PCB Chief Mohsin Naqvi to Hold Meeting with Shaheen Afridi in Kakul for Damage Control

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi will be meeting star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi in Kakul, Abbottabad to address concerns regarding statements mistakenly attributed to him in a PCB statement. This move comes after Shaheen expressed discontent towards the PCB selection committee and its chief following the announcement of Babar Azam as the new captain for T20Is and ODIs.

The PCB chief’s visit to Kakul is seen as a damage control tactic after the initial backlash received by the cricket board. Sources reveal that Naqvi will engage in talks with Shaheen to clarify the board’s position and also meet other team players including newly selected captain Babar Azam.

The Pakistan team is currently attending a fitness training camp at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) in Abbottabad. The recent selection process by PCB, including late-night meetings and announcements attributed to Shaheen, has been widely criticized by experts and former cricketers.

Shaheen was surprised to see his quotes attributed to him in the PCB statement circulating on social media. In the statement, he was quoted as saying, “It was an honor 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.”

Former cricketer Shahid Afridi, who is Shaheen’s father-in-law, expressed surprise at the selection competence of senior cricketers in the PCB selection committee. He mentioned that if a change was necessary, Mohammad Rizwan would have been the best choice but offered his support to Babar Azam and team Pakistan.

Despite the PCB’s explanation that Shaheen’s removal as captain was to ensure sustained peak performance levels, the decision to remove him after just one series has disappointed the star pacer. PCB’s multiple blunders throughout the captaincy negotiation and selection process have led to criticism and scrutiny.