Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing significant challenges in making substantial changes to the national cricket team following their disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup. According to the Press Trust of India (PTI), the PCB is wary of potential confrontations with senior players, which could hinder any major overhaul.
The PCB’s governing board is set to meet on Saturday to review reports submitted by white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten and senior team manager Wahab Riaz. These reports will be presented to chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who had previously stated that a “major surgery” was needed for the team following their defeat to India.
However, a source revealed to PTI that only minor changes are expected. “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,” the source said.
The possibility of retaining Babar Azam as the white-ball captain remains uncertain. While there is a faction, including some former Test captains, advocating for Shaheen Shah Afridi to replace Babar, the prime candidates for captaincy, if changes occur, are Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan.
“You could see cosmetic changes, like changes in the selection committee, and the same old story of reorganising domestic cricket to help do damage control. But the senior players remain strong,” the source added.
Kirsten’s report is believed to reiterate his post-match observations made during interactions with the players after the Group stage loss to Ireland. He emphasized the need for senior players to adapt to new skill sets and enhance their game awareness. Wahab Riaz’s report highlighted personality clashes within the team during the World Cup.
The PCB’s immediate schedule includes a two-Test series against Bangladesh followed by three Tests against England. It is unlikely that senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan will opt for a break during this period.
As the governing board convenes, the focus will be on balancing the need for improvements with maintaining harmony within the team, making it clear that significant changes might be a challenging endeavor for the PCB at this juncture.