Zaka defends decision to remove Babar

LAHORE: Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Zaka Ashraf has defended his decision to relieve Babar Azam of the captaincy following Pakistan’s disappointing exit from the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.

Zaka refuted claims made by former captain Shahid Afridi that he had suggested appointing Mohammad Rizwan as the white-ball captain instead of Babar. “Shahid Afridi never made any such suggestion to me,” Zaka stated during a media interaction in Lahore.

“There was no recommendation from Shahid Afridi regarding Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy,” Zaka said. Zaka revealed that it was a mutual decision. “I advised Babar to continue as the red-ball captain, given the pressure he faced leading in all formats. However, the decision to step down from all formats was entirely Babar’s own,” Zaka disclosed.

Zaka criticised the board’s decision to remove Shaheen after just one series, stating that he should have been given more time to prove himself. “If Babar was given ample time as captain, why not Shaheen?” he questioned.

Zaka, who led the PCB’s interim management committee from June 2023 to January 2024, stepped down amidst controversy over his governance decisions. He defended his decisions, stating that they were made in the best interest of Pakistan cricket.

Pakistan’s disappointing performance in the ODI World Cup, where they lost five out of nine league games, remains a focal point of discussion. Zaka said that with a couple more wins, Pakistan could have secured a spot in the semi-finals, highlighting the fine margins in international cricket.