PCB summons Babar Azam for meeting after Pakistan’s disastrous ODI World Cup 2023 campaign

Pakistan finished fifth in the 2023 ODI World Cup points table. They won four matches and lost five.

PCB chief Zaka Ashraf meets former captain Younis Khan in Karachi. (Image: circuit board)

Karachi: Under-fire Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been summoned to a meeting to discuss the team’s disastrous performance at the World Cup, where they finished fifth, while former captain Muhammad Hafeez is the frontrunner to become the next chairman of the senior selection committee, after the post was cleared. recently surfaced by Inzamam ul Haq following allegations of ‘conflict of interest’.

“Zaka (Ashraf) has summoned embattled captain Babar Azam for a meeting on Wednesday in which the batsman is likely to get another chance to lead the team in Australia and New Zealand,” a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) insider was quoted as saying. ) quoted. say from PTI.

He also said that most of the former players have suggested to PCB chairman Zaka Ashraf that they continue with Babar for the time being. The insider said that Zaka was advised that he should also at least wait and see how Babar does as captain in Australia and New Zealand and if the team continues to perform poorly like in the World Cup, changes could be made before the next World T20 Cup. .

Former Pakistani cricketers Younis Khan, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir today visited PCB Management Committee Chairman Mr. Zaka Ashraf at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. pic.twitter.com/3XJykYU3nf

— Pakistani cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 14, 2023

The PCB source also said that team director and coach Mickey Arthur and head coach Grant Bradburn have been asked to participate in the meeting along with Babar. Zaka has insisted he will not make any hasty decisions or press the panic button after the World Cup debacle and will consult former players before reaching a conclusion on the future course of action.

Meanwhile, it is also learned that another former Test captain Younis Khan could also get a major title in the national setup. Both Hafeez and Younis along with Wahab Riaz and Sohail Tanvir met Zaka on Tuesday.

Zaka met Younis separately and asked him to consider taking the team to Australia and New Zealand for the Test and T20 series. Zaka, the insider said, had also spoken via video link on Tuesday to some other former stalwarts who are in Karachi and busy with media commitments.