Afridi-led selection panel wanted Babar replaced as captain: Sethi

PCB management committee chairman, Najam Sethi, has revealed that the interim selection committee, led by Shahid Afridi, wanted to initially replace Babar Azam as Pakistan captain.

The PCB Management Committee had appointed former Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi, as the interim Chair of the Men’s National Selection Committee for the home series against New Zealand earlier this year.

Other members of the panel were: Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, while Haroon Rashid (member Management Committee) was the Convener.

While speaking to a YouTube channel, Sethi said that the selectors later changed their decision and decided to continue with Babar as skipper.

“I say it again and again. I don’t take decisions like these [changing captain] myself. I take advice from people whom I trust,” Sethi said.

“We made an interim selection committee when we took charge. Before the selectors came on board, they told us that there will need to be some changes and Babar needs to be replaced as captain as well. However, as soon as they were appointed, they said there is no need to replace Babar. I told them that you are entitled to change your mind,” he added.

After the series against New Zealand, Afridi resigned from the post due to a lack of time for meetings.

Haroon Rashid was later appointed as the Chair of the men’s National Selection Committee by PCB and replaced Afridi.