"Every year, a new chairman comes, and a new system is introduced" - Shahid Afridi blasts PCB for lack of continuity in Pakistan Cricket
Former captain Shahid Afridi slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the constant chopping and changing, resulting in the team's poor performances. The Men in Green have endured a horrific last few months, starting from the 2023 Asia Cup and the World Cup to the Test series whitewash in Australia to the recent T20 World Cup.
Pakistan hit their lowest point when they suffered an embarassing defeat to minnows USA in the 2024 T20 World Cup and were eventually eliminated before the Super Eights.
Following the tournament, Pakistan implemented several changes to their support staff with the removal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq. Babar Azam's captaincy position has also come under the scanner with a decision on that likely expected in the upcoming days.
In an interview with a Local News channel, Afridi said:
"When you change or bring in any new structure, you must give the system time. Every year, a new chairman comes, and a new system is introduced. Things don’t work this way."
Babar relinquished captaincy duties across formats after Pakistan's torrid ODI World Cup campaign last year. However, after Shaheen Afridi led the side in a lone T20I series in New Zealand, Babar was reinstated as the white-ball skipper.
The side also had former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez as the Team Director and interim head coach for four months from November 2023 to February 2024 before his stint ended.
"All the senior board members and senior players should sit together at one table and make a plan" - Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi feels the key stakeholders of Pakistan cricket - board members and the senior players should get together and make a three-year plan.
Amidst the white-ball turmoil, Pakistan have kept Shan Masood as their Test captain despite his debut series ending in a 0-3 whitewash against Australia earlier thie year.
"All the senior board members and senior players should sit together at one table and make a plan. Then, let that plan be executed for three years. Let the results come. If you keep changing the system every year, what results can you expect?," said Afridi.
Pakistan's chairman position has also been a merry-go-around with Ramiz Raja serving the role in 2022 followed by short stints from Najam Sethi and Zaka Ashraf, leading to Mohsin Naqvi in February 2024.
Pakistan's next assignment will be the two-match Test series at home against Bangladesh, starting August 21.