Islamabad: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has defended the recent changes made to Pakistan’s Test setup following the team’s disappointing tour of England, while hitting back at criticism directed at the board and its leadership.
Pakistan suffered a heavy 194-run defeat against England at Lord’s, leaving the visitors 0-2 down in the three-match Test series. The result intensified criticism of the Pakistan cricket setup and was followed by major changes to the Test squad and coaching staff.
Following the defeat, the PCB released seven players from the Test squad, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also replaced ahead of the third Test. Mike Hesson was brought in to oversee the team for the final match of the series.
Addressing the criticism, Naqvi acknowledged that Pakistan’s performance in the Test match was poor but rejected claims that the country’s entire cricket system had collapsed.
Naqvi pointed to Pakistan’s progress in white-ball cricket, saying the national team had improved its rankings in both ODIs and T20Is. He argued that setbacks in individual matches should not be used to declare Pakistan cricket finished.
“The truth is, some people just want to finish me,” Naqvi said while responding to criticism of his tenure and the PCB’s decisions. He also urged critics to focus on facts and avoid making baseless accusations against the players.
The PCB chairman further defended the decision-making process, saying that changes were necessary when players or combinations were not delivering the required results. He stressed that the board remained accountable for the team’s performances.
Naqvi also appealed to critics not to demotivate Pakistan’s players, arguing that criticism should be directed at the administration when necessary rather than targeting individual cricketers without evidence.
Pakistan will now look to avoid a series whitewash in the third Test against England, with the final match scheduled at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
