LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to implement significant changes to the national cricket team following their early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy, The News reported on Monday. This restructuring is part of the PCB’s long-term strategy to build a more successful and sustainable team.
Sources have confirmed that Mohammad Rizwan, the current captain, will be rested as part of the overhaul. All-rounder Shadab Khan is reportedly being considered as his successor to lead the team. The decision comes after the defending champions, Pakistan, failed to win any of their three group-stage matches, including defeats to New Zealand and arch-rivals India, while their match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain.
Additionally, former cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq is expected to take over as the head coach of the national team. Sources indicated that Mushtaq has agreed to assume the role after discussions with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Several players are expected to be dropped from the squad following the disappointing performance in the Champions Trophy. Among those potentially sidelined are Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Tayyab Tahir, and Kamran Ghulam.
The new squad is expected to include players like Mohammad Haris, Sufiyan Muqeem, Arafat Minhas, Irfan Khan Niazi, Zaman Khan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Abbas Afridi, and Jahandad Khan. These players are likely to be part of the new team composition, which is set to be announced soon.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently convened a meeting with selectors at the National Cricket Academy to discuss Pakistan’s poor performance in the tournament. During the meeting, Naqvi emphasized the need for a long-term vision and urged selectors to build a team that can achieve consistent success over time rather than focusing solely on immediate results.
The PCB is expected to make an official announcement regarding the new team structure in the coming days, ahead of Pakistan’s next international series.
Read more: PCB to Announce New Team Following Champions Trophy Failure
Amid the changes, reports have surfaced that several senior players, including Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam, are considering taking breaks from international cricket due to their underwhelming performances in the Champions Trophy. Some of these players have been part of selection discussions, with a few contemplating stepping back to avoid the risk of being dropped from future tours.
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