Misbah-ul-Haq tears into PCB for 'mismanagement' in explosive rant

Misbah-ul-Haq, former captain and head coach of the Pakistan Men’s national team, has ripped into the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for mismanagement and has singled-out the board as the single-biggest reason for instability in cricket in the country.

In an explosive rant, the 48-year-old expressed disappointment over the news that the PCB are reportedly close to appointing former head coach Mickey Arthur as the team director, and labeled the inevitable appointment ‘a slap’ on the cricket system in the country. 

The current system in place, Misbah claimed, has wrecked Pakistan cricket’s reputation.

"It's a slap on our cricket system that we are not able to find a high-profile full-time coach," Misbah told ESPNcricinfo. 

"It's a shame that the best ones do not want to come and we insist on having someone who is looking at Pakistan as a second option.

"I blame our own system, which is vulnerable enough with so many weak lines for anyone to exploit it. We are to be blamed ourselves that we have disrespected and discredited our own people to make a bad image. 

“The present and former lot don't respect each other, with media and former players using their own YouTube channels for ratings, grossly hitting the credibility and value of our cricket which, as as result, gives an impression that we are not capable.

"The Pakistan cricket fan is always disgruntled; he is picking up things from the media and is under the wrong impression. Players speaking against each other with grudges and talking openly with disdain just devalues our community, and that becomes the common perception. 

“Our cricket has been constantly under pressure with wavered and subjective opinions. The game is hardly a subject of objective and constructive discussion.

"Cricket is the most popular sport in the country but sadly never hits the headlines in the right way. It's chaos; former cricketers ridiculing their fellow cricketers on national channels with fans getting the wrong sense. There is no empathy, no respect, and no conducive environment in the cricketing quarter of our country."

Misbah further accused the PCB of not giving local coaches the same backing they tend to provide to the overseas ones. He claimed that the PCB has a bureaucracy problem and tore into the board for driving away good, qualified former cricketers.

"Now there is a common narrative that Pakistan cricket does not even have a single capable guy and they are forced to look outside. Successful teams like India have completely shifted to homegrown coaches but sadly the policies here are so inconsistent and vague that we are never able to reach a consensus on what we want to do. 

“We have some very good people in our system who can contribute well like Haji (Mohammad Akram), Aaqib Javed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, etc. but their reputation has been tarnished so badly and people think they are not right for the job."

A modern-day Pakistan great, Misbah served as the head coach of the Men’s national team for two years post retirement (2019-2021) before resigning in September 2021. He also simultaneously served as the side’s chief selector during his tenure as head coach.