File photo of Babar Azam.©AFP
PCB management committee chairman Najam Sethi has revealed that the interim selection panel led by Shahid Afridi initially wanted to replace Babar Azam as captain. However, he added that once the panelists took on their roles, they changed their minds. PCB went through a series of changes in December last year. It included the dismissal of then Chairman Ramiz Raja from his role, with Najam Sethi later taking over the duties. Meanwhile, the PCB has also appointed Shahid Afridi as chairman of the National Selection Committee for the home series against New Zealand.
Afridi led a four-man panel, also consisting of former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, while Haroon Rashid was selected as the convener.
“I say it over and over again. I don’t make decisions like this myself (changing captain). I take advice from people I trust,” Sethi said while speaking to a YouTube channel as quoted by Cricket Pakistan.
“We set up an interim selection committee when we took charge. Before the selectors came on board, they told us that some changes were needed and that Babar also had to be replaced as captain. But as soon as they were appointed, they said it was not necessary to replace Babar. I told them you have the right to change your mind,” he added.
Earlier, Afridi had revealed that the PCB was interested in extending his tenure as chief selector of the national cricket team, but said he could not continue his role as he had “other commitments as well”.
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