Tag: Mohsin Naqvi

Former cricketers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq have been expelled from the seven-member Pakistan Men’s Cricket Selection Committee, sources claimed.

The shakeup in the national men’s team’s selection committee is a part of the “major surgery”, hinted at by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

With Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq’s expulsion, the selection committee now features Asad Shafique and Mohammad Yousuf, who, are most likely to lose their positions too as the formation of the new selection committee is on the cards.

Following Pakistan’s two consecutive defeats in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, PCB Chairman Naqvi hinted at a major surgery in the team.

Addressing a press conference in New York on June 10, after Pakistan’s gut-wrenching defeat to India, Naqvi said the defeat was disappointing in every way.

“It seemed that a minor surgery would suffice for the Pakistan cricket team, but after the extremely poor performance, it has become clear that the team needs major surgery,” the PCB chairman said.

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He went on to add that he was well aware of what was happening within the team and the reasons for the defeat.

The PCB Chairman mentioned that Pakistani cricket is currently at its lowest performance level. Our biggest challenge is to improve the team’s performance.

“The nation will soon see a major surgery taking place. We have to prepare the team for the Champions Trophy, and it is time to give opportunities to the talent sitting outside,” stated the PCB chief.

Earlier today, Mohsin Naqvi met white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood. He also held a meeting with the former and current cricketers to discuss the future of cricket.

READ: Aamer Jamal’s stint with Warwickshire cut short due to injury

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi met white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood on Tuesday.

Pakistan’s Director of International Cricket Usman Wahla was also present at the meeting, where the participants discussed making a comprehensive coaching plan for the national team.

Kirsten and Gillespie put forward their plans to improve the team’s performance in their respective formats, with a major emphasis on improving the fielding and fitness of the players along with batting and bowling.

Chairman PCB expressed his confidence in the coaches and gave them free-hand to make their decisions, ensuring complete support.

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The coaches and the chairman agreed on the fact that there is an abundance of talent in Pakistan, however, there is a need to make the right combinations to take the best out of each player’s ability.

Pakistan team’s next assignment is a two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, starting from August 21 in Rawalpindi. This series will be Pakistan’s first Test series under Gillespie.

Prior to that, Gillespie will travel to Darwin with the Pakistan Shaheens as the team’s head coach for their four-day games.

He will return to Pakistan after the second four-day match against Bangladesh ‘A’, which finishes on 29 July, to assume responsibilities as the national side’s head coach and commence preparations for Bangladesh series.

READ: James Anderson urges next generation to embrace Test cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has summoned former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to meet in Lahore, according to sources.

The wicketkeeper batter is scheduled to meet the chairman to discuss the ongoing issues of the national men’s cricket team.

It is pertinent to mention Naqvi recently shared that former players will take the decision regarding the future of white-ball captain Babar Azam.

“No decision [on captaincy] has been taken so far related to Babar Azam,” said the PCB chief, adding that he is seeking advice from former cricketers on how to improve cricket in Pakistan.

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“I’m only speaking to those former cricketers who are interested in the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he added.

The PCB chairman also shared that he called head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood for a discussion on the Pakistan team’s performance in the mega-event.

The Babar Azam-led Pakistan team were knocked out from the group stage of the T20 World Cup, majorly because of their upset defeat against the USA, followed by a gut-wrenching defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats had put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament while the abandonment of the crucial group-stage fixture between the USA and Ireland officially marked the end of their campaign in T20 World Cup 2024.

The Green Shirts’s next assignment is two-match home Test series against Bangladesh and Sarfaraz Ahmed is expected to be part of the series.

READ: Abhishek Sharma’s ton powers India to thump Zimbabwe in second T20I

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi on Thursday opened up about the future of the national team’s white-ball captain Babar Azam in his role.

Babar Azam has been under hot water following the national men’s team’s early exit from the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2024.

Naqvi, while talking to the media here, stated that there has been no decision to remove the captain yet. However, he is consulting with former cricketers and they will decide on Babar Azam’s future as captain.

“No decision has been taken so far related to Babar Azam,” said the PCB chief, adding that he is seeking advice from former cricketers on how to improve cricket in Pakistan.

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“I’m only speaking to those former cricketers who are interested in the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” he added.

The PCB chairman also shared that he called head coach Gary Kirsten and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood for a discussion on the Pakistan team’s performance in the mega-event.

It is pertinent to mention that the Babar Azam-led Pakistan team were knocked out from the group stage of the T20 World Cup, majorly because of their upset defeat against the USA, followed by a gut-wrenching defeat against arch-rivals India.

The back-to-back defeats had put Pakistan on the verge of an early exit from the tournament while the abandonment of the crucial group-stage fixture between the USA and Ireland officially marked the end of their campaign in T20 World Cup 2024.

READ: T20 World Cup champions India get heroes welcome upon returning home

LAHORE: Members of the Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Team met with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on his invitation at Gaddafi Stadium here.

The Pakistan team won the Asian Wheelchair Championship in Nepal this year after beating Sri Lanka in the final.

Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the national team on their T20 Wheelchair Cricket Asia Cup 2023 title and awarded them a cheque of PKR 1.5 million.

He lauded the team’s efforts and expressed best wishes for the team’s continued success. He also assured PCB’s support for the team’s future endeavours.

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Members of the national wheelchair team expressed their gratitude to the PCB for hosting them and offering them encouragement.

Those present at the meeting were Pakistan Wheelchair Cricket Council Chairperson Rukhsana Rajput, national Wheelchair team captain Mohammad Zeeshan, vice-captain Imran Arain, batter Syed Arsalan Ahmed, wicketkeeper-batter Muazzam Nawaz and bowler Mohammad Fayyaz.

PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer, Director – Domestic Cricket Operations Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Senior General Manager Domestic Junaid Zia along with other PCB officials were also present.

READ: Haris Rauf hopeful for Pakistan’s comeback in England series

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi lauded the national men’s cricket team for winning the three-match away T20I series against Ireland.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the PCB chair congratulated the Green Shirts on the series victory over Ireland and wished them luck for the upcoming T20I series against England and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.

“Congratulations to the Pakistan Cricket team for winning the series against Ireland,” wrote Mohsin Naqvi.

“With teamwork and dedication, you have proven to be the best team in the world.

“Best of luck, boys, for the England series and the World Cup,” he concluded.

Congratulations to the Pakistan Cricket team for winning the series against Ireland! With teamwork and dedication, you have proven to be the best team in the world. Best of luck, boys, for the England series and the World Cup! 🇵🇰

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) May 14, 2024

 

Notably, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan recovered from a shock loss in the first T20I and won the remaining two fixtures on the trot to claim a T20I series win after 2021.

In the third and final T20I, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s swashbuckling half-centuries after Shaheen Shah Afridi’s splendid bowling figures of 3/14 led Pakistan to a resounding six-wicket victory over Ireland.

Babar smashed six fours and five sixes on his way to top-score for Pakistan with a quickfire 75 which came off just 42 balls.

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Whereas, Mohammad Rizwan scored an anchoring 56. His 38-ball knock featured four fours and three sixes.

Wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan once again gave the final touches to the run chase with a brisk 18-run cameo which included two sixes and a four.

Earlier, Pakistan restricted Ireland to a chasable total despite stand-in captain Lorcan Tucker’s 73, courtesy of Shaheen’s economical bowling figures.

The ace pacer picked up three wickets and gave away just 14 runs in his four overs. His match-winning bowling performance earned him the Player of the Match award.

READ: Mental performance coach to work with Pakistan team for T20 World Cup

LAHORE: Mohsin Naqvi, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has announced that each player in the national squad will receive a prize money of $100,000 in the event of Pakistan’s victory in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Naqvi met the players at Gaddafi Stadium after the training session for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, in a build-up to the mega-event.

Team selectors Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Yousuf, assistant coach Azhar Mehmood and director of international cricket Usman Wahla were also present in the meeting.

Chairman PCB also hosted a lunch in honour of the players and the team management after which he talked to players and encouraged them for the upcoming tours as well as the T20 World Cup 2024, starting from June 1 in the United States and West Indies.

He announced the cash prize for each player and motivated them to give their best and lead Pakistan to victory in the World Cup.

“I hope that you [players] will raise the Pakistani flag high and lead the team to success,” said Mohsin Naqvi.

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“You should not care about anything, but to play and give your best for Pakistan. Just demonstrate teamwork and the victory will be yours.”

Chairman PCB also presented special green shirts to Mohammad Rizwan for completing 3000 runs in T20 matches, and Naseem Shah for taking 100 wickets in international cricket.

It is worth mentioning here that the Pakistan men’s cricket team is currently participating in a three-match training session here ahead of their three-match T20I series against Ireland.

All three matches will be held at Clontarf in Dublin on 10, 12 and 14 May 2024 and will start at 3 PM local time.

The three-match away series, followed by four T20Is in England, will serve as a stepping stone for the Green Shirts to boast their preparations for this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA).

Pakistan squad for Ireland and England T20Is

Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan.

READ: ICC unveils schedule for Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi held a high-profile meeting involving national men’s cricket team captain Babar Azam ahead of the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand.

According to the details, the meeting was also attended by national selector Wahab Riaz and head coach Azhar Mahmood.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Mohsin Naqvi confirmed holding a meeting by sharing a picture with the “national team officials”.

“Discussion with national team officials about the upcoming Pak vs NZ series,” wrote Naqvi.

Discussion with national team officials about the upcoming Pak vs NZ series. pic.twitter.com/m4692RElAf

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) April 17, 2024

 

The agenda of the high-profile meeting, however, is yet to be known.

For the unversed, the five-match T20I series between Pakistan and New Zealand will commence on April 18 at Pindi Cricket Stadium here.

But the first three T20Is of the series are likely to be affected by rain.

According to weather forecasts, there could be heavy rain in Islamabad and Rawalpindi throughout this week.

There are 60 per cent chance of rain, during the day and 80 per cent at night on April 18 when the first T20I shall be played.

The rain probability increases to 84 on April 20 before it significantly drops down to 20 per cent on April 21.

The two teams will then travel to Lahore to compete in the remaining two T20Is on April 25 and 27 respectively at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan squad

Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Saim Ayub, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Azam Khan (wk), Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Abbas Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Fakhar Zaman, Irfan Khan Niazi, Usama Mir, Zaman Khan

Reserves: Haseebullah, Mohammad Ali, Agha Salman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Wasim Jr.

New Zealand squad

Michael Bracewell (c), Mark Chapman, Josh Clarkson, Jacob Duffy, Dean Foxcroft, Ben Lister, Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham, Will O’Rourke, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Tim Seifert (WK), Ish Sodhi, Tom Blundell, Zak Foulkes.

Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule

April 18 — 1st T20I, Rawalpindi

April 20 — 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi

April 21 — 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi

April 25 — 4th T20I, Lahore

April 27 — 5th T20I, Lahore

READ: PCB unveils commentary panel for Pakistan-New Zealand T20Is

LAHORE: The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi expressed optimism about finding the “best possible window” for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 10 next year.

PCB is currently facing a massive challenge in scheduling PSL 10 due to a packed cricketing calendar in 2025.

Due to the home tri-series with South Africa and New Zealand, followed by the Champions Trophy 2025, PCB has a limited window to hold the tenth edition of PSL, which is traditionally held between January and March.

According to sources, PCB will hold discussions with all the relevant stakeholders soon to find a suitable window for PSL 10.

“PSL is Pakistan’s brand which is why it will get its due importance. Holding PSL 10 alongside international commitments will be a challenge,” said the PCB chairman.

“But we are ready to take the challenge and will find the best possible window.”

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PCB is also improving the infrastructure ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy, the first ICC event in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup.

The cricket governing body has recently bought a multi-storied building adjacent to the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for PKR 4 billion. The multi-storied building will be renovated and transformed into a seven-star hotel to accommodate international as well as local players.

Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi, while addressing the media during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9 final last month, acknowledged the need to upgrade three major stadiums, followed by the upgradation of other venues.

“Our three main venues – Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi – will be upgraded before the Champions Trophy. We will upgrade other venues later as well, once these three are done. Our stadiums will be state-of-the-art once they have been renovated,” said Chairman PCB.

Later in the same month, the chairman was presented with the plan to upgrade three major stadiums by NESPAK (National Engineering Services of Pakistan) officials.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan close to surpass Virat Kohli, Babar Azam’s record

ABBOTTABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday, visited the ongoing physical fitness camp here in Kakul to inspect the training process.

“Visited Army School of Physical Training in Kakul, Abbottabad to meet the national team players and to inspect the training being impart to them,” wrote Naqvi on X, formerly Twitter.

Mohsin Naqvi then expressed his gratitude towards the Pakistan Army for arranging a detailed and effective fitness camp in a short period while also lauding the national players for their dedication.

“Extremely grateful to the Pakistan Army for arranging such a detailed and effective fitness camp in such a short span of time.

“Alhamdulillah! I am highly inspired by the incredible dedication and high spirits of the national team players.”

Visited Army School of Physical Training in Kakul, Abbottabad to meet the national team players and to inspect the training being imparted to them.
Extremely grateful to Pakistan Army, for arranging such a detailed and effective fitness camp in such a short span of time.…

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) April 1, 2024

 

For the unversed, a total of 29 players will undergo fitness training in the camp, organised in collaboration with the Pakistan Army.

The camp commenced on March 26 and will conclude on April 8.

“The camp, organised in collaboration with the Pakistan Army, is strategically designed to prepare the players for the upcoming series and tournaments, including the home T20I series against New Zealand, the away T20I series against Ireland and England, and the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies,” the PCB said in a press release.

“The camp will focus on team building and aims to enhance the physical and mental strength of the players, ensuring they are in the best condition to face the challenges ahead.

“Under the guidance of experienced trainers and coaches, the players will undergo a comprehensive training regime tailored to elevate their fitness levels, agility, leadership, strategic thinking and overall performance on the field.”

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Pace bowler Mohammad Amir and all-rounder Imad Wasim, who recently came out of retirement, are also included in the camp along with top-order batter Usman Khan.

Pakistan Players taking part in the Physical fitness camp in Kakul are:

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah, Saud Shakeel, Usman Khan, Mohammad Haris, Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Irfan Khan Niazi, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Usama Mir, Mohammad Nawaz, Mehran Mumtaz, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ali, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Aamir Jamal, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Amir.

READ: Babar Azam’s father advises him to respect Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir