During Senate session, Senator Ali Zafar voiced strong criticism over the state of sports in Pakistan, particularly cricket. While celebrating the recent success of javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem, whom he hailed as a national hero, Senator Zafar questioned the decline of other sports like hockey and squash, which were once Pakistan’s pride.
Zafar lamented the downfall of cricket, saying, “Our cricket is ruined,” and called for the resignation of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who he claims lacks the expertise to lead the board. “If the head is incompetent, the institution will be destroyed,” he stated, adding that appointing unqualified individuals to lead key institutions will only further harm Pakistan’s sports sector. He likened it to being made the principal of a medical college without medical knowledge, saying, "I would become a butcher, not a doctor."
Senator Zafar demanded that a competent individual be appointed as PCB Chairman and called for a Senate debate on the overall decline of the sports sector in Pakistan.
Senator Manzoor Ahmed echoed Zafar’s concerns, pointing to the significant salaries of cricketers—ranging from Rs. 4 to 6 million—with little to show in terms of results. He emphasized the need for expertise within the PCB, stating, “An expert in this field should come forward,” and also supported the demand for Chairman Naqvi's resignation.
The debate highlighted deep concerns about leadership in Pakistan's sports institutions and a call for reform to revive the country's sports legacy.
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