Shaheen Afridi accuses PCB of lying openly, denies to co-operate with Babar Azam

Shaheen Afridi expressed disappointment with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) handling of the white-ball captaincy handover to Babar Azam. Shaheen Afridi voiced anger over the PCB’s statement he didn’t endorse following Babar Azam’s reappointment.

On Sunday, March 31, the PCB officially reappointed Babar Azam as the white-ball captain for ODIs and T20Is. The decision was made following a unanimous recommendation from the selection committee. Babar replaced Shaheen Afridi as the T20I captain.

Shaheen Afridi Furious Over PCB’s Decision – Report

ESPN Cricinfo reported that Shaheen Afridi is close to disassociating himself from the quotes in the press release, clarifying his stance. Another meeting with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi is scheduled for Monday to further address the situation.

Afridi, discontented with his treatment following the captaincy U-turn, wasn’t consulted by the PCB for a press release statement but was prevented from issuing one as emergency discussions ensued.

Honour To Captain The Pakistan Team – Shaheen Afridi

Following Babar Azam’s reappointment as captain, a press release attributed to Shaheen expressed unwavering support for Azam’s leadership. He stated that it was an honor to lead the Pakistan cricket team.

“It was an absolute honour to captain the Pakistan National Cricket Team. I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity. As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam. I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world,” said Afridi, as quoted by PCB.

The recent developments underscore escalating tensions within the Pakistan camp, strained by inconsistent captaincy decisions from the PCB.

The PCB chairman appointed Babar Azam to the white-ball captaincy ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Despite initial reservations, Babar Azam has accepted the role, aiming for success with a revamped backroom staff supporting him in his second stint.

Following Pakistan’s failure to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup semi-finals, the 29-year-old stepped down from captaincy across all formats. He led Pakistan in five tournaments, including the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, the Asia Cups in 2022 and 2023, and the 2023 World Cup. However, he failed to secure a title in multinational tournaments.

Shaheen Afridi Led Pakistan In Just One Series

Shaheen Afridi secured victory in just one game during his tenure as Pakistan skipper. His first assignment came during the five-match T20I series in New Zealand. The Men in Green faced a challenging 1-4 defeat against the Blackcaps, narrowly escaping a whitewash.

The left-arm fast bowler further faced setbacks as captain of the Lahore Qalandars in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Lahore-based team only secured one victory throughout the season, ultimately finishing at the bottom of the table.

Ahead of the ICC event, Pakistan will engage in T20 matches against New Zealand and England. The upcoming challenge for the Men in Green is a five-match T20I series against New Zealand, commencing with the first T20I scheduled in Rawalpindi on April 18.

Also read: Babar Azam to lead Pakistan in T20 World Cup? Shaheen Afridi kept in the dark about the captaincy change