A fresh wave of instability has gripped Pakistan cricket following a string of poor performances on the international stage, prompting Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi to prepare sweeping corrective measures. The board leadership is currently evaluating stern structural adjustments, ranging from a complete overhaul of the national selection committee to the removal of high-profile personnel. Senior selector Aaqib Javed finds his position in serious jeopardy following growing criticism over his decisions, while former fast bowler Wahab Riaz is also facing scrutiny. A comprehensive shake-up across key management roles appears imminent over the coming weeks.
Senior Selector Aaqib Javed Under Fire
Discussions regarding an immediate shake-up of the national selection committee have gained significant momentum, with Aaqib Javed likely to be relieved of his duties as senior selector. Across the past two years, Aaqib wielded extensive influence over pivotal decisions concerning the national side. His tenure notably included the sudden and drastic changes made to both the playing squad and coaching personnel right after the second Test during the England tour. That disruptive episode triggered widespread questions regarding instability in team planning, leaving his administrative authority severely eroded.
Wahab Riaz and Women's Coaching Setup on Notice
Alongside Aaqib, former Test pacer Wahab Riaz has also come under the board's radar. Wahab has been serving as the mentor for the Pakistan women's cricket team since last year. Under the proposed administrative revamp, Wahab and the current coaching staff of the women's national team are slated to be relieved of their responsibilities following the conclusion of the Asian Games in Japan. In tandem with these departures, the board has initiated an active search for a new head coach for the women's setup and is holding formal discussions with several overseas candidates.
Disastrous Test Results Accelerate the Crisis
The urgency behind this sweeping administrative intervention stems largely from Pakistan's alarming slide in Test cricket. The team managed only a 1-1 draw in a home series against the West Indies before suffering a humiliating 3-0 clean sweep on their tour of England. Each of the three Test matches against England ended in heavy, one-sided defeats. These crushing outcomes exposed deep flaws in the board's cricket policies and personnel management, generating unbearable public and internal pressure on the administration to act decisively.
Mike Hesson Eyed for Test Coaching Role
In a bid to salvage the red-ball setup, the board is considering handing the Test coaching duties to white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who has expressed interest in taking up the assignment. However, Hesson's willingness comes with clear stipulations. He believes that rehabilitating the struggling Test squad will be an extended process requiring patience. Consequently, Hesson is prepared to take charge only if guaranteed a defined operational tenure alongside complete autonomy, free from administrative interference in cricket matters.
High-Level Meeting to Determine Final Call
Before any formal restructuring is ratified, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected to convene a crucial meeting with his closest advisers. The proposed recommendations will subsequently be laid before the members of the board's governing council for final endorsement. This high-level deliberation will evaluate vital issues regarding selection criteria, coaching hierarchies, and broader team governance, with several prominent figures likely to lose their administrative portfolios once approved.
Off-Field Controversies Surrounding Naqvi
The unfolding restructuring coincides with a turbulent personal run for Mohsin Naqvi, who simultaneously serves as Pakistan's Federal Interior Minister alongside his board chairmanship. Naqvi found himself at the center of attention during Sunday's Women's Asia Cup final in Dubai. Following India's championship victory over Sri Lanka, the Indian team declined to receive the winners' trophy from Naqvi's hands. The incident mirrored last year's Men's Asia Cup final, where the Indian squad had similarly refused to accept the championship trophy from the Pakistani official.
