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Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram was recently considered for a key position within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB was in search of someone to oversee cricket-related matters, and Akram was approached to become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or serve as an advisor to the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi.
However, Akram declined the offer, citing personal commitments as the reason for his decision. Following Akram’s refusal, the PCB extended the same offer to Waqar Younis.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also holds the position of Federal Minister of Interior, has faced criticism for not dedicating enough time to the PCB. To address this issue, he sought a prominent figure who could fully manage the cricketing affairs of the board. Consequently, Wasim Akram, one of Pakistan’s most esteemed and accomplished cricketers, was approached.
According to Cricket Pakistan, Naqvi personally reached out to Akram, proposing the role of CEO or personal advisor. This position would require the incumbent to be fully committed and involved in overseeing all cricketing operations within the PCB.
Waqar Younis will assume the PCB role following Wasim Akram’s refusal.
Meanwhile, Wasim Akram, who is currently based in Karachi and frequently travels to Australia to visit his family, has stated that he is unable to relocate to Lahore at this time.
Akram expressed his willingness to assist Pakistan Cricket in any way he can without seeking compensation. During a recent meeting with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, Akram was briefed on some of Naqvi’s plans for the PCB, which he found intriguing and endorsed.
Following Akram’s decision to decline the CEO position, the PCB turned to Waqar Younis, who has accepted the offer. Younis, who also lives in Australia with his family, has indicated his openness to returning to Lahore.
Younis met with Naqvi on Monday to discuss the role, but an official announcement regarding his appointment is still pending.
Waqar Younis previously served as Pakistan’s bowling coach from 2006 to 2007 and was appointed head coach on March 3, 2010. He resigned from the position on August 19, 2011, citing personal reasons.
On September 4, 2019, Waqar Younis was appointed as Pakistan’s new bowling coach by the PCB on a three-year contract. He took over from Azhar Mahmood, who was dismissed following Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the ICC World Cup 2019. Younis’s tenure with the national team as a coach has been marked by disappointment, and his upcoming role as CEO presents a new set of challenges.
Now stepping into the CEO position, Younis will work under PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi as Pakistan prepares to host the Champions Trophy next year. The PCB faces several significant issues, and it will be crucial to see how Younis addresses these challenges in his new role.
One of his primary hurdles will be managing the potential participation of India in the tournament. Given the fraught political relations between the two countries and India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan due to ongoing security concerns, ensuring that India participates in the Champions Trophy will be a major challenge for Younis. Since 2008, India has not played in Pakistan due to security issues, and there is uncertainty about whether this will change for the upcoming tournament.
