Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday met with Pakistani players in Dublin ahead of their second T20I against Ireland where he urged them to play with a professional approach.
Pakistan was handed a five-wicket loss in the first T20I against Ireland on Friday after which Naqvi decided to travel to Dublin to meet the players and encourage them for upcoming matches.
Talking during a meeting with the players, Naqvi urged players to play with passion, hard work and a professional approach as T20 cricket is a game of aggressiveness.
“T20 cricket is completely different and requires an aggressive approach,” said Naqvi while talking to the players. “Only by playing according to the modern and new style of T20 cricket, winning is possible.
“Strategy can be formulated sitting in the living room but the real test is in the field, where the performance should be seen,” he added.
The PCB chairman said the Pakistani nation was fond of cricket and they had great expectations from the national players.
“Players are hope for Pakistan and they have to fulfil the nation’s expectations. Team work is a prerequisite for victory. If the 11 players will unitedly make an effort, they will achieve success,” Naqvi said.
Pointing towards the defeat from Ireland in the first T20I match of the ongoing series, he said nobody was accepting it. After Ireland and England, the real test was the World Cup ahead, he said.
Remember, after completing the three-match T20I series against Ireland, Pakistan will travel to England and compete in four T20Is there which will end on May 30.
After the tour of England, Pakistan will leave for the United States to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup where they are placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, Canada, United States and Ireland.
Pakistan's schedule of upcoming matches
Tour of Ireland
May 12: Second T20I at Clontarf
May 14: Third T20I at Clontarf
Tour of England
May 22: First T20I at Leeds
May 25: Second T20I at Birmingham
May 28: Third T20I at Cardiff
May 30: Fourth T20I at The Oval
T20 World Cup 2024
June 6: Pakistan vs USA, Dallas
June 9: Pakistan vs India, New York
June 11: Pakistan vs Canada, New York
June 16: Pakistan vs Ireland, Lauderhill
- Babar Azam
