Key Points:

• PCB fires Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq over Shaheen Afridi’s misbehavior with coaches.
• Investigation revealed the selection committee’s failure to manage Afridi’s misconduct.
• Wahab Riaz denies pressuring the selection committee and will release a statement.
• Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, and Bilal Afzal remain on the new selection panel.

The repercussions of Pakistan’s early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024 have led to significant changes within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Recent investigations have revealed that star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was involved in misbehavior with the coaches and management staff, as reported by Geo News on Wednesday. This misconduct came to light amidst an ongoing probe into why the team’s managers failed to address Afridi’s disruptive behavior during the World Cup.

The PCB’s inquiry into the team’s poor performance has unveiled that the selection committee, led by Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq, neglected their responsibilities by not taking action against Afridi’s attitude issues. As a result of these findings, the PCB has decided to dismiss both Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from their positions. Razzaq, who served on both the men’s and women’s selection committees, and Wahab, who was the prominent face of the men’s selection committee, were both removed as part of a broader strategy to revamp the team’s management structure.

In their statement, the PCB confirmed that the decision to remove Riaz and Razzaq was made after a thorough review revealed their failure to manage team discipline effectively. Sources suggest that both veteran cricketers had shown undue favoritism towards certain players, which contributed to the team’s underperformance. This favoritism, combined with the revelation of Shaheen Afridi’s misbehavior, led PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take decisive action.

The investigation also brought to light complaints from the coaching staff about players’ lack of seriousness and internal conflicts. Coaches reported issues such as players speaking against each other and the negative impact of players’ families on their focus and performance. These complaints underscored the need for a more disciplined and effective management approach.

In response to his dismissal, Wahab Riaz has dismissed claims that he pressured the selection committee, arguing on X (formerly Twitter) that

“I don’t agree with the statements being discussed about adding pressure to the members of the selection committee,”

As the PCB moves forward, they have retained Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq, and Bilal Afzal in the new selection panel, which will include the captain and head coach. The board’s focus is now on addressing the underlying issues revealed by the recent probe and ensuring a more disciplined and successful future for Pakistani cricket.

This shake-up reflects the PCB’s commitment to improving team dynamics and performance as they prepare for future challenges in international cricket.

Also Read: PCB Removes Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from Selection Committee.