• Home
  • Who Said What
  • Didnt Receive Any Advice Ex Pcb Chief Calls Shahid Afridi Liar Over Rizwan Shaheen Captaincy Saga

'Didn't Receive Any Advice': Ex-PCB Chief Calls Shahid Afridi 'Liar' Over Rizwan-Shaheen Captaincy Saga

Zaka Ashraf slammed Shahid Afridi (X)Zaka Ashraf slammed Shahid Afridi (X)

In a bold and fiery rebuttal, former PCB Chairman Zaka Ashraf has categorically denied Shahid Afridi’s claims regarding his recommendation to appoint Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s captain. Afridi, a cricketing legend himself, has been vocal about his desire to see Rizwan at the helm, but Ashraf is having none of it, dismissing Afridi’s statements as nothing short of fabrication.

Afridi's Claims Fall Flat

Shahid Afridi made headlines in recent months by repeatedly pushing for Mohammad Rizwan to be the next Pakistan captain. The former all-rounder even went as far as to say that he never wanted his son-in-law, Shaheen Afridi, to shoulder the burden of captaincy, putting his faith solely in Rizwan. Yet, in a surprising turn of events, Ashraf has come forward, bluntly calling out Afridi's claims.

"I didn't receive any such advice (from Shahid Afridi)," Ashraf told reporters during a candid interaction, making it clear that any talk of Afridi's supposed recommendations was nothing more than hot air.


With both cricketing veterans now at odds, Pakistan cricket seems once again caught in a whirlwind of controversy, with fingers being pointed and reputations on the line.

Pakistan Cricket's Downward Spiral

Pakistan's on-field performance has been nothing short of a disaster as the drama off the field unfolds. The team has been underperforming in all formats, and the leadership in each format is under intense scrutiny.

Shan Masood, the Test captain, and Babar Azam, the ODI and T20I captain, have struggled to steer the ship through turbulent waters, leading many to question their suitability.

Under Babar Azam's captaincy, Pakistan failed to make it to the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-finals, even suffering a humiliating defeat to Afghanistan. After the World Cup debacle, Babar stepped down from the T20I captaincy, only for Shaheen Afridi to take over.

But in a shocking twist, Shaheen was soon removed after a 4-1 loss to New Zealand, with Babar reinstated as the T20 captain by the new PCB chairman, Mohsin Naqvi. If that wasn’t enough, Pakistan’s loss to the USA in the T20 World Cup 2024 has been seen as the ultimate low, leaving fans and former cricketers fuming.

The Rift Widens in Pakistan Cricket

With Pakistan's cricketing woes continuing to spiral out of control, the rift between Afridi and Ashraf only adds fuel to the fire. As accusations fly, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Pakistan cricket is caught between a rock and a hard place.

On one side, Afridi champions Rizwan's leadership, while on the other, Ashraf doubles down on his denial, calling into question the integrity of Afridi's claims.

Adding to the turmoil, Pakistan’s recent loss to Ireland and the whitewash in the Test series against Bangladesh have further deepened the sense of crisis. The once formidable cricketing nation now stands on unstable ground, with its captains failing to deliver and the team succumbing to pressure.

The question now remains: who will emerge from this crisis with their reputation intact, and will Pakistan cricket be able to pick up the pieces?