The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ijaz Butt has refused to give explanation to anyone regarding the outrageous decision of removing Shahid Afridi as the One Day captain of the national team even after the PCB has been criticised by many for meddling with the captaincy.
Speaking to a local newspaper in Pakistan, Butt said, “Captains are changed all over the world and no cricket board gives a reason for that. We did what we thought was best and don’t need to give a reason for it”.
According to the flamboyant PCB chairman, the decision was made keeping in mind the best interests of the national team. However, many believe that such a rude attitude that has been adopted by the board is testament to the prevailing regime’s incompetence in running things glitch-free.
On Thursday May 19, 2011, after two days of consultation between Chief Selector, Mohsin Khan, and Butt, the PCB finally announced Test captain, Misbah-ul-Haq, as the new skipper of the One Day squad. Misbah will lead the team in a two-match One Day International (ODI) series against minnows Ireland.
Former cricket greats, Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, and, Abdul Qadir have questioned the wisdom of the PCB behind making such an illogical decision, of appointing a 36-year old Misbah in place of a better One Day specialist, Afridi.
However, Butt clarified that since the board had limited options to choose from, there was no one else better suited for the job than Misbah. “We’re looking at everyone’s performance and discipline and we’re trying to pinpoint a suitable candidate for the captain’s position for the future”.
Akram reckons Misbah, as an interim captain, will have to be replaced after five to six months.
Earlier this month, Afridi rubbed Ijaz Butt the wrong way, after he leaked the existence of cracks in the relationship between him and the team management during the ODI series in West Indies.
However, he did not reveal any names. According to insiders he was at odds with the Head Coach, Waqar Younis, over the team selection against the Caribbean Kings.
The PCB saw his statements as a direct violation of the Board’s code of conduct, which bars the players from giving any statements to the media regarding the disputes within the PCB, or, the team. It is believed that right at that moment, Butt had made up his mind to replace the flamboyant all-rounder.
After receiving much criticism, finally Ijaz Butt has given a statement, which shows that unfortunately, the PCB is being run by a single man and he alone has all the powers vested in him to chose who gets to do what in the national team.
All-rounder and opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez is believed to be the next ODI captain if he manages to retain his phenomenal current form with both bat and ball.
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