ISLAMABAD: Amidst the ongoing criticism of the team’s performance in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has been approached by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar for a significant role within the cricket board.
Shahid Afridi confirmed this development just two days before Zaka Ashraf’s tenure as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Management Committee was set to conclude.
Afridi, along with other former cricketers, had criticized the PCB management after a WhatsApp chat between its Chief Operating Officer (COO) and skipper Babar Azam was leaked to the media.
According to the reports, the former all-rounder met with PM Kakar to discuss cricket-related issues in the context of his involvement with the future PCB, the national team’s performance in the 10-team tournament, and the development of cricketers from the grassroots to the international level.
“I received a call from the PM‘s Office on Thursday and had to rush to Islamabad to meet the PM. It was a pleasure talking to the PM about cricketing issues. He appeared keen on providing proper training to the youth and grooming them systematically so that they can make a name for themselves and for the country,” Afridi shared details of his meeting with the Prime Minister.
The star all-rounder also mentioned that the PM expressed interest in him playing a role within the PCB.
“I asked for some time to decide on my association with the future PCB. What Pakistan cricket needs is systematic and top-quality training for players, from the grassroots to the top level. This hasn’t been happening in Pakistan cricket, and as a result, we struggle to polish the available talent into world-class players,” he stated.
Afridi praised the talent available but stressed that talent alone is insufficient to achieve the desired results.
“What we require is the systematic development of cricketers. Unless we put in sincere efforts to nurture the available talent, we won’t be able to consistently progress at the international level.”
Zaka Ashraf’s Tenure
As of November 4, Zaka Ashraf’s tenure as the chairman of the Management Committee is set to conclude. The fate of his extension remains uncertain, with speculations suggesting a new name might take charge. The decision regarding the extension or formation of a new committee lies with the Prime Minister, who also serves as the patron-in-chief of the PCB. Clarity on this matter is expected to emerge shortly.
