Sports

Shahid Afridi likely to get important role in PCB

Published

1 year ago

Farwa

Shahid Afridi meets interim PM Kakar in Islamabad.
Seeks time to decide on taking up role in PCB.
Zaka Ashraf’s tenure as MC chief ends on Nov 4.

ISLAMABAD: Amid all the criticism over the team’s performance in the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been approached by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar for a key role in the cricket board.

Shahid Afridi confirmed the development to The News on Thursday, just two days before the end of Zaka Ashraf’s tenure as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Management Committee.

Afridi and other former cricketers had slammed the PCB management after a WhatsApp chat between its COO and skipper Babar Azam was leaked to the media.

According to the publication, the former all-rounder called on PM Kakar to discuss cricket issues in a special context with his association with the future PCB, the performance of the national team in the 10-team tournament and the grooming of cricketers from the grassroots to international level.

“I received a call from the PM Office Thursday and had to rush to Islamabad to meet the PM. It was really a pleasure talking to the PM on cricketing issues. He looked keen on the proper training of youth and grooming them in a systematic way so that they could go on to make a name for themselves and for the country,” Afridi said while sharing details of his meeting with the premier.

The star all-rounder said that PM wanted me to play a role in the PCB.

“I sought some time to decide on my association with the future PCB. What Pakistan cricket requires is systemic and par excellence training of the players from the start to the top level. That has not been happening in Pakistan cricket with the result that we struggle to polish the available talent and make them a real-world beater,” he said.

The former chief selector had all praise for the available talent but admitted that talent alone cannot fetch the required results.

“What we need is grooming of cricketers in a systematic way. Unless we sincerely make efforts to nourish the available talent, we will not be in a position to make consistent progress at the international level.”

Zaka Ashraf’s tenure ends on Nov 4

Meanwhile, Zaka Ashraf’s fate as the chairman of the Management Committee hangs in the balance as his four-month tenure ends on November 4.

Till now, the PMO has not indicated whether the incumbent committee’s tenure will be extended or not, triggering speculations that a new name is expected to take charge.

“There has not been any decision as yet as to whether to give an extension to the sitting MC or to establish a new one. Both the previous and current management committees have failed to hold PCB elections for which these were established. Now it is up to the PM who is also Patron in Chief of the PCB to decide on the matter. Hopefully, things would be much clearer in a day or two,” an official of the Ministry for Inter-Provincial Coordination said.

Latest News

Sumair Ahmad is named the 2025 Champions Trophy Director by PCB.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi commented on the appointment, saying, “Sumair is a highly organized professional with a wealth of administrative expertise.” He will undoubtedly give players, officials, and fans alike an amazing ICC Champions Trophy 2025, especially when combined with his unshakable love for cricket.

He continued, “The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 promises to showcase Pakistan’s ability to host world-class cricketing events, welcoming players and fans from around the globe to experience the country’s renowned hospitality and passion for the game.”

The BCCI informed the ICC earlier this month that it will not be sending a side to the event, which is set for 2025 in Pakistan during the February–March season.

After the PCB asked for clarity in its letter regarding the BCCI’s unwillingness to tour Pakistan, the ICC requested India’s justifications for not inviting Pakistan to compete for the Champions Trophy.

The broadcasters, meanwhile, reportedly pushed the ICC to make the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule available right away.

Due to the Indian government’s refusal to send a delegation to Pakistan for the event, the schedule that was supposed to be issued on November 12 was postponed.

The broadcasting rights, which were given to broadcasters for a record $3 billion until 2027, are heavily dependent on the success of the main events, especially those involving India and Pakistan, which regularly attract the largest audiences.

Latest News

India withdraws from the World Cup of Blind T20 Cricket in Pakistan

Published

3 days ago

Farwa

Adding to the issue surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian government refused to allow their squad to travel to Pakistan for the Blind Cricket T20 World Cup, which is set to start in Lahore on November 23.

According to Indian media, India, the reigning champion, would not go to Pakistan to play in the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 since the government has not given its approval.

Lahore and Multan are set to host the Blind T20 World Cup 2024 from November 23 to December 3.

The general secretary of the Indian Blind Cricket Association (IBCA), Sailendra Yadav, recently discussed the upsetting news about the blind cricket team’s upcoming trip to Pakistan in an interview with India Today.

The team was given a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the Sports Ministry, but the Ministry of External Affairs finally refused to allow them to enter the border, Yadav revealed.

Yadav stated, “We have been waiting for the government to give us permission to travel to Pakistan for the past 25 days.”

“We will not be receiving any authorization to travel to Pakistan, and we can cancel your tournament,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed us over the phone.

Latest News

Aaqib Javed designated as interim head coach for white-ball formats of Pakistan

Published

4 days ago

Farwa

On Monday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the hiring of former fast bowler Aaqib Javed as the interim head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team till the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Throughout this period, Aaqib will maintain his role as a senior member of the men’s National Selection Committee and will be allocated more responsibilities upon the completion of the eight-team tournament.

The PCB will commence the recruitment process for a permanent white-ball head coach, with the objective of finalising the appointment before the conclusion of the ICC Champions Trophy, which is set to take place from 19 February to 9 March.

The white-ball coaching position became available with Gary Kirsten’s departure last month, prior to the current tour of Australia.

In Kirsten’s absence, red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie led the team during the tour of Australia and will now return for the forthcoming two-Test series in South Africa.

The Pakistan men’s team is set to compete in three ODIs and three T20Is in Zimbabwe from November 24 to December 5, followed by an equal number of white-ball matches in South Africa from December 10 to 22.

Prior to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan will host New Zealand and South Africa for an ODI triangular series from February 8 to 14.

Aaqib Javed had considerable coaching expertise, having formerly held the position of Pakistan’s bowling coach during their triumphant ICC T20 World Cup campaign in 2009. Earlier this year, he served as the bowling coach for the Sri Lanka men’s squad.

Before that, he managed the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in achieving ODI status and qualifying for the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia during his term as head coach.

Additionally, the right-arm fast bowler served as the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 squad during their victory in the U19 World Cup in 2004.