Pakistan’s Army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, expressed dissatisfaction to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the state of affairs of the country’s cricket board. This came after Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup on February 15. Munir specifically criticized Mohsin Naqvi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, for his management approach.
Munir informed Sharif that Naqvi had referenced the army during a media interaction, leading to the army chief’s disapproval. Naqvi’s statement, asserting that “Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir never gets scared,” particularly irked Munir. The army chief believed Naqvi’s actions portrayed a strong image of the army but failed to match expectations as Pakistan faced another defeat against India.
In Pakistan, cricket holds immense significance akin to India, with people deeply invested in the sport. The recent loss to India has stirred national pride sentiments, with criticisms directed towards Naqvi for his leadership of the cricket board. Naqvi’s handling of the Asia Cup trophy incident, where the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from him, has also drawn negative attention.
Munir and other army officials are of the opinion that Naqvi should face severe reprimand or be removed from his position. Naqvi’s past references to the Pakistan Army, despite being an India critic, have not been well-received by the army. The army, a powerful institution in Pakistan, prefers to stay detached from sports affairs and expects Naqvi to focus solely on cricket administration without involving the army.
The defeat against India, especially amid tense bilateral relations, has been viewed as embarrassing by the Pakistan Army. Munir’s direct communication to the prime minister highlighted Naqvi’s failure in managing the cricket board effectively, leading to poor team performance. Naqvi’s tendency to associate the army with cricket matters has further fueled discontent within the establishment.
