The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sought to end the controversy surrounding the captaincy of the national team when it released a statement on behalf of all-rounder Shahid Afridi, in which he pledged full support to Misbah-ul-Haq declaring him best man to lead in World Cup.
A miffed Pakistan Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi abandoned a press conference midway in Lahore on Wednesday after he had a verbal spat with a reporter leading to a partial protest by the media demanding an apology from the flamboyant all-rounder.
Former Pakistani leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has said the PCB should replace Pakistan captain Younis Khan with all-rounder Shahid Afridi.
Pakistan trumped South Africa on Thursday to prove they remain arguably the most unpredictable team in international cricket and former all-rounder Shahid Afridi said it would be a mistake to write them off in the ongoing Champions Trophy.
A well-informed source close to Shaheen said that the bowler was upset that not even once the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi or the national selectors have spoken to him about their future plans as far as the captaincy or appointment of coaches is concerned.
Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan led the chorus of appreciation for the Pakistan team after its stunning one-wicket win over India in the Asia Cup, showering special praise on senior all-rounder Shahid Afridi for his electrifying cameo.
PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan convinced Shahid Afridi to pull back his decision to quit Tests until 2007 World Cup
Aiming for their second Cricket World Cup title, Pakistan will be led by Babar Azam and are armed with a strong batting unit that includes Fakhar Zaman, Imam-Ul-Haq, Mohammed Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Salman Agha.
Pakistan's World Twenty20 loss to India could spell the end of Shahid Afridi's rein as captain with the country's Cricket Board planning to sack him irrespective of the team's performance in the remainder of the tournament. "There is clear discontent in the Board about Afridi and his performances and captaincy and even if he decides against retiring after the World T20, the board will not retain him as captain any longer and even his days as a player are ending now," a Pakistan Cricket Board source said. "The Board is also privately not happy with the media statements of Afridi and believe it is time to move on," he said. Sources told PTI that PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan has indicated even the current selection committee could be disbanded after the World T20. "No matter whether Pakistan reaches the semi-finals or even wins the title the selection committee headed by Haroon Rasheed is on its way out," one source confided. He said the inquiry committee formed by the board to probe into the performance of the team in the Asia Cup had already held three meetings and expressed discontent with the performance of the selectors and management.
Ramiz Raja points out Pakistan's tactical blunder during Super Over against USA
Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi came under fire for his sudden decision to retire from Test cricket after the England debacle with some former players questioning his commitment to the team.
Pakistan's iconic former captain Imran Khan is not sure whether Shahid Afridi has the ability to pull through a team in shambles but conceded that if there is anyone capable of achieving something extraordinary, it is the swashbuckling current skipper.
Pakistan cricket team's director Mohammed Hafeez is reportedly making a lot of players in the side "restless" and the major reason behind the simmering disquiet is his tendency to hold "long meetings and lectures".
'I was merely trying to give a positive message to the rest of the world that we enjoy a lot when we play in India.'
Teammates have advised Babar Azam not to step down: PCB sources
Former Pakistan captains Younus Khan and Shahid Afridi were among four senior national cricketers being chased by the country's financial authority for unpaid taxes totaling 80 million rupees.
Shahid Afridi's dream of leading the Pakistan team came true as the flamboyant all-rounder was on Wednesday appointed captain for the one-off Twenty20 match against Sri Lanka next month.
Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi will be replaced as Pakistan's T20 captain after the World T20 in India, PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan announced on Monday, while hinting his days as a player were also numbered. PCB Chairman Shaharyar Khan told reporters in Lahore on his return from Kolkata on Monday that the board and Afridi had a understanding that he would retire after the World Cup. "He is captain till the World Cup under this understanding and he has said he will retire after the event. Even if he changes his mind and wants to carry on we will have to see whether he can be picked as a player or not," Khan said.
A severe discord is brewing between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the players who are unhappy at not having their NOCs extended for league appearances through this month.
Happy with Pakistan Cricket Board's decision to retain Younus Khan at the helm of national team, his deputy Shahid Afridi said there is no difference of opinion with the captain.
The T20 World Cup 2024 promises to be a tournament dominated by bowlers, particularly spinners.
On the eve of ODI series against New Zealand, Pakistan all rounder Shahid Afridi has denied reports of a rift with captain Younus Khan.
Some Pakistani cricketers received threatening phone calls from unknown callers asking them to pay big sums of money or face dire consequences, senior police officials said on Sunday.
Finn Allen equalled the world record for most sixes in a T20 International as he smashed 16 sixes to propel New Zealand to a thumping 45-run victory against Pakistan in the third T20 International.
Pakistan's bowlers had gone for plenty against India and they will look to comeback strongly in what is a virtual semi-final against Sri Lanka.
An outdated batting approach, dismal performance of the spinners, lack of back-up options and selection blunders have led to another early World Cup exit for the forever unpredictable Pakistan unit.
India steamrollered Pakistan by seven wickets in a lopsided blockbuster match at a heaving Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday to maintain their unblemished 50-overs World Cup record against their arch-rivals.
Shahid Afridi believes Pakistan can go to India and play a series but only after the country's Cricket Board (PCB) gets written guarantees from its Indian conterpart (BCCI).
Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya hit fifties to rally India in the rain-hit Asia Cup match in Pallekele on Saturday.
Pakistan on Tuesday named all-rounder Shahid Afridi captain for next month's Asia Cup and the subsequent full tour of England, opting for a single skipper for all three formats of the game.
Pakistan to field unchanged XI against India in Asia Cup
Babar Azam acknowledged that Sri Lanka outperformed his team
All-rounder Shahid Afridi smashed a rapid 70 and took two wickets as Pakistan eased to a 138-run victory over New Zealand in the first One-Day International in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Pakistan held their nerves to pull off a stunning 11-run victory over title aspirants Sri Lanka in a nail-biting group A World Cup league match in Colombo on Saturday.
Shahid Afridi claimed four wickets as Pakistan beat co-hosts Sri Lanka by 11 runs in their Group A World Cup match in Colombo on Saturday.
A month ago, any suggestion that Shahid Afridi could emulate the achievements of Pakistan's most famous sporting hero Imran Khan would have sounded ridiculous.
Flamboyant all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who after guiding Pakistan to the Twenty20 World Cup title in Sunday's final expressed willingness to lead the national team atleast once before calling it quit, may soon get the opportunity.
In an "important breakthrough", three men have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the near-fatal attack on teenage rights activist Malala Yousufzai in Swat, a former stronghold of the Taliban in northwest Pakistan, police said on Friday.
A desperate Pakistan will be wary of a competent group of Afghanistan spinners' ability to strike hard on an often-gripping Chepauk pitch when the teams meet in the World Cup match in Chennai on Monday
Images from Friday's World Cup match between Pakistan and Bangladesh, at Lord's.
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