LAHORE:  In a notable move, Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and current federal interior minister, has decided to bring former fast bowling star Waqar Younis on board in a key advisory role.

According to Dawn news, Naqvi met with Waqar, a former Pakistan captain, in Lahore on Monday. It has been revealed that Waqar, who boasts a distinguished career with 87 Test matches and 262 One Day Internationals, is set to be appointed as the new Adviser to Chairman on Cricketing Affairs—a recently created position within the PCB.

In this role, Waqar will wield considerable influence over cricket operations, including oversight of the national selection committee and the management of both red and white-ball coaches, as well as domestic and international tournaments.

The appointment of the 52-year-old Waqar is expected to allow Naqvi to focus more on his responsibilities as interior minister and potentially alleviate criticism surrounding the national team’s performance—a persistent issue for the PCB over the past two years.

Recent underwhelming performances, including a disappointing showing in the ICC 50-over World Cup in India last year, a lackluster display in the ICC T20 World Cup in the US and the West Indies earlier this year, and a series of failures by the national women’s team, have highlighted ongoing concerns within Pakistani cricket.

Since assuming the role of interior minister, Naqvi has faced criticism for not dedicating sufficient time to PCB affairs, particularly in light of the national teams’ struggles.

Previously, Waqar served as the national team’s bowling coach alongside Misbah-ul-Haq, who was the head coach. This appointment occurred after PCB chairman Ehsan Mani chose not to extend the contract of head coach Mickey Arthur, under whom the team won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017.

Notably, Waqar and Misbah both resigned abruptly following Ramiz Raja’s appointment as PCB chairman in September 2021, just as the New Zealand team was set to tour Pakistan. The tour was postponed due to security concerns, with the team returning to their home country.

Agencies

Agencies