Pakistan entered the Champions Trophy as the host nation, but the team could not even survive a week in the tournament. Their disappointing performance is now under the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) scrutiny. As a result, the board is set to take strict decisions, which could lead to the exclusion of players like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi from the squad, according to Pakistani media reports.
Several media outlets in Pakistan suggest that the future of long-time underperforming senior players is now uncertain. Retaining spots in the team is becoming increasingly difficult for Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf.
Analysts are questioning why some senior players remain in the squad despite their consistent poor performances, while the PCB’s top management undergoes frequent changes. In the past three years, the board has changed four chairmen, eight coaches, and 26 selectors, affecting the team’s stability and performance.
One of the main challenges for the current chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, is breaking the dominance of influential groups within the team. Reports suggest that a group of seven to eight players is engaging in lobbying and blackmailing for their own interests, creating internal conflicts within the board.
After announcing the 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy, the PCB advised the selection committee to make at least two changes. However, the selectors and captain Mohammad Rizwan did not agree to the proposal. The selection committee maintained its firm stance on team selection.
A reliable source revealed that, following Mohsin Naqvi’s directive, the selectors held a 90-minute meeting in the National Academy’s boardroom but failed to reach a conclusive decision. The PCB had recommended making two to three changes in the squad and adding an extra spinner.
Following Chairman Najam Sethi’s return from Dubai to Islamabad on Monday night, the internal situation of the board became even more complicated. Sources indicate that while efforts were made to motivate the players on the Karachi-to-Dubai flight, the return journey was marked by an unusual silence, reflecting the team’s low morale.
Mohsin Naqvi’s primary goal now is to conclude the Champions Trophy before Pakistan embarks on their tour of New Zealand, where the first T20 match is scheduled to take place in Christchurch on March 16.
