Latest news with #Misbah-ul-Haq
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Mentors refuse to quit after tourney scrapped
Mentors appointed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for last year's Champions Cup are refusing to step down despite their roles being declared redundant. While Shoaib Malik has resigned voluntarily, the remaining four — Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Waqar Younis — are holding out, potentially forcing the PCB to pay Rs 20 million in compensation. Details have emerged that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had appointed five mentors for the Champions Cup in August last year. These included Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis. From the beginning, their hefty monthly salary of Rs 5 million each had been a topic of debate. Recently, the PCB decided to scrap the Champions Cup due to unsatisfactory results and replace it with the Pentangular Cup. Logically, this also meant the mentors were no longer needed. Sensing the inevitable, Shoaib Malik resigned voluntarily, but the remaining four have maintained silence. Sources say some of them are deliberately waiting to be officially dismissed so they can claim compensationfour months' salary amounting to Rs 20 million as per their contracts. A few days ago, the PCB unofficially conveyed through informal channels that their services were no longer required, expecting they might resign on their own. However, since that hasn't happened, the board may be forced to explore other options. Sources further revealed that during their job interviews, these mentors had claimed they were forgoing lucrative opportunities — coaching gigs, TV shows, commentary, and league contracts — to serve the nation. That emotional pitch helped them secure record-breaking salaries. Ironically, many of them continued with their other engagements despite being appointed by the board. After only a few months of paying hefty salaries, the authorities realized the initiative wasn't yielding the expected benefits. Reportedly, some mentors have even warned the PCB that if removed, they would launch criticism campaigns on media.
Hans India
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
PCB sack Waqar, Misbah, Malik, Saqlain and Sarfaraz as mentors amid financial strain and poor results
New Delhi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has terminated the services of some of the nation's most iconic cricketing figures — Waqar Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Saqlain Mushtaq and Sarfaraz Ahmed — from their roles as mentors for domestic teams. The decision, which has raised eyebrows across Pakistan's cricketing circles, comes amid concerns over underwhelming performance outcomes and mounting financial pressures on the board. The five former cricketers, who were inducted into PCB's mentorship programme in August last year, were assigned to work closely with regional and departmental sides to uplift domestic cricket standards for both men and women. However, the PCB has now concluded that the investment failed to yield the expected impact, particularly in the context of Pakistan's struggling domestic ecosystem, which is often blamed for the national team's inconsistency on the global stage. According to insiders, the PCB was shelling out nearly five million Pakistani rupees (approx. USD 18,000) per mentor — a figure that drew sharp criticism from both the media and former players, especially in light of the limited tangible progress seen in domestic structures. 'PCB chairman has conveyed to the mentors that their services were no longer required as the desired results were not achieved,' a source told 'The huge amount of money also has its implications, with fears that the International Cricket Council's annual funding to the PCB may be reduced. There is concern that television rights for Pakistan's international matches might fetch lower bids in the upcoming cycle from 2028 to 2032, which further limits the board's financial bandwidth.' The financial strain has reportedly forced the PCB to reconsider many high-cost roles, including mentorships that were originally envisioned to help groom talent at the grassroots. While the mentors had illustrious careers as players, their stints in these developmental roles did not reflect similar success. Of the five, Shoaib Malik had already informed the PCB of his decision to step away, citing scheduling conflicts due to commercial commitments. Malik was also criticised for appearing on TV channels as an analyst during the Pakistan Super League and Champions Trophy, despite his mentorship responsibilities. "We are not PCB's employees," Malik had said during one of his appearances on Pakistan Television, defending his dual roles and asserting that his media engagements were not in conflict with his mentorship obligations. The PCB, however, had permitted all five mentors to continue their media assignments — decisions that drew further scrutiny, particularly when the mentors earned significant additional income from television contracts. Critics argued that such flexibility blurred lines of accountability and undermined the effectiveness of the mentorship programme. Among the sacked mentors, Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed may still remain within the PCB system. Misbah, Pakistan's most successful Test captain with 26 wins in 56 matches, is reportedly being considered for the role of head coach of the red-ball team. Sarfaraz, too, may be reassigned in a different capacity.
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PCB to end mentorship roles for ex-players: sources
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has internally finalised plans to dissolve its five-member mentorship panel, marking a significant shift in its domestic cricket strategy, sources confirmed on Tuesday. According to sources, the move, directed by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, will see the board part ways with former national cricketers Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Shoaib Malik. These individuals had been appointed last year as mentors for the Champions Cup under a three-year contract. While no formal announcement has been made, the decision has already been approved at the top level. Shoaib Malik had voluntarily resigned two weeks ago, stepping down ahead of the board's final call. He announced his decision on his official Instagram page. The other four mentors are expected to be officially informed in the coming days. The rationale behind the decision remains undisclosed, and the PCB has not issued an official statement. The mentorship panel was announced on August 26, 2024, as part of a performance-focused revamp, with each former player assigned to a domestic team. Reports suggest each mentor was earning a monthly salary of Rs 5 million. According to sources, Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed are not being considered for any alternative roles within the PCB at this stage. This development comes alongside other major structural changes at the board. Earlier on Tuesday, Mike Hesson was appointed as the new head coach of the Pakistan national team, while Aqib Javed was named Director of the High-Performance Centre. The restructuring reflects the PCB's intent to realign its domestic and international strategies ahead of a packed calendar that includes ICC events and bilateral commitments.
Business Recorder
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
PCB to part ways with Champions Cup mentors: reports
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly decided to part ways with all high-profile mentors of the Champions Cup teams, following a performance review led by Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. According to media reports, the decision was taken during a key meeting in which Chairman Naqvi assessed the performance of the mentors. The individuals affected include former cricketers Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Citing sources, Geo News reported that following the review, all five mentors were dismissed from their positions. However, the report added that Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed are likely to be given other important roles within the PCB structure. PCB announces Champions One-Day Cup schedule The move comes as part of a broader restructuring initiative under Naqvi's leadership, who recently also made headlines for his remarks on India while announcing the resumption of the Pakistan Super League's (PSL) 10th edition. While there has been no official statement from the PCB regarding the mentors' removal, the developments indicate a shift in strategy as the board gears up for upcoming international assignments.
