Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, has directed Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, to prioritise player selection on the basis of merit and to completely restructure the selection procedure for Pakistan.
The directive was given on Monday, August 5, during the PCB headquarters’ foundation stone-laying ceremony for the renovation of Gaddafi Stadium. Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, Federal Minister of Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Senior Minister of Punjab Marriyum Aurangzeb, and numerous other legislators, public servants, and PCB representatives were present during the occasion.
After Pakistan Cricket’s poor results in the T20 World Cup 2024, when the Babar Azam-led team was eliminated from the tournament’s group stages, the Prime Minister discussed the need to rebuild the sport’s reputation. Speaking to Mohsin Naqvi, the Prime Minister discussed the ideal format for the Champions Trophy.
“We need our cricket stadiums to be up to par with international standards, and Gaddafi Stadium’s renovation is a good start. It’s time for you to reorganise the cricket squad and make individual selections based on merit—your area of expertise.
Shehbaz Sharif was quoted by the Nation as saying, “Even if the Prime Minister recommends someone, if it goes against merit, you should politely decline.”
It is noteworthy that Waqar Younis, the former captain of Pakistan, was recently selected to oversee the implementation of these changes. He will be in charge of supervising all board decisions pertaining to cricket. However, Mohsin Naqvi will oversee all administrative matters, including the running of Pakistan’s 2025 hosting of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.
Regarding the stadiums, important stadiums in Pakistan are undergoing a number of renovations. The Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium, the National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi, and the Gaddafi Stadium are also undergoing some upgrades.
New hospitality boxes are one of the various renovations taking place at the Gaddafi Stadium. The Champions Trophy hosting is a consideration in the making of these modifications.
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