PCB chief vows to fix Pakistan cricket issues following 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh

Earlier this year, Naqvi had hinted at a major overhaul following a narrow defeat to India in the T20 World Cup

PHOTO: FILE

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has vowed to address the issues facing the Pakistan cricket team following their heavy 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the Rawalpindi Test.

Speaking to media on Monday, Naqvi expressed his commitment to making necessary changes.

"I will fix the issues in Pakistan cricket, God willing," he said.

Moreover, he assured fans that significant changes are on the way, though details remain under wraps.

"Mark my words, things will not stay the same. A lot is happening in the background," he added.

It is worth notingn that Bangladesh made history with their 10-wicket win, marking their first-ever Test victory over Pakistan. The final day of the match saw Pakistan collapsing for just 146 runs in their second innings. Spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan were instrumental in the victory, taking seven wickets between them. Mehidy claimed 4-21, while Shakib took 3-44. This performance set Bangladesh a target of just 30 runs, which they achieved in 6.3 overs with openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam securing the win.

Earlier this year, Naqvi had hinted at a major overhaul following a narrow defeat to India in the T20 World Cup, which put Pakistan's qualification for the Super Eight stage at risk. He had suggested that a significant restructuring was necessary. "Initially, I believed a minor surgery would suffice, but after this poor performance, it’s clear that a major overhaul is needed. The nation will soon witness substantial changes," Naqvi had said.

In the match, Mohammad Rizwan was the top scorer for Pakistan with 51 runs, but his efforts were not enough as Pakistan struggled at 108-6 at lunch. The defeat was a disappointment for the holiday crowd of nearly 5,000, who had hoped for a draw.

Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, dedicated the victory to those affected by recent political unrest in Bangladesh, which led to the ouster of Premier Sheikh Hasina after weeks of protests.