Shahid Afridi warns against Bilal Afzal's influence in PCB after forcing Wahab Riaz's resignation

Bilal Afzal, a former minister in the caretaker cabinet of Punjab and Pakistan Cricket Team selector, faced the wrath of legendary Shahid Afridi for warning Wahab Riaz to resign as national selector or face the axing for the team’s poor performance in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Recently, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the national selection committee after the team’s disappointing performance at the T20 World Cup 2024. It is being said that the PCB management has lost confidence in Razzaq and Riaz, and their opinions have not even been taken for some time now.

Shahid Afridi slams Bilal Afzal for interfering in Pakistan Selection Committee

The duo was also accused of favoritism for some players and even pressured the other five selectors to pick them. However, PCB said that they don’t need their services in the selection committee, hence relieving them of their post as the national selector.

PCB’s move left Afridi, who is currently playing for Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends 2024 (WCL) in England, stunned. Questioning Riaz and Razzaq’s removal as the national selector, the former Pakistan captain noted that they were not the only members of the selection committee, and so the surgery should be applied to every person involved in the set-up.

Speaking on an Urdu channel, Afridi has voiced strong criticism regarding the involvement of Bilal Afzal in Pakistan’s selection committee. Afridi questioned Afzal's authority, as he had reportedly sent a message to Riaz, demanding his resignation with the threat of removal if he failed to do so.

Shahid Afridi calls out Bilal Afzal for forcing Wahab Riaz's resignation

The legendary all-rounder warned that if individuals like Afzal continue to influence such decisions, it could lead to further deterioration of Pakistan cricket. He believes that such decisions should be made by individuals who have cricketing knowledge and experience.

Shahid Afridi said on a local Pakistan TV channel, “Who is Bilal Afzal? He is also seen on the selection committee. He is seen making the central contract list. What right does he have to send a message to Wahab Riaz to resign? Otherwise, we will remove him. If there are such people, we will go further towards destruction.”

بلال افضل کون ہے ؟ وہ سلیکشن کمیٹی میں بھی نظر آتا ہے وہ سینٹرل کنٹریکٹ کی فہرست بنانے میں نظر آتا ہے۔ اس کا کیا حق ہے کہ وہ وہاب ریاض کو میسج کرے کہ استعفی دو ورنہ ہم ہٹادیں گے ۔ ایسے لوگ ہوں گے تو ہم تباہی کی طرف مزید جائیں گے ۔ شاہد آفریدی pic.twitter.com/XqqZJbG0Ig

— ٰImran Siddique (@imransiddique89) July 10, 2024

Earlier, Afridi had said: “I just found out that they sidelined Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz. I don’t understand this kind of ‘surgery’.”

Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq deny accusations of favoritism

Meanwhile, Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq have strongly denied accusations of favoritism towards certain Pakistan players and allegations of pressuring fellow selectors to select those players for the T20 World Cup 2024, where the team failed to qualify for the super-8 stages.