WATCH: Senior journalist Waheed Khan slams PCB calls Pakistan cricket an international joke

Senior journalist Waheed Khan has voiced strong criticism of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), expressing his frustration over the way controversies surrounding the team have been handled. “It is so disappointing. On top of that, our Cricket Board... I mean, look, if you want to create dramas (controversies), don't create them before the match! All this drama is going on before the match! That the match referee...” Khan said, highlighting the PCB’s repeated mishandling of situations.

Khan recalled the incident involving match referee Andy Pycroft, explaining how a press release and a video with no audio were issued claiming Pycroft had apologized over a misunderstanding regarding the toss in the match against India. “And what was the final result? It means, to fool people, a press release was issued. A video was released that had no audio, saying that the match referee, Andy Pycroft, was sitting there. He spoke with the manager, Salman Ali Agha, and the other people... maybe Waseem Khan, because he's Pakistani; they used him. They brought him there. And he said, 'Oh, there was a misunderstanding and miscommunication with me regarding the toss in the match against India,' and he apologized. And that's it! It's finished.”

He also criticized PCB’s failure to act on earlier statements demanding Pycroft’s removal, saying, “Where did that demand go? To remove Andy Pycroft from the tournament? It didn't even happen that he was removed from Pakistan's matches. And now the Pakistan Cricket Board has just kept quiet and sat down. What else could they do?”

Communication Chaos and Controversy

Khan elaborated on the communication chaos surrounding match schedules and the PCB’s mismanagement. “First, they say the match is starting at 7:30. Then a second press release comes from another media officer saying, 'No, it's starting at 8:30.' Then another media person, Amir Mir Sahib, comes and says, 'No, negotiations are still going on.' And with whom are negotiations going on? Mohsin Naqvi Sahib has brought in Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi, Aaqib Javed, and Salman Naseer. If Mohsin Naqvi Sahib still hasn't understood cricket..."

Watch the video here

See Also: On This Day: Birthday of Aakash Chopra who turned into commentator and cricket expert

He added that PCB officials were aware of the no-handshake situation between India and Pakistan but still created unnecessary drama, calling it a “mock-up on a mock-up” in Dubai. Khan’s main point remained that the PCB’s inability to manage controversies and communicate effectively has severely damaged Pakistan cricket’s international reputation.