PCB and Shaheen Afridi in crisis talks amid statement fuss

WEB DESK: The captaincy tumult in Pakistan cricket takes another tumultuous turn as Shaheen Afridi reportedly expresses deep dissatisfaction with a statement attributed to him on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) website.

Afridi claims he never uttered those words that PCB issued under his name. ESPNcricinfo reports that Afridi was on the verge of issuing a rebuttal when the PCB intervened, initiating urgent discussions with the disgruntled player. An additional meeting with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been hastily arranged for Monday (today).

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Sources indicate that Afridi, feeling aggrieved by the handling of the captaincy situation, asserts that he was never consulted by the PCB to provide a statement for publication. However, shortly after Babar Azam’s reinstatement as captain, a press release surfaced containing purported remarks from Afridi expressing unwavering support for Babar’s leadership.

“I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity,” the statement attributed to Afridi read. “As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam. 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.”

Reportedly, Afridi had no involvement in drafting or endorsing this statement. This latest controversy is poised to exacerbate tensions within the Pakistan camp, already strained by the PCB’s indecisiveness regarding the captaincy. Speculation regarding Afridi’s fate heightened after Naqvi’s non-committal stance during a Lahore press conference, suggesting a decision would be deferred until after Pakistan’s military training camp. However, it appears Afridi’s removal was imminent even before this announcement.

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Afridi is purportedly dissatisfied with the lack of clarity surrounding his ousting and the PCB’s failure to communicate effectively. Attempts by the PCB to mend fences through a joint statement featuring warm sentiments exchanged between Babar and Shaheen seem to have backfired, intensifying Afridi’s discontent.

The reassignment of captaincy from Shaheen to Babar is poised to strain the relationship between two of Pakistan cricket’s luminaries. Afridi disowning the statement has thrust the PCB into damage-control mode. Naqvi and the PCB are expected to seek a diplomatic resolution to assuage Afridi’s grievances and defuse the brewing discord as well as do damage control in front of the fans of the team.