Shahid Afridi calls for a major “Surgery” of Pakistan’s Selection Committee

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has strongly criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) selection committee, saying the current panel appears confused about leadership choices and team selection across formats.

Afridi’s comments came after Pakistan’s disappointing performances in recent international competitions, including their campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and a subsequent series defeat against Bangladesh national cricket team.

Speaking on the issue, Afridi expressed frustration with the decision-making of the selectors, claiming that despite their extensive experience in cricket, they still seem uncertain about which player should captain each format.

“The World Cup performances were in front of everyone, and after that we even lost the Bangladesh series 2-1,” Afridi said. “In my opinion, I feel sorry for the selection committee because all of them have played so much cricket, yet they don’t seem to know who should be the captain of which format.”

Afridi also criticized the selectors for what they described as a “surgery” on the squad—dropping experienced players while bringing in relatively inexperienced cricketers from domestic cricket. According to the former all-rounder, Pakistan’s current domestic structure does not yet provide enough high-quality competition to prepare players for the demands of international cricket.

“You called it surgery and brought in new players who have only played a few first-class matches,” Afridi said. “Pakistan’s domestic cricket is not of such a standard that players can immediately come in and secure their place in the national team.”

The former captain added that some senior players who have strong performances in One Day International cricket were sidelined despite their proven records, particularly if their performances in T20 cricket were not strong.

Afridi concluded by saying that true “surgery” should begin with the selection committee itself, suggesting that a more stable and well-thought-out selection process is needed to move Pakistan cricket forward.

The comments have added to the growing debate around Pakistan’s team management and leadership structure as the board looks to rebuild and prepare for upcoming international tournaments.