Former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to give key pacers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah a break, while also calling for major changes within the board’s management.
Speaking at the Capital Premier League (CPL) signing ceremony in Islamabad, where he was the guest of honour and brand ambassador, Akhtar criticised the inconsistent selection policies of the national team.
“I don’t understand why players are dropped and then brought back,” he said. “If I had players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah under my guidance, they would have been mega stars by now.”
Expressing disappointment over Pakistan’s performance in the Champions Trophy, Akhtar compared the state of cricket to the decline of hockey in the country. “Frequent changes in management and the team are not yielding results,” he remarked.
While acknowledging PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s efforts to improve infrastructure, Akhtar stressed the need for policy reforms. “Naqvi wants to work for cricket’s betterment, but he also needs to replace his key decision-makers,” he added.
The former pacer reiterated the importance of player workload management, insisting that Shaheen, Haris, and Naseem should be given rest to maintain their performance and fitness.
