Former Pakistan national cricket team captain Shahid Afridi expressed his confusion over the recent dismissal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) selection committee. This move came after the national team’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, with PCB management losing confidence in the duo and reportedly sidelining their opinions for some time.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the 47-year-old Afridi addressed the situation, referring to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s drastic restructuring of the committee. Afridi, currently participating in the World Championship of Legends 2024 in England with the Pakistan Champions team, stated he couldn’t understand the PCB’s decision.
Afridi emphasized that Riaz and Abdul Razzaq were not the only members of the selection committee, highlighting that it includes several other individuals. “I just found out that they sidelined Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz,” he said. “I don’t understand this kind of ‘surgery’.”
He further stated that any necessary restructuring should be done thoroughly and only once, suggesting that the new members should be given ample time to develop their captaincy skills.
When discussing Babar Azam, Pakistan’s current T20 captain, Afridi noted that the 29-year-old had been given numerous opportunities to prove his leadership. Despite Azam’s extensive experience in international tournaments, Afridi seemed unimpressed with his captaincy skills.
Regarding the removal of Riaz, 39, and Abdul Razzaq, 44, sources indicated that their significant influence on the selection of the T20 World Cup squad led to more support for underperforming players. However, Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, and Bilal Afzal remain on the seven-member panel, which also includes the captain and head coach.
