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In this exclusive interview, Ehsan Mani, former PCB Chairman and ICC President, shares his candid views on politics in cricket, India’s dominance in the ICC, and Pakistan’s long-term cricketing challenges. Drawing on decades of administrative experience, Mani discusses the pitfalls of political interference, the imbalance of power in global cricket, and his vision for rebuilding Pakistan’s domestic system — and much more.
Key revelations include:
• Politics in cricket: “When politics comes into the game, the only loser is cricket.” – On India–Pakistan tensions hurting the sport. Mani stresses that political interference, particularly between India and Pakistan, damages the sport's health and limits opportunities for fans and players.
• India’s ICC influence: “PCB doesn’t get a penny more when Pakistan plays India — ICC and India do.” – On financial inequities. This revelation highlights a perceived financial disparity within the ICC. Mani suggests that while matches featuring the immensely popular India vs. Pakistan rivalry generate vast revenues for the ICC and BCCI, PCB does not see a proportionate increase in its share for participating.
• Leadership standards: “I’m very against politicians being involved in the game.” – On Mohsin Naqvi’s dual roles. Mani strongly criticizes the practice of installing political figures as cricket administrators. This comment directly addresses the appointment of current PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Chief Minister of Punjab. Mani believes that such dual roles create potential conflicts of interest, undermine the autonomy of the cricket board, and distract the leadership from focusing solely on the long-term needs of the sport.
• ICC reform: “The ICC’s governance structure is crying out for a total revamp.” – On conflicts of interest in world cricket. This is a call for a complete overhaul of the ICC's governing body. Mani suggests that the current structure is flawed, allowing for conflicts of interest where the biggest member boards wield disproportionate power, often prioritizing their own commercial interests over the global development of the game.
• Domestic structure warning: “Unless we fix our domestic cricket, Pakistan will remain mid-table and mediocre.” – On rebuilding Pakistan’s cricket base. Ehsan Mani argues that the fundamental weakness in Pakistan cricket lies in its domestic infrastructure. A flawed or inconsistent domestic structure fails to adequately develop and prepare players for the rigors of international cricket. Unless fixed, the national team will struggle to consistently compete at the top level.
• Future vision: “You need strategic planning — not reactive leadership.” – On how PCB can regain direction. The former PCB Chairman advocates for a shift from short-sighted, immediate decision-making to a long-term, clearly defined strategic plan. He believes that the PCB often operates in response to crises or temporary trends (reactive), instead of following a comprehensive, sustained vision (strategic planning) for player development, coaching philosophy, and financial stability over the next five to ten years.
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
Key revelations include:
• Politics in cricket: “When politics comes into the game, the only loser is cricket.” – On India–Pakistan tensions hurting the sport. Mani stresses that political interference, particularly between India and Pakistan, damages the sport's health and limits opportunities for fans and players.
• India’s ICC influence: “PCB doesn’t get a penny more when Pakistan plays India — ICC and India do.” – On financial inequities. This revelation highlights a perceived financial disparity within the ICC. Mani suggests that while matches featuring the immensely popular India vs. Pakistan rivalry generate vast revenues for the ICC and BCCI, PCB does not see a proportionate increase in its share for participating.
• Leadership standards: “I’m very against politicians being involved in the game.” – On Mohsin Naqvi’s dual roles. Mani strongly criticizes the practice of installing political figures as cricket administrators. This comment directly addresses the appointment of current PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Chief Minister of Punjab. Mani believes that such dual roles create potential conflicts of interest, undermine the autonomy of the cricket board, and distract the leadership from focusing solely on the long-term needs of the sport.
• ICC reform: “The ICC’s governance structure is crying out for a total revamp.” – On conflicts of interest in world cricket. This is a call for a complete overhaul of the ICC's governing body. Mani suggests that the current structure is flawed, allowing for conflicts of interest where the biggest member boards wield disproportionate power, often prioritizing their own commercial interests over the global development of the game.
• Domestic structure warning: “Unless we fix our domestic cricket, Pakistan will remain mid-table and mediocre.” – On rebuilding Pakistan’s cricket base. Ehsan Mani argues that the fundamental weakness in Pakistan cricket lies in its domestic infrastructure. A flawed or inconsistent domestic structure fails to adequately develop and prepare players for the rigors of international cricket. Unless fixed, the national team will struggle to consistently compete at the top level.
• Future vision: “You need strategic planning — not reactive leadership.” – On how PCB can regain direction. The former PCB Chairman advocates for a shift from short-sighted, immediate decision-making to a long-term, clearly defined strategic plan. He believes that the PCB often operates in response to crises or temporary trends (reactive), instead of following a comprehensive, sustained vision (strategic planning) for player development, coaching philosophy, and financial stability over the next five to ten years.
Watch the latest interview with Saj below:
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