The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will look into comments made by stand-in skipper Shahid Afridi which fuelled speculation about the future of captain Misbahul Haq, board chairman Shaharyar Khan said yesterday.
A show-cause notice was issued to Afridi by the cricket board asking the all-rounder to submit his reply within two weeks over comments made regarding the issue of the national cricket team’s captaincy.
The 40-year-old Misbah had opted to sit out Pakistan’s third one-day international against Australia in Abu Dhabi in protest and all-rounder Afridi was named to lead the side.
Afridi’s comments at a news conference gave rise to speculation that he was in line to lead the team during next year’s World Cup and hinted at strife within the team.
Khan stepped in to defuse the controversy and reiterated that Misbah would remain in charge through next year’s showpiece event in Australia and New Zealand.
“As far as the PCB is concerned, we are supporting Misbah and he is our captain till the World Cup,” Khan said in an official statement. “The remarks made by Afridi are regretful and unfortunate and perhaps gave the indication of something wrong in the team.
