Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) neglected to mention the birthday of Pakistan’s legendary player, Imran Khan on October 5, displaying the influence of politics in board that is currently led by Interior Minister and the ‘poster boy of establishment’ Mohsin Naqvi.
Imran Khan, the former prime minster of the country is also a renowned all-rounder and former captain, who had a great cricket career covering two decades (1971-1992).
In 88 test matches, he amassed 3,807 runs with brilliant average of 37.69, featuring 6 centuries. He claimed 362 wickets with an average of 22.81 with the ball, comprising 23 five-wicket hauls.
Khan made 3,709 runs at 33.41 and claimed 182 wickets at 26.61 in 175 One-Day Internationals.
His most well-known accomplishment was leading Pakistan to its first Cricket World Cup triumph in 1992.
Distinguished for his aggressive bowling, batting, and leadership qualities, Khan had a pivotal role in shaping the careers of several Pakistani cricket players, such as Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram.
The head of Pakistan Cricket Board is none other than Mohsin Naqvi, who is presently directing the country’s political efforts.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) opposes political involvement in cricket boards, which has previously resulted in a suspension on the Sri Lankan cricket boards.
ICC, meanwhile, hasn’t paid any attention to Naqvi’s PCB appointment.
PCB Twitter account greeted former captain Salman Butt a happy birthday on October 7 and on October 4, the PCB wished retired cricketer Aamer Hanif, who had only played 5 ODIs for Pakistan.
The Pakistan cricket team’s declining performance and circus of captaincy are attributed to the PCB team’s lack of cricketing sensibility and priorities.
Naqvi first nominated Wahab Riaz to lead the charge in PCB; however, due to the team’s poor performance and public pressure, Wahab was fired, and Naqvi announced Waqar Younis to lead the board, who is still unsure.
Mohsin Naqvi also belongs to the Najam Sethi ‘school of thought’. Naqvi, like Sethi, was appointed as PCB chairman after assisting the PML-N administration in the Punjab elections.
In contrast to Sethi, Naqvi was more harsh against the opposition, having individuals arrested, battered, abducted, and placed in police detention during his Interim Chief Minister tenure in Punjab.
Because of his ‘Yes Man Approach’, he was given not only the job of Chairman PCB but also the Interior Ministry.
This demonstrates the role of the establishment in Pakistani politics, and it is destroying the sole sport loved by millions of Pakistanis.
As Nelson Mandela once said , sports have the potential to transform the world, but political meddling may pervert that power, turning it into a vehicle for separation.
Such examples demonstrate how political decisions may overshadow the very core of sports, transforming them from arenas of competition into forums for political speech and confrontation, frequently to the disadvantage of both sportsmen and fans.
