“Talha advised him to leave everything."
Leaked audio has indicated that there were plans to remove Babar Azam as Pakistan’s captain.
After Pakistan’s poor showing at the World Cup, Babar announced he would no longer captain the side in all formats.
An audio recording purportedly of Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) interim management committee chairman Zaka Ashraf has allegedly revealed how plans to change captaincy were already in motion.
It is reported that Mr Ashraf is having a private conversation with a family member.
Mr Ashraf is also heard discussing the appointments of Shan Masood and Shaheen Shah Afridi as captains.
In the recording, Mr Ashraf claimed he asked Babar to remain as Test captain.
He allegedly said: “I asked Babar to stay on as Test captain but told him that I was thinking of removing him as the white-ball captain.
“Babar told me he would consult his family and then convey his decision.”
The leaked audio also touched upon the influence of the Saya Corporation, which Babar and several other teammates are signed with.
In the recording, Mr Ashraf said Babar claimed he would consult his family but was actually speaking to Saya Corporation CEO Talha Rehmani.
The audio continued: “Talha advised him to leave everything.
“I had a Plan B prepared should such a situation arise and when Babar told me he was stepping down, I called him (Masood or Afridi) and told him that you’re the captain now.
“He (Talha) has controlled eight players of the national team. He has signed contracts with the players.
“He is such a smart guy that he has built a lot of relationships with the players’ families by going to the players’ houses, and the players can’t move without him.”
A woman is heard saying that Shaheen Shah Afridi seems to be under the control of his father-in-law Shahid Afridi.
Another person then says:
“This interference is quite common.”
Babar Azam was also accused of recruiting players he is friends with, having allegedly insisted on having Shadab Khan in the World Cup squad.
Shadab would end up having a below-par outing.
There was also a mention that Hassan Ali played because he was “Babar Azam’s friend”.
“Hassan Ali played because he is Babar Azam's friend.”
Zaka Ashraf's Alleged Audio Leak Reveals How PCB Plotted Babar Azam's Removal From Captaincypic.twitter.com/5aQ2A4ENa4
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) December 18, 2023
Mr Ashraf claimed that this was the reason for the deterioration of Pakistani cricket.
The PCB had launched an inquiry into Inzamam-ul-Haq’s links with the Saya Corporation but it was stopped once the chief selector resigned.
The audio also claimed that Inzamam had begun “speaking against us” after he was ousted as chief selector.
According to Dawn, Mr Ashraf is considering a review of the PCB’s policy regarding player agents.
Although it is in its initial stages, the PCB is believed to be considering a cap of two players per agent.
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