29 September,2026 05:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shoaib Akhtar (Pic: File Pic)
Legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar is likely to be in line for a key position in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is looking to make key changes to its management following a disastrous tour of England.
According to a source close to the board, the former pacer, who lives in Islamabad, met the board's chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, last week and discussed issues related to the country's cricket in detail.
"Few weeks back when Shoaib's elder brother passed away Mohsin Naqvi had interacted with him closely and was there for him. This gesture impressed Shoaib a lot who has been a vocal critic of the PCB and Pakistan cricket in the past in his media appearances," the source said.
He said relations between the two had been very good since Naqvi shared his plans with Shoaib and also invited him to visit the NCA and training camps.
"Shoaib is in line to get a major posting but obviously when he met with the Chairman he had his own set of ideas and conditions through which he believes Pakistan cricket can be taken forward," he added.
Apart from Akhtar, the board is also looking to appoint some foreign coaches and consultants with the national teams after the departures of the senior team's fielding and batting coach, Shane McDermott and Ashley Noffke.
Further, the source said that the board is looking to appoint a long-term head coach for the national women's team, which has been struggling to deliver performances during the matches.
"The board is working on some plans for the future and there will be some changes in the cricket think tank soon because the Chairman has made it clear that he expects better results from the national men's, women's, shaheens and junior teams," he said.
Pakistan suffered a first-ever clean sweep on English soil when they lost 0-3 in the Test series against England.
Currently, Pakistan is busy featuring in the ongoing Asian Games 2026.
Sahibzada Farhan (c). Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan.
(With PTI Inputs)
