Afridi wants to create two national teams to improve bench strength

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Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Interim Selection Committee Shahid Afridi has indicated that he wants to create two national teams in order to bolster the bench strength.

 Afridi was appointed as the interim chairman of the selection committee for the home series against New Zealand by the PCB Management Committee, which is led by Najam Sethi.

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 The selection panel also includes Abdul Razzaq and Rao Iftikhar Anjum, with Haroon Rashid (member of the Management Committee) serving as the convener. 

“I want to create two teams for Pakistan before my tenure ends in order to improve bench strength,” Afridi said while speaking to media in Karachi on Saturday.

Afridi touched on the issue of a communication gap between players and officials and hinted at the possibility of creating a bouncy pitch for the second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in Karachi, which is set to begin on January 2. 

“I feel like there was lack of communication in the past. I got to know about the issues of players by speaking to them individually,” he said.

“We want our cricket to move forward but the pitches we have played on won’t help us do that. Such pitches are not good for bowlers. We are trying to make a bouncy pitch for the second Test,” he maintained.

Afridi also dismissed the idea that the selection committee is a "one-man show" and voiced his support for Pakistan's all-format captain, Babar Azam, praising his bold declaration during the first Test against New Zealand.

“This [selection committee] is not a one-man show. I believe power sharing make you more powerful,” he said. “I will try to give proper chances to performers as long as I’m here. My work will be incomplete if I’m not able to do justice to the players.”

“I directly spoke to Haris and Fakhar and took their tests. I believe that there should be a direct line of communication between the players and the selection committee,” he added.

“Babar Azam is the backbone of the Pakistan team and we will back him. His decision about declaration yesterday was a good one,” he concluded. 

It is to be noted that the second Test will be played in the National Bank cricket arena in Karachi from January 02, 2023 to January 06, 2023.