T20 skipper Babar Azam returns home after extended stay in USA
Cricket
Babar returns home 10 days after the T20 World Cup debacle from Dubai
Babar is expected to meet PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in the next few days
Cricket authorities have already announced measures to set their house in order
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan T20 cricket team captain Babar Azam landed in the provincial capital on Tuesday morning.
Babar returned home 10 days after the T20 World Cup debacle from Dubai. He was whisked away by his family members from the airport soon after he landed.
It may be recalled that after unsuccessful T20 World Cup bid in the United States and the West Indies earlier this month, some cricketers had returned home a week ago, while Babar, Haris Rauf, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan and Mohammad Amir extended their stay in the US.
Meanwhile, sources said Babar would meet PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi in the next few days.
Also Read: Babar Azam unhappy with T20 World Cup squad
PCB GETS DOWN TO BASICS
A day earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to bolster the domestic cricket circuit by revising contracts of players and making other necessary changes.
A meeting of the PCB decision-makers, headed by chairman Mohsin Naqvi, was held to mull revamp of domestic cricket to ensure availability of a pool of talented players.
The PCB management says it will bolster the domestic cricket system, improve coaching standards and help groom talented players to enable them to make it to the national cricket team.
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Naqvi underscored the need to strengthen the domestic cricket system by revising contracts and arranging tournaments to elevate the quality of competition.
He said best coaches would be available to polish the talent. He said players would be selected on the basis of performance, fitness and merit.
According to media reports, the PCB has also decided to make participation in domestic cricket mandatory for selection in the national team.
The key decisions have been taken after Pakistan’s dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. Pakistan faced drubbing by the US and India, which led to their exit from the event even before the Super 8 stage.
A master coach would be hired to train domestic cricket coaches, said Naqvi who pledged to encourage fresh talent to promote cricket at lower level.
