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In this exclusive interview, veteran journalist Mirza Iqbal Baig pulls back the curtain on the deep-rooted issues plaguing Pakistani cricket. The esteemed analyst delivers a blistering assessment of PCB's chaotic administration, the baffling central contracts, the controversial exclusion of star players, and the alleged culture of favoritism — and much more.
Key topics include:
Key topics include:
- Pakistan’s recent performance against the West Indies: Baig reflects on Pakistan’s disappointing tour, noting that while they edged the T20I series 2–1, they suffered a 2–1 defeat in the ODIs — their first ODI series loss to 10th-ranked West Indies in 34 years. He attributes the setback to inconsistent white-ball captaincy and an overreliance on all-rounders at the expense of specialists.
- Issues with team selection: Iqbal Baig believes there is clear favoritism towards players from Islamabad United and Lahore Qalandars, pointing to the influence of Mike Hesson and Aaqib Javed’s ties with those franchises. He also highlights that Pakistan’s batting coach, Hanif Malik, is linked with Islamabad United, further reinforcing this bias.
- Flawed central contracts: The discussion also turns to the controversial central contracts, where no player was placed in Category A and Test captain Shan Masood was relegated to Category D. Mirza suggests this reflects the PCB’s intention to strip Masood of the captaincy. He further highlights the hypocrisy of vice-captain Saud Shakeel being in Category C, while injury-prone players like Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali were awarded Category B.
- Exclusion of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan: Baig claims that Agha Salman was reluctant to include senior players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shaheen Afridi in the T20I side. However, Afridi forced his way back into the squad on the strength of his stellar PSL X performances.
- The selection committee: Mirza Baig highlights serious flaws in the selection setup, noting that in the absence of a head selector, Aaqib Javed has effectively assumed the role of unofficial chief, while Wahab Riaz acts as an advisor to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. He further alleges that Aaqib Javed is using his influence to favor former Lahore Qalandars teammates in national selection.
- Decline of Pakistani cricket: The video concludes with a discussion about the deteriorating quality of Pakistani cricket, which Iqbal Baig attributes to a focus on quantity over quality, a flawed domestic structure, and political bureaucrats taking over the PCB.
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