NEW DELHI:
Pakistan Cricket Board
chairman
Mohsin Naqvi
has called for significant changes within the team following Pakistan's narrow six-run defeat to arch-rivals India in the ICC
T20 World Cup
.
Naqvi's comments came after the Babar Azam-led side failed to chase down a modest target of 120 runs, falling short at 113 for 7 after consuming 59 dot balls.
T20 World Cup Schedule | Points Table
"I thought the team required minor surgery to start winning matches but now it appears that we have to go for
major surgery
," Naqvi told the media in New York.
Naqvi expressed deep disappointment over the team's performance, highlighting not only the recent loss to India but also an earlier defeat to the USA. He indicated that the time has come to consider players who have been sidelined for some time.
"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 added.
Since taking over as
PCB
chairman in January and later becoming the interior minister, Naqvi has emphasized the board's efforts to support the players. Despite these efforts, he acknowledged the team's underperformance and the need for a thorough review.
"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," Naqvi stated.
Pakistan's hopes of advancing to the Super Eight stage now hinge on winning convincingly against Canada and Ireland, while also relying on the USA to lose to India and Ireland. Even if these conditions are met, the final standings could come down to net run rate.
The PCB chairman's remarks underline the urgency of the situation as
Pakistan
faces a critical juncture in the tournament. The team's management and selection strategies are expected to undergo scrutiny in the coming days, with potential changes aimed at revitalizing the squad and improving performance.
(With inputs from PTI)
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