Page 4 - Pakistan Cricket Board

Arthur, Bradburn, Puttick resign from their roles in Pakistan cricket board

The Pakistan Cricket Board has confirmed that foreign coaches Mickey Arthur, Grant Bradburn and Andrew Puttick have resigned from their respective roles with the national team as well as with the board. The development came after the trio were assigned duties at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore following a change in their portfolios post the 50-overs World Cup in India. All three, along with bowling coach Morne Morkel, comprised the main support staff of the Pakistan team until the World Cup. But Pakistan's failure to advance to the knockouts saw PCB managing committee chairman Zaka Ashraf reassigning them to the NCA, to which the trio refused and instead went on vacations to their respective homes. Morkel was the only one to resign immediately after the World Cup from his incomplete contract. A reliable source in the board said negotiations were held with the trio for them to resign themselves, since as per their contracts, had the PCB terminated their contracts the b

Pakistan board asked not to offer long-term contract to Mohammad Hafeez

The sports ministry has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board not to offer a long-term contract to its incumbent director of cricket Mohammad Hafeez yet, who came into the role after the 50-overs World Cup last year. The PCB had sent a copy of the contract for approval to the ministry of inter-provincial coordination, which oversees the sports sector. The contract was for a long term period but the board was told to just continue with the short-term arrangement with Hafeez which ends after the T20 series in New Zealand, a reliable source said. According to insiders, Hafeez as well as the other new coaching staff members came on board only after the assurance of getting long-term contracts. Now it appears (that) this is not going to happen, and as it is, the performance of the team has also been very bad under Hafeez and the other coaches, as they have lost all Tests in Australia and now the T20I series in New Zealand, an insider said. Hafeez was named the director of the Pakistan team

Pakistan board issues NOC to four players returning from injury layoffs

Mystery surrounds Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to issue NOCs to centrally contracted as well as non-contracted players to participate in the International League T20 and the Bangladesh Premier League in January-February. The mystery stems from the fact that fast bowlers Naseem Shah, Ihsanaullah and Mohammad Hasnain along with experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan have all recently recovered from injuries and had sought NOCs for the BPL. Pakistan's team director Mohammad Hafeez had requested the PCB ensure players who are returning from injuries must play at least one match in the ongoing President Trophy (first-class) in Karachi. Subsequently, the four were asked to travel to Karachi and appear in the domestic matches. However, when the PCB announced issuing NOC to the players, it had no mention of Shadab, Naseem, Ihsanullah and Hasnain being approved for the BPL. Naseem suffered a shoulder injury during the Asia Cup and went for a surgery in London. He subsequently missed the

PCB wants to organise T10 league, former cricketers question the move

The Pakistan Cricket Board has sought permission from the ministry of sports for organising a T10 league later this month, according to sources. While there could be an issue with the availability of the players who are also set to feature in other leagues, former players are not in favour of organising such a tournament. The board's cricket management committee wants to have the T10 league from January 24-28 and wants all the contracted players to participate in the league, one reliable source aware of the details said. The problem is (that) some of the players are already committed to play in the Emirates International T20 League in UAE and some have been offered contracts for the Bangladesh Premier League, the source added. A large number of players with good contract offers for the BPL are still waiting for their NOCs. A few former cricketers, meanwhile, have questioned the purpose of organising such an event right before the Pakistan Super League which starts on February 18 i

PCB mulls regulation to forbid agents from signing more than 2-3 players

The Pakistan Cricket Board is looking to implement a regulation which forbids any player's agent or company from signing more than 2 to 3 players at one time for representation. The cricket management committee running the Board affairs is expected to take a final decision on this regulation in the next couple of days after two agencies signed on dozens of Pakistani team players and officials for representation. After realising that one agent, Talha Rehmani and his company Saya Corporation represented 7-8 leading Pakistani players and officials including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Muhammad Rizwan, PCB has now learnt that another agency known as International Cricketers Association (ICA) also has contracts with many players and officials presently touring Australia. Concerned with the development, PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf has directed the legal department to frame new set of regulations for vetting agents/companies before they sign on players and officials and restricting th

Pak government stops PCB from selling PSL and international media rights

Pakistan's caretaker government has stopped the PCB from selling media rights of international matches and the Pakistan Super League, forcing the Cricket Management Committee (CMC) head Zaka Ashraf to postpone his planned visit to Australia and seek a meeting with Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakaar, who is also the chief patron of the board. The government's directive came just as the CMC, managing the affairs of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), had started the process of inviting bids for the sale of PSL and international cricket media rights. "The government's Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (sports) has issued a notification to the board making it clear that from now on, the CMC/PCB has to seek permission from the government before signing any major deal," a reliable source said on Sunday. He added the notification had even led Ashraf to postpone his planned visit to Australia and seek a meeting with caretaker Prime Minister, Anwar ul Haq Kakaar. The government's ...

Hosting rights agreement of 2025 Champions Trophy signed with ICC: PCB

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday said it signed the hosting rights agreement of the 2025 Champions Trophy with the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Dubai. The agreement for the 2025 mega event was signed by Zaka Ashraf who heads the Cricket Management Committee running the PCB affairs at the moment. "Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf was joined by ICC General Counsel Jonathan Hall in the signing of the hosting rights to Pakistan at the ICC headquarters," the PCB said in a statement. Pakistan last hosted an ICC event in 1996 -- the ODI World Cup. Pakistan was guaranteed to host the 2009 Champions Trophy and also matches of the 2011 World Cup at home but the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in March 2009 in Lahore led to both events being moved from the country due to security concerns. The biggest challenge surrounding Pakistan hosting the Champions Trophy remains whether the Indian government would allow its team to travel to Pakistan for its ...

PCB waives off match fee fine imposed on Azam for displaying Palestine flag

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday completely waived off the 50 per cent match fee fine it had imposed on Azam Khan for displaying the Palestine flag on his bat during the ongoing National T20 Championships here. Azam, the son of former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, was fined 50 per cent of his match fee by the PCB match referee two days back after he refused to remove the Palestine flag sticker from his bat. The wicketkeeper-batter was found to have violated Article 2.4 of the PCB Code of Conduct For Players and Players Support Personnel for repeated failure to comply with the instruction or directive of an umpire during a Match. The PCB did not give any reason for completely waiving off the fine nor did it explain whether Azam had agreed to take off the sticker from his bat for the remaining matches of the tournament. "Azam Khan's 50 per cent fine imposed by match officials has been reviewed and waived off by the Pakistan Cricket Board," the PCB said in a brief release. "The

PCB in deadlock with ACC on additional compensation for chartered flights

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was on Tuesday caught in a deadlock with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) for demanding additional compensation on organising chartered flights between Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the Asia Cup, which it co-hosted in August-September. The Asia Cup 2023 was organised in a hybrid model in Pakistan and Sri Lanka after the ACC accepted PCB's hybrid model, with majority of the matches organised in the island nation. A reliable source in the PCB informed PTI that apart from seeking the tournament hosting fees around $250,000 as well as shares from ticketing and sponsorship fees, they have also demanded additional compensation. The source said, The additional money is for expenses incurred on renting chartered flights for teams between Pakistan and Sri Lanka and other extra expenses like additional hotel and transport fees, which were not included in the initial budget for the Asia Cup." The source, however, informed that the ACC is not willing to pay ...

Compensate if India refuses to travel to Pak for CT 2025: PCB urges ICC

: The Pakistan Cricket Board urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to sign the Champions Trophy 2025 hosting rights agreements with it, stressing that the PCB should be compensated if India refuse to travel to the country citing political and security reasons. A highly reliable source in the PCB told PTI on Sunday that while the ICC has marked Pakistan as the host of the tournament, the global body is yet to sign the important hosting agreement with it. The source disclosed that PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf and COO Salman Naseer had met the ICC executive board in Ahmedabad to discuss the hosting of the Champions Trophy in Pakistan in February-March, 2025. Pakistani officials discussed the probability of the Indian board (BCCI) again refusing to send its team to Pakistan and made it clear that in any given situation the ICC must avoid taking unilateral decisions on the tournament, the source said. He said the PCB officials had told ICC that if India refuses to play in Pakistan o

ICC introduces stop clock in men's ODI, T20Is; 5-run penalty on 3rd offence

Bowling teams in men's ODI and T20Is will be imposed a five-run penalty if the bowler exceeds the 60 second limit of bowling the next over for the third time in an innings, the sport's governing body ICC said on Tuesday. It will be used on a trial basis initially. The decision was taken at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting here. "The CEC agreed to introduce a stop clock on a trial basis in men's ODI and T20I cricket from December 2023 to April 2024. The clock will be used to regulate the amount of time taken between overs. "If the bowling team is not ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a 5-run penalty will be imposed the third time it happens in an innings," said the ICC in a statement. The ICC also made a change to its process of banning a pitch from international cricket. "Changes to the pitch and outfield monitoring regulations were also approved, including a simplification of the criteria against which a pitc

Pakistan cricket: Shaheen to lead in T20Is, Masood gets Tests captaincy

Former cricketer Mohammed Hafeez has been appointed as the Director of Cricket for Pakistan

Teammates have advised Pakistan skipper Babar Azam not to step down

Skipper Babar Azam has been advised against putting in his papers by his national teammates even as he has rested case with the Pakistan Cricket Board headed by Zaka Ashraf to take a call on his future. Pakistan finished fifth in 10 team table and missed out on semi-final qualification, leading to a lot of criticism from former players, who has sought a change in leadership. "Babar has already spoken to his teammates, and majority of them advised him not to step down himself. He will come out with a clear line of action once he returns home with the team after failing to make the semi-finals of the World Cup in India. But, he will not step down himself," a PCB source told PTI. Babar has a strong following in the team and likes of Imam ul Haq, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf are players considered to be close to the Pakistan skipper. In fact, last year when there were talks about removing Babar from Test captaincy had gained traction on social media, some of the players

Zaka Ashraf to remain PCB chairman till end of World Cup, confirms Pak PM

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Zaka Ashraf's tenure, which was about to come to an end, has been extended at least till the end of the ongoing World Cup, according to ESPNcricinfo

Babar, Inzamam were given full freedom to choose World Cup 2023 squad: PCB

The Pakistan Cricket Board released a statement after three consecutive losses of the team which included an 8-wicket hammering against Afghanistan in the ICC World Cup 2023

ICC World Cup IND-PAK: India bowling coach avoids question on PCB complaint

ICC unlikely to take action on PCB complaint on Ahmedabad crowd behaviour as many reported that a group of Indian fans allegedly hurled religious remarks and abuses on Pakitan batter Mohammad Rizwan

World Cup 2023: PCB complaints of 'inappropriate conduct' in Ahmedabad

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday lodged a complaint with the ICC over "inappropriate conduct" of the fans during its team's high-profile World Cup match against India in Ahmedabad. The PCB also lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council over lack of visas issued to Pakistani journalists and fans hoping to attend the 2023 World Cup. "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged another formal protest with the ICC over delays in visas for Pakistani journalists and the absence of a visa policy for Pakistan fans for the ongoing World Cup 2023,' the PCB posted on X, formerly Twitter. "The PCB has also filed a complaint regarding inappropriate conduct targeted at the Pakistan squad during the India vs Pakistan match held on 14 October 2023." After Pakistan's defeat to India, head coach Mickey Arthur complained that the World Cup "seemed like a BCCI event" due to lack of Pakistan support at the stands. During the marquee match that ended in a convincing win for Ind

ICC World Cup: Facilitating visas for Pakistan media BCCI's duty, says ICC

The BCCI is working hard on procuring visas for the Pakistani journalists waiting to travel to India for the World Cup, the International Cricket Council said after PCB expressed its disappointment again over the delay in visa clearance for its fans and media. Around 60 Pakistani journalists are expected to make the trip across the border. Pakistan had plenty of local support for their World Cup opener against Netherlands here on Friday but no member of their media contingent or fan was present. Karachi-born Mohammad Bashir, who is a US citizen, was seen rooting for Pakistan in the stands. While the ICC is the World Cup organiser, the BCCI is hosting the ODI showpiece. This (visa) is an obligation of our host (BCCI) and they are working hard on it with our full support. Every effort is being made to get this sorted, an ICC Spokesperson told PTI. With a large number of fans expected to travel across the border, the PCB is hoping that the visas will come through before the big game

Doubts over Naseem Shah's fitness for Pakistan's initial World Cup games

Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has cast doubts on the possibility of pacer Naseem Shah's timely recovery for their initial matches in the upcoming World Cup in India. However, their ace pacer Haris Rauf is "recovering well" from a side strain and will be fit in time for their opening match against the Netherlands at Hyderabad on October 6, the skipper has said. The duo picked up niggling injuries during Pakistan's Super Four clash against India in the Asia Cup and were sitting on from the sidelines when the team crashed out of the tournament after losing to Sri Lanka in Colombo on Thursday. The Pakistan Cricket Board has not yet released any official timeline regarding Naseem's rehabilitation process following a right shoulder injury. In light of this, Babar Azam expressed uncertainty regarding Naseem's fitness for the start of the tournament. "I'll tell you later... Not telling you our Plan B now. But, yes, Haris Rauf is not bad. He's just got a little bit of a side strain, but he's

PCB media manager Umar Kalson under scanner for visiting Colombo casino

Pakistan team's current media manager Umar Farooq Kalson and board's GM (International Cricket) Adnan Ali are under scanner after pictures and video footages emerged of the duo visiting a Colombo casino. Both are in Colombo in official capacity as a part of the Pakistani contingent for the ongoing Asia Cup and visiting a gambling den is sure to attract attention of ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit as it is one of the prohibited places as per code of conduct. Many Pakistani fans on social media questioned how officials of the PCB could be so "immature" and "careless" as to indulge in gambling. Many criticised the trend of many PCB officials going on to Colombo during the Asia Cup on official visits. A PCB source said that at least 15-20 PCB officials had travelled o and fro between Colombo and Lahore while some were stationed there permanently as Pakistan was the official host of the Asia Cup. After some Pakistani news channels ran headlines, the two officials in the Casino later clarifi