Pakistan Cricket turns into a battlefield; Selectors openly refuse to follow Mohsin Naqvi's orders

Pakistan cricket team has been facing the backlash for their poor performances in the ongoing Champions Trophy. Recently, a report has emerged amidst the team's disappointing performance which has shocked the nation.

The report claims that the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi had asked the national selectors to reconsider the squad after it was selected. However, the advice was ignored and they decided to go with the same team.

Also read: Security crisis in Pakistan during Champions Trophy 2025? Over 100 policemen dismissed

Mohsin Naqvi's advice ignored by selectors

Before the Champions Trophy, PCB Chairman asked the selectors twice to reconsider the squad,but his advice was ignored. PCB will review the team’s performance after the tournament, holding detailed discussions with the team management to analyze mistakes and areas of improvement

— Saleem Khaliq (@saleemkhaliq) February 26, 2025

According to the local media reports, the PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi wasn't entirely convinced with Pakistan's squad for the tournament and had even asked the national selectors to reconsider it once after it was picked.

The selectors held a meeting after the chairman's advice but ultimately decided to go with the same squad. PCB had restructured its national selection committee after the defeat to England in the first Test at home last year.

The likes of Aleem Dar, Aaqib Javed, and Azhar Ali were added to the selection panel and they replaced Asad Shafiq and Hassan Cheema. The addition of Aleem Dar was especially criticized by the country's former cricketers claiming the role of an umpire in a selection panel.

Aaqib Javed was the team's interim coach for the Champions Trophy. He took over the role from Gary Kirsten, who decided to resign as Pakistan's white-ball head coach before the tour to Australia last year. Kirsten didn't give any reason for his resignation.

The PCB will review the team's performance after the end of the Champions Trophy 2025. They will have detailed discussions and meetings with the team management in an attempt to analyze the mistakes and how to improve them.

Huge criticism at the time of the selection

When the squad was selected earlier, it had faced plenty of criticism regarding the selection of several players. Allrounder Faheem Ashraf was one of those players whose selection came under scrutiny.

Legendary cricketer Wasim Akram even argued how a player of Faheem's caliber suddenly got a place in such a big tournament. Faheem Ashraf has a dismal ODI record with an average of 11.18 with the bat and 46.98 with the ball.

Apart from this, the squad had just one specialist spinner in the form of Abrar Ahmed. The decision backfired as the team missed a second spinner in the squad, especially during the game against India.

Pakistan gets knocked out

Pakistan lost the first match of the Champions Trophy 2025 to New Zealand by a margin of 60 runs. They didn't improve in the next match against the arch-rivals India and suffered another humiliating defeat.

With Bangladesh unable to beat New Zealand, Pakistan's chances of making it to the Champions Trophy semi-finals came to an abrupt end. Along with Bangladesh, they were knocked out of the tournament while New Zealand and India secured qualification from Group A.