Modifications in management are synonymous with Pakistan cricket, and when the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the blunder earlier this yr, there have been intense stories of a rift between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi and groupism within the crew.
After Pakistan’s early exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, Babar Azam was stripped off from the captaincy throughout the format. Later, Shan Masood was named Pakistan Check captain, with Shaheen taking up as T20I captain, however just for a couple of months.
After the poor efficiency of the Males in Inexperienced in a few T20I collection, the PCB eliminated Shaheen and re-appointed Babar because the white-ball captain forward of the T20 World Cup 2024 within the USA and Caribbean.
No rift between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi: Zaka Ashraf
It led to speculations that there’s not all effectively between the duo, with the crew splitting into teams. Nevertheless, all of the drama began with the appointment of Babar because the skipper.
This discord disrupted crew unity in Pakistan, and even throughout the T20 World Cup 2024, the white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten brazenly claimed that there was no unity within the crew and the gamers weren’t supporting one another, taking part in just for themselves, not the crew.
Amidst the continuing Check collection in opposition to Bangladesh at dwelling, former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf denied any dangerous blood between Babar Azam and Shaheen and even claimed that the crew unity improved when the star pacer was named the T20I captain.
Ashraf mentioned on Samaa TV: “No, the unity did not finish (after eradicating Babar Azam as captain). In truth, the unity improved. After we instructed him to play as a participant, which is his expertise, however as a captain, his efficiency isn’t good, he agreed.”
The removing of Babar Azam ignited intense debates about crew dynamics, with many claiming the crew has a groupism. Zaka Ashraf denied the rumors, saying the crew was not divided into teams when he was the PCB chief, and even he made the choice to nominate Afridi as T20I captain of the facet.
Former PCB chief Zaka Ashraf claims there was no groupism after captaincy modifications
He additionally lauded the Check captain Masood and former crew director Mohammad Hafeez and known as him a really sincere man who had earlier claimed that the gamers weren’t supporting the assist workers and even they slept throughout Check matches in Australia.
With a powerful assist system of former gamers like Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Gul, and Saeed Ajmal, the teaching workers and administration had been appointed to drive the crew to success, mentioned the previous PCB chief, who was changed by Mohsin Naqvi later.
Zaka Ashraf additional revealed, “No, there was no grouping. The crew was good. And we introduced Shan Masood because the captain. He was an excellent captain. He’s nonetheless an excellent participant. He’s nonetheless a captain in England’s counties. And I made Shaheen Shah the captain of the T20I crew. That was additionally an excellent determination.”
Zaka Ashraf signed off by saying, “And our administration, together with the crew, Mohammad Hafeez, a wonderful cricketer, a really sincere particular person, we introduced him alongside. Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and these gamers, we introduced them alongside in order that the teaching workers is with the crew.”
Muhammad Zaka Ashraf believes that changing Babar Azam with Shaheen Afridi as captain was a wise transfer. #SamaaTV pic.twitter.com/bcwrPLdcgO
— SAMAA TV (@SAMAATV) September 2, 2024
