Pakistan Cricket Team Selection to Be Done by AI!: PCB Chief’s Strange Statement – No Player Records in Pakistan, Hence the Use of AI

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has begun utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) to aid in player selection. PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi stated on Tuesday that out of 150 players for the Champions Cup, 80% were selected by AI, while the selection committee chose the remaining 20%.

Pakistan has decided to introduce a new domestic tournament in the ODI format called the Champions Cup this year. The tournament will feature the country’s top 150 players and will take place from September 12 to 29.

Announcement of Mentors for Champions Cup

On Tuesday, Naqvi announced the appointment of five distinct mentors for the Champions Cup teams. Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis will serve as mentors for the five teams, with each contract extending for three years. However, the teams and their names have not yet been finalized.

The Champions Cup will be held from September 12 to 29 at Iqbal Stadium. The last 50-over domestic tournament in Pakistan took place in March 2022.

Naqvi on Lack of Replacement for Senior Players

During the announcement of the five mentors, Naqvi stated, “With the arrival of the Champions Cup, Pakistan’s domestic cricket will become stronger. We will have a pool of 150 top players, from which the best will get a chance in the national team. The selection committee had to undertake a major overhaul, which will be smoother after the Champions Cup.

People were talking about replacing 4-5 players in a single day after a loss, but you cannot replace them unless you have better players in your domestic cricket system.”

Lack of Player Records in Pakistan Leads to Use of AI

Recently, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made a surprising statement, claiming that there is no data on domestic players in Pakistan, which has caused issues with the selection policy.

Naqvi mentioned, “We had many players whose records were not available to us. This cup will strengthen domestic cricket, and we will have a pool of 150 players. In the meantime, in a surprising statement, he added that the PCB has used AI to form teams for the Champions Cup.”

Naqvi on Player Selection: 80% Chosen by AI

Naqvi further stated, “For the Champions Cup, 150 players were selected. Of these, 80% were chosen by AI, while only 20% were selected by the selection committee. This selection cannot be questioned now. We have allocated 20% to the committee, and it is given importance.

If the committee selects a poor player over a senior one, you (the audience) will be the first to raise questions. We have records and have made our best efforts to maintain transparency in team selection.”

Champions Cup Will Provide Quality Players

Naqvi added, “The Champions Cup will conclude in September, after which we will have records of the best players. Players who do not perform will be replaced immediately. Decisions here are not based on the opinions of just 1 or 2 selectors.”

Pakistan to Play Test Series Against England After Champions Cup

Naqvi did not specify how the Pakistan cricket team will be selected after the Champions Cup. However, it has been confirmed that the team will play a three-Test series against England following the tournament. 

This means that players who perform well in the domestic one-day tournament will have a chance to be included in the Test team. This will be considered an experiment.

Bangladesh Defeats Pakistan in Test Match

Three days ago, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 10 wickets in a Test match on Pakistan’s home ground. Following this loss, the Pakistan cricket team has faced criticism. 

Many prominent Pakistani cricketers have also criticized the team selection. The team will now play the second Test of the series against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi, starting August 30.