The cricketing landscape in Pakistan is abuzz with speculation and intrigue as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) navigates the intricate process of appointing captains and coaching staff for the national team.
According to sources, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has extended an offer to star batter Babar Azam to lead the team in white-ball formats, but the prolific run-scorer has yet to decide. Whispers within the cricketing circles suggest that Babar has set certain conditions before accepting the captaincy. Among his demands is a say in the appointment of coaches, a move that could potentially grant him significant influence over the team’s direction.
Additionally, Babar has reportedly conveyed his desire to take the reins across all three formats, an ambitious proposition that has divided the national selection committee.
The selection committee, a body tasked with shaping the future of Pakistan cricket, finds itself at a crossroads. A former Punjab caretaker minister, whose lack of cricketing background has raised eyebrows, is purportedly opposed to bestowing Babar with absolute power, further complicating the decision-making process.
As the deliberations intensify, a fresh perspective has emerged within the selection committee ranks. Some members now contemplate the merits of allowing Shaheen Shah Afridi to continue as captain for the upcoming home T20 series against New Zealand in April, providing him with an opportunity to prove his leadership credentials.
The indecision has led the selectors, including cricketing luminaries like Muhammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, Abdul Razzaq, Wahab Riaz, and the former minister, Bilal Afzal, to defer the final call to Mohsin Naqvi himself. After a meeting with the PCB chief, the selectors requested him to make the ultimate decision, even though Naqvi had initially granted them the mandate to select the captain.
Amid this turmoil, the Test captaincy remains in the capable hands of Shan Masood, while the appointment of foreign coaches for the national team continues to be shrouded in uncertainty. Reports indicate that the PCB has encountered refusals from several overseas candidates, including Adam Voges, Luke Ronchi, Shane Watson, and Mike Hesson.
The PCB’s hopes now rest on the successful negotiations with Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillispie, who are being considered for white-ball and red-ball coaches, respectively. However, a potential sticking point has arisen, as Kirsten and Gillispie are adamant about bringing their support staff. At the same time, the PCB aims to appoint local players as assistant specialist coaches.
As the saga unfolds, the cricketing fraternity in Pakistan eagerly awaits the resolution of these intricate issues, hoping for a decisive and swift resolution that will pave the way for the national team’s success on the global stage.
