four-dayers will be played from 11-14 November and 18-21 November, while the 50-over matches will be held on 25, 27, and 29 November. Venues will be announced in due course.

Separately, the Pakistan Emerging team will also defend their ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup title in October, while the Pakistan U19 team will feature in a U19 50-over Tri-Nation Tournament and ACC Asia Cup U19 in November/December. The ACC will announce details of the two tournaments in due course.

Schedule of upcoming development/pathways events

BANGLADESH A IN PAKISTAN

10-13 Aug – 1^st four-day match

17-20 Aug – 2^nd four-day match

23 Aug – 1^st 50-over match

25 Aug – 2^nd 50-over match

27 Aug – 3^rd 50-over match

ACC EMERGING TEAMS ASIA CUP 2024

October (dates, venue and schedule TBC)

SRI LANKA A IN PAKISTAN

11-14 Nov – 1^st four-day

18-21 Nov – 2^nd four-day

25 Nov – 1^st 50-over match

27 Nov – 2^nd 50-over match

29 Nov – 3^rd 50-over match

U19 50-over Tri-Nation Tournament & ACC U19 ASIA CUP 2024

November/December (dates, venues and schedule TBC)

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LAHORE: Former ICC Head Curator Tony Hemming on Monday, reached here and assumed his role as Pakistan’s chief curator.

According to the details, Hemming visited Gaddafi Stadium and met the ground staff. He carried out a detailed discussion with the ground staff regarding the pitches.

“Tony Hemming has assumed his responsibilities as Chief Curator. He met with the ground staff at Gaddafi Stadium and inspected the pitches,” stated the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

For the unversed, the PCB, last week, appointed Australia’s Tony Hemming as the new head curator on a two-year contract.

Hemming’s immediate tasks will be to prepare pitches for Pakistan’s upcoming five home Test matches, which are part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Pakistan will play two matches against Bangladesh in August/September, followed by a three-Test series against England, scheduled to be played in October.

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Hemming will also oversee pitch preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will host from 19 February to 9 March.

Hemming is a highly respected curator with nearly four decades of experience. He has worked at various iconic cricket grounds in Australia, including Melbourne, Perth and Tasmania, as well as in countries such as Bangladesh, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where he was the ICC’s Head Curator from 2007 to 2017 in Dubai.

During his time with the ICC, Hemming also oversaw pitch preparation at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which was one of Pakistan’s home venues between 2009 and 2019.

Prior to joining PCB, Tony Hemming was involved with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), where we worked from July 2023.

READ: Babar Azam names the toughest bowler he ever faced

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided against issuing the No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi to participate in the Global T20 (GT20) Canada 2024.

According to the cricketing body, the three all-format players were denied NOCs, in light of Pakistan’s busy and packed cricket calendar in the period from August 2024 to March 2025 which includes ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“The PCB had received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi for the Global T20 event, amongst other players. After taking into consideration Pakistan’s busy and packed cricket calendar in the period from August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine ICC World Test Championship matches and next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and following consultations with the three players as well as the national selection committee, it has been decided to decline their requests,” stated PCB.

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“The three are all-format cricketers and their services are expected to be required in the upcoming eight months during which Pakistan will play nine Tests, 14 ODIs, and nine T20Is.

“As such, and in line with the PCB’s workload management policy, it is in the best interest of Pakistan cricket and the players that they skip the upcoming event in Canada so that they are in their best mental and physical shape for the season, which commences with the two-Test series against Bangladesh.”

Earlier, the PCB had also declined permission to Naseem Shah for The Hundred on the same grounds.

However, the PCB has approved NOCs for Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Amir, and Mohammad Nawaz as the four players are predominantly white-ball cricketers, while Iftikhar and Nawaz are centrally contracted players.

READ: GT20 Canada awaits approval from ICC for upcoming edition

Three Pakistan shooters departed earlier today to participate in the upcoming Paris Olympics, scheduled to commence on July 26.

Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, who will be representing Pakistan in the Olympics for the third time, departed from Karachi, while Gulfam Joseph departed from Islamabad to participate in the event for the second time.

Female shooter Kishmala Talat, who is set to feature in her first-ever Olympics, also departed for Paris from Islamabad.

For the unversed, only seven athletes were named in Pakistan’s contingent for the upcoming Paris Olympics.

The 18-member contingent, announced by the Pakistan Olympics Association (POA) on Saturday, features 11 officials who will travel with the seven athletes to Paris for the Games and will return to the country upon completion of their respective competitions.

Pakistan will compete in shooting, athletics and swimming in the Paris Olympics. Out of the seven athletes four of them earned direct qualification while sprinter Faiqa Riaz and swimmers Jehanara Nabi and Mohammad Ahmed Durrani will feature in the biggest sporting event on the basis of the universality places.

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Meanwhile, star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem and swimmer Jehanara Nabi have been chosen as Pakistan’s contingent flag-bearers for the prestigious event.

Among the 11 officials, six are the officials of the contingent, including the chef de mission, deputy chef de mission and an admin officer.

Four more officials include Dr Syed Meesaq Hussain Rizvi (chief medical officer), Kashif Jameel (NOC Olympic Attaché ), and Rizwan Ahmed (welfare officer) while the rest are either athletes’ coaches or managers.

Pakistan failed to qualify for major disciplines like Hockey, Wrestling, Volleyball, Boxing and Weightlifting.

Pakistan contingent for Paris Olympics:

Athletics: Arshad Nadeem, Faiqa Riaz, Salman Iqbal Butt (support staff), Dr. Ali Sher Bajwa (support staff).

Swimming: Mohammad Ahmed Durrani, Jehanara Nabi, Lt Col (retired) Ahmed Ali Khan (support staff).

Shooting: Ghulam Mustafa Bashir, Gulfam Joseph, Kishmala Talat, Col Junaid Ali (support staff), Gennady Solodovnikov (support staff).

Contingent officials: Mohammad Shafiq (chef de mission), Javaid Shamshad Lodhi (deputy chef de mission); Zainab Shaukat (admin officer).

READ: Former Pakistan cricketer criticizes Gary Kirsten’s PCB report remarks

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday appointed Australia’s Tony Hemming as the new head curator on a two-year contract. The Western Australian will arrive in Lahore on Wednesday to assume his role.

Hemming’s immediate tasks will be to prepare pitches for Pakistan’s upcoming five home Test matches, which are part of the ICC World Test Championship.

Pakistan will play two matches against Bangladesh in August/September, followed by a three-Test series against England, scheduled to be played in October.

Hemming will also oversee pitch preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, which Pakistan will host from 19 February to 9 March.

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Hemming is a highly respected curator with nearly four decades of experience. He has worked at various iconic cricket grounds in Australia, including Melbourne, Perth and Tasmania, as well as in countries such as Bangladesh, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where he was the ICC’s Head Curator from 2007 to 2017 in Dubai.

During his time with the ICC, Hemming also oversaw pitch preparation at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which was one of Pakistan’s home venues between 2009 and 2019.

Prior to joining PCB, Tony Hemming was involved with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), where we worked from July 2023.

READ: PCB Chairman announces ‘zero-tolerance policy’ for discipline violation

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, announced on Monday that a zero-tolerance policy will be implemented for national team players who violate team discipline.

Naqvi chaired a three-hour-long meeting with the national men’s coaching staff, members of the men’s selection committee, and senior PCB officials at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, PCB CEO Salman Naseer, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla, members of the selection committee Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, Bilal Afzal, Director High-Performance Centers Nadeem Khan and Director Domestic Cricket Abdullah Khurram Niazi participated in the meeting.

The chairman made some major decisions during the meeting to improve the team’s overall performance and one of them was to implement a zero-tolerance policy towards indiscipline.

Naqvi underscored the critical importance of discipline and team unity, emphasizing that these values are non-negotiable. He sternly announced that any player found violating these principles would face strict consequences.

These decisions were taken in the wake of recent reports of star bowler Shaheen Afridi’s misconduct during the recent tours.

The reports suggest that Afridi was engaged in a heated argument with batting coach Mohammad Yousuf during the team’s tour of England ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

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Sources asserted that the incident occurred during Pakistan’s net practice at Headingley when Shaheen engaged in a verbal exchange with the former batter.

The batting coach pointed towards Shaheen Afridi’s continuous no-balls in the nets, they added.

However, the pacer got furious and told Mohammad Yousuf to let him practice and not intervene in his bowling.

According to sources, Shaheen later apologised to the batting coach while the team management also reprimanded him for his misconduct.

The incident was later termed the heat of the moment and the chapter was closed after Shaheen Afridi apologised to Mohammad Yousuf.

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) axed former pacer Wahab Riaz from the position of senior team manager and as a member of the selection committee after Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024.

Former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq was also sacked from the PCB selection committee.

READ: Pakistan women’s head coach eyes victory against India in Asia Cup

Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), made some major decisions on Monday during a meeting with the national men’s coaching staff, members of the men’s selection committee, and senior PCB officials at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore.

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, PCB CEO Salman Naseer, assistant coach Azhar Mahmood, Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla, members of the selection committee Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq, Bilal Afzal, Director High-Performance Centers Nadeem Khan and Director Domestic Cricket Abdullah Khurram Niazi participated in the three-hour long meeting.

The chairman chaired the meeting and gave complete autonomy to the red-ball and white-ball head coaches of their respective teams to improve their performances.

Naqvi also confirmed the formation of Pakistan’s new selection committee, which includes the head coaches and captains of the respective format along with former Test cricketers Mohammad Yousuf and Asad Shafiq.

He also revealed that the selection committee will oversee a process to ensure every player’s participation in domestic cricket. Meanwhile, players will also undergo fitness tests every three months.

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The chairman also announced that the central contract will be given for a one-year period, unlike last year’s three-year contracts. The contract will be reviewed annually based on the player’s fitness and performance.

Meanwhile, a technical procedure will be made to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to the players for playing in the franchise leagues across the globe.

The chairman also announced the plans to upgrade the current high-performance centres as well as the training of local coaches. Moreover, high-performance centres will be built in Islamabad and Peshawar.

He also gave instructions to appoint separate coaches for Pakistan Shaheens and Under 19 cricket teams as well as organise consistent series and tournaments for these teams.

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Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris has been appointed as Pakistan Shaheens’ white-ball captain for the two 50-over matches and nine-team Top End T20 series to be played from 4-18 August in Darwin, Australia.

Haris last captained Pakistan Shaheens in the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2023 in Colombo, where Pakistan defeated India by 128 runs to successfully defend the title.

Pakistan Shaheens are already in Darwin for two four-day matches against Bangladesh ‘A’ from 19-22 July and 26-29 July. Sahibzada Farhan is leading the red-ball squad.

After the two four-day matches, Shaheens will play 50-over matches against Northern Territory (NT) and Bangladesh ‘A’ on 4 and 6 August, respectively before the T20 series commences on 9 August.

Other participating teams in the T20 series are ACT Comets, Bangladesh ‘A’, Melbourne Renegades, Melbourne Stars, Perth Scorchers, Northern Territory Strike, Adelaide Strikers and Tasmania.

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Moreover, for the white-ball matches, seven changes have been made from the red-ball side.

Abdul Faseeh, Arafat Minhas, Arif Yaqoob, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Imran Jnr and Usman Khan will replace Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mubasir Khan, Tayyab Tahir and Umar Amin.

Pakistan Shaheens will feature in the Darwin series for the second successive year. Last year, NT Strike had defeated Shaheens in the Top End T20 Series final by 46 runs, before Pakistan Shaheens beat PNG by 224 runs and Northern Strike by 84 runs in the two One-day matches.

Pakistan Shaheens’ white-ball squad

Mohammad Haris (c), Abdul Faseeh, Arafat Minhas, Arif Yaqoob, Faisal Akram, Haseebullah (wicketkeeper/batter), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Jahandad Khan, Kashif Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Omair bin Yousuf, Sahibzada Farhan, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Khan

Player Support Personnel: Abdul Rehman (head coach), Mohammad Masroor (Assistant coach-cum-manager), Mohammad Asad (physiotherapist), Imranullah (trainer) and Usman Hashmi (analyst).

READ: Shadab Khan aims to carry LPL 2024 form into international cricket