PCB chief calls for ‘major surgery’

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi came down heavily on the team management and said the Babar Azam-led side requires “major surgery” following its six-run loss against arch-rivals India in the T20 World Cup, the Press Trust of India news agency reported on Monday.

Chasing an underwhelming 120-run target, Pakistani batters consumed 59 dot balls to be restricted to 113 for 7 in New York on Sunday.

“I thought the team required minor surgery to start winning matches but now it appears that we have to go for major surgery,” Mohsin was quoted as saying by the Pakistani media in New York.

Mohsin also felt that it was time to start looking at players who have been sitting outside the team for some time now.

“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 said.

Mohsin, who took over as chairman in January and later also became the interior minister in the government, made it clear that the PCB had done everything to facilitate the players.

“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.”

Pakistan’s Super Eight chances now rests on winning big against Canada and Ireland, besides hoping that USA lose to India and Ireland.

Even in that scenario both the teams will end on four points each and it will come down to the net run-rate.