ISLAMBAD (NNP) In a startling twist to the ongoing debate surrounding the leadership of Pakistan’s cricket team, former chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Zaka Ashraf, has refuted claims made by former captain Shahid Afridi. Afridi had asserted that he proposed making Mohammad Rizwan the white-ball captain following Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Addressing journalists in Lahore, Ashraf categorically denied Afridi’s assertion, stating that no such recommendation was ever made during their meeting. This contradiction adds fuel to the already simmering controversy surrounding the team’s leadership.
Furthermore, Ashraf criticized the abrupt decision to remove Shaheen Afridi from the T20 captaincy and shed light on the rationale behind relieving Babar Azam of his captaincy duties during his tenure. He revealed offering Babar the opportunity to continue leading the team in red-ball cricket, while expressing the need for a fresh approach in white-ball cricket.
“I had proposed for Babar Azam to continue as captain in the red-ball format, but we sought a new captain for white-ball cricket,” Ashraf stated, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and change in cricket leadership.
The conflicting accounts between Ashraf and Afridi underscore the complexity and intensity of the discussions surrounding the Pakistan cricket team’s leadership structure, leaving fans and pundits alike eagerly awaiting further developments.
