Reports from the recent meeting between PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi at Kakul with players particularly Shaheen Shah Afridi have surfaced on social media.
The other day, Naqvi reached Kakul to meet the players currently training at the Army Training Center in Kakul to better their fitness and physique ahead of the World Cup.
He also had a word with Shaheen Shah Afridi. In the meeting, PCB Chairman Naqvi admitted that releasing the statement without his consent was a mistake. In response, Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed solidarity, stating, “There is no problem, we are all one. I don’t want to talk too much.”
While talking to the players, Naqvi said that selection in the team will be based on merit hence there is no need for dictation.
During the meeting, there was discussion about the recent selection of the team captain. It was explained that the decision was reached with input from the selection committee, indicating a team-oriented process.
Naqvi emphasized the significance of the training camp in fostering the players’ fitness and enhancing their overall performance, urging them to commit to hard work and dedication.
Earlier reports of conflict came out of the Pakistan Cricket team camp involving Shaheen Shah Afridi after Babar Azam was announced the new captain by PCB.
On Sunday, PCB announced Babar Azam as the new captain. Babar returned to a captaincy within a few months after Shaheen Shah Afridi took the reign of the team from him. Afridi was announced the new captain shortly after the conclusion of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup after Pakistan’s poor performance.
Soon after the decision, statements from both Shaheen Shah Afridi and Babar Azam circulated on social media. Tension rose when Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed that PCB released the statement on his behalf without informing him. He added that he did not release these statements. The statement given by PCB read Afridi had “nothing but respect” for the returning skipper. “I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one,” Afridi was quoted as saying.
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Afridi expressed furor for releasing the statement without informing him. A close source to Shaheen Shah Afridi revealed that the cricketer was preparing to give his statement to the media when PCB stopped him.
PCB is now trying to engage with Shaheen Shah Afridi to calm down his furor. Shaheen was expected to meet Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi today at Kakul. The meeting, however, could not happen as Naqvi had to leave for the meeting.