PCB Scrambles for Damage Control as Shaheen Afridi Refutes Backing Babar Azam: Reports

Lahore: In a tumultuous turn of events, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finds itself in crisis discussions following a contentious statement involving fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi. Afridi’s alleged denial of endorsing Babar Azam as captain has sparked widespread uproar, prompting urgent deliberations within the PCB.

The controversy erupted after the PCB reappointed Babar Azam as white-ball captain, replacing Shaheen Afridi after a mere five months in the role. A statement attributed to Afridi on the PCB’s website expressed support for Azam, but sources close to Afridi refuted this claim, asserting his discontent with being replaced as captain.

According to reports, Afridi has reached out to the PCB to clarify his position and is scheduled to meet with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi to address the matter. This development unfolds amid scrutiny over Afridi’s recent performances, notably leading Lahore Qalandars to a disappointing finish in the T20 Pakistan Super League.

With the T20 World Cup scheduled in June, the timing of this leadership debacle couldn’t be more precarious for the PCB. Afridi’s removal as T20I captain, described as a “strategic move” to manage his workload, has drawn criticism, including from former captain Shahid Afridi. The PCB maintains that the decision was made in the best interest of player well-being and performance optimization.

The T20 World Cup gets underway on June 1st, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies.