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In this exclusive interview, former Pakistan batsman, chief selector, and head coach Mohsin Khan offers a candid assessment of the current state of Pakistan cricket. The man who once transformed a team "in total shambles" reflects on the root causes of the national team's decline, the non-negotiable need for accountability at all levels, his philosophy on coaching, and how he would handle key players like Babar Azam — and much more.
Key revelations include:
The Root Cause: "The main problem which I feel is that the accountability is not there" - He stresses that everyone—the player, the captain, the chief selector, and the head coach—must be answerable for their performance and the team's results.
Chairman's Challenge: "The chairman has to put his foot down seriously because things are going from bad to worse" - He advises the current chairman to put his foot down and ensure the "right person for the right place" is selected, noting that things are currently going "from bad to worse."
Coaching Philosophy: "A coach is like a brother, he's like a father, and he's like an enemy" - He emphasizes that the coach is not there to teach cricketers "how to play" at the international level. Instead, the coach's primary duties are to make the players mentally tough, focus on game plans, and provide technical points.
The Backup Plan: "I prepared a backup of about 27 players" - This strategy made the starting eleven players hungry and desperate to perform because they knew replacements were ready and waiting to get into the game.
On Babar Azam's Struggles: "It's not the responsibility of one person" - Khan affirmed that Babar is a "wonderful player". However, he observed that before Babar lost the captaincy, the entire team's performance was solely dependent on him, which is a significant flaw in a team sport. He stressed that cricket is a team game of 11 players, and it is not a "tennis singles match"
Foreign vs. Local Coaches: "Right from the beginning... I was never for a foreign coach" - He has never been in favor of foreign coaches unless the team is truly struggling and there is no other choice.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
Key revelations include:
The Root Cause: "The main problem which I feel is that the accountability is not there" - He stresses that everyone—the player, the captain, the chief selector, and the head coach—must be answerable for their performance and the team's results.
Chairman's Challenge: "The chairman has to put his foot down seriously because things are going from bad to worse" - He advises the current chairman to put his foot down and ensure the "right person for the right place" is selected, noting that things are currently going "from bad to worse."
Coaching Philosophy: "A coach is like a brother, he's like a father, and he's like an enemy" - He emphasizes that the coach is not there to teach cricketers "how to play" at the international level. Instead, the coach's primary duties are to make the players mentally tough, focus on game plans, and provide technical points.
The Backup Plan: "I prepared a backup of about 27 players" - This strategy made the starting eleven players hungry and desperate to perform because they knew replacements were ready and waiting to get into the game.
On Babar Azam's Struggles: "It's not the responsibility of one person" - Khan affirmed that Babar is a "wonderful player". However, he observed that before Babar lost the captaincy, the entire team's performance was solely dependent on him, which is a significant flaw in a team sport. He stressed that cricket is a team game of 11 players, and it is not a "tennis singles match"
Foreign vs. Local Coaches: "Right from the beginning... I was never for a foreign coach" - He has never been in favor of foreign coaches unless the team is truly struggling and there is no other choice.
Watch full interview with Saj here:
