The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a press release addressing the current stories that Shaheen Afridi declined the provide to be the vice-captain of the nationwide facet and deputy of Babar Azam for the T20 World Cup 2024.
Management modifications and speculations
This growth got here amidst important management modifications throughout the Pakistan cricket workforce following a tumultuous interval publish the ODI World Cup 2023. In current months, the Males in Inexperienced have skilled a collection of management upheavals. Babar Azam resigned from the captaincy of Pakistan from all codecs after the disastrous CWC 2023 marketing campaign and in his place Shaheen bought the function to steer the T20I facet. Nonetheless, Shaheen was changed by Babar after only one collection.
Reappointment of Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi’s elimination
Babar was reinstated because the captain of the Pakistan workforce for the collection in opposition to New Zealand, whereas Shaheen was faraway from the management function after the 5-match T20I collection in opposition to New Zealand in January. This reshuffling was thought-about part of a broader technique by the PCB to stabilize the workforce’s efficiency and management construction.
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Squad announcement and vice-captaincy controversy
On Friday (Might 24), the PCB introduced the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup, with Babar confirmed because the captain. Notably, no vice-captain was named, resulting in hypothesis that Shaheen had rejected the function.
In keeping with a current report by ESPNcricinfo, Shaheen was supplied the vice-captaincy of the Pakistan T20 facet forward of the World Cup squad announcement however turned down the provide. Consequently, the World Cup squad, introduced simply hours earlier than the ICC deadline for ultimate squad submissions, didn’t embrace an formally designated vice-captain.
Earlier discontent and PCB’s response
Now the PCB clarified of their assertion on social media Platform X that the choice to not appoint a vice-captain was because of the selectors’ desire, not Shaheen’s refusal. The PCB’s current assertion goal to quell any rumors of additional unrest, emphasizing that the choice to not title a vice-captain was made by the choice committee.
“Throughout Friday’s choice committee assembly, discussions on the vice-captaincy befell. Nonetheless, it was unanimously determined to not appoint anybody. As such, no provide was made to any participant. The facet is absolutely united, dedicated and keenly wanting ahead to the upcoming matches within the UK and the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2024,” the assertion reads.
Throughout Friday’s choice committee assembly, discussions on the vice-captaincy befell. Nonetheless, it was unanimously determined to not appoint anybody. As such, no provide was made to any participant. The facet is absolutely united, dedicated and keenly wanting ahead to the upcoming matches…
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) Might 25, 2024
Pakistan’s current kind and future prospects
Pakistan are aiming to construct on their current spectacular T20 World Cup performances, the place they had been semi-finalists in 2021 and finalists in 2022. However, their kind has been inconsistent. They suffered a 4-1 defeat in New Zealand earlier this 12 months and later drew 2-2 in opposition to the identical facet in Pakistan, regardless of New Zealand fielding a weakened workforce. Additionally they skilled a combined collection in opposition to Eire, shedding the primary T20I earlier than bouncing again to win the collection. They’re additional 1-0 right down to England of their ultimate collection forward of the worldwide showpiece occasion.
