LAHORE: With the fallout from the abrupt change of captain seemingly lingering on, Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi made the trip to Kakul on Monday to visit the Pakistan team camp at the Army School of Physical Training and settle matters once and for all.

The PCB announced on Sunday that star batter Babar Azam would be returning as Pakistan’s white-ball captain ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in June, replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi as the skipper in the shortest format of the game after the pacer had led the side in just one series.

While the statements from both Babar and Shaheen made it look that the change at the helm had been cordial, longstanding reports that the latter had not been taken into confidence were confirmed on Monday when it emerged that Shaheen had an issue with the quotes attributed to him.

“There was a misunderstanding between the PCB media department and Shaheen over his quotes in Sunday’s news release,” sources told Dawn on Monday, “as Shaheen hadn’t sent any statement”.

In the statement, Shaheen was quoted as saying that he had “nothing but respect for Babar” and that “we are all one”.

Sources close to Shaheen had been quoted as saying in several reports that the fast bowler had resented being replaced after just one series.

Adding fuel to the fire was a social media post on Sunday by Shaheen’s father-in-law and former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi.

“I am surprised by the decision by very experienced cricketers in the selections committee,” Afridi wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “I still believe that if change was necessary than [Mohammad] Rizwan was the best choice. But since now the decision has been made I offer my full support and best wishes to team Pakistan and Babar Azam.”

During Mohsin’s visit, he did not meet Shaheen separately although the PCB released a photograph in which the two were seen greeting each other with a smile, indicating that things had now been settled.

PCB’s news release did not elaborate on any talks between Mohsin and Shaheen.

“The visit [was] aimed at gathering firsthand insights into the training camp and to extend gratitude to the Pakistan Army for their invaluable support in organising the camp,” it said on Monday.

“The fitness camp has been instrumental in enhancing the physical capabilities of Pakistan’s T20 players, ensuring they are in optimal condition for forthcoming cricketing assignments which also includes ICC T20 World Cup in June this year.

“Chairman also took the opportunity to interact with the players, personally commending them for their dedication and active participation in the camp. He expressed satisfaction over the players’ enthusiasm and commitment towards enhancing their fitness levels.

“In addition to meeting with the players, Chairman PCB also held a meeting with the selection committee to talk about the team’s selection ahead of the New Zealand T20I series. The meeting was also attended by captain Babar Azam. Chairman PCB also took the members into confidence on the developments made by the Board regarding the appointment of head coach.”

Naqvi, meanwhile, was thankful to the Pakistan Army for their support.

“Their collaboration will not only enhance the fitness levels of our players but will also make them more disciplined in future,” he was quoted as saying.

“This camp will surely put the players in good stead before undertaking a challenging journey leading to a global tournament in the USA and West Indies.

“The PCB remains dedicated to providing comprehensive support to its players, equipping them with the necessary tools and resources to excel at the international level.”

Well-placed sources, however, told Dawn that while everything seems normal at the surface, the abrupt changing of the captain could impact dressing-room harmony.

“It would have been better had the PCB taken Shaheen into the confidence over its decision,” they said. “Shaheen preferred to keep silent as he has a vast career ahead of him and any severe reaction could have created problems for him. There are also some fitness problems that he’s dealing with at the moment.”

BABAR’S DEMAND

Dawn has also learnt that Babar’s demand of a confirmed two-year stint as captain was rebuffed by the PCB.

“For now, nothing has been fixed,” sources said. “Babar is captain until the World Cup in June and depending on his performance as captain, it will be decided whether the PCB will move forward with him or not.”

Babar resigned as Pakistan’s all-format captain after the team’s disastrous showing at the ODI World Cup in India last year. That had also led to the entire team management being asked to go by then-interim PCB chief Zaka Ashraf.

Zaka, it emerged, wanted to break a stranglehold that Saya Corporation, a players’ agency based in England, had over the team with previous chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq also having a role in the company.

“Zaka had a report that 44 players in Pakistan were the members of the Saya corporation and both Babar and Inzamam were on one-page to pick or drop a player, mainly taking interest of the corporation,” sources said told Dawn.

“Zaka had formalised a framework to ensure that one agency couldn’t represent more than three to four players but it the new PCB leadership doesn’t plan to imp­ose any such binding on the players.”

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2024