Shoaib Akhtar promises to revive Pakistan cricket in three years
What's the story
Former Pakistani fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar has promised to revamp the country's domestic cricket structure in the next three years.
Akhtar's promise comes after the Pakistan Cricket Board(PCB) was recently criticized for the team's poor performance in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
The national team was heavily criticized after being knocked out of the tournament early, losing two consecutive group stage matches, one of them to arch-rivals India.
Criticism
Disappointment with Pakistan's performance
Akhtar was deeply disappointed with the Mohammad Rizwan-led team's performance, especially against India.
He clarified that his criticism wasn't out of any personal agenda against any team member.
Speaking during a PTV Sports live segment, Akhtar said, "We don't have any personal agenda. If I did not get paid, I would not even talk about this."
Revamp plan
Bold pledge to revamp domestic cricket
Boldly, Akhtar has pledged to overhaul Pakistan's domestic cricket structure in three years, if given the responsibility by the PCB.
He said, "Give me the domestic structure for three years, I'll get it fixed. I'll sacrifice my time with my kids and give it to Pakistan's youth for three years."
This statement only goes on to show his commitment toward improving the country's cricketing future.
Management critique
Sethi's critique of domestic cricket management
Najam Sethi, the former PCB chairman, has also expressed his worries over the condition of domestic cricket in Pakistan.
On social media, he slammed the PCB for ruining their domestic structure after Imran Khan took over as Prime Minister.
Sethi highlighted how the board adopted an Australian hybrid model, when Ehsan Mani took over as chairman in 2019.
Information
Early exit for Pakistan
Hosts Pakistan faced an early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy after losing to New Zealand and India. Several experts have taken a dig at Pakistan's squad selection, highlighting the lack of depth. Pakistan's batting is also under the scanner for being timid in middle overs.