As Pakistan grapples with avoiding a series defeat against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) attention seems heavily focused on Lahore, where significant developments are underway.
Recently, the PCB announced the appointment of five mentors for the Champions Cup, a series of upcoming domestic tournaments set to kick off with a one-day competition on September 12.
These mentors, including former cricketing greats such as Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Saqlain Mushtaq, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Malik, were introduced through press conferences where they shared their vision and clarified their roles.
On Friday, it was Misbah-ul-Haq’s turn to address the media. As the mentor for the Wolves, Misbah emphasized the importance of maximizing a player’s potential.
He explained, “If a player is well-equipped and technically good, he can play all formats. We have to look at how he manages his fitness and potential, and not have any preconceived notions about any player.
Then we can look at which player specifically fits into our team.” Misbah’s vision is centered on narrowing the gap between domestic and international cricket, which he believes is crucial for player development.
Reflecting on his own career, he noted how it took him three to four years to feel confident at the international level, a gap he hopes to reduce for the next generation.
The Champions Cup’s mentor roles have generated both excitement and scrutiny. While Sarfaraz Ahmed is the only mentor set to participate in the upcoming one-day competition, Shoaib Malik,
who is associated with the Stallions, plans to play select games in the T20 version of the tournament. Malik’s role as a mentor goes beyond just providing guidance from the dugout; he aims to impart his first-hand knowledge and experience on the field.
This, according to Malik, will help young cricketers refine their skills and elevate their game, ultimately supporting the PCB’s mission to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.
The pairing of mentors with their respective teams carries symbolic significance. Malik’s association with the Stallions harks back to his successful tenure as captain of the Sialkot Stallions in the mid-2000s, where he led the team to five consecutive domestic titles.
Similarly, Misbah’s role with the Wolves is reminiscent of his successful stint with the Faisalabad Wolves in the early 2000s.
However, the mentor roles have not been without controversy, particularly regarding the salaries involved. Each mentor is reportedly on a three-year contract, earning around PKR 5 million (approximately USD 18,000) per month.
These salaries have raised eyebrows as they surpass the earnings of all but the most elite Pakistani cricketers, such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, who are in the top tier of the central contracts pool.
The financial commitment to the mentors is significant, with their salaries totaling around half of the PCB’s entire broadcast deal for bilateral international cricket at home over the next 30 months.
This has sparked concerns about the sustainability of such spending, especially given that the Champions Cup has yet to secure a broadcaster or significant commercial partnerships.
The mentor roles are distinct from coaching positions, and do not require formal coaching qualifications.
Despite the heavy investment, the PCB has not disclosed the metrics by which the mentors will be evaluated, nor has it provided clear justification for the expenditure.
With substantial renovations underway at Lahore and Karachi stadiums, alongside minor upgrades in Rawalpindi, the PCB’s spending is under scrutiny.
Although annual revenues from the ICC have doubled due to a new deal with Disney-Star, concerns remain about whether the current spending levels are sustainable.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that his priority is to invest in Pakistan cricket rather than conserve funds.
In March, he addressed the Pakistan players, stating, “The money will be spent on your fitness, training, and coaches rather than keeping it locked away.”
This philosophy reflects a commitment to improving Pakistan cricket at all levels, though it remains to be seen whether this approach will yield the desired results.
