The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has scheduled crisis meetings for Monday, following reports that Shaheen Shah Afridi, the team's replacement captain, had backed Babar Azam in remarks that were referenced in a PCB statement. Afridi has disputed the allegations. Azam was reinstated as white-ball captain by the PCB on Sunday, replacing Afridi, who had been captain for less than five months, after Azam was dropped due to last year's World Cup disaster.
Afridi has "nothing but respect" for the returning skipper, according to the PCB statement. "On and off the field, I'll do my best to support him. According to Afridi, "We are all one." However, a person close to Afridi disputed that he approved the statement that suggested a smooth transition of power. According to the source, Afridi was disgruntled at being replaced after leading the Twenty20 team for just one series. The source told AFP, "This is not Shaheen's statement, and he has contacted PCB to clarify this."
"Shaheen will meet PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday to clarify this." Without mentioning Afridi, the PCB released a statement stating that Naqvi, who serves as the nation's interior minister, would attend Pakistan team training in Kakul on Monday. In a Twenty20 Series played in New Zealand in January, Pakistan was defeated 4-1 by fast bowler Afridi's team. Lahore Qalandars, who finished last in the T20 Pakistan Super League two weeks ago, were captained by Afridi as well. After a five-match Twenty20 series against New Zealand, Pakistan will next play games in England and Ireland. In June, the United States and the West Indies host the T20 World Cup.
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