Pakistan Cricket Board keen to appoint foreign coaches for T20 World Cup 2024 - Reports

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is eager to appoint foreign coaching staff for the national team for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024. As per the reports in PTI, it is learned that new chairman Mohsin Naqvi wants the team to train under overseas names for the mega event.

Pakistan Cricket Board has often preferred keeping foreign coaches for the national team. However, after the ICC World Cup 2023, there was a massive change in the system as all the overseas coaches were sacked and the board included former Pakistan cricketers into the setup.

However, the move seemed to not work as Pakistan continued losing games and recently PCB released Mohammad Hafeez as team director. The former skipper was appointed by the board’s previous chairman, Zaka Ashraf, and the new chairman Mohsin Naqvi didn’t want Hafeez.

With Mohammad Hafeez not being there, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi wants foreign coaching set up onboard. As per the reports, he has told chief selector Wahab Riaz to look for possible options. A source close to PCB stated (as quoted by PTI):

“The new Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi is keen to look at the available coaching options for Pakistan and is more inclined to appoint foreign coaches and support staff.

“Naqvi has already asked chief selector, Wahab Riaz to speak to some of the available options and shortlist candidates as he is aware foreign coaches might be reluctant to join the Pakistan team because of the way Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick were removed from their positions after the World Cup and their contracts cut short.”

The reports claimed that Wahab Riaz has also had initial discussions with prospective candidates. The chief selector is reportedly very close to chairman Mohsin Naqvi as the duo worked together on sports in the Punjab government.

Shaheen Afridi along with the coaching staff of Pakistan under scanner

The reports also claimed that coaching staff in Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal brought in by Mohammad Hafeez is also under scanner. The duo might be relieved from their duties ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, set to take place in June in the USA and the Caribbean.

Newly appointed T20 skipper Shaheen Afridi might also be in danger of losing his position. Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in favor of Mohammad Rizwan leading the Pakistan team in the white-ball cricket. The fast bowler’s first assignment as captain of the team was torrid as Pakistan suffered a 4-1 loss against New Zealand.

It is also learned that Babar Azam didn’t like the way he was removed as the captain of the team. The former skipper has expressed that he was betrayed by Shaheen Afridi. Talking about the same, the source added:

“Shaheen’s performance as captain in the Pakistan Super League is under scrutiny no doubt about that. Babar privately feels betrayed by Shaheen as he and the fast bowler, Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf have always been very close in the team.”

The source concluded by saying that by the end of March, the Pakistan board and team might be seeing a number of changes.