Pakistan Cricket has been nothing short of a drama nowadays. Too many abrupt decisions by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) have left the fans and the experts wondering about the insights. Babar Azam, who was forced to resign after World Cup 2023 under previous management, is now once again at the helm of white-ball cricket.
There is no denying that Shaheen Shah Afridi did not have a good start to his T20I captaincy. However, sacking him after a short stint without any justified reason has raised questions about rectitude and fairness within the system.
Reportedly, Shaheen was strained by the sudden decision as the board did not consult him before the captaincy’s removal. He only came to know a few moments before the official announcement naming Babar as a white-ball skipper.
As if it was not enough, the board also released statements attributed to Shaheen, which he never stated. In a press release, Shaheen was quoted as saying, “It was an absolute honour to captain the Pakistan National Cricket Team. I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity. As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam.” However, the player himself is unaware of these statements.
The fake statement further reads,
“I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world.”
The whole development sounds as if the board wants to cause a rift between the two biggest cricketing stars of the nation. Notably, Shaheen on many occasions supported Azam’s captaincy. Even in times, when there felt like a threat to Babar Azam’s regime, Shaheen quoted in his favour.
His tweet after a 3-0 defeat against England in a Test series at home reads:
“Babar Azam hamari or Pakistan ki Shan, jaan or pehchan hai. Wo Hamara kaptaan hai or rahe ga. Kuch or #sochnabhimanah hai. Please support this team. Yahi team hame jitaye gi bhi. Kahani abhi Khatam nahi howi. #Respect.”
The entire captaincy saga including quick shifts, zero consultations from the concerned parties, and abrupt U-turns has left a ton of questions and mysteries. It remains to be seen if this will affect the bond between Babar and Shaheen.
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