VIDEO: Shahid Afridi urges PCB for real 'surgery' in national team

Shahid Afridi, the ex-captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team, expressed bewilderment over the recent removal of Wahab Riaz and Abdul Razzaq from the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) selection committee.

The decision to remove Riaz, 39, and Abdul Razzaq, 44, followed the national team’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, Geo News reported.

According to sources, the PCB management had lost confidence in them, and their opinions had not been considered for a while.

Afridi, 47, addressed PCB's latest move while in England for the World Championship of Legends 2024 as part of Pakistan Champions.

He stated that he was perplexed by the PCB's decision to remove the former cricketers, which is seen as a crucial "surgery" for PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to reform the committee.

He emphasised that Riaz and Abdul Razzaq are not the only members of the selection committee and there are several other people involved as well.

"I just found out that they sidelined Abdul Razzaq and Wahab Riaz," he said. "I don't understand this kind of 'surgery'."

Afridi also said that whatever "surgery" is needed, it must be done once and for all. He added that whoever is brought forward now must be given ample time to improve their captaincy skills.

While discussing the performance of Babar Azam, Pakistan's current T20 captain, Afridi highlighted that the 29-year-old cricketer has been given many chances to prove his captaincy skills.

"As far as Babar is concerned, no captain has been given such open chances (to prove their captaincy)," Afridi told reporters, highlighting that Azam had played in several international tournaments.

He did not seem impressed by Azam's captaincy skills despite the "incredible" opportunities he had.

About the removal of Riaz, 39, and Abdul Razzaq, 44, sources stated: "Their influence was significant in the selection of the T20 World Cup squad and they showed more support to players who did not perform well."

Meanwhile, Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafiq and Bilal Afzal are still part of the seven-member panel which also includes the captain and head coach.