New Delhi: Pakistan will struggle to make any major changes after a dismal T20 World Cup performance due to senior players wielding a significant influence.
After Pakistan’s exit from the group stage of the competition, new Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi said the team required a “major surgery”.
But despite an alarming report submitted by new head coach Gary Kirsten and team manager Wahab Riaz, the PCB is likely to make cosmetic changes and continue with the practically the same set of players.
“The reports by Kirsten and Riaz will help the Governing Board and chairman Naqvi decide the next course of action but all indications are there Naqvi doesn’t want a confrontation with senior players and he has also been advised against massive changes in the team,” PTI quoted a source as saying.
“There are so many outside voices and pressures from within the system that all this talk about big changes is unlikely to happen. So, basically, with a few changes, the same set of players will be in the Pakistan team for coming games as well in all formats.”
Kirsten has highlighted the need for senior players to upgrade their skill-set and improve game awareness while Wahab pointed out clash of egos in the dressing room.
Questions marks have also been raised on Babar Azam’s captaincy with many wanting Shaheen Shah Afridi to be reinstated with senior players expected to be in action in a two-Test series against Bangladesh followed by three Tests against England.
NOC delay
The PCB is also yet to hand over no objection certificates to Babar, wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan and star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to play in the Global T20 Canada league despite issuing NOCs to a dozen players for different leagues.
“The PCB is not comfortable with the status of the Global League and has sought some information from the organisers and ICC which is why the issuance of NOCs has been delayed,” a PCB official said, as quoted by PTI.
The Global T20 Canada League will be held from July 25 till August 11, eight days before the start of Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh.
The Pakistan Cricket Board could only make cosmetic changes and continue with the same set of players. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
