PCB President reveals Shahid Afridi-led selection committee wanted to replace Babar Azam as captain

Najam Sethi, the chairman of the PCB management committee, has disclosed that the interim selection panel, which was headed by Shahid Afridi, had originally intended to replace Babar Azam as captain. He did, however, add that right away as the panellists assumed their positions, they had second thoughts. Babar Azam is still the captain of the Pakistan National team in all three formats of the game and Shadab Khan is his deputy.

In December of the previous year, PCB underwent a number of modifications. Ramiz Raja, the chairman at the time, was fired, and Najam Sethi eventually took up his responsibilities. The National Selection Committee’s chairman for their home series against New Zealand was also named by the PCB, Shahid Afridi. 

Afridi has previously stated that the Pakistan Cricket Board had an interest in extending his position as the head selector for the Pakistan cricket team, but he claimed he was unable to do so because of “other commitments too.”Afridi was the leader of a four-person panel that included former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, Rao Iftikhar Anjum, and Haroon Rashid as the convener.

What did Najam Sethi, the PCB President say about the decision of the Shahid Afridi-led selection committee?

Najam Sethi, the current Pakistan Cricket Board President spoke to a youtube channel about his thoughts on the selection committee’s decision to change Babar Azam as captain. He said, “I say it again and again. I don’t take decisions like these (changing captain) myself. I take advice from people whom I trust.”

Sethi then spoke about the committee’s decision on whether they want to replace Babar or not. He said, “We made an interim selection committee when we took charge. Before the selectors came on board, they told us that there will need to be some changes and Babar needs to be replaced as captain as well. However, as soon as they were appointed, they said there is no need to replace Babar. I told them that you are entitled to change your mind.”