“We may be facing an issue,” the PCB Chairman warns, urging Pakistani players to put their nation first

Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has made it plain that players must prioritize their nation or be prepared to suffer the repercussions. As a result of Haris Rauf’s refusal to participate in Test matches against Australia, the PCB terminated his core contract, reigniting the issue between the nation and the club. In addition, he was a Melbourne Stars player in the Big Bash League throughout the Test series.

Returning to Naqvi, he shared his own experience of losing money after being unexpectedly asked to take over as Punjab’s Cabinet Chief Minister and how he intended to serve Pakistan without giving a damn about losing. “I won’t tell you that you can’t work or expect you to make sacrifices that we’re not prepared to make either. Let me provide you with one example, however. I lost money in my company when I was invited to become the chief minister of Punjab a year ago. I had to set money aside and pay a few more expenses. However, I had to make that sacrifice because I wanted to represent Pakistan,” Naqvi said.

The PCB chairman did, however, clarify that his goal is for players to be available for Pakistani cricket whenever international cricket is being played, not to prevent them from participating in T20 tournaments. “I’ll give you my whole support, but I only ask that you put Pakistan first and the T20 competitions second. It is regrettable when financial gain takes precedence over national interests. We might have an issue if you do that. If you would like, we may even examine central contracts and strengthen them more, but your first priority must be Pakistan,” he said.

Additionally, Mohsin Naqvi has promised the cricket players that the board will do all in its power to support them, but he also expects a comparable level of commitment from them. “We’ll do our best to provide you with the finest. I have informed the PCB that it is our responsibility to invest money in cricket, from local teams to the national squad, rather than hoard it or conserve it. Instead of being hidden away, the funds will be used for your coaching, training, and overall health,” the PCB chairman said.