Shoaib Akhtar backs PCB, snubs Babar Azam from Pakistan's future plans

Dubai: Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his support for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) amid recent controversies, while omitting former captain Babar Azam from his list of players he believes should be retained. The PCB recently dismissed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, bowling coach Umar Gul, and released seven players, including captain Salman Ali Agha following Pakistan's second Test defeat against England.

Akhtar, on the OutSide Edge show, suggested that the PCB aims to replace the current squad with younger and more promising talent. While Akhtar criticized the aging players, he explicitly called for the careers of fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf to be saved. However, he notably excluded Babar Azam, who leads the Men in Green in Test cricket, from this list.

Akhtar had reportedly reached out to a PCB official to inquire about their expectations for the team's upcoming match. The Rawalpindi Express' constant involvement in the Pakistan cricket team is evident, and Akhtar's lack of support for Babar Azam may result in additional criticism for the skipper during the final Test match in Birmingham, England.