The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to conduct an extensive review of both international and domestic cricket in an effort to "restore the pride and excellence" of Pakistan's cricketing legacy.
The review process will kick off with a "connection camp" in Lahore, where head coaches Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie will be invited alongside PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The camp, scheduled for September 23, will also see participation from several centrally contracted players, including Pakistan’s captains Babar Azam and Shan Masood. The camp’s objective is to reshape Pakistan’s cricketing approach across all formats, starting at the grassroots level, with the ultimate goal of reversing the recent decline in the national team’s performance.
This camp was personally initiated by the PCB chairman, not as a reaction to short-term issues like captaincy or squad selection for upcoming series, but as part of a broader, long-term strategy. PCB officials have likened the initiative to England’s successful overhaul after their early exit from the 2015 ODI World Cup. England's review led to a complete cultural reset, propelling them to become the number one-ranked white-ball team and securing victories in both the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup. While specific steps toward achieving this transformation are still unclear, Naqvi believes the connection camp will be the first move toward reshaping Pakistan’s cricketing future. The PCB aims to establish a unified vision for Pakistan cricket and reassess how the team is perceived by other nations and its fans.
The comparison with England’s 2015 review appeals to the PCB, especially given how quickly England turned their fortunes around, with their series against New Zealand shortly after the World Cup demonstrating how swiftly a change in direction could yield results.
One major challenge Pakistan faces is the limited depth of talent in domestic cricket. Unlike England, who benefitted from a generation of top white-ball players, Naqvi recently acknowledged Pakistan’s domestic talent pool is alarmingly thin, making a rapid turnaround more difficult.
To address this, the PCB has revamped the domestic one-day competition, now known as the Champions One-Day Cup. The tournament will take place in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29, a week before Pakistan’s Test series against England begins. The connection camp will occur during a rest day of this competition. Naqvi has expressed optimism that this tournament will help replenish domestic talent, and the camp will serve as an opportunity to reshape the board’s vision for Pakistan cricket.
However, the PCB is aware that fans are likely to greet these efforts with skepticism. The board understands that there is a significant lack of trust between them and cricket fans, who are increasingly doubtful about the direction Pakistan cricket is taking and the leadership behind it. While the camp aims to bridge this gap, the only way to truly regain trust will be through improved results on the international stage.