With Pakistan’s cricket performance declining in each series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken an innovative step to scout new talent. Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chief, announced that player selection from the domestic circuit is now largely driven by artificial intelligence. While AI is becoming a vital tool in sectors like IT and E-commerce, the PCB stands out as the first cricket board to openly incorporate AI into their player selection process.
During a press conference, Naqvi addressed the media about the men’s national team’s below-par performances, particularly after their recent home series loss to Bangladesh. Following Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, Naqvi had famously suggested the need for “surgery” to fix the team’s issues. However, progress has been slow.
“The selection committee has no reliable pool of players to choose from,” Naqvi explained. “I mentioned surgery because we need to solve our problems. But we lack solid data and a well-established player pool to rely on. The whole system was chaotic. The upcoming Champions Cup will help us identify talented players and maintain records of all matches. Just like surgery requires tools, we need a structured system to make informed decisions.”
Naqvi highlighted the lack of records for many players, stating that the Champions Trophy will strengthen domestic cricket by building a pool of 150 players. “Only then can we conduct the necessary surgery, allowing the selection committee to make the right choices. Some people suggest making drastic changes immediately by removing four or five players. However, you can’t just replace someone without having a better option,” he added.
The selection process for these 150 players will heavily rely on AI, with 80% of the selection based on AI evaluations and the remaining 20% on human judgment.
“We used AI for 80% of the selections, leaving 20% to human selectors. This approach is beyond challenge. We assigned a 20% weight to our selection committee to ensure a balanced decision. If we replace a player with someone less capable, criticism will be inevitable. By keeping records, we can all see who genuinely deserves a spot on the team,” Naqvi stated.
“The Champions Cup concludes in September, and after that, we will have records for every player. Underperformers will be swiftly replaced. The selection process will be transparent, free from personal biases or preferences,” he concluded.
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