LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is ready to hold talks with Shaheen Shah Afridi over the star pacer’s comments issued in a PCB statement regarding the recent captaincy changes in the ‘Men in Green’. For GeoNews on Monday.
On Sunday, the PCB reinstated Babar Azam as the captain of the white-ball format ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024, which is scheduled to begin from June 1 in the USA and West Indies.
The PCB issued a statement declaring Babar as the captain of the Pakistan men’s team. The statement also included quotes from Afridi, who said it was his “duty” to support Babar.
“It has been an immense honor to captain the Pakistan national cricket team. I will always cherish those memories and opportunities. As a team player, it is my duty to support my captain Babar Azam. I have played under his captaincy and I do not have anything.” But respect for them. I will try to help them on and off the field. We are all one. Our goal is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world,” the PCB said in a statement quoting Afridi, according to GeoNews, which he denied.
On Monday, sources told Geo News that Aridi is ‘angry’ over the matter and will share his concerns during the meeting with Naqvi.
“The former captain had prepared a detailed response in this regard but it was stopped at the last moment, with the PCB asking Afridi not to speak on the matter,” sources told Geo News.
He said, “Shaheen Afridi came to know about his quotes through social media and was surprised how it was being circulated everywhere.”
Afridi was handed the T20I captaincy based on his performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he led Lahore Qalandars to consecutive title wins in 2022 and 2023.
Having been appointed in November 2023, Afridi has led Pakistan in only one T20I series, against New Zealand earlier this year. In his first captaincy series, Pakistan were outplayed throughout the series and eventually lost 4–1.
Afridi’s leadership abilities were also tested during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) held earlier this year. Under his leadership, Lahore Qalandars won one game in ten matches and finished bottom of the table. (ANI)
