LAHORE: Former chief selector Haroon Rashid has expressed grave concern over the current state of Pakistan cricket, saying the sport faces many challenges that require more than a quick fix. Speaking to the media in Karachi, Rashid stressed that these issues cannot be resolved in a short meeting of one or two hours and pointed to his past association with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). “Such a situation has not been witnessed before,” he remarked, adding that the world is now mocking the PCB as well as the national team due to poor management and decision-making. In particular, he criticized the PCB’s recent actions, such as the launch of the under-19 tournament, which it abruptly canceled, and the scheduling of the white-ball tournament just before the deciding red-ball series. “The PCB people seem confused and short-sighted,” Rashid noted. The former cricketer called for deeper discussions and strategic planning to address the growing concerns. “If we want to improve Pakistan cricket, we have to hold long meetings. A short meeting will not help,” he said, adding that after such sessions the conclusions reached must be implemented to bring meaningful change. Rashid also highlighted the lack of unity in the national party which was evident during the recent bonding camp. “Kemp revealed to the world that the team is not united,” he noted. “It was clearly said that there is no cohesion in the team. It may be noted that PCB organized a ‘Connection Camp’ on Monday to improve communication, cooperation and performance among the members of the national cricket team. PCB Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman Naseer described the camp as appropriate given the busy season ahead for the team. The day-long session included eight of the best cricketers: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan and Shan Masood. Remember, the main objective of the camp was to create a common vision and mission for Pakistan cricket and set a clear path to restore the pride and excellence associated with the team since they achieved Test status in 1952. The initiative also aimed to inspire young cricketers by having senior players take leadership roles and lead by example with their performances on and off the field.
