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From Megastars To Just Ordinary Players: How PCB Politics Ruined Babar, Shaheen's Careers

Anurag Dasgupta

Has PCB ruined Babar, Shaheen? [Source: AFP Photo] Has PCB ruined Babar, Shaheen? [Source: AFP Photo]

Pakistan is a land of untapped cricketing potential, and over the years, so many players have tried their luck and have failed to stamp their authority. However, there have been two superstars, who have etched their names in Pakistan’s history books and have won countless games for their nation - Babar Azam, and Shaheen Afridi.

With Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan retiring, and no quality bowlers in Pakistan’s tank, the side needed fresh energy, and this is where Babar and Shaheen came to life for the Men in Green, but it won’t be an understatement to say that PCB politics has ruined their international careers.

Shaheen, the captain who was thrown away in the blink of an eye

When you appoint a captain for any format, he needs time to adapt and to instill his ideas in the team. Before the T20 World Cup in 2024, Pakistan made an abrupt call to remove Babar Azam from the T20I leadership post, and Shaheen was appointed the captain for the New Zealand tour.

But what followed was utter chaos as Pakistan lost the series away from home, and well, PCB decided to joke around with Shaheen’s career and removed him from the post, after just one series. Yes, the Men in Green lost four out of the five T20Is, but PCB didn’t show any patience and removed the youngster to ruin his confidence.

What must be going through Shaheen’s mind at that point in time?. He would have dreamt of leading his team into the T20 World Cup, but in the blink of an eye, the management said, You know what, Shaheen, you are not capable enough to lead the side.

It must be noted that Shaheen was reportedly denied clarity on his removal as the T20I captain, and was also not given the NOC for playing in foreign T20 leagues, which led to his dissatisfaction with the board.

Did PCB ruin Babar's career?

Once compared with the great Virat Kohli, Babar Azam now finds himself out of the T20I squad, and PCB is to be blamed for this fiasco and utter humiliation. For years, the team craved for a world-class batter, and when they found Babar, the board didn’t give him the right environment to thrive.

Arguably their most successful captain in recent years, Babar took Pakistan to number one rankings in T20Is and also took them to the finals of the T20 World Cup in 2022, but what did he get in return? nothing.

The biggest example of PCB’s politics has been the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 event. When Pakistan revealed their squad for the marquee event, there was no mention of Babar, and the reason was that he plays too slowly in T20Is.

But if we bust the myth, then we can come to a conclusion that since the tri-series tournament, Pakistan batters’ cumulative T20I strike rate has been a mere 121.48, with only Fakhar Zaman having decent numbers (136.87 strike rate).

Meanwhile, the likes of Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, who replace Babar at the opening slot have a strike rate of 107 and 126, respectively. So, the question arises, is PCB holding a grudge against their best batter?. If the T20I strike rate was the reason for Babar’s being cast out, then half of their squad members should be removed.

Shaheen is in the squad, but he has lost zip in his bowling, and almost all the players in the current squad are mediocre cricketers, and hence the question arises once again - did PCB ruin the careers of their star players?.