Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team and pace veteran Waqar Younis has officially assumed the role of Cricket Advisor to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
The insiders had already said that the cricket commentator will be given the job of “advisor” to Naqvi on cricketing affairs and will try and share his power with the board.
Younis, the sources added, will look over cricket-related tasks through PCB chief Naqvi, who also has to fulfill his working responsibilities, as the country’s interior minister will focus on regulatory issues of the board including those connected with the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy, which Pakistan is set to have among February and March next year.
A Resurgence for Pakistan Cricket
Waqar, famous for his best speed and keen cricketing mind, carries a wealth of experience to the job. With 87 Tests and 262 ODIs under his belt, combined with past stints as captain and mentor, he is undoubtedly the most decorated figure in Pakistani cricket history.
His main responsibility will be to oversee the national teams and their particular instructing staff, including Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie. This concentrated authority is supposed to smooth out decision-making and further develop coordination inside the cricket ecosystem.
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Besides, Waqar will play a significant part in addressing the concerns encompassing the selection committee, which has been under scrutiny following the team’s poor performance at the T20 World Cup. The latest removal of selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq features the PCB’s assurance to redo the selection process and guarantee meritocracy wins.
As per the PCB Constitution 2014, the chairman of the board can delegate his power to somebody and that is how Younis will be provided the power to settle all the decisions related to the team.
Recently, the director met more than 2 dozen previous and current cricketers of Pakistan to talk about the future of cricket in the country. Naqvi ensured the implementation of the proposals in the meeting and said that five or six things that the cricketers in the meeting said would be carried out.
On the idea of Yasir Hameed, a previous Test cricketer, the PCB chief said that cricket academies will be built in Islamabad and Peshawar. The ground standard will also be improved.
He said that four-day cricket would be given maximum priority, coaches would be given more instruction, and qualified coaches would be employed.
The director said that five domestic groups will be framed, and aside from their coaches, there will also be five coaches.
A Significant Burden on Waqar’s Shoulders
The appointment comes at a basic point for Pakistan cricket. The group’s initial exit from the T20 World Cup has ignited widespread criticism, and the pressure to convey results will be tremendous. Waqar will be tasked with rebuilding confidence, further developing performance, and reestablishing Pakistan’s pride in global cricket.
The PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has plainly outlined his expectations, expressing that Waqar’s mastery and experience are important to address the difficulties facing Pakistan cricket. By assigning vital cricketing matters to Waqar, Naqvi aims to focus on the managerial and commercial aspects of the board.