Saud Shakeel Reveals His First Step If He Ever Becomes PCB Chairman

Pakistan’s Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has offered a pointed critique of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) revolving-door policy when it comes to team management. During a recent television appearance, when asked what he would do if given the role of PCB chairman, Shakeel’s response was clear: he would ensure a coach is appointed with no risk of mid-term dismissal.

Saud Shakeel’s comments come at a time when Pakistan cricket has been plagued by instability, particularly in leadership roles. In the last five years alone, the team has seen a constant shuffle of head coaches, with none able to establish a long-term tenure, and Pakistan’s cricket team suffering in the process.

The PCB has cycled through a string of coaching changes, often influenced by administrative shake-ups and short-term decision-making. Mickey Arthur, who guided Pakistan to their 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, was let go in 2019. His successors, including Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Grant Bradburn, and Mohammad Hafeez, all had short-lived tenures, with the team failing to maintain a clear direction.

The latest disruption came when Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie were replaced by Aqib Javed in an interim capacity, leaving Pakistan’s coaching situation in limbo yet again.

Pakistan’s recent struggles in New Zealand and their early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy, where Saud Shakeel was part of the team, have only intensified the calls for consistency in team management. The lack of a stable coaching setup has not only affected on-field performance but has also hindered player development and team chemistry.

With uncertainty surrounding the head coach position once again, a prominent player like Saud Shakeel has added his voice to the calls for change. Whether the PCB takes his advice to heart remains to be seen, but without a stable and long-term coaching plan, Pakistan risks continuing the cycle of inconsistency and underperformance.