A complete overhaul is on the cards for Pakistan cricket as the crisis in the wake of the nation’s poor performance in the ICC Champions Trophy is being played out. Though the team has not been able to win a single match and lost to New Zealand and India, the rain-marred match against Bangladesh was the final nail in the coffin. Pakistan finished the tournament with just one point, and it has left it with urgent questions about the future of its cricketing leadership.
Changes anticipated can include alterations in the selection panel, the coach, and even the team. But there was a surprising flash of humor in the DP World Dressing Room when a fan suggested making a foreigner chairman of the PCB.
Wasim Akram spoke of the matter, dissecting the complexity of holding such a job. “It’s the type of job which receives a great deal of exposure. There is bound to be daily press conferences, and I don’t imagine the board would be welcoming of offering the position of chairman to a foreign surname,” he asserted, emphasizing the challenges of such a job.
In a lighter mood, Waqar Younis smiled jokingly in the direction of former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja when discussing potential candidates for the chairman’s job. Jadeja retorted in a lighter mood, saying, “Wasim bhai ke bacche hain, mere bhi hain,” or “Wasim Akram has children, and so do I,” before erupting into laughter. Akram, who expressed a preference to remain close to his family, had previously stated that he would not accept such a role.
Jadeja clarified the dual role, urging the separation of sporting and administrative tasks. “The public and the fans are not concerned about how much the board made or the construction of stadiums. They are interested in how cricket will be developed,” he said.
Having just returned from Pakistan as a commentator for the Champions Trophy, Jadeja has encountered several of the sport’s top personalities. While Pakistan’s tournament is over, India has already reached the semi-finals, putting an extra focus on the PCB and its position under the sun in the future.
