In a surprising turn of events, doubts have arisen regarding the authenticity of quotes attributed to Shaheen Afridi in the recent press release by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which reinstated Babar Azam as the captain.
The PCB’s statement quoted Afridi expressing his honour at leading Pakistan and pledging full support to Babar Azam, the newly reinstated T20 captain. However, a section of Pakistan media claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that sources close to Afridi have contested the legitimacy of these quotes, suggesting that Afridi never made such statements.
As per the statement released by PCB, Shaheen Afridi earlier said: “It was an absolute honour to captain the Pakistan National Cricket Team. I will always cherish the memories and the opportunity. As a team player, it is my duty to back our captain, Babar Azam.
“I have played under his captaincy and have nothing but respect for him. I will try to help him on and off the field. We are all one. Our aim is the same, to help Pakistan become the best team in the world.”
The controversial press release also included quotes attributed to Babar Azam, wherein he praised Afridi’s leadership qualities and expressed his intention to seek Afridi’s counsel for important decisions in the future. While Azam’s quotes remain uncontested, the discrepancy surrounding Afridi’s alleged remarks has caused a stir within the cricketing community.
“It was a pleasure to play under Shaheen’s leadership. He is still young and is improving as a player and as a leader every day. As a captain, I have always valued his input and I will keep consulting him for important decisions going forward. We must take advantage of his strategic understanding of the game. Our joint aim is to make this team the best in the world.”
As uncertainty looms over the veracity of the quotes attributed to Afridi, cricket fans eagerly await clarification from both the PCB and Afridi himself. The alleged misrepresentation of Afridi’s sentiments underscores the importance of transparency and accuracy in official communications from cricketing authorities.
