"Captain is the first to be dismissed" - Shahid Afridi reacts to removal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from Pakistan men's team's selection committee
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has reacted to the PCB taking strong action in the wake of the national men's team's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024. With the PCB dismissing two significant members (Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq) of the selection committee, Afridi said the captain is usually the first person to be dismissed in such situations.
The PCB has sacked Riaz and Razzaq from the selection committee, beginning the 'surgery' that chief Mohsin Naqvi had promised. The board issued a statement that read (via Deccan Herald):
"It has notified Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz that their services will no longer be required in the national selection committee setup. The PCB will provide further updates on the selection committee’s composition in due course."
Meanwhile, Afridi spoke to reporters in London and said no player has ever received as many opportunities as captain as Babar Azam has. As quoted by cricketpakistan.pk, the former chief selector said:
"No captain has ever had such a clear opportunity. Usually, the captain is the first to be dismissed right after the World Cup. We've led the team too, like myself, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, but Babar has had sufficient opportunities. Let's make one decisive move and back him wholeheartedly with whatever he brings. To be honest, this kind of surgery is beyond my comprehension."
The Men in Green made it to the final of the 2022 T20 World Cup but were far from satisfying this year. They lost to the USA and India, and huffed and puffed to victories over Canada and Ireland.
Babar Azam leaves it to PCB to decide Pakistan's captaincy fate
Following Pakistan's exit from the multi-nation event, Babar Azam said he had no idea why PCB chose him as captain again despite stepping down voluntarily in 2023. He elaborated, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"When I gave up the captaincy [in 2023], I thought that I shouldn't be doing it now, that's why I left it and I announced it myself. Then when they gave it back to me, it was the decision of the PCB. When I go back, we will discuss all that has happened here. And if I have to leave the captaincy, I will announce it openly. It is eventually PCB's decision."
The Men in Green don't play limited-overs cricket until the tour of Australia later this year.