(AFP Photo)
Pakistan faced devastating defeats against both the United States of America and India in the initial matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, leading to their untimely elimination from the tournament during the group stage. This marked the first instance in T20 World Cup history where Pakistan did not progress past the preliminary round. Criticism was swift and sharp, with numerous fans and cricketing legends pointing fingers at captain Babar Azam for the team’s dismal performance, calling for his immediate resignation.
Following Pakistan’s premature exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) swiftly took action by overhauling the coaching staff and dismissing selectors Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq. Speculation now surrounds the future of Babar Azam as the team’s captain, with a significant decision expected from the PCB in the days to come.
The perpetual upheavals within Pakistan’s cricket structure have been a recurring issue, adversely impacting the team’s on-field performances. Shahid Afridi, former captain and revered all-rounder, didn’t mince words as he sharply criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), attributing the team’s inconsistent showings to the frequent changes in management and personnel.
Afridi emphasized the necessity for stability, asserting that any cricketing system requires a minimum of three years to properly establish itself and yield desired outcomes. His comments underscored a call for sustained leadership and continuity within the administration to foster a conducive environment for long-term success in Pakistani cricket.
“When you change or bring in any new structure, you must give the system time. Every year, a new chairman comes, and a new system is introduced. Things don’t work this way,” Shahid Afridi told Sports24.
“All the senior board members and senior players should sit together at one table and make a plan. Then let that plan be executed for three years. Let the results come. If you keep changing the system every year, what results can you expect?” he added.
The leadership of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has seen a series of changes in recent years. Ramiz Raja held the position of chairman in 2022, but by the end of the year, Najam Sethi took over. In mid-2023, Zaka Ashraf assumed the role from Sethi. However, the carousel continued in February 2024 when Ashraf was replaced by Syed Mohsin Raza as PCB chairman. Notably, Raza wasted no time in making significant decisions, such as relieving Shaheen Afridi of his T20I captaincy after just one series, reinstating Babar Azam to lead the team once more.
