Reports: PCB booked 60 hotel rooms for players to stay with families during T20 World Cup 2024

Pakistan cricket team is facing the wrath from their fans after their disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. The former champions were shockingly eliminated in the first round after losing to debutants USA and arch-rivals India.

Apart from their insipid performances, the players are drawing flak for bringing their families along, even as their beleaguered cricket board mulled putting in place a new defamation law to tackle “unsubstantiated claims and reports”.

According to reports, apart from nearly 34 players, support staff, and officials who were part of the Pakistan contingent in the USA, the team hotel had around 26 to 28 family members of the players. These included their wives, children, parents and even siblings in some cases.

Also Read: 'Ever since Mohammad Amir came in, Shaheen has been....' - Danish Kaneria lambasts Pakistan over mismanagement of star pacer

According to the report, senior cricketers like Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir, and captain Babar Azam were among those who had family members accompanying them. Babar, who is unmarried, had his father, mother and brothers staying in the team hotel.

“The extra expenses incurred on having families is obviously paid by players, but having family members around does hit the focus of the players,” a source was quoted as saying in the report.

“Some 60 rooms were booked where the team stayed to accommodate the other people travelling with the team. The environment was a family one, with take-away dinners and outings being the norm for some players,” the report added.

Mohd Amir took personal trainer for T20 World Cup in the US, Caribbean

It is noteworthy to mention that the veteran seamer Amir had taken his personal trainer to the marquee event at his own expense in spite of the Pakistan team already having a foreign trainer, strength conditioning coach, physiotherapist and doctor. The left-arm speedster reportedly had trained separately, away from his teammates, in one of the practice sessions, after obtaining permission from the board.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper, Atiq uz Zaman, who played one Test and three ODIs, said he could understand the players' need to have their families with them on less-significant tours or bilateral series. However, for a major event like the World Cup, the former cricketer feels that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should not have allowed the families as it adversely impacts the concentration of the players.

“In a World Cup, no families should have been allowed, as the players needed to focus on their cricket. When you have families with you, then a player's attention and time is diverted from cricket,” Zaman was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

Also Read: 'No consistency in selection and preparation was hodgepodge' — Ramiz Raja on Pakistan's dismal T20 World Cup campaign

The Men in Green have a considerable break now as their next assignment begins in November. They will embark on a tour to Australia to play three ODIs and as many T20Is down under.