LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has responded to widespread media reports regarding alleged coaching or mentoring roles for former captains Younis Khan and Mohammad Hafeez, saying the claims were circulated without official confirmation and created unnecessary confusion.
Speaking during a media interaction, Naqvi clarified that he himself only learned about the reported appointments through news channels and that no formal briefing or internal approval had been communicated to him prior to the reports going public.
He stressed that while discussions within the board regarding team structure and support staff requirements were ongoing, no final decisions had been announced regarding specific appointments.
“A few days ago, a headline was circulating that Younis Khan, who has been appointed as head coach or mentor of the Test team, whatever the exact role is, I only came to know such things through the channel,” Naqvi said.
“We did not have any such agenda in advance. What can I say about it? If the news was not available on that day, and it was published in the morning, then I am not at fault for that,” he added.
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Mohsin Naqvi further explained that the PCB was still assessing where additional support was needed within the setup, but emphasised that premature reporting on appointments had complicated the narrative around team planning.
He also pointed out inconsistencies in media speculation, noting that multiple names were being linked with different roles without clarity, which risked misleading the public and stakeholders.
“As for Hafeez, we were definitely discussing where we had vacancies and in which areas we needed people,” he said.
“But it felt very strange when the news came out that he had been appointed head coach, while on the other hand Sarfaraz is working in one role, and such reports are circulating at the same time.”
Despite the uncertainty created by the reports, the PCB chairman reiterated that his approach is to involve all available expertise to strengthen Pakistan cricket moving forward.
“I cannot do much about it, but whoever can contribute to improving cricket at this time, I will go to each and every person, involve them, and take them along as well,” he stated.
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