Who Is Mohsin Naqvi? A Pakistani Media Tycoon Who Takes Charge As PCB Chairman

On Tuesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unanimously elected seasoned administrator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi as its chairman for a three-year term. Here's more about the newly-elected PCB chairman.

The Pakistan Cricket Board announced Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi as the newly elected chairman of the board on February 6 (Tuesday). In a media statement, the PCB conveyed that Mohsin, serving as the caretaker chief minister of Punjab province, was unanimously chosen for the position, securing a three-year term during the PCB Board of Governors (BoG) meeting held at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Mohsin Naqvi marks the fourth individual to hold the position of Pakistan Cricket Board chairman in the past four years, highlighting the administrative instability that has been a prominent topic of discussion in recent times. Ramiz Raja assumed the role in September 2021, following Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf.

Who Is Mohsin Naqvi?

While lacking experience in cricket management, Mohsin Naqvi is a highly regarded personality in Pakistan, given his administrative and corporate background. Born on October 28, 1978, in Lahore, he pursued his early education at Crescent Model School and completed his graduation from the Government College University as per the data available in the public domain.

Subsequently, Naqvi ventured to the United States Of America for higher education in media sciences. Later he joined CNN as a producer in the USA and eventually ascended to the role of Regional Head of South Asia. In 2009, he founded City Media Group, which currently oversees six TV channels and a newspaper in Pakistan.

Appointed as a member of the governing board by PCB's chief patron Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on January 22, 2024, Naqvi was previously designated as the caretaker chief minister of Pakistan by the Election Commission of Pakistan. Despite his new role with the PCB, he is expected to remain in his position as caretaker chief minister for at least a few months.

Stern Tasks Ahead For The Newly-Elected PCB Chairman

Naqvi's initial major responsibility will be overseeing the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League, set to commence on February 17. The league remains a pivotal and financially significant event for Pakistan cricket each year.

Another critical task for the new chairman involves the organisation of the only ICC event that Pakistan has been granted this decade. The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is slated to be hosted in the country, necessitating substantial logistical and administrative preparations, including the construction of suitable facilities capable of accommodating up to eight teams simultaneously. Pakistan has not hosted an event of such magnitude since the 1996 World Cup.