Waqar Younis could become chief advisor to PCB chairman Naqvi: Reports

In a reshuffle in the cricket management group at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), former captain and coach of the Pakistani team, Waqar Younis is likely to be made the chief advisor to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. 

Geo News, while quoting sources wrote, “Younis will look over cricket-related affairs whereas PCB chief Naqvi, who also has to fulfill his responsibilities as the country's interior minister, will focus on administrative matters of the board including those related to the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy.”

Earlier, Younis met with Naqvi in Lahore on July 30 (Tuesday) to discuss the role. It is being said that the former Pakistani pacer will essentially be to PCB what Rob Key (Managing Director of Men’s Cricket) is to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). 

Wasim Khan was the last person to hold a role (chief executive) which was apolitical and strictly based on running the cricketing part of the board’s job. However, once his tenure was over, Ramiz Raja took over as the PCB chief and since then the role has merged into that of the chairman. 

As and when the 52-year-old gets to his new job, Younis will have to manage a lot of things as his schedule will be tightly packed from August 2024 to March 2025. At home, Pakistan will take on Bangladesh, England and West Indies in Tests and host South Africa and New Zealand for an ODI tri-series. 

However, the most-important tournament for Younis in his role would be hosting the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in February. 

On away tours, they will travel to South Africa in December-January for a Test series and then play eight white-ball games in March in New Zealand. 

Younis, as PCB Chairman’s chief advisor, would also have to manage the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the domestic tournaments' schedule. The persisting issue of how to manage prime cricketers’ workload for international assignments and their aspirations to play in global T20 leagues would also require answers from the new man in charge. 

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