LAHORE: Pakistan head coach Gary Kirsten and his team management have been given full authority to decide the vice-captain if required.
This happened after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selectors voted overwhelmingly against appointing a vice-captain for the upcoming European tour and the T20 World Cup.
While there are rumors on social media that Shaheen Afridi has been offered the vice-captaincy, sources confirm that there is no such offer. Six of the seven voters opposed the idea, effectively scrapping plans to appoint current captain Babar Azam as vice-captain.
According to media reports, this decision was influenced by the previous regime’s misrepresentation of leadership positions, which created a complex task.
“Due to the mishandling of captain and vice-captain issues by the previous regime, the six selectors believed that Babar Azam should not be appointed as vice-captain in the World Cup, so there is no point in nominating him as vice-captain. This is an opportunity for anyone to participate in the Cup Dunia,” a source told a local news channel.
Among the vice-captain candidates are Mohammad Rizwan, Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi. However, voters decided it would be wiser to leave the position vacant.
The issue was further complicated by the controversial decision of the interim PCB Management Committee regarding Babar Azam’s replacement of Shaheen Afridi as captain. With no mandate for such changes, the move led to a leadership dilemma and created competition for various leadership positions within the group.
That is why most voters voted against Babar Azam’s replacement in the World Cup,” he said.
Given this challenge, the responsibility to appoint a vice-captain, if necessary, will now fall to Gary Kirsten and the team management.
Therefore, the PCB decided to appoint an open vice captain, entrusting Kirsten and his team to manage such needs during the World Cup.
