Shahid Afridi reacts to removal of Razzaq and Wahab from Selection Committee

Former Pakistan cricket captain Shahid Khan Afridi has expressed surprise and concern over the recent removal of Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz from the national team selection committee. 

Speaking to the media in London after the Pakistan champions match against South Africa champions, Afridi emphasized the unprecedented chances given to current captain Babar Azam.

"No captain has ever had such a clear opportunity. Usually, the captain is the first to be dismissed right after the World Cup ends," Afridi said.

He compared Babar Azam's tenure favorably with past captains like himself, Younis Khan, and Misbah-ul-Haq, suggesting that Azam has had ample time to prove himself.

"We've led the team too, like myself, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq, but Babar has had sufficient opportunities. Let's make one decisive move and back him wholeheartedly with whatever he brings," he said.

In addressing the removal of Razzaq and Wahab from the selection committee, the former all-rounder expressed confusion, describing the move as a perplexing "surgery" that he finds difficult to comprehend.

"To be honest, this kind of surgery is beyond my comprehension," he concluded.

Former cricketers Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq were removed from Pakistan's selection committee.

The decision follows Pakistan's disappointing performance in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2024, where the team failed to progress beyond the group stage.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday morning confirmed the development in an official statement, saying “It has notified Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz that their services will no longer be required in the national selection committee setup.”

“The PCB will provide further updates on the selection committee’s composition in due course,” PCB statement added.