Misbah-ul-Haq blasts PCB’s decision to remove Shaheen Afridi from captaincy

LAHORE: Former Pakistan cricket team captain Misbah-ul-Haq on Thursday blasted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decision to remove bowling legend Shaheen Shah Afridi as captain of the Pakistan cricket team.

Misbah claimed that the recently reinstated captain Babar Azam was wrongfully removed from the team’s captaincy. However, the former captain went on to state that it is equally wrong to now remove Shaheen Shah Afridi from the team’s captaincy.

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Remarking that both Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the nation’s “stars”, Misbah-ul-Haq cautioned that the “manner in which captains” in the Pakistani national cricket team are removed “affects” them acutely.

Misbah warned whatever decision is taken by the national cricket board, to “do it thoughtfully”.

The former captain also weighed in on the appointment of coaches for the white- and red-ball cricket. He said that any decision taken should be made by looking at the team and then deliberating which “coach is best for them”.

The PCB under the new Chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently took the decision to change captaincy from Shaheen Shah Afridi back to Babar Azam. Rumours have been rife of tension between the two cricketing stars since Babar was reinstated as captain.

Misbah-ul-Haq is not the first former player to object to Babar’s reinstatement. On Monday, former captain of the national cricket team Shahid Afridi expressed his amazement at the decision to choose Babar by “so many experienced players in the selection committee”.

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Afridi took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to share his views. Despite expressing scepticism, the all-rounder was quick to offer support for the current captain.

“As the decision has been taken, I extend my full backing and best wishes to Pakistan cricket team and Babar Azam,” he said.