In a bold move to elevate Pakistan’s domestic cricket structure, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has announced plans to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the selection process.
Speaking at Gaddafi Stadium on Monday, Naqvi shared his vision for a more robust and data-driven approach to player selection, addressing the pressing need for a deeper talent pool.
The Problem: A Shallow Talent Pool
Naqvi didn’t mince words when discussing the challenges facing Pakistan’s senior men’s selection committee. “The problem is the selection committee has no pool to turn to from which to select players,” Naqvi said, shedding light on the limitations the committee faces when trying to find replacements for under-performing players.
The situation is so dire that any drastic changes, or as Naqvi metaphorically put it, “surgery,” are on hold due to the lack of solid data and available talent.
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A New Hope: The Champions Cup and AI Integration
To address this issue, Naqvi introduced the Champions Cup, a new domestic tournament designed to unearth fresh talent and create a comprehensive database of player records. The initiative aims to ensure that future selections are based on transparent, data-driven criteria.
“The Champions Cup will produce great talent, and we’ll have records for the games that happen. For surgery, you need all the tools to perform it,” Naqvi emphasized.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this new approach is the use of AI in selecting the 150 players for the Champions Cup. According to Mohsin Naqvi, 80% of the selection process was guided by AI, with the remaining 20% influenced by human selectors.
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This blend of technology and human expertise aims to minimize bias and enhance the fairness of the selection process. “Nobody can challenge that. We gave about 20% weightage to our selection committee,” Naqvi said confidently.
The Role of Mentors
To further bolster the development of young talent, Naqvi has enlisted five legendary cricketers as mentors for the five Champions Cup teams: Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis.
Their involvement is expected to nurture the next generation of cricketers, ensuring that they are well-prepared to step up to the national team when needed.
Naqvi is optimistic that the Champions Cup, coupled with AI-driven selection, will not only strengthen domestic cricket but also provide the necessary “tools” for the much-needed “surgery” of the national team.
Despite the promising developments, Naqvi acknowledged the frustration among fans, especially after Pakistan’s recent loss to Bangladesh. However, he defended the selection committee, pointing out that the decision to not play a frontline spinner in the Rawalpindi Test was made by the captain and team management, not the selectors.
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