PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi Hints At ‘Major Surgery’ After Pakistan’s Loss To India, Formers Lash Out At Babar Azam & Co.

With two losses from as many matches, Pakistan are on the verge of elimination from the group stage at the T20 World Cup 2024.

Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi came down heavily on the team management following their six-run loss against arch-rivals India in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. Naqvi said the Babar Azam-led side requires ‘major surgery’ after the Pakistani batters consumed 59 dot balls to be restricted to 113/ 7 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium while chasing an underwhelming 120-run target.

“I thought the team required minor surgery to start winning matches but now it appears that we have to go for major surgery,” Naqvi was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media in New York. Naqvi also felt that it is time to start looking at players who are sitting outside the team for sometime now.

“It is very disappointing the way we lost to the USA and now this loss to India. We need to now start looking at players beyond those in the team right now,” he said. Naqvi, who took over as chairman in January and later also became the interior minister in the government, made it clear that the PCB had done everything to facilitate the players.

“Why the team is not performing is something everyone is asking. The World Cup is still on. But obviously we will sit down and take a look at everything.” Pakistan’s Super 8 chances now rests on winning big against Canada and Ireland, besides hoping that USA lose to India and Ireland.

EXCLUSIVE | Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi spotted, leaving the stadium just before Pak vs Ind match’ final ball.#PAKvIND #ShellVPower #T20WCWithTOK #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/SMQAzSzba6

— Times of Karachi (@TOKCityOfLights) June 9, 2024

Even in that scenario both the teams will end on four points each and it will come down to the net run rate. Not just Naqvi, former Pakistan skipper Salim Malik too accused Imad Wasim of deliberately wasting balls against India. Wasim took 23 balls to score his 15 runs in the losing cause.

“You look at his (Wasim) innings and it appears as if he was wasting balls not scoring runs and making things difficult in the run-chase,” Malik said on 24 News channel. Another former captain Shahid Afridi feels all is not well in the Pakistan dressing room and some players have issues with skipper Babar Azam.

“A captain brings everyone together, either he spoils the team environment or he builds the team. Let this World Cup finish, and I will speak openly,” said Afridi. “I have such a relationship with Shaheen (Afridi) that if I talk about him, people will say I am favouring my son-in-law,” he added.

Afridi’s daughter is married to left-arm pacer Shaheen, who was removed as T20 captain just before the World Cup after just one series in New Zealand.