PM backs current cricket structure in Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan met with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and cricketers in a high-profile meeting on Wednesday.

PCB’s Chairman Ehsan Mani, Chief Executive Wasim Khan, Member Cricket Committee Wasim Akram, Head Coach-cum-Chief Selector Misbahul Haq, Test captain Azahr Ali and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez took part in the meeting.

The premier backed the current cricket structure —which is often criticised for the lack of departments’ involvement – and remained hopeful that it would produce better results in near future.

“I can tell you with my own experience that the kind of talent we have in Pakistan is unparalleled to any other country in the world,” said PM Khan.

“Over the years, we kept producing players despite having a very flawed system. Now, finally, we have the kind of system which I believe is good enough to produce the results in the future. Every time there is a new system in place, people will have difficulties managing it but we should stay focused on our ultimate objective.”

Khan believed that a new structure required time to develop and prosper while claiming that short-term difficulties will eventually lead to long-term gains.

“I have explained to Azhar Ali and Mohammad Hafeez that there will be short-term difficulties with the new system but they will lead to long-term gains. Any system needs a bit of time to develop and prosper,” he added.

PM Khan also congratulated the current board management for bringing changes in the domestic structure, which according will intensify the competition.