“If you keep changing…”: Shahid Afridi launches scathing attack on PCB

The Pakistan cricket team had a horrible outing in the 2024 T20 World Cup as the Babar Azam-led team was knocked out of the competition in the group stage. They suffered a shock defeat against the United States, before losing once again against traditional rivals India. Pakistan won the remaining two matches against Canada and Ireland but it was too late for them. The result sparked a huge reaction from fans and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made major changes to the support staff. Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq have been sacked as selectors, while Babar’s future remains uncertain.

Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, Shahid Afridi, was highly critical of the PCB and said that the constant changes behind the scenes impact the team’s performance. Afridi further said that any team needs time to adapt to a new system, but constant changes can also result in confusion among players.

“When you change or introduce any new structure, you must give the system time. Every year a new president arrives and a new system is introduced. Things don’t work like that,” he told Sports24.

“All senior board members and senior players should sit together at the same table and make a plan. Then let this plan run for three years. Let the results come. If you keep changing the system every year, what results can you expect?” added the former Pakistan cricket team captain.

Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board turned down requests for No Objection Certificate from senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi to participate in the Global T20 League, citing the hectic international calendar.

“The PCB has received NOC requests from Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi for the Global T20 event among other players.

“After taking into account Pakistan’s busy and packed cricket calendar for the period August 2024 to March 2025, which includes nine matches of the ICC World Test Championship and next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and after consultations with the three players, as well as with the national selection committee, it was decided to refuse their requests,” the board said in a statement.

(With PTI inputs)