Shahid Afridi wanted to replace Babar Azam as captain says PCB chief Najam Sethi
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Najam Sethi has revealed that the interim selection committee, led by Shahid Afridi, wanted to strip Babar Azam from captaincy. Afridi, former Pakistan captain, was appointed as the interim Chair of the Mens National Selection Committee for the home series against New Zealand. We made an interim selection committee when we took charge. Before the selectors came on board, they told us that there will need to be some changes and Babar needs to be replaced as captain as well," Sethi said on a YouTube channel. PCB chairman Najam Sethi on Babar Azam's captaincy, about criticism on his captaincy from the likes of Waheed Khan, Abdul Majid Bhatti, Yahya Hussaini and Mirza Iqbal Baig. #PAKvNZ Video Credits: Waheed Khan YouTube pic.twitter.com/YRcql7V70y Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) April 10, 2023 "However, as soon as they were appointed, they said there is no need to replace Babar. I told them that you are entitled to change your mind, he added. After the series against New Zealand, Afridi resigned from the post due to a lack of time for meetings. Haroon Rashid replaced Afridi. Riveting battle in the nets! Watch star duo @babarazam258 and @iMRizwanPak face the pace trio of @iShaheenAfridi, @iNaseemShah and @iFaheemAshraf #PAKvNZ | #CricketMubarak pic.twitter.com/UGOvBJXec1 Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) April 9, 2023 Sethi said that Babar will remain captain as long as keeps winning games for Pakistan. As long as Babar is a successful batsman and a successful captain, he will remain captain. If you continue to lose series, people will start questioning your captaincy and other qualities, he said. Last week, Sethi took to Twitter, to put an end to speculations doing the rounds about Babar Azam's captaincy. Babar Azam came to see me today. I told him he will lead the ODI and T20I national team against New Zealand. And then @TheRealPCB announced the squads. So all those who were spreading fake fears are out of jobs today. Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) April 4, 2023 "Babar Azam came to see me today. I told him he will lead the ODI and T20I national team against New Zealand. And then @TheRealPCB announced the squads. So all those who were spreading fake fears are out of jobs today," he wrote on Twitter. Sethi also admitted that he spoke to Mickey Arthur before announcing Babar Azam as captain for the upcoming New Zealand series. I asked Mickey, do you want one captain or two captains for New Zealand series. After consulting with him, we decided on having one captain for the white-ball format. I told him, when you will come, you can sit with Babar and then decide from there onwards, Sethi said. PCB will sign one year contract initially and Arthur will be with Pakistan cricket team for Asia Cup and 2023 World Cup. I also took approval from Mickey regarding the appointment of some selectors, because it is already decided that Mickey and his team are coming, so why not take them on board informally before the contracts are signed, he added.
Monday, April 10, 2023 at 3:23 am