Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is expected is set to assume a big post in the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). According to the latest news reports in Pakistani media, Naqvi in all likelihood set to replace BCCI secretary Jay Shah as new ACC president. Earlier this year, Mohsin Naqvi was appointed as the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board. He was named as an unopposed candidate for a three-year term as PCB chief. During his tenure, the Pakistan cricket team faced challenges, including a group-stage exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in June.
Since Ehsan Mani's departure in 2021, the Pakistan Cricket Board has seen a revolving door of chairmen. Ramiz Raja, Najam Sethi, and Zaka Ashraf all held the position for less than a year. The current chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, also serves as Pakistan's Interior Minister.
Mohsin Naqvi to replace Jay Shah as ACC president
Reportedly, Mohsin Naqvi is poised to begin his two-year term as ACC President in January 2025 due rotational system of the ACC. This move aligns with Pakistan's goal to enhance its influence in regional cricket administration. Additionally, the report indicates that the Asian Cricket Council is expected to officially announce Mohsin Naqvi as its new president during its upcoming meeting in October-November. The ACC president is appointed through a rotation system among its member countries. Jay Shah, currently serving as president and secretary of the Indian board, received a one-year extension in January. Mohsin Naqvi is anticipated to take over as ACC president after Shah's term concludes in January 2025.
Nazmul Hassan of the Bangladesh Cricket Board served as the ACC president until January 2021, when Jay Shah succeeded him. Under Jay Shah's tenure, the Asian Cricket Council successfully hosted the 2022 T20 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the 2023 ODI Asia Cup in Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan's Disappointing T20 World Cup Campaign
Pakistan's journey in the T20 World Cup 2024 came to a premature end as they were eliminated during the group stage. The team, led by Babar Azam, suffered a shocking defeat to the associate nation, USA, in their opening match. This setback, coupled with a loss to arch-rivals India, effectively dashed their hopes of progressing to the Super 8 stage. The team's poor performance sparked widespread criticism, with calls for significant changes within the Pakistan cricket setup. Mohsin Naqvi, a prominent figure in Pakistani cricket, advocated for a 'major surgery' within the team. In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took action by removing former players Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the selection committee. A new seven-member committee was subsequently formed to oversee the team's selection process. As Pakistan looks to rebuild and regroup, their next challenge lies in the Test arena. They are set to host Bangladesh for a two-match Test series, which is part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. The series will commence on August 21 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
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