Javed Miandad slams PCB over ‘political interference’ and mishandling of Babar Azam’s captaincy

KARACHI: Cricket legend Javed Miandad strongly rebuked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for what he termed as “political meddling” in the board’s affairs, leading to what he deems as “unfair treatment” of former captain Babar Azam.

During his interview, Miandad highlighted the necessity of depoliticising the board’s decision-making processes, expressing concern that individuals lacking a deep connection to the game were influencing crucial cricket-related decisions.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam, who took on the role of white-ball captain in 2019 and Test skipper in 2020, resigned from captaincy in all formats on November 15 after a meeting with PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf in Lahore. The decision followed months of criticism directed at Babar and the team’s performance in the Asia Cup and the subsequent World Cup, where they failed to reach the semi-finals.

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However, Miandad voiced his disagreement with the decision to remove Babar as captain, asserting that players, especially someone of Babar’s stature, deserve respect and honor. He suggested that a strong manager should have been appointed to support Babar in becoming a more resilient captain.

Expressing regret over the treatment of Babar by the PCB, Miandad also commented on the batter’s playing strategy. He pointed out that Babar tends not to go after bowlers from the crease, impacting the rhythm of his batting.

While acknowledging Babar’s talent, Miandad suggested minor adjustments to his approach, particularly in the positioning of his body while batting.

In addition, Miandad expressed openness to advising Babar, stating that he is always available to provide guidance. He stressed the importance of learning from mistakes and highlighted the readiness of past players like Younis Khan and Mohammad Yousuf to embrace advice and improve.

Miandad also criticised the appointments of recently retired players to key roles within the PCB, questioning the wisdom of choosing Wahab Riaz as chief selector. He argued that experienced individuals, such as Iqbal Qasim, Mushtaq Mohammad, Sadiq Mohammad, Haroon Rashid, and Shoaib Mohammad, would be more suitable for such positions.

Taking a subtle dig at PCB Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf without mentioning names, Javed Miandad questioned the cricketing credentials of those overseeing cricket affairs, suggesting that the management was being led by individuals with interests beyond the sport.