Lahore, 9 July 2024: Chairman PCB called on former Pakistan players in Lahore to discuss player development, strategies for strengthening domestic cricket and the performance of the national team. The former players gave recommendations to improve the performance of the national cricket team. The fitness of the players and their performances in the recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 were also discussed.
COO, PCB Salman Naseer, Director High performance, Nadeem Khan, Director International, Usman Wahla, Director – Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Member Selection Committee – Bilal Afzal and other PCB officials were also present on this occasion. The attendees of the meeting included Abdur Rauf, Aamer Malik, Asim Kamal, Azhar Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Basit Ali, Haroon Rashid, Ijaz Ahmed, Intikhab Alam, Iqbal Qasim, Mohammad Sami, Rashid Khan, Saleem Altaf, Saleem Yousuf, Salman Butt, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sadiq Mohammad, Shafiq Ahmad, Shafqat Rana, Sikander Bakht, Wajahatullah Wasti, Yasir Hameed and Yasir Shah.
In the meeting, it was agreed to improve the infrastructure of the domestic cricket including first-class matches and Under 19 tournaments. It was also mutually agreed upon that PCB should also arrange more matches in the summer season just like the winter season. Recommendations to establish academies under the PCB's watch in different cities were also floated by the former players. They raised their concerns regarding the need for improvement in the coaching field both in domestic cricket and grassroots level.
The meeting participants appreciated Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi’s initiatives for the improvement of the game in the country. Chairman PCB assured the former players that their valuable suggestions will be implemented going forward.
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi: “The consultation with the former players will consistently take place to continue the betterment of Pakistan Cricket. The PCB will go to all lengths to uplift the standard of the game in the country.
“As many of the former players mentioned, the focus of PCB will surely be on improving the first-class game and the Under 19 tournaments. To adjust more games during the summer season in our domestic window, we are exploring venues in the northern areas like Abbottabad and Hunza.
“I do fully understand the need for bringing the quality of coaches to International standards and the PCB will take urgent measures to achieve that. We also have quality of the pitches in our mind and they will be improved as well.”
