In a press conference held at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, addressed various important matters concerning the future of cricket in Pakistan.
1. Hosting ICC Champions Trophy: Chairman Naqvi reiterated PCB’s commitment towards hosting the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next year. He expressed optimism about the event taking place in Pakistan and assured that significant upgrades would be made to the main cricketing venues in Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi before the tournament.
2. Finalizing Coaching Staff: Regarding the coaching staff for the national team, Chairman Naqvi stated that extensive efforts were underway to finalize the appointments. He emphasized the importance of selecting the best candidates and assured that the coaching staff would be announced once the decisions were finalized.
3. Domestic Cricket Development: Chairman Naqvi highlighted PCB’s plans to significantly expand domestic cricket in Pakistan. The board aims to organize around 9,000 domestic matches in the next four months and is collaborating with colleges to host tournaments during Ramadan. Additionally, plans for a Women’s T20 league are in progress.
4. Pitches and Infrastructure: Naqvi outlined plans to improve pitch quality by introducing different types of pitches at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore. He emphasized the need for technical expertise in this area and mentioned the initiative to bring in experts from overseas.
5. Selection Committee and Captaincy: Chairman Naqvi emphasized the authority of the selection committee in appointing the national team captain. He expressed confidence in the committee’s decision-making abilities and stressed the importance of empowering them.
6. NOC Policy for Foreign Leagues: The PCB plans to implement the NOC policy introduced by the previous regime and strictly regulate the two-league rule. Employees of the PCB will be required to work full-time for the organization and prioritize the national team.
7. Expectations from T20 World Cup: Naqvi emphasized the importance of hard work and dignity in performance, stating that winning is not the sole objective. He encouraged the team to focus on giving their best effort, with the outcome ultimately in the hands of fate.
8. Spectator Concerns and Stadium Upgrades: Regarding the low turnout at Karachi fixtures during HBL PSL 9, Naqvi expressed confusion and pledged to investigate the matter. He assured plans for stadium upgrades and hoped that improved facilities would attract more spectators to Karachi matches.
9. Law and Order Concerns: Responding to queries about spectator restrictions, Naqvi clarified that law and order issues fall under the jurisdiction of the provincial government and PCB cannot intervene in such matters.
Chairman Naqvi’s statements underscore PCB’s dedication to the development of cricket in Pakistan, with initiatives aimed at enhancing infrastructure, domestic cricket, and player welfare.
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