Naqvi Advocates for Agha and Haris, Condemns Social Media Criticism

KARACHI: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, voiced his backing on Monday for T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris, both of whom have faced considerable disapproval.

The PCB chairman used X, previously known as Twitter, to encourage cricket enthusiasts to ‘support’ the two cricketers instead of subjecting them to online abuse.

“Salman and Haris warrant encouragement, not social media trolling,” Naqvi posted.

It’s worth noting that wicketkeeper Haris has been under fire, particularly following his remarks regarding star batter Babar Azam’s T20 cricket strategy.

In a local YouTube channel interview, Haris suggested that Babar needs to ‘accelerate his game’ in T20 cricket and also implied that seasoned players should make way for emerging talents.

“Undoubtedly, Babar and Rizwan have delivered numerous match-winning performances for Pakistan. However, if we aim to establish a higher standard, it’s essential to provide opportunities to younger players,” Haris stated.

“Babar Azam should adopt a faster approach in T20 cricket,” he added.

The wicketkeeper batter’s comments also sparked strong reactions from former cricketers, including Basit Ali, who expressed that the youngster ‘deserves disciplinary action’.

“If Mohammad Haris critiques Babar Azam’s need for improvement, I believe Haris should face consequences. Who is Haris to comment on Babar Azam?” Basit questioned.

“The captaincy has changed. Would Haris have made such a statement if Babar Azam were still the captain?” he inquired.

Meanwhile, T20I captain Agha has been facing criticism regarding his strike-rate in T20 cricket, with fans drawing comparisons to Babar’s while highlighting his emphasis on contemporary cricket.

It’s important to remember that Mohsin Naqvi’s statement comes as the national men’s cricket team participates in the T20I tri-series against Afghanistan and the UAE.

The Green Shirts started the series strongly, securing comprehensive victories in their first two matches against Afghanistan and the UAE, placing them at the top of the standings with four points.